New 18 Episode Television Series Screenplay & Corresponding Book
The impossible underdog story of how baseball’sgreatest character – Casey Stengel –
took helm of history’s worst baseball team –the 1962 New York Mets – and resurrected millions of heartbroken fans to save New York City baseball forever.
Mets Celebrity, Colin Cosell,
Interviews Mark
Colin Cosell, grandson of Howard and Mets play-by-play PA announcer, became a fan of the book/TV series project and asked to interview Mark on Michael Carlon's "Uncorking A Story" podcast. Here's the result!
I could almost smell the knish!"
– Amazon Customer
"I loved it! Amazing work! The level of detail is staggering. Fantastic!"
– Danny A.
"Laughed out loud! Treat yourself to this book, you won't regret it or put it down!"
– Michael S.
"Makes me feel like I was really part of the action – a must read!"
– Sharon A.
"Hilarious! I can't wait for the upcoming sitcom or movie this is destined to be!"
– John B.
"Lights, Camera, Author!" Podcast
Interviews Mark
Jim Junot, host of the #1 Book Interview Show On The Web, "Lights, Camera, Author!" discovers "How the Worst Was Won" is an Amazon "#1 New Release" and potential TV series,
interviews Mark about the project.
"The tale isn't recounted, it's re-lived, taking audiences through the
mind-blowing moments in real-time as if experienced live."
"Amazin'!" and “How the Worst Was Won" are based on the true, inspirational story of how the prayers of a city abandoned by the Dodgers and Giants were answered through a series of small miracles that united millions of New Yorkers in ways never thought possible.
In 1957, New York was devastated by the abandonment of their beloved Dodgers and Giants, selling out to the west coast by cold-hearted owners, O’Malley and Stoneham. Five years later, scheming for the riches of only one team per city, baseball owners collude to cripple the Mets franchise by fixing the draft and ensuring the Mets get only horrendous players at outrageous prices. In just their first season, the Mets appear doomed.
Until baseball’s greatest manager and legendary showman, Casey Stengel, agrees to lead this bumbling squad of castoffs. At 72, saving the Mets, his reputation, and the hearts of millions of mourning New Yorkers, becomes the greatest challenge of his already storied life – biographically manifested through flashbacks contrasting the events of ‘62.
Not only must Casey outsmart the conspiring owners, but also the Goliath Yankees who cruelly fired him the year before for being too old. Now as a martyr, revenge is at hand – IF he can leverage his ”Stengelese” and hilarious wit to miraculously generate enough attendance from a zany “new breed” of fans and keep the franchise alive.
Cursed luck and oddities abound – two pitchers with identical first and last names, players being traded for themselves, opening day on Friday the 13th and struck by a blizzard, team getting stuck in elevators, 9 games into season and already 9 1/2 games out, season ending on a triple play, never once winning on a Thursday, and so much more.
Beyond the hilarity, the story goes deeper to reveal rare levels of human conflict, faith, and perseverance illustrating valuable life lessons for those young or old – especially the rewards of carpe diem.
Exhaustively researched for detail and authenticity, there has never been an underdog tale like this. Irresistibly original with countless legendary moments, the odyssey has to be experienced to be believed!
Style Note:
"How the Worst Was Won” is the product of “Amazin’!” – an 18-episode, 930-page TV series screenplay based on the true, impossible story of the 1962 New York Mets led by Casey Stengel. While deeply researched for factual accuracy, neither the series nor book are presented as documentaries. To keep the page-count manageable while still connecting various storylines, some actions/dialogue of the MLB team owners, Mets personnel, “Mr. Met,” and portrayals of 5 categories of fans are generalized or exaggerated. Therefore, both the series and book do contain elements of historical fiction.
Reviews
"Incredible!"
I highly recommend it to Mets fans, baseball fans and anyone looking for a laugh out loud impossible but true underdog story! Casey Stengel is not only one of the most fascinating characters of all time but one of the great baseball minds in history. Treat yourself to this book, you will not regret it or put it down!
