• The Long Ball

  • The Summer of '75 and the Greatest World Series Ever Played
  • By: Tom Adelman
  • Narrated by: Richard M. Davidson
  • Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (33 ratings)

Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.
The Long Ball  By  cover art

The Long Ball

By: Tom Adelman
Narrated by: Richard M. Davidson
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $21.49

Buy for $21.49

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Critically acclaimed writer Tom Adelman is hailed as a renegade by the Village Voice Literary Supplement for his aggressive, no-holds-barred style. The Long Ball is his dynamic re-telling of baseball's thrilling 1975 season.

The year began with the dawning of free agency and ended with the greatest World Series of all time, featuring a legendary home run by Boston catcher Carlton Fisk. It was a season of such larger-than-life ballplayers as Reggie Jackson, Pete Rose, Catfish Hunter, Carl Yastrzemski, and Johnny Bench. From the preseason through the World Series, Adelman shares the fascinating back stories and recounts the classic games in such striking details that you'll swear you hear bats cracking.

A behind-the-scenes account that is blunt, funny, and sometimes shocking, The Long Ball is an engrossing story whether you love baseball or not. Richard M. Davidson narrates with all the panache of a play-by-play radio announcer.

©2003 Tom Adelman (P)2003 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Vivid writing...lovely metaphors...ambitious." (The Washington Post)
"A spectacularly energetic writer." (Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about The Long Ball

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    16
  • 4 Stars
    10
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    2
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    7
  • 4 Stars
    7
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    10
  • 4 Stars
    5
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

1975 Baseball Season and Carlton Fisk

"Long Ball" is a terrific in-depth account of the exciting 1975 season that culminates with Carlton Fisk's iconic home run in the World Series.

Background stories, by Tom Adelman, about Reggie Jackson, Yaz, Catfish Hunter, Fred Lynn, Jim Rice, Luis Tiant, and more.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Not bad at all

I am a Cincinnati Reds fan, so I guess I like the outcome of this story the best. I thought that the book was well written and presented. This time period had to be the "sexiest" time for MLB.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Incredible Word Series Story

Excellent book about the world series that produced one of the most famous moments in baseball history. Highly detailed and stuffed with anecdotes. Highest recommendation

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Waste Of A Wonderful Year

The author seemingly did the impossible--he wrote a poor book about the incredible 1975 World Series. His book is full of hyperbole, inaccuracies, and his personal opinion on such items as Johnny Bench's new wife Vicki's tight fitting blouse. He brings in for his own purposes Ricky Henderson who in 1975 was in high school, Dave McNally, who was washed up before he left the Expos and had no impact on the 1975 season, and the length of Sparky Anderson's son's hair. Shame on Adelman.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful