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Every summer, college baseball teams from around the nation come to Omaha, Nebraska, to play pure move-the-man-over, run-manufacturing baseball in a series that’s part college bowl game, part county fair. In the spirit of 3 Nights in August and The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty, veteran sports writer Ryan McGee goes behind the scenes, into the stands, and onto the field to reveal an exciting yet personal look at one of the hottest sports championships in the country---the College World Series.
In 2008, the ten-day, eight-team tournament was the scene of one of the greatest series in its illustrious history. And Ryan McGee puts the reader behind closed doors with the underdog champs, the Fresno State Bulldogs, as well as with their seven opponents, from the first batting practice session, to bus rides to the ballpark, to the locker room and the dugout. It’s the CWS as few ever see it.
But The Road to Omaha goes far beyond the 2008 season. It’s an in-depth look at the managing strategies and playing style of college baseball, as well as a series of profiles that examine the people behind and around the CWS---the players, coaches, and fans who keep that feeling of good-old-days innocence alive through their reverence for the Great American Pastime.
McGee also takes up residence at Rosenblatt Stadium itself, reliving its rich history and tapping into the electricity around it, from the tailgating fans to the surrounding neighborhoods. “The Blatt” is America’s last real connection to the baseball belief that Field of Dreams can actually happen: a wooden-framed ballpark with cramped concourses where teams share locker rooms, change clothes in the parking lot, and sign autographs for kids until their fingers cramp. “The Blatt” is a monument to tradition---and the last of its kind to keep that tradition alive.
Thanks to Ryan McGee’s quick eye for play-by-play action, as well as his deep love for sports, The Road to Omaha is a rare glimpse into the kind of baseball our grandfather’s knew---a snapshot of the one of the last remaining vestiges of pure Americana: a hometown, baseball, and the people who shape it and are shaped by it in turn.
Product Details
| Publisher | Thomas Dunne Books |
| ISBN | 031255723X |
| Features |
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| Format | Hardcover |
| Author | Ryan McGee |
| EAN | 9780312557232 |
| Label | Thomas Dunne Books |
| Edition | First Edition |
| Dewey Decimal Number | 796.35763 |
| Studio | Thomas Dunne Books |
| Number Of Pages | 320 |
| Title | The Road to Omaha: Hits, Hopes, and History at the College World Series |
| Release Date | 2009-05-12 |
| Publication Date | 2009-05-12 |
| Manufacturer | Thomas Dunne Books |
Customer Reviews
Couldn't put it down! Sequel, please, Mr. McGee...Review by Robin, 2010-07-29
"An excellent book which provides a most entertaining recap of the 2008 June College World Series held in Omaha, Nebraska. Author, Ryan McGee, addresses not only detailed narratives of the actual games, but also provides amusing tales related to the colorful characters on the participating teams. McGee includes descriptive anecdotes related to the whole "phenomena" that are integral elements of the annual pilgrimage to Rosenblatt Stadium made by the enthusiastic players, along with the fans who travel from all over the country to attend this exciting event. Mr. McGee makes one feel as if they are actually in Omaha, participating in the festivities with the residents of "The Neighborhood", as he focuses on the rich history, and amusing traditions of this amazing event. I couldn't put it down and am hoping for a sequel focusing on the series that was held at Rosenblatt in June 2010!"
Great overview of CWS
Review by M. M. Berliner, 2010-05-13
"The Road to Omaha" provides a wonderful overview of, and insight into, the baseball College World Series: the players and coaches, the City of Omaha, and the unique ambience of the CWS, which, regrettably, will be moved from the 'Blatt to a new venue in 2011. It was especially interesting for me, as the 2008 CWS, which is the primary subject of the book, is the only Series I have missed in the last six. After 30 years of unfulfilled desire to attend the CWS, I attended my first in 2004. I won't miss another by choice. Reserved seats are extremely hard to obtain ---unless you are willing to pay exhorbitant mark-ups (and you can always stand in long lines for the bleacher seats) --- but the experience is priceless. Attending an Omaha CWS should be on the "bucket list" of every serious baseball fan, and the book successfully captures the essence and special flavor of Omaha and the dedication of its civic leaders and residents to showcasing and maintaining this exceptional tournament, notwithstanding the overbearing attitude of the NCAA, which has shaken down the City of Omaha at every opportunity with threats to move the CWS elsewhere unless Omaha capitulated to its demands. For baseball fans, and especially college baseball fans, this book is the next best thing to being there, as they say. Highly recommended!
It takes you there
Review by Paul Loeffler, 2010-01-03
This is a wonderful read that truly captures the flavor of Omaha and the College World Series. The up close narrative of the incredible underdog run of the 2008 Fresno State team is just the icing on the cake in this book. McGee chronicles the history of the CWS in Omaha, as well as the history of the city as well. From the behind-the-scenes heroes who make this unique event tick, to some of the major baseball protagonists who have etched their names in Rosenblatt Stadium history, Road to Omaha covers them all with a style that draws you in and makes you feel like you're living the magic yourself. This book is definitely worth your time!
Thanks for the ride ...
Review by Erik Arneson, 2009-11-04
Early in "The Road to Omaha," McGee introduces readers to the long-standing tradition of Omaha civic organizations acting as "hosts" for teams participating in the College World Series -- indivudals who as he puts it, "Once the Series began, anything a team desired -- Gatorade, donuts, dinner reservations, Band-Aids, whatever -- they only had to ask their designated hosts and it would materialize." Reading through this wonderful collection of stories, McGee serves as the readers "host." Once the book began, anything the reader desired -- familiar names, road trip ramblings, superstars, underdogs, local color, whatever -- they only had to ask and it would materialize.
What a fun read for any fan of baseball at any level, but a true treasure for anyone who at least partially defines their life by their exeperiences in and around the sport. My 11-year-old loves baseball of any kind, whether we cheer the local minor league teams, catch a college game or, on the rare occasion, step into a Major League stadium. And while we will never get to experience the wooden-framed ballpark known as Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium, "The Road to Omaha" gives us a wonderful glimpse. Thanks Ryan for the heart you put into this effort.
Tales of the College World Series
Review by David Pruette, 2009-08-22
I have never been to the College World Series and likely never will. I also normally do not have a true rooting interest in any of the teams. However, I do enjoy watching the games on television and I have always thought that Rosenblatt Stadium must be an extremely interesting place to watch a ballgame. Now Mr. McGee's book makes me feel that I really do know something about the place.
The book gives the reader an excellent feel for the eight teams that participated in 2008. We become familiar with many of the current players, plus we learn about the history of the teams that have a tradition of going to the CWS. The book is not a play-by-play account of the games from 2008, but it does cover the main events during the games. More importantly, it gives the reader some interesting insight into the managerial decisions that were made and a good look at the emotions of the players, win or lose.
The baseball in the book is good. However, I found the background information about Omaha, the World Series, the field, the activities of the citizens living near Rosenblatt, and the good spirits of the fans coming in from out of town to support their teams to be of particular interest. Where else can you learn of a street side game where you toss hot dogs into the road, put money into a hat, and then pass the hat to the other people playing with you so they can put their money in. Whoever is holding the hat when a car runs over one of the hot dogs wins the money. Then you do it all over again. What a great way to pass the time waiting for the start of the next ball game. The back is packed with tidbits of that nature that I found extremely interesting and great fun to read.
If you are a baseball fan and particularly a fan of the College World Series, you need to read The Road to Omaha.
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