2008 Holiday Gift Guide: Almost a Dynasty

Today, the holiday gift guide takes a trip down memory lane: back to 1980. While the hot items under the Christmas tree this year may be all kinds of 2008 World Champions gear and accessories, why not give your Phillies fan a book about that other world championship team. Almost a Dynasty: The Rise and Fall of the 1980 Phillies by William Kashatus fits the bill perfectly. Here is the product description: Being a Phillies fan has never been easy. The team has amassed the most losses of any professional sports franchise in history, as well as the longest losing streak and the most last-place finishes in the major leagues. The year 1980 was redemption for a miserable, century-old legacy of losing. It was also the beginning of the end for a team that could have been among the very best in baseball throughout the decade. Between 1980 and 1983 the Philadelphia Phillies captured two pennants and a world championship. Legends like Tug McGraw, Steve Carlton, Mike Schmidt, and Pete Rose led the ... (link)