When the Braves Ruled the Diamond

By: Dan Schlossberg

Narrated by: Kyle Tait

Length: 7 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's Summary

From 1991 through 2005, the Atlanta Braves did something no pro sports team can match, finishing in first place for 14 consecutive seasons.

During that stretch, the Braves parlayed powerful pitching with potent hitting that produced under pressure. Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox won with veteran teams, young teams, slugging teams, and several times with teams that emphasized speed and defense. His teams captured 100 wins in six different seasons.

In When the Braves Ruled the Diamond, former AP sportswriter Dan Schlossberg covers the record-breaking era that transformed Atlanta from the Bad-News Braves to America's Team. With separate chapters on Cox, fabled pitching coach Leo Mazzone, and Hall of Fame pitchers Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz, this book also highlights the contributions of Andres Galarraga, Andruw Jones, Chipper Jones, Brian Jordan, Javy Lopez, Terry Pendleton, and many more Braves stars. It features year-by-year summaries, Opening Day lineups, and even oddball anecdotes that explain why the 14-year streak may never be duplicated. It is the perfect gift for fans of baseball history as well as fans of the Atlanta Braves!

©2016 Dan Schlossberg (P)2017 Dan Schlossberg

If you're a Baseball fan I suggest it

Great book and narrated nicely. The reader isn't monotone making it easy to read. Only downside to this book is some parts are repetitive in every chapter, but as a Braves fan, it wasn't a turnoff from the book.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Narration Makes the Book Come Alive

Would you listen to When the Braves Ruled the Diamond again? Why?

Probably not since I got the information from the first listen.

Any additional comments?

Loved this narrator, it was like listening to Mike Rowe talk about the Braves. They even used the Braves theme music which was a nice touch. Really interesting information that only an insider would have. I thought I knew the Braves, but now I know so much more!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Highs and Lows

As a hardcore Braves fan who cut my teeth on baseball during the first year of the streak and truly embraced the game during the epic pennant race of 1993, I've been waiting for a book chronicling the 14 year streak of division titles for quite some time.

It isn't so much that the story is bad, it is more that I can see things that could have made it better.

The best parts of the book are the earliest chapters when men who played big parts in the streak were profiled including: Bobby Cox, John Smoltz, Leo Mazzone, Tom Glavine, Chipper Jones and others.

The season by season recaps that follow are an interesting idea but always left me wanting more. More quotes from those involved looking back or even more quotes from articles written at the time. The book is at it's best when those involved comment and lacks something when it is a recap of batting orders, statistics and scores. More clubhouse anecdotes might have helped to break up the stream of numbers.
It is also a bit repetitive. You're going to hear things like 18 rookies, Smoltz, Cox and Mazzone being the only ones to be involved in all 14 years of the streak and other nuggets several times throughout the narrative.

The best part of the audiobook is Kyle Tait's narration. If you didn't know that he had play-by-play experience before listening to the book, the way he approached the narration would have made it obvious. He just has the cadence of a play-by-play man. As a result, listening to lineups, scores and stats wasn't as laborious as it might have been reading them in print.

My criticisms aside, I enjoyed listening to this book. There was a lot of 'hey, I remember him', 'I forgot he passed through Atlanta' and 'that loss still hurts' thoughts that ran through my head.

The book is a decent overview of the highs and lows of the 14 year streak of division titles and the profiles are quite interesting. But I just can't say this is the definitive word on everything that happened. Perhaps someday someone will write an epic oral history? We can only hope. But Braves fans should enjoy the audiobook, except for the part that it will remind them of each post season failure.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A Good Listen for Any Baseball Fan

I remember when the Braves were the best team in the league, but I was young enough that I didn't know about any of the "inside baseball" stuff going on beyond the games themselves. As an adult who follows baseball closely, it's fun to get the full picture of a time I didn't know much about. Schlossburg's research is thorough and his descriptions of on- and off-the-field events are compelling. Tait's narration is very well done; he reminds me of a play-by-play announcer, even-toned and excited about the game. This book is worth listening to for any baseball fan, and I'd say it's a must-read if you're a big Braves fan.

Great book for baseball fans!

Schlossberg does an awesome job recapping the Braves remarkable division streak. I heard lots of stories I had forgotten and lots of new ones as well. Was a lot of fun to relive the pennant chases and playoff series. Even remembered some names I had long forgotten. Kyle Tait brings the book alive with his great narration. Perfect cadence and keeps the reader engaged throughout the book.

Impossible not to learn something new

What made the experience of listening to When the Braves Ruled the Diamond the most enjoyable?

I went from knowing absolutely nothing about the Braves history to feeling pretty confident in random bar room conversations.

What was one of the most memorable moments of When the Braves Ruled the Diamond?

Internal feuds of management and the unbiased hindsight of the managers assets and faults.

What about Kyle Tait’s performance did you like?

Tait was a master on the microphone. His voice kept me engaged throughout the entire venture.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Early on when it went over all the major trades the Braves did that helped and hurt their team.

Rules change, The Boys Still Play for the Game

What made the experience of listening to When the Braves Ruled the Diamond the most enjoyable?

I see this as a "commemorative" item. Picture it as the written project but with reproduction score cards or some baseball cards, maybe some some play by play from Ron Wolfley sound bites on the Audible version.

This was good but can you see it "enhanced" ?

Who was your favorite character and why?

As produced it well acted. I thought Kyle Tait did a swell job. I believe he has experience as a sports announcer!

Which character – as performed by Kyle Tait – was your favorite?

I didn't get a sense of "favorite character" It did provide a fantastic sense of team excellence, where the dynasty fit with other teams' as well as individual perfotmances, batting, pitching, defense, etc!

Any additional comments?

In my opinion, this Audible work is worth the credit and my listening time. It is certainly worth many relistening!
Thanks for the opportunity to listen and offer my opinions on this work! A review copy was gifted to me at no charge. In return, I am happy to provide an honest review. Also at no charge.

Nevermore

What made the experience of listening to When the Braves Ruled the Diamond the most enjoyable?

It made me think that I remember history. These were days and times that I lived through yet I know will never be repeated. Free agency has replaced the old success formula used by the Braves of draft/farm system + trades +free agents = MLB success.

What was one of the most memorable moments of When the Braves Ruled the Diamond?

I enjoyed the second tier people the ones who weren't necessarily in the headlines every day.

What does Kyle Tait bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Crisp, concise and entertaining. Kyle was there even though he may not have been. It was a guided tour of the Braves incredible run.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I almost did!

Any additional comments?

Dan and Kyle gave life to this tale. Too many baseball books are dull recitations of facts and figures but "When The Braves Ruled The Diamond" made you hear the crack of the bat.

A review copy of this audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in return for this unbiased review.

Most redundant book ever

After reading Chipper Jones' book "Ballplayer" I thought this would be a good book. I listen to books while I work, but after four chapters I had heard several of the same stories between 2 and 4 times. I could no longer listen to it.

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Could Not Finish, Narration is Just Not Good

I really wanted to like this book, loving the Braves during this period. The narrator is really just boring. Sorry Dan, I'll give the print version a try
I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Blast

0 of 2 people found this review helpful