It Happens Every Spring

Overview

A timeless collection of baseball stories from a Pulitzer Prize-winning author.

Culled from 50 years’ worth of columns from one of the country’s most popular sportswriters, It Happens Every Spring stands as a remarkable and evocative anthology that is guaranteed to delight baseball fans of all ages. Former New York Times columnist Ira Berkow captures the spirit of America's pasttime in this collection of opinions, stories, and observations from his long and distinguished career.

From memories of Ted Williams and Satchel Paige to reflections on Jackie Robinson, Barry Bonds, and the soul of the beloved game, this work combines Berkow’s eye for detail with the comedy and drama revealed by the subjects themselves, bringing to life some of the most famous baseball personalities from the last half century. This collection is perfect for baseball enthusiasts, sports history buffs, and anyone seeking a nostalgic and insightful read.

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Media

Video: Ira Berkow on CUNY-TV's "Tony Guida's NY"

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It Happens Every Spring

DiMaggio, Mays, the Splendid Splinter, and a Lifetime at the Ballpark

By Ira Berkow

Contact: Bill Ames, Triumph Books, 312.676.4256, b.ames@triumphbooks.com

Baseball will always hold a special place in American history. In serving as our national sport it became the first organic source of a national lexicon. The game has a language all its own, a uniquely American set of phrases and expressions that developed into a shared tongue. Every American can speak it, but few can match the fluency of Pulitzer Prize-winning sportswriter Ira Berkow.

In It Happens Every Spring: DiMaggio, Mays, the Splendid Splinter, and a Lifetime at the Ballpark (Triumph Books, April 15, 2017), Berkow collects the best of his decades of baseball journalism. These stories highlight the greats of the 20^th century and the impact of the sport on American society while providing perspective and analysis to help fans better understand the game. From Casey Stengel to the home run chase of 1998, this great new collection offers an unparalleled look at America’s pastime. Highlights include:

• Insights on how ballplayers like Roberto Clemente and Jackie Robinson transcended the sport through community service and the civil rights movement
• Humorous stories from throughout baseball’s history, including a minor league catcher substituting a potato for the ball
• Reflections on the legacies and accomplishments of iconic players including Cal Ripken Jr, Mickie Mantle, Nolan Ryan and more
• Firsthand accounts of encounters with the biggest personalities and the most exciting moments in baseball from throughout Berkow’s extraordinary career

It Happens Every Spring is more than a collection of baseball writing. It is a window into one of the country’s most significant cultural touchstones. It tells our modern mythology, presents our iconic athletic figures as both men and legends and helps define the role of sport in shaping the national identity. Baseball fans across America will find value in its pages, visiting them again and again.

About the Author:

Ira Berkow is a former sports columnist and feature writer for the New York Times, where he worked for more than 25 years. He shared the Pulitzer Prize for national reporting in 2001 and was a finalist for the Pulitzer for commentary in 1988. He is the author of more than 20 books, including Summers in the Bronx, and the bestsellers Maxwell Street: Survival in a Bazaar and Red: A Biography of Red Smith. He is the coauthor and editor of Hank Greenberg: The Story of My Life, which was a primary source for the award-winning documentary The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg. He lives in New York City.

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