Seasons in Hell

I wasn't quite sure what to think of this one either. I bought it because of the tagline on the front about it being funny. I admit to not knowing a whole lot about the very early years of the Rangers (I didn't move here until 1992, and didn't really follow 'em until 1995), and the thought about reading a book all about them didn't thrill me.However, I quickly found out that this was a hysterically funny book. Mike Shrophsire has a very funny wit, and isn't afraid to let it fly when talking about the Rangers of this era. His recollection of events is awesome, and makes for very funny reading. If you're a fan of the Rangers, or even if you're not, GET THIS! It's a very great read, although I don't recommend it for very small kids, as there's more than just one or two cuss words in there. Still, for adults, it's well worth it.

This is by far the best sports book ever and probably my favorite book period.Shropshire gives an unparrelled view into the world of baseball in the early 70,s By his account, this book is a reflexion and timeline of that era,not just baseball.An essential element of a book like this is for the author to capture the lifestyle,current events,and the essance of the time in which he is writing.Having grown up following this team,the names and places are very familar,but you don,t have to be a rangers fan for this book to make sense and be a pure delight.You will never feel the same about pro atheletes again.I encourage anyone to read this book and prepare to laugh out loud and take a trip back in time to an era we will never see again

If you're looking for a scholarly book on baseball, this one is not for you. If, however, you enjoy funny anecdotes about the game this book will keep you riveted. Here's an example: The author, who covered the Texas Rangers, decided to walk back to his downtown hotel in Detroit from Tiger Stadium following a night game. Upon arrival at his destination he congratulated himself on his safe arrival. After taking the elevator to his room he found the key wouldn't work. He went down to the front desk and berated the desk clerk about the key to his room not working. The clerk examined it and returned it to the individual by saying, "No wonder it doesn't work. You're in the wrong hotel, but don't feel bad because you only missed it by one block." With subjects like Billy Martin and Whitey Herzog at the helm of the Texas Rangers between the years 1973-1975 the book is loaded with funny stories. This book is a keeper.

I bought this book purely out of curiosity, because I wanted to know whay anyone would write a book about the Rangers. Within a few pages, I knew that the Rangers, important as they were to the story, were not the ENTIRE story. Shropshire is an articulate writer, and many passages are, as a previous reviewer, "laugh out loud" funny. It's a tale of bad baseball, marginal players, marginal people, and it evokes a sense of time and place that I never thought a sports book could have. even if you don't like sports, this book is worth reading just because it's well written.

"Seasons in Hell" is a very enjoyable account of what happens to a sportswriter following a bad baseball team. The stories are very funny throughout the book, especially the chapter about "official scoring". A MUST for all sportsfans, especially baseball fans.