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When the Crowd Didn't Roar: How Baseball's Strangest Game Ever Gave a Broken City Hope
The date is April 29, 2015. Baltimore is reeling from the devastating riots sparked by the death in police custody of twenty-five-year-old African American Freddie Gray. Set against this grim backdrop, less than thirty-six hours after the worst rioting Baltimore has seen since the assassination of Martin Luther King in 1968, the Baltimore Orioles and the Chicago White Sox take the field at Camden Yards. It is a surreal event they will never the only Major League game until COVID ever played without fans. The eerily quiet stadium is on lockdown for public safety and because police are needed elsewhere to keep the tense city from exploding anew.
When the Crowd Didn’t Roar chronicles this unsettling contest—as well as the tragic events that led up to it and the therapeutic effect the game had on a troubled city. The story comes vividly to life through the eyes of city leaders, activists, police officials, and the media that covered the tumultuous unrest on the streets of Baltimore, as well as the ballplayers, umpires, managers, and front-office personnel of the teams that played in this singular game, and the fans who watched it from behind locked gates. In its own way, amid the uprising and great turmoil, baseball stopped to reflect on the fact that something different was happening in Baltimore and responded to it in an unprecedented way, making this the unlikeliest and strangest game ever played.
When the Crowd Didn’t Roar chronicles this unsettling contest—as well as the tragic events that led up to it and the therapeutic effect the game had on a troubled city. The story comes vividly to life through the eyes of city leaders, activists, police officials, and the media that covered the tumultuous unrest on the streets of Baltimore, as well as the ballplayers, umpires, managers, and front-office personnel of the teams that played in this singular game, and the fans who watched it from behind locked gates. In its own way, amid the uprising and great turmoil, baseball stopped to reflect on the fact that something different was happening in Baltimore and responded to it in an unprecedented way, making this the unlikeliest and strangest game ever played.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2019
14 people are currently reading
195 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Cowherd
19 books4 followersKevin Cowherd has been a writer for the Baltimore Sun since 1987, is nationally syndicated by the Los Angeles Time - Washington Post news service, and is the author of Last Call at the 7-Eleven, a book of selected writings published by Bancroft Press.
In 1990 he was honored by the American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors for excellence in feature writing. He currently writes a sports column and blog for the Baltimore Sun.
He is also a humorist, and an experienced Little League coach. He lives with his wife and three children near Baltimore.
In 1990 he was honored by the American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors for excellence in feature writing. He currently writes a sports column and blog for the Baltimore Sun.
He is also a humorist, and an experienced Little League coach. He lives with his wife and three children near Baltimore.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 23, 2019
Home Field advantage is what every sports teams attempts to achieve when competing to win the ultimate prize in their sport. The roar of the crowd behind every play, the knowledge of the quirks of a field groomed just so, the luxury of sleeping in one’s own bed at night while one’s opponents are stuck in a hotel bed, and then preparing for the game itself in one’s home locker room and club house. It is little wonder that teams in a race for home field advantage play each game at its hardest if it means in the end earning an extra game at home. Imagine a game with no fans, no cheering at the crack of the bat, no heckling the opposing players. This very event took place on April 29, 2015 in a game between the Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles amid five days of rioting following the death of Freddie Gray. Baltimore Sun sportswriter Kevin Cowherd documents the events unfolding and the game itself in what was a first of its kind occurrence in baseball history.
Of large cities Baltimore has one of the largest homicide rates in the nation. Following decades of white flight to the suburbs following the tumultuous year of 1968, Baltimore has become a city of stark contrast. There is the posh tourist district near the Inner Harbor featuring its crowning jewel Camden Yards where the Orioles play, yet five miles away from the ballpark is the urban blight of housing projects. All lives matter, yet in a decade fifty years following the passage of the civil rights act, the United States still has questions to answer about race. Minority celebrities of every shade still have to be careful around police who do not recognize them, and innocent people are arrested for driving and walking while black. Freddie Gray was one innocent bystander who became a victim to overzealous cops, minding his business at a street corner and dying of cardiac arrest en route to the hospital while in police custody. Gray’s arrest and death set off rioting all over Baltimore, rioting that made its way to the streets surrounding Camden Yards, making it unsafe to hold a baseball game on its premises.
In reporting the style of the modern twenty four hour news cycle, Cowherd details the events leading up to the game and then reenacting the game itself. He follows leading Orioles players Adam Jones, Chris Davis, and manager Buck Showalter to get their varying perspectives of the events unfolding around them. Meanwhile, Cowherd also details the rioting unfolding outside the ballpark and city government officials’ responses to the events and how to quell them as well as the steps Major League Baseball took to ensure the safety of the players and fans around the ballpark. With Jones as a spokesperson for the African American community and Showalter a bridge to the generation of baseball without the modern bells and whistles, no player was excited to play a game without anyone in the stands. Yet, the game must go on, and by doing so, starts the healing process of a city hurting from yet another racial profiled homicide. America’s pastime was to act as a salve.
Players and announcers found the circumstances of the game bizarre yet did their best to play to the upmost degree of professionalism. Jones knew that the Orioles had to win that game to help a grieving community. The White Sox having spent twenty hours in a hotel across the street from the ballpark as national guardsmen patrolled outside just wanted to play ball. The Orioles erupted for six runs in the first inning. Pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez warmed up to tune out the nonexistent crowd noise. Davis threw a ball to non fans in the stands. Jones was in the middle of much of the scoring following his impassioned press conference hours before the game. Announcers Gary Thorne and Jim Palmer knew they were part of a historic event and told anecdotes to ease their own tension and that of the fans tuning in at home. That the Orioles eventually won the game 8-2 was an afterthought as the game was about much more than baseball itself.
Throughout the years sports, especially baseball, has served as a tonic to America’s psyche. After a break, there have been games played during wars and after 9-11 and the 1988 California earthquake. Yet, the games have gone on and helped to galvanize Americans reeling from historical events unfolding around them. The game played on April 29, 2015 can be added to this list. Kevin Cowherd, using unbiased reporting, eloquently describes all angles of the events leading up to this game and then the game itself. He has created a book about baseball that is not entirely about baseball, and one that is sure to generate discussions about the intersection of sports, race relations, and baseball as an everlasting tonic to soothe events unfolding in history.
4 stars
Of large cities Baltimore has one of the largest homicide rates in the nation. Following decades of white flight to the suburbs following the tumultuous year of 1968, Baltimore has become a city of stark contrast. There is the posh tourist district near the Inner Harbor featuring its crowning jewel Camden Yards where the Orioles play, yet five miles away from the ballpark is the urban blight of housing projects. All lives matter, yet in a decade fifty years following the passage of the civil rights act, the United States still has questions to answer about race. Minority celebrities of every shade still have to be careful around police who do not recognize them, and innocent people are arrested for driving and walking while black. Freddie Gray was one innocent bystander who became a victim to overzealous cops, minding his business at a street corner and dying of cardiac arrest en route to the hospital while in police custody. Gray’s arrest and death set off rioting all over Baltimore, rioting that made its way to the streets surrounding Camden Yards, making it unsafe to hold a baseball game on its premises.
In reporting the style of the modern twenty four hour news cycle, Cowherd details the events leading up to the game and then reenacting the game itself. He follows leading Orioles players Adam Jones, Chris Davis, and manager Buck Showalter to get their varying perspectives of the events unfolding around them. Meanwhile, Cowherd also details the rioting unfolding outside the ballpark and city government officials’ responses to the events and how to quell them as well as the steps Major League Baseball took to ensure the safety of the players and fans around the ballpark. With Jones as a spokesperson for the African American community and Showalter a bridge to the generation of baseball without the modern bells and whistles, no player was excited to play a game without anyone in the stands. Yet, the game must go on, and by doing so, starts the healing process of a city hurting from yet another racial profiled homicide. America’s pastime was to act as a salve.
