I know — long time no post, right? Well, it's been a crazy month or so, highlighted by getting married (no, we did not wear Tigers jerseys, though I did sport these cufflinks), making guest appearances on Keith Olbermann's show, the MLB Network's "MLB Now" with Brian Kenny, and WFMU's Evan "Funk" Davies Show, and doing readings in Philadelphia, New York City (you can listen to the recording of my Bergino Baseball Clubhouse event here), Boston and Cooperstown. My sincere thanks to everyone who helped me book all my east coast TV, radio and book-signing appearances, everyone who came out to the readings/signings, and of course everyone who has bought copies of Stars and Strikes: Baseball and America in the Bicentennial Summer of '76. It was truly an incredible experience, one I'm still coming down from.
I'm not done yet, though! If you're going to be in the San Diego area a week from today (i.e., Tuesday, July 29), you can join in the star-spangled fun at my special "tailgate reading and book-signing" at Mudville Flats, the wonderful baseball-themed bed and breakfast located in San Diego's Ballpark District. I'll be reading from and signing copies of Stars and Strikes — copies will be available for purchase, courtesy of the folks at Mysterious Galaxy — and there'll be complimentary hot dogs (and maybe even a '76 slideshow) too! The event begins at 5 p.m., so if you're going to the Cardinals-Padres game that night, stop by beforehand and enjoy some tales of Randy Jones (pictured above) and other hairy characters from the summer of '76. It's free, too! Mudville Flats is located at 747 10th Ave., San Diego, CA 92101...
But wait, there's more! I've got some Stars and Strikes reading events coming up in the midwest in August, so if you're in Chicago, Milwaukee, or the Ann Arbor/Detroit areas, mark yer calendars accordingly:
August 14 (7 pm) — Liar's Club, Chicago, IL (followed by a special all-1976 covers set from The Good News Bears!)
August 15 (7 pm) — The Book Cellar, Chicago, IL
August 16 (4 pm) — Nicola's Books, Ann Arbor, MI
August 16 (7 pm) — Nemo's Bar, Detroit, MI (as part of BIRD BASH IV, a celebration of the late, great Mark "The Bird" Fidrych)
August 18 (7 pm) — Boswell Book Company, Milwaukee, WI (I will be interviewed at this event by Mitch Teich of WUWM's "Lake Effect" show)
Please come out and say hey if you can, and please buy a book or seven. And please spread da woid about these events to any 70s baseball-lovin' pals you may have in the area — there won't be any Bill Veeck-style beer crate-stacking competitions, but I can guarantee a most enlightening and entertaining time!
And speaking of 1976, here's a really cool clip that Marc Stout and the folks at Root Sports RM put together on 1976 and Stars and Strikes, which was broadcast during the Colorado Rockies pre-game show on July 4th. It includes some very cool footage from the 1976 season (as well as some from later years), some shots of me standing on the field at Dodger Stadium in a '76 Mark Fidrych jersey, and a special bonus interview with 1976 NL All Star Larry Bowa. Check it out!