Friday, December 6, 2019

Review of "Stealing Home"

While it is known that the building of Dodger Stadium was controversial in its use of eminent domain, this book puts a human side to the story, and that makes it a great read.  Here is my review of "Stealing Home"


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)

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