Fast Times at Crenshaw

Several years ago, I read a book called “The Last Shot.” It is a basketball book, yes, but its narrative is strikingly similar to this week’s read, “ The Ticket Out” by Michael Sokolove. Both books are wound in the stuff of cinema. By the climax, each story unravels into something far more raw.

Read “ The Ticket Out” because:

1. Sokolove shows how baseball has a way of binding people together for better or worse .

Coach Brooks Hurst drew clear dividing lines between the baseball diamond and the outside world. He wasn’t naive. When the team stuck together, that’s all there was. Gangs wouldn’t touch the young men, nothing would. But venture out of the basepaths, and who knew what could happen. A young man got stabbed on school grounds. Gunfire was not all together uncommon. Baseball persisted. Fathers and places of residence changed. The only difference from year to year with baseball was the players. You knew what you could expect from baseball.

2. The story of Darryl Strawberry, Chris Brown and Crenshaw High’s 1979 season is never dull .

Strawberry highlighted the most talented high school baseball team ever. Crenshaw High cruised to 12-1 and 11-3 victories in the 1979 opening playoff games. The Cougars could not escape game three unscathed. Hurst suffered a broken jaw, but the team went on to win. Up next, John Elway. Yeah, that Elway. It’ll let the book take it from there.

3. If you remember Strawberry consistently popping up as a troubled figure in recent years, this book will help you understand why .

From as early as Little League, coaches had to find ways to invigorate Strawberry. At the beginning, a coach splashed water in his face. Years later in his early minor league days, Straw stayed in bed until it was time to head to the park. Struggling to get motivated was one thing, but that was only the beginning. “You would hear things; players, you know, we talk a little bit,” Willie Randolph said. “It was a shame the things that happened, but it wasn’t a surprise. You knew as a player that it was only a matter of time.” ( 115, Ticket )

The good news is that all of the “Boys of Crenshaw” made it to age 40. One of them cooked a private dinner for a Cabinet member. For the rest of the story, don’t take a pass on this ticket.

Sam Miller is a graduate of the University of Illinois where he worked with various teams in sports information and received the Freedom Forum – NCAA Sports Journalism Scholarship for his achievements. During the 2009 season, Miller served as communications intern for the Angels’ Triple-A affiliate. Prior to that, he worked as a communications intern for USA Basketball and as an associate reporter for MLB.com.