We are very often so deeply involved in our popular culture
that we don’t realize that this culture exists.
Sports very often provides an escape from our daily problems. The Mets have been a large part of the
popular culture of New York City since the team’s inception in 1962. The team often intersected with other
entertainment venues including movies, television, and music as shown in this
book.
I have read many baseball books that are very scholarly and
provided numerous statistics and details that are suitable for the serious
baseball researcher. Editor David Krell
received contributions by several academics whose contributions are suitable
for the casual Met fan who want more detail about the “Beloved Amazins”. Krell,
a noted baseball writer, made two contributions. I have been a Met fan since 1962
and learned quite a bit from reading this book.
For example, I always enjoyed Bob Murphy’s broadcasts but
knew little of his career before he joined the Mets. Donna Halper, a professor of media studies,
provides a detailed account. Likewise,
there is an excellent biography of Joan Payson, the first owner of the Mets, by
SABR member Leslie Heaphy. I was also amused
to read more about Mr. Met.
Each contribution included a long list of notes that provide a reference to original newspaper articles so that serious baseball scholars can
get more detailed information. I highly
recommend this book to all baseball enthusiasts even if they are not Met fans.
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