Bless You Boys: Diary of the Detroit Tigers' 1984 Season
Encyclopedia
Bless You Boys: Diary of the Detroit Tigers' 1984 Season is a book written in 1984 by Sparky Anderson
with Dan Ewald. The phrase "Bless You Boys" was the catchphrase adopted by Detroit sportscaster Al Ackerman for the 1984 Detroit Tigers team
that started the year with a 35-5 start.
account of the first 151 games of the 1984 Detroit Tigers World Series championship season
. The team started the year on a remarkable 35-5 pace and became the first American League
team since the 1927 New York Yankees to "lead the race from wire-to-wire" and win the World Series. The book was written with the help of Tigers' public relations
director Dan Ewald. Anderson noted that he wrote the book by recording his immediate reactions after each game: "It was fun. Every night before I went to bed, I'd put the game on tape. This is easy -- you just sit and talk."
championship. It was an instant best-seller in the Detroit area. Anderson conducted a week-long book signing tour that opened at the Hudson's store at Northland Mall. The Detroit Free Press reported that the crowd waiting to have Sparky sign the book "stretched through most of Hudson's basement, snaking back through the carpet and furniture departments, all the way back to fine furniture." The Detroit Free Press described the public reaction to the book this way:
Near the end of the book-signing tour, Anderson noted that his hand was "very sore." He added: "We're over 100,000 printed now. They say it's the greatest thing they've ever had. They said in New York it was even outselling Iacocca
." When U.S. Vice Presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro
, visited Detroit on a campaign stop in late October, she opened her remarks by saying, "I just want to start off by saying, bless you, boys -- and girls."
One bookstore owner noted there was a mob scene at his store when Anderson showed up to sign his book: "There never was anything like it."
noted that Sparky needed to read a bit more about the Websters (Noah
and Daniel
) based on Sparky's statement in the book: "I've heard or read all of the adjectives old Daniel Webster put in his dictionary, and none of them does my bullpen justice."
Sparky Anderson
George Lee "Sparky" Anderson was an American Major League Baseball manager. He managed the National League's Cincinnati Reds to the 1975 and 1976 championships, then added a third title in 1984 with the Detroit Tigers of the American League. He was the first manager to win the World Series in both...
with Dan Ewald. The phrase "Bless You Boys" was the catchphrase adopted by Detroit sportscaster Al Ackerman for the 1984 Detroit Tigers team
1984 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers won the 1984 World Series, defeating the San Diego Padres, 4 games to 1. The season was their 84th since they entered the American League in 1901 and their fourth World Series championship. Detroit relief pitcher Willie Hernandez won the Cy Young Award and was chosen as the...
that started the year with a 35-5 start.
The book
The book was published by Contemporary Books and contains Anderson's diaryDiary
A diary is a record with discrete entries arranged by date reporting on what has happened over the course of a day or other period. A personal diary may include a person's experiences, and/or thoughts or feelings, including comment on current events outside the writer's direct experience. Someone...
account of the first 151 games of the 1984 Detroit Tigers World Series championship season
1984 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers won the 1984 World Series, defeating the San Diego Padres, 4 games to 1. The season was their 84th since they entered the American League in 1901 and their fourth World Series championship. Detroit relief pitcher Willie Hernandez won the Cy Young Award and was chosen as the...
. The team started the year on a remarkable 35-5 pace and became the first American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
team since the 1927 New York Yankees to "lead the race from wire-to-wire" and win the World Series. The book was written with the help of Tigers' public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
director Dan Ewald. Anderson noted that he wrote the book by recording his immediate reactions after each game: "It was fun. Every night before I went to bed, I'd put the game on tape. This is easy -- you just sit and talk."
Success of the book
Bless You Boys was released as an "insta-book" in October 1984 to captalize on the publicity that followed the Tigers' World SeriesWorld Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
championship. It was an instant best-seller in the Detroit area. Anderson conducted a week-long book signing tour that opened at the Hudson's store at Northland Mall. The Detroit Free Press reported that the crowd waiting to have Sparky sign the book "stretched through most of Hudson's basement, snaking back through the carpet and furniture departments, all the way back to fine furniture." The Detroit Free Press described the public reaction to the book this way:
"Hundreds of fans -- some wearing three-piece business suits, some wearing diapers and seated in strollers, many sporting Detroit Tigers caps -- lined up in Hudson's Northland basement to have Sparky autograph his new book. ... It's going faster than World Series tickets, which could make Sparky something of a threat to Norman MailerNorman MailerNorman Kingsley Mailer was an American novelist, journalist, essayist, poet, playwright, screenwriter, and film director.Along with Truman Capote, Joan Didion, Hunter S...
in this writing business."
Near the end of the book-signing tour, Anderson noted that his hand was "very sore." He added: "We're over 100,000 printed now. They say it's the greatest thing they've ever had. They said in New York it was even outselling Iacocca
Iacocca: An Autobiography
Iacocca: An Autobiography is Lee Iacocca's best selling autobiography, co-authored with William Novak and originally published in 1984. Most of the book is taken up with reminiscences of Iacocca's career in the car industry, first with the Ford Motor Company, then the Chrysler Corporation...
." When U.S. Vice Presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro
Geraldine Ferraro
Geraldine Anne Ferraro was an American attorney, a Democratic Party politician, and a member of the United States House of Representatives. She was the first female Vice Presidential candidate representing a major American political party....
, visited Detroit on a campaign stop in late October, she opened her remarks by saying, "I just want to start off by saying, bless you, boys -- and girls."
One bookstore owner noted there was a mob scene at his store when Anderson showed up to sign his book: "There never was anything like it."
Critical reception
The book also drew attention for Sparky's colorful manner of speech. The Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
noted that Sparky needed to read a bit more about the Websters (Noah
Noah Webster
Noah Webster was an American educator, lexicographer, textbook pioneer, English spelling reformer, political writer, editor, and prolific author...
and Daniel
Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster was a leading American statesman and senator from Massachusetts during the period leading up to the Civil War. He first rose to regional prominence through his defense of New England shipping interests...
) based on Sparky's statement in the book: "I've heard or read all of the adjectives old Daniel Webster put in his dictionary, and none of them does my bullpen justice."