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Wade Boggs

He rises from the ground after receiving the shortstop's thumping tag, on his injured foot no less, with his uniform dirty and his red helmet off his head, his pride spilled before him in the dirt. He cannot stay; he must leave. He picks up his helmet and trots off, chastened.

I don't care about sports, but Dan Barry is one of my favorite writers, and this book is pure magic. In 1981, a minor league game lasted 33 innings, the longest in baseball history. Barry masterfully tells the stories of those involved, from the players (which included Wade Boggs and Cal Ripken Jr.) coaches, fans, announcers, and even the bat boy. The players desperately wanted this game to end.

Readers of this book will feel just the opposite.

Anyone want one of these books? (I won‘t be offended if no one responds. 🙂)

This is about the longest baseball game ever, between two minor league teams (Pawtucket Red Sox and Rochester Red Wings, who are the teams that feed the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles rosters respectively) in 1981. It was so entertaining and fun to listen to, zeroing in on the game and the players but also zooming out to talk about life in the minor leagues and the business around it. Cal Ripken Jr. played in the game! #audiobook