Before the Machine: The Story of the 1961 Pennant-Winning Reds Paperback – April 1, 2011

I would argue that there was never a better time for a young boy to be a Reds fan than the 1961-64 seasons in Cincinnati. Not only was the National League playing baseball at its highest level, the Reds were right in the mix with the other great teams in the league.From 1960-64, five different teams won the pennant and went on to meet the hated Yankees in the World Series. For those interested in the 1961 season, when the Reds turn to win came up, there are two excellent books available. "Pennant Race" was written by Jim Brosnan in 1962 based on a diary the Reds relief pitcher kept during the 1961 season. Brosnan's first book, "The Long Season" was a best seller written about his adventures during the 1959 season where he started with the Cards and finished with the Reds. As a Reds fan my favorite was always "Pennant Race" as I attended my first game at Crosley Field in 1961 and as an 11 year-old was caught up in the pennant fever that overtook the town and the surrounding areas in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Brosnan's book was insightful, humorous, and true and has had the effect of keeping the team forever young, still playing in the memories of Crosley Field for a boy of 11, now turned 60, in the 50th anniversary of that great season.It was with mixed feelings that I began to read, "Before the Machine-The story of the 1961 Pennant-Winning Cincinnat Reds"(2011), by Mark J. Schmetzer. The truth is I enjoyed the book very much. Instead of the day-to-day limitations of a diary, the reader is given a broader picture of the season, both on and off the field, and from the viewpoints of mangement and coaches as well as the players, in most cases well past 1961 when the season could be put into perspective. "Before the Machine" also covers spring training and the World Series, neither of which is addressed by Brosnan. Schmetzer's book is very readable, with great information about how the 1961 team was assembled so that it could go from 6th in 1960 to 1st one year later. "Before the Machine" also addresses the pennant fever that swept the area for the 1st time since 1940.The third book,"Fred Hutchinson and the 1964 Cincinnati Reds"(2010), by Doug Wilson, tells the heart-breaking story of Hutch's battle with terminal cancer and the Reds loss of the pennant on the final day of the season. There is never an attempt to equate the two, but both are put in perspective as Hutch's life story is woven into the great story of the Reds fight back from a seemingly lost season with ten games to go, to being a lock to win and then watching that slip away. Wilson's book gives the 61 season its' due and blends that year into the three years that followed. There is a reason that 10 Reds from the 1961 team are in the Reds Hall of Fame and the Hutchinson's #1 is retired and hung on the wall of Great America Ball Park.Enjoy these books as these are excellent books in their own right, and when grouped together, make a fine Summer for reading. All are available from Amazon and Wilson's book is a bargin on Kindle.

This is a great read for anyone who grew up a Reds fan in the 60s and 70s. Jim Brosnan painted a great picture of the inside of the 1961 Reds in Pennant Season. But this book gives a much bigger picture look at that season, what led up to it and what followed. It describes what was happening in SW Ohio at that time and the culture of the period (Ruth Lyons, the WLW network, Crosley Field sun deck, Waite Hoyt stories, traveling to games from the surrounding 3 state area). More than just a story of that team and season, the book is a look at a different time and place.

AS ADVERTISED.

As a life-long Reds fan born in the late sixties, my only knowledge of the 1961 Reds came from reading their stats in the baseball encyclopedia, or from my mom telling me how exciting it that season was. That is, until I read this book."Before the Machine" is more than a recitation of box scores and wins and losses. In the book, Mark Schmetzer tells us how the team was improved with trades before the season, describes a new conditioning program used during spring training, paints a picture of the ebbs and flows of the season and shows how the city of Cincinnati embraced the team and prepared for the World Series. You also read about the early discussions of a new stadium for the Reds.Some former Cincinnati TV personalities make an appearance in the book, like Ruth Lyons and Jack Moran. Also, we see Dave Parker's recollections of that season.It was very enjoyable to read this book. I recommend it not just to Reds fans, but any baseball fan.

The authors had me before I even cracked this book open. As a kid growing up in Cincinnati, I had never seen the Reds win a pennant until 1961, when I was 12 years old. From the smart new uniforms on Opening Day to full redemption for the previous year's sixth-place finish, all the way to the World Series (disappointing but not unexpected), this book nicely covers a very special season.

I grew-up in KC, and at an early age I became a devout Redlegs fan. As a 12-year-old, I had never visited Crosley Field and I never got to see the Redlegs play.. I could only follow them in the newspaper. I wore my Cincinnati ball hat everywhere I went.. in fact, I still do. The book provided me with the details of the team, the players, Crosley Field, and even the fans in '61 from Cincinnati. And for a kid in faraway KC, I never knew the subtilties behind that magical year of 1961. Mark Schmetzer did a SUPER job covering the '61 Redlegs!

I REALLY COULD NOT MENTION MORE THAN A FEW PLAYERS ON THIS TEAM BEFORE I READ IT. THE REDS WERE A GOOD BUT NOT GREAT TEAM IN 1961 BUT CAUGHT EVERYONE OF GUARD AND WON THE N L PENNANT. THEY HAD GOOD POWER AND CLUTCH HITTING ALONG WITH STRONG PITCHING. UNFORTUNATELY THEY PLAYED THE POWER CRAZY YANKEES IN THE SERIES AND LOST IN FIVE GAMES. MARK SCHMETZER DOES A GOOD JOB BRINGING 1961 BACK TO LIFE. THE COVERAGE IS DETAILED AND WELL DONE. HE DID HIS HOMEWORK QUITE WELL. I RECOMMEND THIS FOR BASEBALL HISTORY BUFFS AND FOR ALL REDS FANS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PRE-MACHINE DAYS.

This was a fun and interesting book to read about a team that had many talented players, many I remember later in their careers--Frank Robinson, Vada Pinson, Jim Maloney to name a few. I had read about Fred Hutchinson, but knew little about him as a manager; especially since he died so young. Now, I have a better understanding why he was highly respected. I recommend this to any fan of the game.