The Giants and the Dodgers : four cities, two teams, one rivalry /

Goldblatt (administrator, Univ. of California, Berkeley) begins with the claim that the Giants-Dodgers rivalry is the most intense in baseball. Maybe. But one does not have to agree to enjoy his wonderful book. It is aptly titled, focusing almost exclusively on the history of baseball contests between teams from New York/San Francisco and Brooklyn/Los Angeles. Though Goldblatt mentions the mid-19th-century days of the Eckfords and Gothams, the story really begins in 1890 when, with Brooklyn joining the National League, the rivalry became institutionalized. In the subsequent decades--marked by the McGraw-Robinson feud, Bill Terry's big mouth, the arrival of Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays, the teams' moves to the West Coast, the Marichal-Roseboro melee, the triumphs of Fernando Valenzuela and Barry Bonds--each franchise has known its highs and lows. But over the long haul they have played almost to a tie, with the Giants holding a narrow edge (1099-1073) in victories in the 2,172 games they had played through 2002. How's that for parity? Goldblatt writes in sharp, engaging sentences, and he has an eye for the memorable quotation. The book moves quickly and is a good read. ^BSumming Up: Optional. Suitable for any baseball fan and for academic collections seeking comprehensive coverage of sports. R. Browning Kenyon College