Late last week I received a package in the mail, something called the Great American Baseball Box -- and believe me when I tell you that it's amazing. The box itself is shaped and textured like a base, and it contains a sixty-page book (reminiscent of a baseball scorebook) that presents an overview of 160 years of baseball history. But the true value of the box lies in the four CDs which together comprise what must be the most comprehensive audio collection of baseball history ever assembled.
Disc 1 (The Music) focuses on the music of the game and includes such classics as John Fogerty's "Centerfield," Terry Cashman's "Talkin' Baseball," and Dave Frishberg's examination of the poetry of baseball's names, "Van Lingle Mungo." Other artists include Count Basie, Danny Kaye, and Bob Dylan, as well as several others.
The second disc (The Games) highlights many of the game's most famous on- and off-field moments, including Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard 'Round the World" in 1951, Don Larsen's Perfect Game in 1956, Nolan Ryan's 7th No-Hitter, and several notable home runs hit by players like Bucky Dent, Carlton Fisk, Hank Aaron, Mark McGwire, and Barry Bonds. Each event is described by the original broadcast call, giving the collection a feeling of tremendous historical significance.
Disc number three (The Players) includes 43 tracks of major league players and managers talking on any number of subjects, ranging from reflections on performances to discussions on the state of the game at various points in history. The voices highlighted range from Connie Mack and Ty Cobb to Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds.
The fourth disc (The Rest) offers an eclectic collection of all things baseball. It opens with a reading of "Casey at the Bat," moves on to Abbott and Costello's classic "Who's on First" routine, and includes a few short conversations with Hall of Famers like Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, and Reggie Jackson. And yes, you also get to hear Tommy Lasorda's famous rant about Dave Kingman.
As I listened to these four discs tonight -- yes, I listened to them all -- I realized I was walking through 160 years of baseball history, listening to legendary broadcasters and players, and when I finished I wanted to start all over again back at the beginning.
BrokenCowboy's Advice: Buy. If you've got a baseball fan on your list this holiday season, you can't go wrong with this collection.
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