The Bookends Interview: Art Shamsky: Part 1
By John J. Buro | Pro Baseball Central - NYSportsDay.com | on Friday, June 2 2006

RIDGEWOOD, NJ – Once, Art Shamsky was a legitimate power threat. During the 1966 season, he slugged 21 home runs in a mere 234 at-bats, including four consecutive over a three-day period while playing for the Cincinnati Reds. In particular, were the three long flies he swatted during a 14-11, 13-inning loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on August 12; Shamsky, who had entered the game in the eighth inning, established a National League mark by hitting the last two of those homers in extra frames.

Then, in November of ’67, Cincinnati dealt him to the New York Mets in exchange for Bob Johnson, a journeyman pitcher. Within two years, Shamsky –who followed 14 HRs, 47 RBI and a .300 average with 7 for 13 [.538] as New York bounced the Atlanta Braves in the first-ever NL Championship Series- was part of the motorcade which escorted the Amazin’ Mets through the Canyon of Heroes.

Now, more than 35 years after that historic ride, Shamsky and Barry Zeman have teamed to recreate that moment in time. “The Magnificent Seasons” [introduced by Bob Costas, with forewords by Joe Namath, Tom Seaver and Bill Bradley, Thomas Duane Books, 320 pps, $24.95] offers New York sports fans a unique treat. It perfectly sandwiches the Mets’ victory in between those of the Jets and Knicks, then ties the triumvirate into a bigger picture -how the city, itself, nearly crumbled from the weight of both financial and political struggles and the unrest created by racism and the Vietnam War.

“That period of time,” said the ex-ballplayer, “was so incredible for New York. I knew, that with the Jets winning, then us, then the Knickerbockers, there was a story there. Three teams from one city were world champions –and all for the very first time.

“But there was more to it. The other part of the story was what was going on in the city and the world at the time. Many people think this was the most disruptive era in the history of our country. It was a very, very difficult time and I think these three teams made people –New Yorkers, in particular- forget about their problems for a while.

“Writing this book was a wonderful experience for me. As I researched it, I realized there was so much historical value which I didn’t realize then because I was caught up in my own world of playing baseball. I interviewed 100 people from that era, from athletes to fans, and from sportswriters to Vietnam veterans.”

Quite naturally, the reaction was different. Some of these subjects were living the best of times, while others were living through its worst.

“The players that I spoke with –from the Jets, Mets and Knicks- were all aware of what they contributed to making people feel better about their lives. Like the Vietnam vets, who told me that, at that time, they were in the worst place in the world.”

Still, for a brief period, these three teams removed these soldiers from where they were and suggested that there were other things in their lives which were just as important.

“When I hear that,” Shamsky, 64, related, “it made me feel really good. I’ve always felt that, because we were able to make people feel better about their life –even in some small fashion-, then we really did a good job. For me, that was really interesting.”

Along the way, he became a devout Jets’ fan, and got to know many of their players. Familiarity certainly helped. Both the Jets and Mets were co-tenants of Shea Stadium.

“It was great that they won the Super Bowl because that game changed how people now view the National Football League; from that, Namath, became an icon. Then, we won.

“But, of the three teams, the Knickerbockers had the best team going into a season. They won 19 of their first 20, including 18 straight [to open the 1969-70 campaign]. I had played baseball against Dave DeBusschere. I had known Walt Frazier and Willis Reed, and Dick Barnett and Bill Bradley just by being around New York.

“So, after we won, I followed the Knicks simply because it would just be great if they won, too.”