Title/Author:
“Stealing Home: Los
Angeles, the Dodgers, and the Lives Caught In Between” by Eric Nusbaum
Tags:
Baseball, history,
politics, Dodgers
Publish date:
March 24, 2020
Length:
352 pages
Rating:
5 of 5 stars (outstanding)
Review:
Dodger Stadium is
considered to be one of the crown jewels among ballparks in the United
States, nestled in a prime location with beautiful scenery overlooking the park
that fans in certain sections can admire during a lull in the action. How the
stadium came to fruition, however, is a very controversial journey that is
still being talked about today, almost 60 years after its opening. This excellent book by Eric Nussbaum
describes that journey, which took several twists and turns.
While there isn't a lot
about the game of baseball or the Dodgers in the book, at least compared to the
political aspects of the book, a baseball fan will still enjoy Nussbaum's
writing about the team, some of its players in the early days in Los Angeles
and also of Walter O'Malley, the owner who moved the team from Brooklyn to Los
Angeles.
While these passages
make for interesting reading, they are not the heart and soul of this
book. The true heroes of this book are
not any baseball players but the Archeiga family, who refused to leave their
home in Chavez Ravine, the area where the ball park was eventually built. When their home, along with all others in the
predominantly Mexican neighborhood, was being taken by the government to make
way for public housing, the Archiegas refused to accept the money that was
being offered after appraisal by the government.
What followed was a
great political story that would make a great novel – except that it was all
true. This was where Nussbaum was at his
best. Two personal stories are good
examples of this. Whether he was writing about a man whose goal was to bring
public housing to Los Angeles, only to be shamed by the crusade of an
anti-Communism committee or he was telling the story of the local city
councilwoman who was a key figure in getting O'Malley to move the Dodgers to
the west coast, Nussbaum writes about the story in a manner that will keep the
reader engaged, entertained and on an emotional roller coaster. Most of the time, it will be anger – anger at
the politicians, at O'Malley, at practically anybody whose last name is not
Archiega.
No matter what type of
non-fiction a reader enjoys, this is one book that should be picked up and read
cover to cover. It will explain why
despite the beautiful view one gets inside and outside Dodger Stadium, there is
a very poignant story underneath.
I wish to thank Perseus
Books Public Affairs for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest
review.
Book Format Read:
E-book (Kindle)
Buying Links:
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