Worth the Wait: Tales of the 2008 Phillies

Jayson Stark is a Philly resident, so he understands the ups and downs that comes with being a Philly Sport fan. So it was fitting that Jayson Stark wrote a book that chronicles the Phillies 2008 Championship Season. The book is done cleverly by taking his newspaper articles through the season and creating a book that takes you through the season until that last awe-inspiring Brad Lidge strike out of Erik Hinske! He adds more thoughts to some of this and adds statistics and odd facts that make you feel you were at each game. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think everyone who picks it up will also.

This book as good behind the scenes info and very good statistical information. Its a good read for anyone who feels freed from the burden of not winning a major championship in Philadelphia

Author Jayson Stark, a lifelong Philadelphian, chronicles the Philadelphia Phillies 2008 season, which saw them win their first World Series since 1980. Stark writes about the five moments that defined the Phillies season, the playoff games and the World Series. He injects color, flair and statistical oddities into the accounts. Most of this material was originally published by ESPN. The five key moments were: 1. Manager Charlie Manuel benching shortstop Jimmy Rollins twice, once for not hustling to first base and then for being late to the ballpark. 2. Opening Day starting pitcher Brett Myers being sent to the minors for a brief stint after a horrible start where he won just one of 13 starts. 3. The Phillies four-game sweep of the Dodgers, Aug 22-25. 4. The Phillies winning 13 of the final 16 games after trailing the Mets by 3.5 games. 5. The National League East clincher on Sept. 28, 2008, as reliever Brad Lidge records his 41st save in 41 opportunities. Even though die-hard Phillies fans undoubtedly remember the playoff and World Series games, reading about them again is still extremely satisfying. Stark captures the magic of those unforgettable games. This is a book Phillies fans will want to keep on their bookshelves and turn to periodically to relive some of their fondest memories.

Loved EVERYthing about this book. I'm a born & raised Phillies fan and if you are, too, you have to read this. I've followed Jayson Stark's career as a journalist and his style is infectious. It's amazing how many little things that I had already forgotten about last October's wonderful trip that ended in the best parade ever. At the end of each chapter are a bunch of little tidbits that are most excellent. The book now sits in my "Phillies shrine corner."

Philly has had more than its share of teams that didn't quite win the big one. We Philly sports fans have come to expect the worst. But the worst didn't happen last year. No one but Jayson Stark could have written this book. He's a Philly guy, so he gets it. He knows what that team meant to us. Stark gets to just what made the team so special. And once you've read this book, you will too. Everything is here, from Jimmy Rollins spring training boast that the Phillies would win 100 games (they did, if you include the postseason), to the September struggle to win the NL East, to the 46 hour rain delay before the Phillies won it all. You don't have to love the Phillies to love this book, but it helps. However, if you love baseball you will love this book.