A Day In The Bleachers

“On the subway home, Arnold and I confessed to each other that we would never again give our hearts or our ticket money to another baseball team. But within the year, the two of us were listening to the San Francisco Giants’ games late at night via the artful Les Keiter’s reconstruction on the radio.

After all, there was still Willie Mays to cheer for.”

Ray Robinson, New Foreword to the 50th Anniversary Edition of A Day in the Bleachers by Arnold Hano.

The memories are coming. The memories are coming.

2004 is the 50th anniversary of the Giants last World Series title. The memory march has already begun with a few articles and vid clips on ESPN. The Giants will honor some of the members of the team in a ceremony scheduled for late July.

All good mind you, but wouldn’t it be great if someone, say a writer who covered and knew the Giants back then, brought us an in-depth account of something spectacular from the ’54 season? What if he was at one of the World Series games? What if he was in the bleachers when Willie robbed Wertz in the eighth inning of Game One?

Such a book, A Day in the Bleachers, was written by Arnold Hano. The first edition was published in 1955. The copy I bought from a used book store several years ago was a reprint in 1981. Now comes a re-release by Da Capo Press with a new foreword by Ray Robinson and a new afterword by Hano.

I’m really prejudiced because Hano wrote the first baseball book I ever read, Willie Mays in 1966. But ADITB has always gotten good reviews and is one you might want to read as we trip down memory lane this year. Really good to hear something from Hano who had a unique perspective on the Giants. In many ways, he was like today's blogger - equal parts fan, observer and writer.

Thank you Mr. Hano and thank you Da Capo Press.

Comments

[matthew tannenbaum]

started and finished hano's book during this 2004 world series. wonderful writing. but why no mention of the catch and throw willie made on furillo in the 1951 pennant drive, going deep into right center for the out and then
the discus peg to westrum at home to catch cox who
had tagged up from third. a sure extra base hit turned into an innning ending double play. reference: paul metcalf's epic poem "willie's throw" last published in vol 3 of metcalf's collected works published by coffee house press.

[Jay]

Matthew,

Not sure why Hano didn’t mention it. He does talk about “The Throw” in his biography of Mays (the copy I have is from 1966). There’s a great line from a newsman who said, “He (Whitey Lockman) ought to hire out as a bombsight.”

Thanks for writing.