Big Hair and Plastic Grass

A Funky Ride Through Baseball and America in the Swinging '70s

By: Dan Epstein

Narrated by: Dan Epstein

Length: 12 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

The Bronx Is Burning meets Chuck Klosterman in this wild pop-culture history of baseball's most colorful and controversial decade.

The Major Leagues witnessed more dramatic stories and changes in the 70s than in any other era. The American popular culture and counterculture collided head-on with the national pastime, rocking the once-conservative sport to its very foundations. Outspoken players embraced free agency, openly advocated drug use, and even swapped wives. Controversial owners such as Charlie Finley, Bill Veeck, and Ted Turner introduced Astroturf, prime-time World Series, garish polyester uniforms, and outlandish promotions such as Disco Demolition Night. Hank Aaron and Lou Brock set new heights in power and speed, Reggie Jackson and Carlton Fisk emerged as October heroes, and All-Star characters like Mark "The Bird" Fidrych became pop icons.

For the millions of fans who grew up during this time, and especially those who cared just as much about Oscar Gamble's afro as they did about his average, Big Hair and Plastic Grass serves up a delicious trip down memory lane.

©2019 Dan Epstein (P)2019 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

An Upper and a Downer!

Wow! Such a fantastic ride through the world of baseball in the '70s. This book rekindled a fervent fire within me and made me remember why I ever fell in love with this game in the first place.

Although I'm an 80s kid, I know my baseball history and I loved the fact that my Mets got (what I consider) adequate love in this book. Stories of Cleon Jones, the battles against the Big Red Machine, and Tom Terrific, all made my heart smile.

The sad thing for me is - after listening to this book the current state of baseball hit me really hard.

The game just isn't what it used to be, but for a few hours, this book takes you back. Boy oh boy does it take you back...in a good way. I wish I still enjoyed it the same, but I don't. Sadly, I feel the money has completely taken over. Some markets don't make any real effort to field competitive teams. As long as the revenue is there, there is no real incentive to do more as an organization. Such is life, I guess.

I'd also like to mention the author is sure to drop anecdotal information about the political vibe in the backdrop. The approach provides great context and It all comes together nicely.

Big hair, wild mustaches, greenies, spit balls, Frank Tanana. Disco fever. The makings of George Steinbrenner as a mogul. Watergate. The Montreal Expos. Sheesh. It's all here. Comprehensively.

Wonderfully entertaining!

From start to finish I thoroughly enjoyed this account of 1970s culture as displayed in major league baseball. From Dock Ellis’ LSD no-hitter to the Bronx Zoo to the ‘we are family’ Pirates, I learned a lot about the game I love in the decade in which I was born.

Lots of Fun!

I really enjoyed this book. It’s amazing how these stories come to life and memories are rekindled. There is some great storytelling here, and the characters are larger than life. Also some great insights into how advances in technology and media changed the game. Sometimes a little heavy on stats….a little hard to process with audio only. But overall a joyous celebration of the game and our culture.

Fantastic. Full of great info and humor

Dan is such a good writer. I learned so much… even about my favorite team.

This should be required reading for true baseball fans.

Epstein hits a home run!

The author sets the book up chronologically and takes you through baseball in the 1970’s. Stories, stats, and happenings in society are told in such a way that will take you back to the 70’s in each chapter. Could have done without the liberal political rant near the end, but would definitely would recommend this book.

I Have always wanted to read this...

Brought back a lot of memories, and filled in some of the background to the baseball lore I knew as a teenager.

Entertaining review of the 70’s

I enjoyed the year-by-year Chronicles of baseball in the 70s, complete with statistics, scandals, and all-around weirdness that was in baseball during that decade

Excellent.

The definitive book on 70s baseball. Well written, excellent narration. Very well researched also. A+

Good listen

This was a good book few tidbits I did not know about. Few laughs and great stats.

Very entertaining but it could’ve been better

Overall, this is a great book to listen to. I learned a lot of things about baseball in the 70s that I never knew had occurred. I think the author could’ve generated two books out of the material because there are things I’d like to know more about Philadelphia or Pittsburgh drug scandals, to name just a couple things.
My biggest quibble is that the author doesn’t seem to know how to pronounce words like My Lai, DeCinces or angst, among others.
Still worth a listen.