Players and announcers found the circumstances of the game bizarre yet did their best to play to the upmost degree of professionalism. Jones knew that the Orioles had to win that game to help a grieving community. The White Sox having spent twenty hours in a hotel across the street from the ballpark as national guardsmen patrolled outside just wanted to play ball. The Orioles erupted for six runs in the first inning. Pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez warmed up to tune out the nonexistent crowd noise. Davis threw a ball to non fans in the stands. Jones was in the middle of much of the scoring following his impassioned press conference hours before the game. Announcers Gary Thorne and Jim Palmer knew they were part of a historic event and told anecdotes to ease their own tension and that of the fans tuning in at home. That the Orioles eventually won the game 8-2 was an afterthought as the game was about much more than baseball itself.
Throughout the years sports, especially baseball, has served as a tonic to America’s psyche. After a break, there have been games played during wars and after 9-11 and the 1988 California earthquake. Yet, the games have gone on and helped to galvanize Americans reeling from historical events unfolding around them. The game played on April 29, 2015 can be added to this list. Kevin Cowherd, using unbiased reporting, eloquently describes all angles of the events leading up to this game and then the game itself. He has created a book about baseball that is not entirely about baseball, and one that is sure to generate discussions about the intersection of sports, race relations, and baseball as an everlasting tonic to soothe events unfolding in history.
4 stars
April 25, 2019
This should have been an extended magazine article, not a book. Never in my life have I seen an author repeat himself this much. Yeah, I got the picture. It was weird not to have any fans after Camden Yards was locked down due to the violence surrounding Freddie Gray. Did we have to have this reiterated by every single person who was even close to the ballpark on that day? Yep, the crowd matters. The Orioles won anyway, although I didn’t need to hear about every darn batter. Freddie Gray WAS a big deal and I wish I’d gotten more insights into the culture in Baltimore that was triggered by this terrible event.
Great idea for a book just not enough fodder.
Great idea for a book just not enough fodder.
March 14, 2019
On April 29, 2015, the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox played the first major league game in which no spectators were allowed into the ballpark. Earlier in the week, two other games between the two teams were postponed for security concerns due to the rioting that was taking place in Baltimore following the death of an African-American in police custody. The city of Baltimore and Major League baseball did decide to have the April 29 game played, but with no fans in attendance so police and other law enforcement officials could concentrate their efforts on the aftermath of the rioting. The circumstances of both the game itself and the events that led up to that decision are captured in this excellent book by Baltimore sportswriter Kevin Cowherd.
Two characteristics of this book stand out. One is that Cowherd takes an explosive issue like the treatment of African-Americans by law enforcement and writes about it in a balanced, non-judgmental manner. He was writing about factual information without inserting his own opinions. While the book is considered a baseball book, it is much more than that as it is important for the reader to understand the circumstances that called for this unusual atmosphere for the game to be played.
As for the game itself, the best parts of the writing about it were about the players. This is especially true for Orioles players, especially Adam Jones, who was thrust into the role of the unofficial spokesman for an African-American viewpoint from the Orioles. Chris Davis and Caleb Joseph are also followed through the game. Joseph’s actions of pretending to sign autographs for fans is one of the actions taken in order to try to give the game a sense of normalcy but at the same time illustrates the awkwardness the players, umpires and other crew members feel. Many times Cowherd describes how much the normal sounds of a game – pitches hitting the catcher’s mitt, spikes on bases, even the chatter and spitting in the dugout – are magnified in this stadium void of fans.
Through it all, there is some humor thrown in for good measure. Cowherd writes about the Orioles television broadcasters, Gary Thorne and Jim Palmer, and what they were saying and doing during this game. Like the players, there was some humor attempted – a line by Thorne when he was telling a play in a whispered tone that he was using his “Masters voice” was very funny – but it was overshadowed by the enormity of the situation. Again, all of this is brought to life by the excellent writing of Cowherd.
