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So a question to those who've read it: How does this book rate compared to "Kansas City Jazz - A Little Evil Will do You Good" by Con Chapman? I already own the books on Kansas City jazz by Ross Rusell, by Nathan W. Pearson Jr. and by Frank Driggs and Chuck Haddix.  And as much as I am interested in the history of Kansas City jazz I am unsure if there is significantly more (that's not found anywhere else) to be gained from owning ALL that have been published.    And a general question on this subject that I cannot recall I have found any explanation for in any of the three books above: How come that "Kansas City jazz" as a muscial hotbed happened almost exclusively in Kansas City, Mo., but not in Kansas City, Ks.? Though on the map they look like twin cities. ("Map" because when I read these books I've often referred to a 1948 Shell map of Missouri and Kansas City that my Ma brought home from her visit to her uncles in Steelville, Mo., in 1953 ).  Was this only because of the Pendergast regime as an "enabler" on the Missouri side?

I have seen highlights ... and the players don't treat it as an exhibition.  They are all balls-to-the-wall for their "country".  You even have teammates on opposing sides, and the catcher declined a pre-at bat handshake. That happened twice in fact. Its unfortunate that this is the only time for this ... nobody would play three weeks past the WS and eat into their offseason recharge. Not to mention players who would have down time for most if not all of October. Clearly though there is interest - sell out or near sell outs - and with that comes the money and the requirement that it continue.

I watched it last night. Terrific. Very well done.

I think it’s a great book, both a bio and social history.