Pafko at the Wall: A Novella
by Don DeLillo

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Book Reviews of Pafko at the Wall: A Novella

Book Review: "THOMSON AT THE BAT"
Summary: 5 Stars

DeLillo's attention to detail is so vivid that I actually felt as if I was hearing Russ Hodges announce the game. The book is full of nostalgic remembrances especially when he talks about one of the Giant sponsors - Chesterfield cigarettes. Between innings, Hodges actually instructs the audience to stay right where they are and "light up a Chesterfield." Can you imagine saying that today? And I found that the trivia about the large CHESTERFIELD sign in centerfield lighting up the "E" when an error was made is stuff my brothers don't even know about. I can't wait to hit them with all this info when we get together this holiday season. As a matter of fact, I've already asked one of my brothers if he knew who was playing left field when Thomson hit the ball and he didn't know. So much for the baseball trivia experts in my family.

I also enjoyed DeLillo's portrayal of the young Cotter Martin as he struggled to grab Thomson's ball from under the seats and his race out of the Polo Grounds as he clutched the much sought after ball. While I thought I would enjoy the Frank Sinatra/Jackie Gleason references, I found them to be the least desirable part of the book.

The bottom line is that I enjoyed the book and now feel quite comfortable discussing this episode in baseball history with the best of them. I did have one question though -- If Bobby Thomson was "hot" that day and already had two hits (one of which had driven in a run), why did Branca take the chance of pitching to him? With men on second and third, I would think he would have walked him and taken his chances with the then rookie "Say Hey" Willie Mays. After finishing this book, I did some further research on this game and found that others have asked this same question. I guess I did learn something growing up as the only girl in that family of all boys. By the way, they're all getting a copy of this book for Christmas this year. It's a definite MUST for the "true" New York Giant fan.

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