First edition of this classic account of the Mets' notorious 1962 baseball debut, written by the legendary New York City journalist.
Very good in very good jacket.
Price: $150.00
"They lost an awful lot of games by one run, which is the mark of a bad team. They also lost innumerable games by fourteen runs or so. This is the mark of a terrible team."
Going 40-120 in 1962, the Mets' set the record for most losses in a single season, one that would stand until the White Sox bested it in 2024. Breslin's bestselling book (whose title it derived from an infamous quote from Mets' manager Casey Stengel) features many beloved team figures: Frank Thomas, "Marvelous Marv" Throneberry, Don Zimmer, Gi Hodges, and others. With an introduction by Hall-of-Famer Bill Veeck, oddly uncommon in its first printing.
First printing. New York: The Viking Press, (1963). Full title: Can't Anybody Here Play This Game: The Improbable Saga of the New York Mets' First Year. 8.5'' x 5.5''. Original full (Mets) orange cloth with (Mets) blue titles. In original unclipped ($2.95) photographic jacket featuring an image of Casey Stengel by Walter Iooss, Jr. 124 pages. Jacket with a bit of creasing and a couple of closed tears. Chip to rear panel, minor rubbing. Book has some scuffing along bottom edge of boards. Owner inscription to front endpaper. Else clean and sound.
We work hard to meet our ethical responsibility to describe our material accurately. All items are guaranteed as described and may be returned for any reason within 30 days. Please notify us before mailing a return.
We guarantee the authenticity of our items. All materials are original (meaning not facsimiles or reproductions) unless otherwise noted. First editions (meaning first edition, first printing) are explicitly stated. TPM is a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America and upholds their Code of Ethics.
All photographs are of the actual item for sale. We're happy to provide additional images on request.
All domestic orders ship gratis. For orders under $250, free USPS media mail shipping is included; orders $250 and over ship USPS Ground Advantage. International orders over $1000 also ship gratis. Expedited, overnight, as well as other carriers (UPS, Fed-Ex, etc.), may carry additional costs beyond quoted rates. All orders receive tracking information and a direct contact in case of any questions.
International buyers are responsible for any customs, taxes, and related import fees. Please note that we are unable to accomodate requests to misrepresent, misdeclare, or otherwise falsify customs documents when shipping internationally. We appreciate your understanding.
We accept all major credit cards, Paypal, Venmo, check, money order, and bank wire. We are happy to bill institutional buyers' needs. Sales tax will be added to applicable purchases. Items subject to prior sale.
If for any reason you are dissatisfied with your purchase, please contact us. We prioritize our long-term relationships far above any individual purchase, and we want you to love your item as much as we loved cataloguing it.
Type Punch Matrix is a Washington D.C.-area rare book firm founded by Rebecca Romney and Brian Cassidy.
Read more about TPM.