There is one story Cowherd told that captured the spirit of this book, the Orioles and the city. A young African-American man who wrote a blog about sports from his perspective was provided press credentials for one of the cancelled games. But he felt he had to be a part of the no-fans game, so using his expired credential, he made his way to the post-game press conference of Orioles manager Buck Showalter. He asked the manager a question that was unlike the typical press conference question and Showalter didn’t back away from the question, but instead gave an answer that made the young man happy. Of course, he was discovered and had to leave the conference, but this story is the best of the book because it captures the feelings of everyone involved, regardless of their race or political affiliation. For the full details of this story, it is best to read about it in the book as a review cannot do that story justice.
This book should be read under the knowledge that while it is about an unusual baseball game, it is more than just a baseball book. The reader will have a much better understanding of what the city of Baltimore was enduring during that week and how this game both gave the city a small amount of normalcy during a trying time and was a illustration of how grim the situation seemed at that time.
I wish to thank University of Nebraska Press for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
Two characteristics of this book stand out. One is that Cowherd takes an explosive issue like the treatment of African-Americans by law enforcement and writes about it in a balanced, non-judgmental manner. He was writing about factual information without inserting his own opinions. While the book is considered a baseball book, it is much more than that as it is important for the reader to understand the circumstances that called for this unusual atmosphere for the game to be played.
As for the game itself, the best parts of the writing about it were about the players. This is especially true for Orioles players, especially Adam Jones, who was thrust into the role of the unofficial spokesman for an African-American viewpoint from the Orioles. Chris Davis and Caleb Joseph are also followed through the game. Joseph’s actions of pretending to sign autographs for fans is one of the actions taken in order to try to give the game a sense of normalcy but at the same time illustrates the awkwardness the players, umpires and other crew members feel. Many times Cowherd describes how much the normal sounds of a game – pitches hitting the catcher’s mitt, spikes on bases, even the chatter and spitting in the dugout – are magnified in this stadium void of fans.
Through it all, there is some humor thrown in for good measure. Cowherd writes about the Orioles television broadcasters, Gary Thorne and Jim Palmer, and what they were saying and doing during this game. Like the players, there was some humor attempted – a line by Thorne when he was telling a play in a whispered tone that he was using his “Masters voice” was very funny – but it was overshadowed by the enormity of the situation. Again, all of this is brought to life by the excellent writing of Cowherd.
There is one story Cowherd told that captured the spirit of this book, the Orioles and the city. A young African-American man who wrote a blog about sports from his perspective was provided press credentials for one of the cancelled games. But he felt he had to be a part of the no-fans game, so using his expired credential, he made his way to the post-game press conference of Orioles manager Buck Showalter. He asked the manager a question that was unlike the typical press conference question and Showalter didn’t back away from the question, but instead gave an answer that made the young man happy. Of course, he was discovered and had to leave the conference, but this story is the best of the book because it captures the feelings of everyone involved, regardless of their race or political affiliation. For the full details of this story, it is best to read about it in the book as a review cannot do that story justice.
This book should be read under the knowledge that while it is about an unusual baseball game, it is more than just a baseball book. The reader will have a much better understanding of what the city of Baltimore was enduring during that week and how this game both gave the city a small amount of normalcy during a trying time and was a illustration of how grim the situation seemed at that time.
I wish to thank University of Nebraska Press for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
March 19, 2020
This timely book is basically an extended magazine article, and not in a good way. That said, it does focus on the important aspects of this - the economic devastation that caused this situation in the first place, and the reduction of civil rights "in order to control an unfairly impoverished population living under an ever-declining standard of living at the butt end of an ever-more militarized and aggressive surveillance state."
As that magazine article, it is thorough, but wanders some - 4 stars. Unfortunately, the author extended his word count by flashing back to the past (Buck Showalter played in a league basketball game in a closed gym - only players, coaches and referees present) and then flashing back even further (in this case, to Bill Showalter, Buck's father, who... was blue collar?). By page 100, he is including the backstory of everyone in the press box - the only crowded location within the confines of Camden Yards.
