Summer of '98

Example. Here for you. The Reader. Of my review:
(PG. 20-- "McGwire had attended one of those Fan Fests that big-league teams hold during the winter, and had signed more than 300 autographs. For free. It only made him more of a giant. More like Babe Ruth."

I mean, how does this drivel slip past the editor? I found myself skimming this book instead of reading it. Lupica repeats OVER AND OVER the phrase, "magical season," to the point where it's just not so magical anymore.

When authors include their real life experiences, I like to hear how everyone really sounded. Lupica's 8-year old child just does not speak like this. I'm sorry.

Ugh, I regret spending [money] on this and am sad that someone I know was mentioned. In it. Blegh


A sweet retelling of an amazing season via father and son   June 11, 2002
 1 out of 5 found this review helpful

Tim McCarver's "The Perfect Season" was the first book about the spectacular 1998 baseball season to hit the bookshelves. Mike Lupica's, "Summer of 98" was not far behind. What makes owning both books worth it is that each one presents a different way of remember that season. "The Perfect Season" is an excellent companion piece and reference manual for that year because McCarver breaks down all the events vividly in separate chapters. Lupica's presentation is more chronological and revisits the day-to-day emotion every true baseball fan felt following baseball that year. There have been many past baseball seasons that have been romanticized in newspaper print and book pages (notably the "Summer of 41", with the amazing seasons of Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio), so the precedent had been set for narrative of "Summer of 98". Lupica, in true McGwire fashion, hits a home run in reliving the year. The centerpoint of the story focuses on how he and his son shared and developed an indelible bond following everything from the record home run chases by both Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa to the amazing excellence of their beloved Yankees (on their way to a record 125-win season... counting playoffs). On nights when his son could not stay up to watch McGwire at bats or Yankee games, Lupica would leave him notes in the morning recapping what happened the night before. As a fan of baseball myself, it took me back to that year and seasons past when I would get up at the crack of dawn the grab the paper and go right to the sports section to see what happened. I had fond memories of following my beloved Orioles during their almost miraculous 1989 season and of trying to see if anyone could break Roger Maris' record of 61 home runs. 1998 had all that amazing magic and "Summer of 98" relives it with such vivid detail.


Solid but overdone in some respects   June 10, 2002
 1 out of 3 found this review helpful

This book is largely about how the 1998 Baseball season brought the sport back into the American consciousness and does so by using his family as amicrocosm of the nation. I think the book is efective and Lupica is knowledgable about the game despite some factual errors. I do think there is too much of a LOOK I'M SPECIAL type of namedropping and atitude in the book but overall it is a worthy effort though Baseball did not supplant Footbal as our nation's top sport in 1998 and has failed to capitalize on the succes of that season.


For Lupica Family members only   December 5, 2001
 6 out of 8 found this review helpful

Dont' read this book if you want a recap of the 98 baseball season. Do read it if you want to know more about Mike Lupica's kids, their favorite player, the name of their little league team, and the rules at the Lupica house for the boys bedtime.

If you are related to Mike Lupica or are a friend of the family, by all means buy the book, you'll love it, since most of it is about people you know. For the rest of us, who bought it thinking we were getting the story of the 98 season, it is a waste of money.


This Book Is A Gonner   May 23, 2001
 2 out of 3 found this review helpful

In the season of the "home run," Mike Lupica adds to that massive number with a well-hit "dinger" of his own. I have always admired his remarkable writing ability, and this book clearly displays it.

Lupica has the personal knowledge of the sports' world to write hundreds of books, but here, he goes about it in a completely different way. The baseball summer of 1998 will always be remembered for the home run battle between Mark McGwire and Sammy "Say It Ain't" Sosa, and their epic run at "61." However, Lupica entered the human element of the season. He added wonderful personal stories that brought out the emotions of his family during the wild ride. He also peppered the book with humorous tidbits from the fans that made the book gel cohesively.

This book was truly a pleasure to read, and one that any baseball fan would enjoy. It is the perfect tribute to a sensational year.