A's Essential: Everything You Need to Know to Be a Real Fan!

by Steven Travers, Billy Beane (Foreword)

A one-stop record containing everything A's fans want to know about their favorite baseball team, this resource is packed with anecdotes, history, explanations of traditions, statistics, trivia, and photos.

Genres: Nonfiction

240 pages, Hardcover

First published March 30, 2007

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun read for all A's fans. I found myself wanting more of the stories and less of the random stats that were incorporated. It would have been awesome if the stats were given in tables on the side or something. Overall, it was fun.

[Donald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, to be open about it, I'm a huge A's fan, so I love the content almost automatically! And this book has a lot of content! It covers the ball club from its inception in Philadelphia to its current incarnation in Oakland, up to the year 2006! As a rabid fan, I knew most of what is in here. Still, the chapters about Harry Caray and Ken "Hawk" Harrelson were new to me! My only negatives about this book are probably nit picky. I really didn't like the way some chapters ended, sort of too casually. Example: "Party on, man". And I have to take major exception to the list titled "All-1990s A's Team". Now I know these lists are just the author's opinion (though he doesn't label them as such), and no criteria is given for his choices. Still, Ruben Sierra on this list for outfield? Seriously? I just have no words to explain how incredibly strange/weird/stupid/misguided/what-the-f/possible typo?/come on/no really, seriously? this man being on this list is. I guess Bill King said it best - "Holy Toledo"!!!