Will I love Summer of '49?

I've been a Yankees fan (and Red Sox hater) since growing up on Long Island in the 1950s. So this book left me entirely satisfied in that regard. In addition, the book immerses us in a postwar world that is not so very far back in our past, yet seems to have been all but forgotten.

I liked this slice of history and the sense of importance David Halberstam imparted to it. He cared about the story, and so I did, too.

I love the All-Star cast—Casey Stengel, Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Bobby Doerr, et al.—that animates the action. I’m there on the field with these guys, sweating out the action Halberstam so passionately describes, and feeling their emotions.

I’m no fan of the Yankees or Red Sox, but Halberstam’s story about the 1949 American League pennant race piqued my interest. His chapter transitions made me want to start the next one to see what comes next. He never bored with play-by-play details, mind-numbing stats, or months and days of the week. The people and their personal stories propel Halberstam’s narration of the goings-on around the teams and baseball season. It all flowed so smoothly. Getting to know the “characters” made the story hit home for me.