But he had a real talent for concocting excuses for poor performance and he was more than a little self-indulgent in relation to sex and drugs. Yes, Dock was treated ridiculously by the Pittsburgh press and that was mostly about race. Unfortunately, Hall isn't quite honest about the down side. He had it right in most ways, but wrong in some crucial ones.
Ellis both was and wasn't political-at least in the context of Black Power-and there's something fascinating to be drawn out of his experience. Part of its that, while Hall is certainly aware of the centrality of race to Dock's story, he doesn't do much more than acknowledge it. Part of the problem is that Hall's rhapsodies on the country of baseball teeter on cliche-the image doesn't really hold up over the course of 300 pages. But I have to admit to being a bit disappointed with a book I'd known about but hadn't run down until it showed up on kindle. Hall, best known as a poet, spent a lot of time with Dock and clearly has a deep love for baseball.
Dock spoke his mind, pitched well most of the time, did terrific community work, and managed to co-exist with his managers for seven years.
#Baseball lsd game full#
"The Family." The team won two World Series championships-19-and in many ways embodied the breakthrough of black players into full citizenship in what Hall calls "the country of baseball." That breakthrough wasn't without its problems, and those are exemplified by the career of Dock Ellis, the Pirate pitcher who once hit three Cincinnati Reds (deliberately) to start a game-he was pulled after failing to hit Tony Perez with the first three attempts in the next dodgeball game-and for throwing a no-hitter on LSD. "The Family." The team won two World Series championships-19-and in many ways embodied the breakthrough of black players into full citizenship in what Hall calls "the country of baseball." That breakthrough wasn't without its problems, and those are exemplified by the career of Dock Ellis, the Pirate p As a life-long Pittsburgh Pirates fan, I enjoyed Hall's book for its picture of one of the most entertaining teams in major league history: the free-spirited Bucs of the 1970s, a.k.a. It can be viewed on You Tube.moreĪs a life-long Pittsburgh Pirates fan, I enjoyed Hall's book for its picture of one of the most entertaining teams in major league history: the free-spirited Bucs of the 1970s, a.k.a. Hall, he recommended a documentary to me: "No-No: A Dockumentary." Here is a link. This book is about the life of Dock Ellis, race relations, and behind the scenes of a baseball team. A college will pay him $1,000 to speak, but the library cannot afford to buy his book. There he met Dock Ellis and a friendship ensued. In the 1970s, he decided to write a book about baseball by being granted time with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Hall is a great New Hampshire poet and Red Sox fan. Or as Donald Hall describes it: "Baseball is a country all to itself." This book is about the life of Dock Ellis, race Baseball is life. Or as Donald Hall describes it: "Baseball is a country all to itself." Hall is a great New Hampshire poet and Red Sox fan.