The Bad Guys Won: A Season of Brawling, Boozing, Bimbo Chasing, and Championship Baseball with Straw, Doc, Mookie, Nails, the Kid, and t

In his finest work since exposing John Rocker for the dope that he is, Jeff Pearlman helps baseball fans recall one of the most entertaining teams (both on and off the field) in baseball history. 1986 Mets were World Series Champions and partying champions. They were as much dirtbag as they were lovable and Pearlman does an excellent job of showing us both sides. Doc, Darryl, Keith and Gary "Ivory Soap" Carter all comeback to life in this absolutely entertaining stroll down memory lane. 5 Stars for Mets fans, 4 stars for baseball fans.

An enjoyable quick read that brought back memories of a very entertaining talent rich team. At that time the Mets were available in Massachusetts on cable and I watched a lot of their games both because the National League is a better brand of ball and Tim McCarver a top notch analyst. The local Red Sox are something that I try and ignore. Thus the final match-up was a no way can the Mets lose thought. Of course without the interesting umpire calls Houston would have beaten the Mets. Mayber that is a subject for a book as there have been numerous out and out bad calls in all sports. The sadness of exceptional squandered talent, i.e. Gooden and Strawberry along with the inside perspective on the players with their warts keeps the book both informative and entertaining.

Someone gave me this book at the same time as the Buster Olney "Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty" book. Olney's writing was better, and even though he was chronicling the downfall of the Yankees--which is always fun--I'm a Mets fan so my vote goes to the guy writing about the Mets winning a World Series, even if they were arrogant coked up jerks. Advantage: Pearlman.

If ever there was a team that embodied the crazy 80s this was them. The New York Mets were expected to do great things with their collection of stars and their 108 win regular season. However, the playoffs were far from easy for them, with some miracles (including a Boston meltdown) helping them along the way to their second World Series title in history. Most of this is well known by the casual baseball fan. What is less-known are the exploits of this group of meglomaniacal, immature misfits throughout the course of that crazy 1986 season. Pearlman's look back as a guy who has grown up now but was only a young kid at the time is truly fantastic. You'll read about Doc and Darryl's run-ins with drug accusations, entire team food fights on airplanes, who had the worst gas (Doug Sisk), and the circumstances of how four Mets found themselves arrested by overzealous cops in Texas. If you're a baseball fan, you'll enjoy this easy read. It's nonstop fun and never seems to have slow moments. An added bonus is that you need not be a Mets fan to enjoy this book -- it's a tale of adult immaturity and debauchery that anyone with a sense of humor and a love of baseball can (and will) enjoy.

Even if you're not a Mets fan(which I am), this book takes you behind the scenes and then some. The team was a reflection of the times they lived in - the loud, wild, crazy "its all about me" time period. There's no denying, however, that they were one of the best teams ever. Pearlman places you along side of them and does a fantastic job (you may recall Pearlman was the Sports Illustrated Writer who did the article on John Rocker). The book focuses on the one year (1986)yet gives in-depth background where needed (e.g., Keith Hernandez' history with the Cardinals and his drug charges).Worth every cent. A must for any baseball fan.