Beyond the Sixth

Baseball's evolution from "sport" to "business," as viewed by the public, from the landmark decision of free agency, is displayed most ably by Peter Gammons. Aside from being an excellent writer, Gammons is a premier baseball historian, especially in regards to the Boston Red Sox, and he does his subject and team justice with this book. It is an excellent view of the last, excellent days the 1975 World Series, free agency, its affect on the Red Sox, how the Red Sox were mismanaged in free agency, the personalities at work on the Red Sox, and the general dissolution of the team after the sixth game of the 1975 World Series. Highly recommended for both baseball fans and those who want to recall the early days of baseball free agency.

I have been a die hard Red Sox fan for 60 years but I grew up in the west were news of the Sox was scarce at best. This book answered so many questions. A must read for any body that truly lived and died with the Boston Red Sox. John Gaskill Carson City, Nevada

Peter Gammons showed America why he is considered the best sportswriter of this generation. Who better than someone born in Massachusetts to write a story about the illustrious Boston Red Sox? He begins with THE SIXTH GAME. For those uniniated, the Sixth Game is possibly the greatest game ever played in a World Series. All the way from Carlton Fisk's triumphant home run to the damning Free-Agency created on Major League Baseball. I know it sounds cliche, but Gammons truly hits a home run with this book. Along the way, from 1975-1985, you meet the Red Sox and learn who they are. Jim Rice, Bill "Spaceman" Lee, and Luis Tiant. Bucky "Bleeping" Dent, Mike Torrez, and Joe Rudi. Everybody important, and some that are not important, are covered in the book. If you are a Sox fan, or simply a baseball fan, and you have not read this book, you are truly missing out.

this is a classic that should go back into print immediately. gammons is probably the finest living baseball writer. this book covers the boston red sox during the decade after their world series appearance in 1975. the heartbreaking 1978 playoff game with the yankees, the beginning of the free agent era, and the wonderful characters like bill lee, george scott, aka " the boomer", bernie carbo, and the great pitcher fergie jenkins, are all covered. in that period, the red sox had a lot of cool characters and also some excellent ball players on the team, like jim rice, fred lynn, and carlton fisk, to name just a few. the team's tough battles with the yankees ( who lee called "fascist brownshirts")are also covered admirably. gammons has a great sense of humor as well. the book flows superbly, and is a fine read for any baseball fan , even yankees fans.

This is an excellent book from at least two perspectives. First, using the Red Sox as a focus, it examines the organizational, financial and legal chaos which arises during the early years of rampant free agency. As a baseball fan since the early 1960s I still remember the new uncertainties and insecurities unleashed when the reserve clause was declared null and void. Almost overnight it seemed all my favorite players were on the verge of jumping the team for more lucrative contracts elsewhere. Baseball has never been the same. In addition it also examines in detail why the Red Sox only won one pennant and NO world series during the 1970s and early 1980s despite having the most talented team in baseball. In addition to the problems of free agency the team had attrocious management and a lack of pitching depth...thus its lack of success despite having such stars as Yazstremski, Rice, Lynn, Fisk, Tiant etc. From a Red Sox fans point of view the book is both heartbreaking and very informative.