Monday, August 18, 2008

Reading About the Sox

Last week I received a very nice email from a lady in New York State named Christine Auclair. She's a diehard Red Sox fan, and she found me through the web site. Turns out that Christine has written a book about being a Red Sox fan in New York (sounds familiar) called "Living in New York as a Red Sox Fan: Tips and Topics From Within Enemy Lines."

Christine told me that the book is" written with a blend of facts and humor, along with some truthful sarcasm." Hey, if you root for the Red Sox in these parts you have to have some truthful sarcasm, right? If you'd like to check out Christine's web site where you can get her book, go here.

Good luck with the book, Christine.

I've also been reading books about the Red Sox lately. In addition to reading Jere Smith's fictional novel "Dirty Water: A Red Sox Mystery," I also read Jerry Remy's book, "Watching Baseball." As you would expect from the RemDawg, it is filled with his self-depreciating wit and good humor. But it is also breaks down every facet of the game for the fan's better understanding of it. You feel like you are watching a game alone with him at a bar. I got the updated 2007 version, and I really recommend it.

I am currently reading Bill Nowlin's book "Red Sox Threads: Odds and Ends From Red Sox History." It just came out in July, and it is literally everything you could ever want to know about the Red Sox (whether you were afraid to ask or not). Bill talks about the Red Sox on every conceivable subject regarding them you can think of. From the Jewish players, the oddest nicknames, to opening days and the day every Red Sox player made their club debut, Bill have put together an incredible book of Red Sox facts and figures, and lots of way-out stuff that would make a crazy fan like me happy.

The book is 545 pages, and I guarantee you'll find out things you couldn't possibly find out anywhere else. Like who hit the 10,000th home run in team history? (Kevin Millar in 2003) When was the last time the Sox were involved in a forfeit? (1941) What did Harry Hooper do after his career ended? (He became a postmaster.) Just about everyone who has ever worn a Red Sox uniform is in this book.

If you love odd stuff about the team, go out and get this book. Bill has written a dozen books on the Sox and this is his most fascinating to date.

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