Neither the ending nor the decent epilogue (was justice served? How did the teams fare in the season?) exactly describe how this game "gave a broken city hope". I was just happy to put the book down. The only good message was that delivered by John Angelos, whose tweet I quoted above. My favorite reference in the book was one seen often recently - the Griswold family arriving at a closed Wally World. While I can heartily recommend National Lampoon's Vacation, I can't recommend this book.
As that magazine article, it is thorough, but wanders some - 4 stars. Unfortunately, the author extended his word count by flashing back to the past (Buck Showalter played in a league basketball game in a closed gym - only players, coaches and referees present) and then flashing back even further (in this case, to Bill Showalter, Buck's father, who... was blue collar?). By page 100, he is including the backstory of everyone in the press box - the only crowded location within the confines of Camden Yards.
Neither the ending nor the decent epilogue (was justice served? How did the teams fare in the season?) exactly describe how this game "gave a broken city hope". I was just happy to put the book down. The only good message was that delivered by John Angelos, whose tweet I quoted above. My favorite reference in the book was one seen often recently - the Griswold family arriving at a closed Wally World. While I can heartily recommend National Lampoon's Vacation, I can't recommend this book.
August 15, 2025
A quick, powerful read that is a must for Baltimoreans, but I would argue for any baseball fan as well. Cowherd did excellent research and covers his subject so thoroughly – perspectives from players, media, fans, city residents, local and national leaders are all included. I picked this up to read since this year marked 10 years already post-Uprising. If he (we) only knew the unusual spectacle witnessed at Camden Yards that day would become sadly routine in the pandemic years so shortly after the book’s publication. Liked reading about some of my favorite Orioles from those years and their immediate thoughts and feelings during that week. Although a game (any game) without fans is not ideal, the reminder of how much we miss through the inundation of noise inside stadiums was poignant.
May 25, 2019
A Remarkable Read Of Tragedy and Hope
Kevin Cowherd’s When the Crowd Didn’t Roar gives readers an eye-opening look at the dangerous and hostile times of rioting in April 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland, following the death of African American Freddie Gray in police custody. Cowherd explains how, amidst the hostility, the Baltimore Orioles—the city’s Major League Baseball team—was forced to play a game against the Chicago White Sox behind locked gates, no fans in the stands, due to the dangerous nature of the riots and the need for law enforcement elsewhere in the city. The situation was far too dangerous. But, this game gave the the “broken city” of Baltimore hope. America’s greatest pastime—baseball—provided somewhat of a distraction and relief from the horror that unfolded in days previous. This game also came towards the end of the trying time in the city. It was almost a signal that the unrest was coming to an end.
I very much enjoyed reading this book. As a diehard Orioles fan, I do recall the day, watching the broadcast of the game. Cowherd writes in such a way that readers can come to fathom and understand what went on during such a trying time. He uses vivid imagery in order to do so. I remember that these riots were very destructive and dangerous, but his writing exemplified just how serious the situation was. It is clear to me how much time Cowherd took to write this book. He interviewed players, coaches, front office members, stadium staff, coordinators, and others for their first-hand accounts of the days of unrest. This makes his novel all the better. This book is intended for mature audiences, as it discusses a mature topic, and it contains language only appropriate for older audiences. If you get the chance—baseball fan or not—please read this book! You will not regret it!
Kevin Cowherd’s When the Crowd Didn’t Roar gives readers an eye-opening look at the dangerous and hostile times of rioting in April 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland, following the death of African American Freddie Gray in police custody. Cowherd explains how, amidst the hostility, the Baltimore Orioles—the city’s Major League Baseball team—was forced to play a game against the Chicago White Sox behind locked gates, no fans in the stands, due to the dangerous nature of the riots and the need for law enforcement elsewhere in the city. The situation was far too dangerous. But, this game gave the the “broken city” of Baltimore hope. America’s greatest pastime—baseball—provided somewhat of a distraction and relief from the horror that unfolded in days previous. This game also came towards the end of the trying time in the city. It was almost a signal that the unrest was coming to an end.
