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Now Available from Orange Frazer Press

Beloved Dayton Daily News Reds beat writer, Hal McCoy, releases memoir about his half-century writing on the Cincinnati Reds

In a near-unprecedented sportswriting career covering half a century (and more than 25,000 bylines), Hal McCoy crowns his own Hall of Fame career with a memoir of the Cincinnati Reds that is, by turns, brash, hilarious, and behind-the-scenes unusual. His is the storied franchise with an accent on the story. 

McCoy gives fans an inside-the-dugout look that never made the daily press: the politics, the personalities, the hi-jinks, the x-rated scenes—all the classic ballpark happenings known only to those on the field. 

There’s the dismantling of The Big Red Machine—and what really happened to Sparky. There’s George Foster’s story of his Riverfront long ball off Cubs pitcher Willie Hernandez, which he described by saying, “I hit that ball so hard that Willie moved to the American League and changed his name.” The reader learns exactly where Pete Harnisch hid his toothbrush, visits the scene of Sweet Lou Piniella and his gumball machine, and suffers with Pokey Reese on his worst day ever. 

In short, it’s the complete scoop from a sportswriter who led a charmed life and, even when faced with his own failing eyesight, managed to keep his life intact and still see more than the rest of us. The Real McCoy is one of the most readable—and revealing—books about baseball ever written.

Hal McCoy knows the game. That’s where great sports writing starts. From there he is able to be critical when it is deserved and complimentary when it is earned. But it all comes from a great love and understanding of the game. He is right up there with his fellow Hall of Famers, Ritter Collett and Si Burick, in delivering baseball to fans in Ohio and across the nation.
— Pete Rose, "The Hit King"
In my 12 years in the big leagues I was fortunate to meet a lot of great people, Hal McCoy being among them. We all know what a Hall of Fame writer he is, but more importantly he is a Hall of Fame person. My memories of playing in Cincinnati are embedded in the words of Hal McCoy.
— Sean Casey, known as "The Mayor" during his days with the Cincinnati Reds
Hal McCoy always gave you a fair shake. It was never about him in his stories. I met him in spring training of 1984 and he has always been a Hall of Famer through and through. And more importantly he has been a dear friend.
— Tom “Mr. Perfect” Browning, who pitched a perfect game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1988