Pouring Six Beers at a Time: And Other Stories from a Lifetime in Baseball

Description

A hilarious, fascinating, and revealing view of the national pastime from the 1930's to the present, Pouring Six Beers at a Time offers a treasure trove of stories by a man once dubbed the P. T. Barnum of Major League Baseball, current Philadelphia Phillies Chairman Bill Giles. His 70 plus years of behind-the-scenes stories are an invaluable treat that no baseball fan will want to miss. From sound effects man for the radio broadcasts of the Cincinnati Reds as a teenager to owner of the Philadelphia Phillies, Bill Giles has been involved in virtually every aspect of the game of baseball. Highlights from his fascinating life include taking overnight train rides with the Reds as a young boy, witnessing the birth of indoor baseball in Houston, bringing the marketing of baseball into the modern era-helping to establish traditions and promotions that are now standard, and signing some of the greatest players in modern history with names such as Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton, Joe Morgan, and Curt Schilling.

Bill Giles is the former business manager of the Nashville Vols minor League baseball team before moving on to be publicist and marketing director of the Houston Colt .45s and the Astrodome for ten years. In late 1969 he joined the Philadelphia Phillies becoming director of Business operations. In 1981 he put a group together to purchase the Phillies and became CEO until late 1997 when he semi-retired and became chairman of the Phillies. He is still a part owner of the Phillies and Chairman. Giles is the son of former National League president Warren Giles. Doug Myers is the author of several baseball books, including Essential Cubs and Louisville Slugger Complete Book of Pitching.

"An entertaining, must-read...the stories he tells are tremendous." -- John Kruk "An insightful history of baseball...Throughout his long career in baseball, Bill Giles has been one of the game's most creative and successful innovators." -- Commissioner Alan H. (Bud) Selig "Great book! It is informative, entertaining, and funny. The innerworkings of a baseball team from the ownership to the players and everything in between." -- Joe Morgan