– Michael S.
"A Rollicking Good Read!"
I felt like I was right there in the action with the boys as they went through the season. Thoroughly entertaining and even educational!
– Scott B.
"Excellent Book!"
This book is a great read. The amount of detail in the stories is vast and makes me feel like I was really part of the action. If you're a fan of baseball and history, this book is a must-read.
– Sharon A.
"I Love This Book!"
Amazing work! The level of detail is staggering and I could see it all. Just fantastic!"
– Danny A.
"Amazin'!"
How the Worst Was Won is a must read for every sports fan, much less all of you ‘Metsies’.
I learned more about the corporate greed, sexism, agism and America’s true love for the Underdog as seen through the 1962 Mets inaugural season then I thought possible as you don’t know what you don’t know! Manager Casey Stengel and female club owner Joan Payson are American icons whose challenges and triumphs need to be remembered. Injustice, Revenge, Perseverance, Determination and a true love for the game of baseball resound within this novel.
Furthermore, the tale of the 1962 Mets is hilarious! I laughed so hard at the 1962 Mets foibles, I nearly cried; how could they be so bad…but they were. But, through it all, their nascent fans stood by them and made the Mets a reality today. Move over Bull Durham, I can’t wait for the upcoming sitcom or movie this is destined to be!
Get a copy for yourself and enjoy!
– John B.
"The Most Creatively Written Sports Book I've Ever Read"
I was expecting a humorous,"Major League" type story which this certainly evokes, but the depth of drama, storytelling and interweaving of Casey's life throughout is superb, taking this to far greater entertainment levels. A fresh approach to sports history and highly recommended!
– Robert G.
"So Much More Than A Baseball Story! Laugh Out Loud Funny!"
This was a fantastic read! Destined to be a TV series as it features an incredible underdog story with possibly the greatest character in sports history- Casey Stengel. Casey was a genius and brilliant baseball mind but also one of the most entertaining and funny characters ever to step on any playing field. This book is not only for baseball fans but if you love improbable success stories, entertainment and comedy this book is for you!
– Mo, Amazon Customer
"Stengel Was A Character!"
Baseball back then hit differently and this particular story vividly captures that majesty, the humor, the attitude, ingenuity and perseverance of Casey Stengel. What a run he had and what an interesting character.
Real life Stengel preceded my love of the Mets by a couple years, but he made possible my childhood memories of the Tom Seaver, Bud Harrelson and Rusty Staub days. I could almost smell the knish!
– Amazon Customer
Casey Stengel, 72
Mets Manager
In all history – even beyond baseball -- there has never been a character like Casey Stengel. He’s as legendary as Babe Ruth, perhaps even more beloved and flourished as a professional player, manager and “baseball showman” for over 50 years. He’s conquered countless challenges to achieve greatness and they're brought to life with interwoven flashbacks.
Now at 72, however, he’s faced with the greatest challenges of his life – to miraculously save his own reputation, New York National League baseball, the entire Mets organization, his best friend’s career (Mets President, George Weiss), and the hearts of millions of New Yorkers still mourning their Dodgers & Giants selling out for the West Coast.
To succeed, Casey needs to outsmart the corrupt baseball team owners highlighted by the villainous Yankees, Dodgers and Giants. Those owners know the only way to make big money is to have one team per city, so they collude to ensure the Mets get only terrible players, virtually guaranteeing low attendance and eventual franchise failure.
Shrewdly, Casey lowers the expectations of the Mets by making his own comical actions the focus. While fiercely competitive, he’s also hysterically improvisational, wowing fans and reporters alike with tremendous wit and double-talking speech known as “Stengelese.”
Against all odds, he brings infectious joy to millions of fans and ultimately saves the Mets franchise and New York City baseball forever.
"Stengelese" In Action!
"Stengelese" Audio