I very much enjoyed reading this book. As a diehard Orioles fan, I do recall the day, watching the broadcast of the game. Cowherd writes in such a way that readers can come to fathom and understand what went on during such a trying time. He uses vivid imagery in order to do so. I remember that these riots were very destructive and dangerous, but his writing exemplified just how serious the situation was. It is clear to me how much time Cowherd took to write this book. He interviewed players, coaches, front office members, stadium staff, coordinators, and others for their first-hand accounts of the days of unrest. This makes his novel all the better. This book is intended for mature audiences, as it discusses a mature topic, and it contains language only appropriate for older audiences. If you get the chance—baseball fan or not—please read this book! You will not regret it!
May 25, 2019
A Story of Tragedy and Perseverance
Kevin Cowherd’s “When the Crowd Didn’t Roar” allows the readers to see into the dangers of the riots in April 2015. On April 29, 2015, the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox played the first major league game ever with no fans in the crowd. This was because Baltimore was in the midst of a riot after the death of Freddie Gray. Freddie Gray was an African-American involved in the drug trade so, the police tackled him in the streets, leaving him with a broken back. He died a few days later in police custody. This sparked outrage amongst the Baltimore area. Riots and protests erupted causing the police, who were meant to be at the game to monitor the stadium, to be at the riots. With no security, the Baltimore Orioles decided to hold a game with the gates closed, allowing no fans in.
Overall, I really enjoyed the topics and ideas discussed in the book. The telling of how the Orioles played a game without fans is an incredible experience that I would not have known about. It was interesting learning about how the Baltimore riots occurred. Kevin Cowherd interviewed players, front office members, coaches, staff, and coordinators to get their first hand experiences of the first major league game played without fans in the stadium. The book does use some mature language and based off of a mature topic so, keep that in mind when reading this book. The one thing I did not like was how often Cowherd repeated himself. Sometimes I felt that it got a bit excessive, but that is my only dislike. I recommend this book if you like unique stories.
Kevin Cowherd’s “When the Crowd Didn’t Roar” allows the readers to see into the dangers of the riots in April 2015. On April 29, 2015, the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox played the first major league game ever with no fans in the crowd. This was because Baltimore was in the midst of a riot after the death of Freddie Gray. Freddie Gray was an African-American involved in the drug trade so, the police tackled him in the streets, leaving him with a broken back. He died a few days later in police custody. This sparked outrage amongst the Baltimore area. Riots and protests erupted causing the police, who were meant to be at the game to monitor the stadium, to be at the riots. With no security, the Baltimore Orioles decided to hold a game with the gates closed, allowing no fans in.
Overall, I really enjoyed the topics and ideas discussed in the book. The telling of how the Orioles played a game without fans is an incredible experience that I would not have known about. It was interesting learning about how the Baltimore riots occurred. Kevin Cowherd interviewed players, front office members, coaches, staff, and coordinators to get their first hand experiences of the first major league game played without fans in the stadium. The book does use some mature language and based off of a mature topic so, keep that in mind when reading this book. The one thing I did not like was how often Cowherd repeated himself. Sometimes I felt that it got a bit excessive, but that is my only dislike. I recommend this book if you like unique stories.
February 16, 2020
This was an interesting read about the 4/29/2015 Orioles game that was played in a locked Camden Yards park with no fans allowed to attend. This was due to the horrid death of African-American Freddy Gray while in police custody. This sparked riots in Baltimore which caused the game to played without fans, due to safety concerns.
Less than a month after this riot/game, I visited Baltimore on a pursuit to photograph some Baseball Hall-of-Famer graves. I drove by the burned-out CVS store that was happened during the riots. I did not know that this was the site of the CVS store until later in the trip, when I talked to a National Park employee in Patterson, NJ, who had grown up near one of the graves that I visited.
