Smith, Red – Red Smith’s Views of Sport

Description

Smith, Red – Red Smith’s Views of Sport. 1954 1st ed. Alfred A. Knopf. 293-pages. VG with a good- non-price clipped dust jacket.

Views of Sport (often listed as Red Smith’s Views of Sport) is a 293-page anthology written by the legendary, Pulitzer Prize-winning American sportswriter Red Smith (Walter Wellesley Smith). Published as a hardcover first edition in 1954 by Alfred A. Knopf, this work compiles a prime selection of his highly celebrated columns originally written for the New York Herald Tribune.

Book Summary & Key Contents
The anthology captures mid-century American athletics through Smith’s characteristic wit, literary prose, and keen observation. Rather than focusing purely on stats and box scores, the essays delve into the human elements, humor, and unique subcultures surrounding various sports:
• The “Sweet Science” & Major Sports: Features brilliant, clear-eyed essays on prizefighting/boxing, classic baseball eras, football, and the thrill of horse racing.
• The Gambling Subculture: Includes a memorable, comedic sequence of columns tracking the “gambling fever” gripping a fictionalized Brooklyn sports fanatic named Butch and his circular cast of friends.
• International Reportage: Contains a highly acclaimed, moving chapter documenting Smith’s personal pilgrimage to cover the 1952 Summer Olympic Games in Helsinki.
• Creative Illustrations: The narrative text is accented throughout with sharp, expressive line drawings provided by the prominent, Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator Marc Simont.