Maz to Yaz to Amazin'

The majesty and magic of 1960s major league baseball created a legion of lifelong fans. The decade began with epic blasts from Bill Mazeroski and Ted Williams and ended with the Mets’ amazin’ championship. In between came Maris and Mays and Koufax and Gibson and Aaron and Robinson and much, much more.

1960s baseball was momentous at every turn—from incredible pennant races, to great World Series, to home run records, to extraordinary pitching. Threaded throughout was a siege of freshness. New stars, new teams, new rules, and new ways of playing changed the game forever. 

No fewer than 54 Hall of Famers played in the ‘60s—more than any other decade—many of whom are among the greatest legends in the history of the game. And nearly every season featured a down-to-the-wire pennant race.  

In MAZ TO YAZ TO AMAZIN’, Thad Mumau captures the on-the-field tremors from Opening Day until Game 7, from Stan Musial to Dick Allen, from the Yankees’ collapse to the Red Sox’s Impossible Dream. His intimate and informed account is part romance for a simpler game, part historical report of a decade of unparalleled feats, part roll call of the fascinating and fabulous ballplayers who filled the dugouts through the decade.

Chapters alternate between a recap of each season and a review of the decade’s most significant events—including the biggest trades, expansion, changes in strategy, the impact of African American and Hispanic players—plus exclusive interviews with two of the greatest players of all time, Tom Seaver and Roberto Clemente!

MAZ TO YAZ TO AMAZIN’ has statistics and stories about more than 400 players, ample photos, and portraits and funny anecdotes about classic 1960s figures like Smokey Burgess, Rocky Colavito, Moe Drabowsky, Mickey Lolich, Joe Pepitone, the Alou Brothers, Vada Pinson, Paul Blair, and on and on.

Whether you have Manny Mota’s lifetime stats memorized or think Blue Moon Odom is a craft beer, MAZ TO YAZ TO AMAZIN’ is THE go-to source for everything 1960s baseball!