There are full libraries worth of Red Sox books written about this wonderful team; this is my comprehensive list of the very best.
Answering age-old questions: which are the greatest Red Sox books of all-time? And, do people even read books anymore?
Boston and the New England region have churned out many of the greatest sports personalities of all-time. From Peter Gammons to Katie Nolan, Boston sports fans have been blessed with some of the best homegrown media talent in the country.
Something about the Boston Red Sox touches the soul of baseball fans across the country. The Red Sox’ cult-like following has lead to movies, bars and restaurants, and countless tattoos dedicated to the team. The passion that comes with being a Red Sox fan has inspired many people, including myself, to become sportswriters in the first place. Many, if not all, Boston sports writers have written a book (or thought about writing a book) about the Boston Red Sox.
There are books written on the Red Sox from every conceivable angle: from that of a celebrity fan (author, Stephen King), head of a graduate program at MIT (Seth Mnookin), or a player right in the middle of his time with the team (Johnny Damon). Each of these pieces help to tell the story of the team that calls ‘America’s Most Beloved Ballpark” home.
And– because many of the writers on my staff are younger than I am (24)– they have little to no knowledge of the older struggles of the Boston sports fan. This list is for you; the top five books about the Boston Red Sox:
Idiot
by Johnny Damon
The only reason that this book is as low as it is: because of those nasty pinstripes he chose to wear after they forced him to cut his hair. Like Samson, Damon was never the same after he lost his locks. Johnny Damon, aside from being one of the better, recent offensive center fielders for the Sox, is shadily talented as a writer.
Damon is really witty; able to explain the detail-oriented, dog-days of summer in a readable and humorous way. I really liked the stories of his life growing up in Florida (as a Miami boy myself), as well as the anecdotes from his time coming up with the Kansas City Royals.
Although Johnny doesn’t get into the details of his time with the Yankees (the book was written before his time there ended), he intimately tells the story of the franchise’s most infamous team. The 2004 team, the “Idiots,” were a quirky bunch who genuinely loved the game of baseball and Damon is the perfect person to tell their story.
Feeding the Monster
by Seth Mnookin
Feeding the Monster is the best sports book I have ever read. Seth Mnookin writes a comprehensive history of the Boston Red Sox which concludes with his twist on the early-2000’s team. Mnookin, with what feels like insider information, covers the sale of the team in detail from John Henry‘s ownership group through the construction of the 2004 team.
Personally, I really enjoyed the coverage of the Red Sox front office. Feeding the Monster does an amazing job of deconstructing trades and free agency; what takes the book over the top is the fact that Theo Epstein is one of it’s main characters. At the time, Epstein was still boy-wonder: no where near the czar of the Chicago Cubs that he is today. I felt like I watched Epstein grow up and into his role over the course of the book’s pages.
Mnookin’s ability to tell the Red Sox history– over the books first few chapters– from beginning to end in a concise way is really impressive. The lessons that a young sports business professional could learn from this piece are priceless.
Now I Can Die In Peace
by Bill Simmons
Before Bill Simmons was a brand, he was just “the Sports Guy.” His musings on ESPN were entertaining and felt like a treat compared to the bland, regimented writing of old school sports writers. Simmons creativity clearly paid off, he is now one of the most recognizable faces in sports media; since the very beginning, Simmons has been an innovator. To date, he is credited with starting 30-for-30 on ESPN, Grantland, and (most recently) the Ringer.
Anyway, the book itself is a really enjoyable read. Simmons, the diehardest of diehard Red Sox fans, tells the story of the 2004 Boston Red Sox from the first day of that season. Before there were loads of people jumping aboard the Red Sox bandwagon, there was Bill Simmons; the angst-filled Bostonian just waiting for the next disaster to occur.
I particularly enjoyed Simmons’ back-and-forth banter with his father, who had never himself seen the team win a World Series. I cannot imagine the amount of heart medication consumed by fans of the 2004 team.
Big Papi: My Story of Big Dreams and Big Hits
by David Ortiz
Aside from being one of the best clutch hitters in baseball history, David Ortiz has one of the game’s best stories. Ortiz’ career has not always been as glamorous as it is today; in fact, Big Papi has overcome quite a bit of adversity to reach where he is today.
Ortiz’ autobiography is an inspirational story that begins humbly in the Dominican Republic. After a journey to the United States and around the major leagues, Ortiz was able to finally find a home– Boston. No one, not even David himself, could have anticipated the incredible marriage that was formed in 2003 between the Sox and Ortiz.
Big Papi’s writing style feels really authentic, and it’s refreshing to read– especially from a superstar of his caliber. I would love to read the completed story once Ortiz retires after this season; the current edition is missing quite a few recent seasons!
Faithful
by Stuart O’Nan and Stephen King
Novelists Stuart O’Nan and Stephen King, both Red Sox fans, wrote a full, diary style composition of the 2004 World Series season. This is one of the most original styles of writing I have ever seen in a sports book; most of the dialogue, which nothing but hilarious and sarcastic, takes place within email exchanges between the two authors.
King and O’Nan banter back and forth about the team on a daily basis, and it is funny to see two high profile authors having the same (keyboard) meltdowns that fans do. O’Nan, when asked about the book, said “I always tell my friends that the luckiest thing that ever happened to me was becoming a Red Sox fan.” Me too Stu, me too.
Aside from the pieces that I have suggested, what is your favorite book on the Boston Red Sox? Others include Dan Shaughnessy’s book on the Curse of the Bambino and Pedro Martinez‘ new autobiography, “Pedro.
As Red Sox fans, we are tremendously lucky to have so much awesome content produced about our team.
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