Less than a month after this riot/game, I visited Baltimore on a pursuit to photograph some Baseball Hall-of-Famer graves. I drove by the burned-out CVS store that was happened during the riots. I did not know that this was the site of the CVS store until later in the trip, when I talked to a National Park employee in Patterson, NJ, who had grown up near one of the graves that I visited.
July 12, 2019
I was at Camden Yards when they locked the gates, so I was very interested in reading this book. Cowherd does a great job of gathering facts, interviews and reports on the days leading up to the riots in Baltimore and the weeks following. I appreciated the variety of people he interviewed and the way he reported, but didn't commentate. Readers are left to draw their own conclusions on the racial tension that filled the streets then. I learned so many things about the Orioles and the city. Great job Kevin. Now if we could just bring some much needed restoration to the city and it's many hurting people.
Read
September 25, 2019UNFINISHED REVIEW: Kevin Cowherd illuminates both the plight of inner city Baltimoreans and the essence of baseball in When the Crowd Didn't Roar. When a city is stripped down due to rioting, a game of baseball is stripped down, as well. Cowherd trenchantly addresses the injustices that led to the upheaval after Freddie Grey's death. He provides necessary context, history likely unfamiliar to those from out of town. Respectfully he presents the strange baseball game that occurred in the midst of the rioting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2019
This was less of a book and more of a long magazine article, which was a bit flawed due to the repetitious writing of the author. I found it somewhat interesting because I'm familiar with Baltimore, and I've been to Camden Yards many times. I honestly don't get the subtitle: "How Baseball's Strangest Game Ever Gave a Broken City Hope". It was pretty much a straight-up accounting of events with a bit of recent context.
October 26, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. I remember the game between the White Sox and Orioles and the obvious fact that NO fans were admitted to the game. What I appreciate from the author is taking all the different perspectives of those that were involved in the game. I also appreciate all that was covered outside the baseball game. A good book that shows sport in society and it connection to what happened in society. Once again, I enjoyed the book.
December 7, 2021
A good, concise read about one of the strangest games of baseball ever played. Why baseball decided they had to play a game in the midst of some of the worst riots in Baltimore history is a question many have, but they did. Yet, as the author recounts the action in the sparsest crowd in the Camden Yards’ history, he also discusses the Freddie Gray situation and all the associated backstories and themes. Overall, a good, quick read, but more than just a sports book.
August 17, 2020
As a Baltimore resident, it breaks my heart to see so many of the problems that caused the riots to happen are still very much active problems. Living during this time, with protests and police brutality and fan-less baseball games due to COVID, it feels like I'm reading something that's happening now instead of five years ago.
April 7, 2019
This is a very well-written, well-researched, and balanced account of the events surrounding the 2015 Baltimore riots and the Orioles game that was played with no fans in attendance. I very much appreciated the author taking the approach of reporting the facts, not opining them.
May 21, 2019
As a rabid baseball fan and someone who has called Baltimore home for the past six years and felt the pain along with the rest of the city, this book hit home for me. It was extremely well done. This book is going to have a special place on my bookshelf. I’m glad I was able to snag a signed copy.
August 22, 2023
Great insight into the strangest game of America's favorite pastime ever played. The feelings MLB stars, such as Davis, Joseph, and Jones, felt during the riots were the same feelings many Baltimoreans were experiencing.
Want to read
July 7, 2019New York Times Book Review, "Summer Reading," summer 2019
August 14, 2019
a snapshot of Baltimore during the Eddie Gray protests. The microcosm of Camden Yards empty ballpark shows outsiders a glimpse of Baltimore. As timely today as then.
July 7, 2020
Great recap of the events surrounding the Freddie Gray riots, especially the points-of-view from those involved with the Orioles game.
January 3, 2023
Deeply detailed account of one of the weirdest games in MLB history, and the tragedy and chaos surrounding it in Baltimore.
March 27, 2023
More for someone who didn’t live in Baltimore and know what was going on. It was interesting to hear the thoughts/actions of the players/ managers, but that was minimal.
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