Men at Work, The Craft of Baseball, a book written by George Will, seems like it appeals to only baseball fans, but its main message applies to everyone. The main message of Men at Work is that hard work is necessary to be successful in baseball and in the United States.
Men at Work was written in 1990 and is 384 pages long. It is in-depth about the preparation of four prominent figures from the late 1980s: a manager (Tony La Russa), a pitcher (Orel Hershiser), a hitter (Tony Gwynn), and a defender (Cal Ripken Jr.). The main message is in the conclusion. Are you willing to stick with the book that long to get the main message?
Overview of Men at Work
Men at Work provides a detailed look into baseball’s inner workings. The author tells the stories of four significant figures from the game, as mentioned in the introduction. There is one chapter for each. On their mastery of their craft, through interviews and historical insights, readers gain an appreciation for the hard work of each of these stars. Will shows that hard work is necessary in both baseball and America.
The Manager: Tony La Russa
Men at Work begins with one of the most successful managers of all time, Tony La Russa. La Russa meticulously planned for every game situation, analyzing opponents and adapting strategies accordingly. His preparation is fascinating for baseball fans. Through anecdotes and insights, we learn La Russa’s simple rule: intuition plays a significant part. La Russa won 2,880 games as a manager, good for second all-time.
The Pitcher: Orel Hershiser
Next, Will shifts focus to Orel Hershiser, whose approach to pitching exemplifies this. Hershiser is in the Hall of Fame, and in 1988, he threw 59 consecutive scoreless innings. The narrative of the book in this chapter reveals Hershiser’s amazing ability to recall pitches and batter interactions. Readers see pitching as a mental game requiring concentration and an analytical mind. Will shows that dedication can yield success on the baseball diamond.
The Batter: Tony Gwynn
The chapter in Men at Work on Tony Gwynn shows the career of one of baseball’s greatest hitters. He died young of oral cancer because he was addicted to smokeless tobacco. He was one of the greatest hitters since World War Two. Ted Williams loved him. Gwynn learned from his mistakes, and Will shows this. He had 3,141 hits in his career. And batted .338. His legendary batting skills illustrate the art and science of hitting. His commitment to studying pitchers and his own swing led to consistent excellence.
The Defense: Cal Ripken Jr.
Cal Ripken Jr. played in a record 2,632 consecutive games (he is known as baseball’s Ironman) and represents defensive excellence and durability, to say the least. Ripken is obsessive-compulsive and competes at everything, which is why he could play for so long at such a high level. In his 21-year career, Ripken Jr. had 3184 hits. He is an excellent final subject in the book; nobody worked harder. Ripken Jr. underscores that hard work is important to success in baseball and success in the United States.
Conclusion
In Men at Work, Will assesses the significance of baseball in American culture. It may be difficult to pick this out with all the detailed analysis in the book. The author argues that success in baseball requires much more than athletic ability; it requires hard work and strategic thinking, just like success in America. Will’s observations should resonate with all readers. Men at Work is a must-read for any baseball enthusiast looking to appreciate America’s pastime.
