Well it took me less than a week to finish reading Andrew Baggarly’s Band of Misfits. The book begins with the trading of Bengie Molina. Not exactly what I expected. I mean there were 3 full months of the season before that, plus spring training. Clearly he was skipping over parts in an effort to get to the “good stuff.” Turns out Baggarly was masterly crafting the story of the 2010 World Champs by pulling in the relevant background in order to set the context for the season.

The 2010 season was magic. Baggarly captures that magic in a way that allowed me to relive the moments. Each player made an impact on the team and on the season and rather than just tell us what happened, he gives a full picture of why that is important. Rather than just telling the story of Dirty Sanchez beating the Padres on the last day of the regular season to clinch the West, Baggarly goes back to July 10, 2010 when Sanchez threw that no hitter (ahem, perfect game?). For some readers that is just context to how perfect Sanchez can be. But for others, like me, it is another opportunity to relive that warm July Friday night, a night that I probably wouldn’t have gone to the game, if not for the parents coming to town.

Over and again, Baggarly tells the stories that remind us why we love this team. Each page is a new opportunity to remember where you were that night. As someone who has been reading his Extra Baggs blog and everything else he publishes for years, my fear was that I already have read this book. And maybe I have. Most of the stories I remember. Most I remember where I was when they happened. But I still couldn’t put down the book. The only thing that made my Bart ride worse each day was arriving at my destination and having to put the book away and remember how gross the cloth seats are.

Who is this book good for?

Any Giants fan. Especially those who may not have had a full context of the events on the field (read: bandwagon fans).

Why is this book not good for?

I tried reading this to my 2-year-old nephew over Skype (the kid lives in Germany). I got him a Giants hoodie for Christmas and have even gotten him to say “Go Giants!” After reading the Seuss classic, “There’s a Wocket in my Pocket!” I transition to “Band of Misfits” with little success. Perhaps it was the lack of vivid illustrations, but he didn’t last long. Baggarly and publishers, take note.