An in-depth look into why Boston is, in fact, America's best sports town. With sections focusing on the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox (and Boston Colleges), this is a comprehensive book for sports fans.

I'll start with a few confessions which will provide a bit of background. Firstly I'm a Brit. But I'm a Brit who loves her American sports. I have seen live NBA - in the UK, live NFL - season ticket holder for the London international series and, here's the reason for wanting to read this book, live MLB in Boston at Fenway Park (I still have live NHL on my bucket list). Me and my bro have always wanted to go Stateside to see live sports and, when Papi announced his retirement, well, it had to be done the next season. So, in 2016 we went to Boston and watched them lose to the Orioles and then come from behind to walkoff against the Yankees. Papi hit us a HR and then Hanley brought it home with a 3 run homer in the bottom of the ninth. Aside from the sports element, Boston itself was magical and everything I wanted from a city holiday. If I hadn't already forged my allegiances with other teams in the other main sports (Eagles, Spurs and Penguins) I would have probably picked them all there and then (well, maybe not the Pats!). Anyway, I digress...
So, this book is a must read for all sports fans whether you follow the Boston teams or not. After a great forward from the Great Pedro Martinez, there's a chapter for each of the main four teams containing the history of each team, listing the greatest and the almost as great players, the pivotal games and the influential trades. There's also a great section on rivalries too. Obviously I was most interested in the MLB Red Sox chapter, especially the 2004 ALCS when they came back from 3-0 down to beat the Yankees "Don't Let Us Win Tonight" (Four Days in October). Then the book goes on to College sports - the feeding ground for the major leagues - and then there are chapters on Olympians and Other Boston sportsmen, women and other sport related events held in the city, including a healthy section on the Boston Marathon and the bombing where Papi is directly quoted "This is our f city". GOAT both on and off the park, and I am so glad I got to see him play before he retired.
Anyway, even with my interest only really lying with the Sox, I did read all the rest of the book and I learned a lot. I also got a better appreciation of some of the things around and about the sports. Things I didn't even know I didn't know but feel a lot wiser now knowing. I even, and I hate to have to admit it, but I even have a new found kind of respect for the Pats knowing where they came from and what they endured to get to where they are today. There, I've said it!
My US sports history education is severely lacking having only recently started following them, so anything that adds to that, even if not about my teams, is nothing to be scorned. It's always hit and miss trying to find decent books to fill the gaps, especially ones available in the UK, but after finishing this book, I feel the Boston part of my education is complete. Of course I can't speak for its accuracy but I am sure that's been done as professionally as the overall presentation.
Oh, it's also written in a very readable way. I've read some sports books that have bored me to tears with stats and the like but here, it is all nicely illustrated both with pictures and eloquent words. I am also proof that you don't have to know so much already to understand the rest as it all flows nicely along within each chapter. Although I scored me an ARC of this book to read, it'll be one that I will definitely buy a copy of when it is out.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Very fun read! I loved the photos! This is a perfect coffee table book for sure!

As a fan of mostly New York teams, I'm not totally sure I agree with the title of this book, but let's just go along with it. The forward is written by none other than Pedro Martinez, so you can't be mad at that. Each chapter focuses on a different Boston sports team. Throughout there are also some Top 5 lists - best games in history, best trades, which players would be on a mount rushmore for that team and then "the best of the rest". And there's even a chapter on Boston Olympians. The final chapter is an overall Mount Rushmore of Boston.

A pretty neat sports book, even if I am not a fan of any of the teams featured in it.

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review, I was not otherwise compensated.