OT: The Glory of their Times

[matty39]

I thought I might make you guys aware of another "glory of their times". Raresportsfilms.com has a 50 minute dvd entitled "Glory of Their Times". The video has a narrator, uses actual film clips from that period and the voices of the players taken from the original tapes. It was produced for television years ago but recently offered by raresportsfilms. If you are at all interested in early baseball video, this is the source. btw, I have no connection with the above company, other than I have bought a few videos from them.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by matty39

I thought I might make you guys aware of another "glory of their times". Raresportsfilms.com has a 50 minute dvd entitled "Glory of Their Times". The video has a narrator, uses actual film clips from that period and the voices of the players taken from the original tapes. It was produced for television years ago but recently offered by raresportsfilms. If you are at all interested in early baseball video, this is the source. btw, I have no connection with the above company, other than I have bought a few videos from them.

+1 on the video, made by famous Olympic documentarian Bud Greenspan in 1970. It features wonderful period (1900-1920) photos and film clips, not just of baseball but of famous events of the time such as the sinking of the Titanic. The voices are all of real people, including ballplayers from Ritter's taped interviews, and is narrated by the "Voice of God" himself, Alexander Scourby. It it an absolutely wonderful piece of work, of the same high standard of quality as the book and audio set.

[T206Collector]

To purchase the DVD, click here:

http://raresportsfilms.com/1900-1918...-of-times.html

I haven't seen the DVD, but based on the descriptions in this thread, I believe you can watch the film on YouTube here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4G0nbtLLeQ

[Snapolit1]

I may be in a very very small minority here, but I thought the book was a mixed bag. While some of the chapters were very good and a few riveting, I found a good chunk of it to be just old guys telling the same old war stories that seemed sketchy at best. A lot of the book sounded to me like barroom tales of days gone by of very dubious veracity. Maybe I've read too many books on the limitations of human memory. After a few years you are basically hearing fictional recreation. Never mind 60 years ago.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

I may be in a very very small minority here, but I thought the book was a mixed bag. While some of the chapters were very good and a few riveting, I found a good chunk of it to be just old guys telling the same old war stories that seemed sketchy at best. A lot of the book sounded to me like barroom tales of days gone by of very dubious veracity. Maybe I've read too many books on the limitations of human memory. After a few years you are basically hearing fictional recreation. Never mind 60 years ago.

I haven't read the book in so long, all I remember is how much I enjoyed it. In putting the audio set together more recently, however, I did listen to all of the original tapes, and some of the players were more "blustery," to put it kindly, than others. Overall, though, I found them to be credible and even surprisingly candid for the most part, seemingly quite interested in getting things straight as best as they could remember them. I suspect that a fact check would reveal them to be about as accurate on the details of events so far in the past as could be reasonably expected. Just how much tolerance a particular reader would have for "old guys telling the same old war stories" is another matter altogether, and would depend in large part on their interest in the subjects at hand. I think I can speak for most fans of "Glory" in my appreciation of the miracle that, despite whatever limitations they might possess, these recollections were preserved by Ritter for future generations to read, hear, and enjoy.

[Hot Springs Bathers]

I have been a SABR member for decades and over the years there have been literally dozens of polls and debates on the best baseball books of all time.

With no room for question Ritter's book has never failed to win first place, it is always The Glory of Their Times and everyone else. As my old friend Michael McGreevy used to say "Nuf Ced."

[Zach Wheat]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

I may be in a very very small minority here, but I thought the book was a mixed bag. While some of the chapters were very good and a few riveting, I found a good chunk of it to be just old guys telling the same old war stories that seemed sketchy at best. A lot of the book sounded to me like barroom tales of days gone by of very dubious veracity. Maybe I've read too many books on the limitations of human memory. After a few years you are basically hearing fictional recreation. Never mind 60 years ago.

Steve,

I generally tend to agree with you, but when you hear the emotion of Davey Jones telling about his first shoes, or the intelligence of Snodgrass as he recounts the play which became known as the Snodgrass Boner, it actually brings their stories to life. One of the guys I could never quite figure out was Goose Goslin - but hearing him recount some of the stories in 1st person, you start to believe this is a guy who could wander off and sleep through the night on a boat while fishing.....and miss a key start. The emotions and personality that come through the audio version are key to understanding their personality. JMO


Z

[Zach Wheat]

One other story in TGOT that I was going to mention as truly unique, was "Snow's" (Fred Snodgrass) recollection Charles Victory Faust. His telling of the story was quite amusing whether or not it actually happened in the manner in which the story was told. Just gives character to the person....

Z

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by Zach Wheat

One other story in TGOT that I was going to mention as truly unique, was "Snow's" (Fred Snodgrass) recollection Charles Victory Faust. His telling of the story was quite amusing whether or not it actually happened in the manner in which the story was told. Just gives character to the person....

Z

I wasn't trying to kick anyone's sacred cow or anything, but I wasn't as moved by it as I expected. To each his own as they say. I realized it is beloved in many quarters.

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by Zach Wheat

Steve,

I generally tend to agree with you, but when you hear the emotion of Davey Jones telling about his first shoes, or the intelligence of Snodgrass as he recounts the play which became known as the Snodgrass Boner, it brings the actually stories to life. One of the guys I could never quite figure out was Goose Goslin - but hearing him recount some of the stories in 1st person, you start to believe this is a guy who could wander off and sleep through the night on a boat while fishing.....and miss a key start. The emotions and personality that come through the audio version are key to understanding their personality. JMO


Z

Zach - I went back and re-read the Snodgrass chapter last night. Incredible. You are absolutely right. What a sharp, insightful guy.

[oldrighty35]

My first post here as a newbie. I love "Glory Of Their Times." Great insight to the early days of the game. I have seveal copies that I share with those who wish to learn more.