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In the late 1970s, the San Francisco Bay Area sportswriters labeled the growing group of born-again Christians on the San Francisco Giants the "God Squad." When the God Squadders helped propel the team to a strong 1978 season, challenging the Dodgers and Reds, they often gave God the credit in post-game interviews. The press raised no objection. But in 1979, when the Giants' fortunes faded on the field, local sportswriters were quick to blame the born-again players, claiming their newfound faith had made them passive. The God Squad features present-day interviews with two of the born-again Giants of that era as well as with two of the sportswriters who covered them. You will also re-live the exciting 1978 pennant push and get inside the motives and beliefs of the six most vocal God Squadders. The book also includes a chapter on "God Squad II," the second wave of born-again Giants in the late 1980s and early 1990s, including Dave Dravecky and Hall of Famer Gary Carter. This deluxe color edition includes 13 full-color photographs.
About the author
Matt Sieger has a B.A. from Cornell University and a master's degree in magazine journalism from Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Public Communications. He was a sports reporter for the Cortland (New York) Standard, The (Vacaville, California) Reporter, and the Martinez (California) News-Gazette. He is a Jewish believer in Jesus and, coincidentally, was born again the same summer this book highlights-1978.
