book reviews

The adage "a picture is worth a thousand words" rings true on virtually every page of Bradsher Hayes' 150 Years of the Braves offering. The author has succeeded in the Herculean tasks of compiling a comprehensive photo and historic narrative of Major League Baseball's oldest continuously-running franchises. He deftly documents the franchises' colorful history from Boston to Milwaukee to Atlanta. As a lifelong fan and Atlanta native, Bradsher shares his unique offering with an "in the stands" perspective. All you'll need to do is bring the popcorn and peanuts...play ball!

Gray Nelson Oliver- Walking in Williamsburg

Bradsher Hayes’ work The 150 Years of the Braves: From Boston to Milwaukee to Atlanta truly touches all the bases of this franchise’s rich history. The author brings to life the playing days of professional sports oldest continuously running franchise with over 225 classic photographs in his 445-page offering which will be a hit for readers aged twelve to eighty-five.

Paul Greene- Braves fan for 55 years

150 Years of the Braves is a comprehensive compilation for baseball fans of every generation. Bradsher Hayes tells the story of the team’s beginnings in 1871 and narrates their struggles and successes through the 2021 world championship season. What a treat to learn about the old timers and their histrionics and heroics. The book is filled with facts and figures and highlights the exploits of the stars, which readers will appreciate. This book is an encyclopedia to be shared and cherished. 

Michael March~ Each One a Hero

Bradsher Hayes’s 150 Years of The Braves is one-of-a-kind. The author has provided baseball enthusiasts with a panoramic view of a unique franchise: The Atlanta Braves. Introducing the reader to exciting baseball events, Hayes weaves personal and statistical data with breathtaking and encyclopedic knowledge. The reader is introduced to players that loomed large in Braves’ history but have garnered little or no recognition, in today's baseball world. I thought I knew a good deal about baseball in general, and the Braves in particular until I read this wonderful account of a storied franchise.

Harry Stern~My Brothers’ Keeper

You don't have to be a Braves fan to appreciate 150 Years of the Braves by Bradsher Hayes. This comprehensive chronicle of the ball club's journey from Boston, to Milwaukee, to its current home in Atlanta, is the story of baseball itself. Almost every household name touched the Braves at some point in his career, either as a player, manager, bitter opponent, or some combination of the three.

The work includes brief biographical sketches of everyone who played a part in the Braves' history, from the famous to the obscure; the sketches are loaded with statistics sports fans love and expect. The profiles cover not only players but administrative staff and superfans as well.

We're also treated to play-by-play summaries of World Series games in which the Braves participated, culminating in their astounding victory over the Houston Astros in 2021. Anyone who loves baseball, or wants to learn more about the sport, should read this book.

Sharon Marchisello, author of Going Home (Sunbury Press 2014) and Secrets of the Galapagos (Milford House 2019).

The lifelong fascination with baseball as a player on two state championship teams at Westminster School in Atlanta, playing college ball at the University of North Carolina, and coaching for over ten years, has motivated Bradsher Hayes to become a baseball historian in the first order. His historical biography, King of the Southern Diamond, has demonstrated a knowledge of early (1905) twentieth-century baseball that is unparalleled in recent history. His latest work, 150 Years of the Braves, is focused on the Braves from their early beginnings in 1871 through the 2021 World Series Championship. The rare and timeless photos coupled with Hayes’ selection or historic narrative makes this book a must for any Braves fan or enthusiast. 

Shelby Whire~ Atlanta, Ga.