The Fall of the 1977 Phillies - by Mitchell Nathanson (Paperback)

About the Book

Each of the first nine chapters begins by discussing the specifics of an inning of the so-called Black Friday Game and then segues into an examination of how Philadelphians have historically viewed themselves and their city as well as how the Phillies have surprisingly played a prominent role in these visions. The events that unfolded in the stands and on the field during the afternoon of Friday, October 7, 1977 would forever change how Philadelphians viewed the Phillies as well as themselves.

Book Synopsis

On October 7, 1977, the Philadelphia Phillies lost a playoff game to the Dodgers, a game that began so hopefully and ended so disastrously that it has become known in Philadelphia simply as "Black Friday." As a season of rare hope and unity crashed to a painful end in a ten-minute sequence of bad plays, so too did the city's urban renaissance falter and an old sense of inferiority return.

This ambitious examination of the relationship between the team and city delves deep into Philadelphia's social and baseball history to reveal how the disillusionment of Black Friday affected Philadelphia's self image and fans' relationship to the team they both love and love to hate.

Review Quotes

"well-written...contains a wealth of information about the Athletics and the pre-1979 Phillies"-Nine; "perceptive"-Philadelphia Inquirer.

About the Author

Mitchell Nathanson is a professor of law and a professor in the Jeffrey S. Moorad Center for the Study of Sports Law at Villanova University School of Law.