{"schema_version":"bf_book_companion_v1","release_id":"20261010T034321Z-reviewed-full-unique-works","book":{"amazon_purchase_url":"https://www.amazon.com/dp/0803292775?tag=bookfrontie00-20","asin":"0803292775","authors":["Mike Shropshire"],"book_id":"9780803292772","canonical_url":"https://bookfrontier.com/books/seasons-in-hell-9780803292772","cover_image_url":"https://img.bookfrontier.com/9780803292772.jpg?v=415014c5474c0a4b","description":"“Disastrously hilarious.” — USA Today “Even before the start of spring training, Herzog had said, ‘If Rich Billings is the starting catcher again, we’re in deep trouble.’ When that evaluation was passed along to Billings, he simply nodded and said, ‘Whitey, obviously, has seen me play.’” In early 1973, gonzo sportswriter Mike Shropshire agreed to cover the Texas Rangers for the Fort-Worth Star-Telegram , not realizing that the Rangers were arguably the worst team in baseball history. 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