October 1964

By David Halberstam,

Book cover of October 1964

Book description

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * THE BEST SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR

"October 1964 should be a hit with old-time baseball fans, who'll relish the opportunity to relive that year's to-die-for World Series, when the dynastic but aging New York Yankees squared off against the upstart St. Louis Cardinals.ā€¦

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Why read it?

1 author picked October 1964 as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Major League Baseball teams integrated at different paces. In 1964, the St. Louis Cardinals relied heavily on several Black players to fuel their march toward the league title. St. Louisā€™s white and Black players had built camaraderie and trust long before they reached that yearā€™s World Series. Their opponent, the New York Yankees, had been cautious about integrating.

Halberstam explores this contrast and how it shaped the Cardinalsā€™ series victory. Heā€™s a great storyteller, sharing tales about players from different races and regions learning to play and win together.

From Matt & Mark's list on the intersection of sports and race.

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