Title/Author:
“Baseball and Black Gold: Tulsa’s Love Affair
with America’s National Pastime” by Elven Lindblad
Tags:
Baseball,
professional, minor leagues, history
Publish date:
May 16, 2016
Length:
380 pages
Rating:
4 of 5 stars (very
good)
Review:
The city of Tulsa, Oklahoma
has a long and colorful history of minor league baseball. From the first team
in 1905 to its current affiliation with the Los Angeles Dodgers, just about
anything a reader would want to know about Tulsa baseball is found in this comprehensive
baseball history book by Elven Lindblad.
No matter what kind of
information the reader wishes to find about Tulsa teams, usually nicknamed the
Oilers or the Drillers, the ballparks, the players, the radio broadcasts or the
records, it will be found in this book.
The chapters represent each decade from the 1900’s until the 2010’s and the
information is complete for every season in which a team played in Tulsa. Like many other minor league cities, there
was no baseball during some war years and there was a brief period when no one
would step up to own a team. But for the most part, there was baseball played
in Tulsa.
Not only is there good
information on Tulsa baseball, but there is also extensive information on the
Texas League and many stories about players and their accomplishments while suiting
up for a team in the league. Because Tulsa was a member of this league for most
of its years, it is appropriate to include these stories and I found them to be
the most interesting. Here are just
three of the many great Texas League stories:
-
In 1977, a player for the
Arkansas Travelers and Midland Cubs decided to retire after three knee
surgeries. He then earned a law degree
and decided to return to the game as an agent.
That agent’s name is Scott Boras.
-
Joe Wilhoit of the
Wichita Witches in 1919 set a professional baseball record that still stands
today by hitting in 69 consecutive games.
He had two or more hits in 50 of those 69 games and batted .512 during
the streak.
-
A former member of the Tulsa Oilers was an important player in one of the most historic home runs in
baseball history. When Bucky Dent hit the
go-ahead homer in the 1978 playoff game between the New York Yankees and Boston
Red Sox, he hit the homer off of former Tulsa pitcher Mike Torrez.
Stories like these,
even though they may not be directly related to Tulsa baseball, make this book
one that any baseball fan will enjoy. While
I read this cover to cover, a better use for it would be one as a reference
book as the structure of the book and the information provided is extensive and
makes a very good source for research.
I wish to thank Mr.
Lindblad for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Book Format Read:
E-book (Kindle)
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