“John Rosengren extraordinarily depicts how two men long since retired taught the world a valuable lesson -- that it is okay to forgive.”
-Andre Dawson, member of the Baseball Hall of Fame
The moment is immortalized by an iconic photo: Juan Marichal’s bat poised to strike John Roseboro’s head.
But that moment is merely a flashpoint in an extraordinary story about fierce baseball competition and culture, an era of great conflict and change, and two men who were determined to turn an ugly incident from their past into a beautiful friendship.
One Sunday in August 1965, when baseball’s bitter rivals, the Giants and Dodgers, vied for the pennant, the national pastime reflected the tensions in society and nearly sullied two men forever. Marichal, a Dominican anxious about his family’s safety during the civil war back home, and Roseboro, a black man living in South Central L.A. shaken by the Watts riots, attacked one another during a fight -- uncharacteristic of either man -- that linked the two forever and haunted both.
In The Fight of Their Lives, award-winning author John Rosengren explores the American culture of the time. Through interviews with Roseboro’s surviving family and Marichal himself, contemporary and remembered accounts of teammates like Sandy Koufax and Willie Mays, and dogged research, Rosengren unpacks a story that transcends the game. Listen in...
John Rosengren is the award-winning author of eight books, including Hank Greenberg: The Hero of Heroes. His articles have appeared in more than 100 publications, ranging from Reader’s Digest to Sports Illustrated to the Utne Reader.
"Havana Hardball: Spring Training, Jackie Robinson, and the Cuban League" with Cesar Brioso
"The Betrayal: The 1919 World Series and the Birth of Modern Baseball" with Charles Fountain
"Game of My Life: NY Mets" with Ed Charles and author Michael Garry
"Pinstripes and Penance / Long Road Home" with John Malangone and Mike Harrison
"At The Ballpark" -- A Phenomenal Panel
"The Dad Report: Fathers, Sons, and Baseball Families" with Kevin Cook
"Crack of the Bat: A History of Baseball on the Radio" with James Walker
"The Colonel and Hug: The Partnership That Transformed The New York Yankees" with Steve Steinberg
"Split Season 1981" with Jeff Katz, the Mayor of Cooperstown
"Billy Martin: Baseball's Flawed Genius" with Bill Pennington
"If These Walls Could Talk: New York Yankees" with Jim Kaat
"A Game of Their Own: Voices of Contemporary Women in Baseball" with Jennifer Ring
"Freedom Between The Lines" with Gregory Rubano
"100 Years of Who's Who in Baseball" with Marty Appel and Doug Lyons
"Amazing Aaron to Zero Zippers" with 16-year-old author Matt Nadel
"Joe Black: More Than A Dodger" with Martha Jo Black
"Gil Hodges: A Hall of Fame Life" with author Mort Zachter
"Circus Maximus" with Andrew Zimbalist
Special Event: "A Baseball Life" with Bill Giles and author John Lord
"The Chalmers Race" with author Rick Huhn
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Halos in the infield ( an angels baseball podcast )
The 3 Old Reds Fans Podcast
MLB Morning Lineup Podcast
Talkin’ Baseball (MLB Podcast)
Section 10