Fenway: Unexpurgated

The Boston Red Sox baseball team and its home, Fenway Park, attract writers the way the Le Brea tar pits attracted saber-toothed tigers. Golenbock offers an addition to the rich catalogue of writings. But like his Personal Fouls , which caused a commotion in the college basketball world and resulted in the removal of North Carolina State's head basketball coach Jim Valvano, the book is diminished by listless writing and questionable sources. For example, Golenbock relies on material about the turn-of-the-century team as reported by the Boston Globe , which had a financial relationship with the BoSox. Also, he accepts as gospel memories of fans whom he interviewed. Nonetheless, the book contains many anecdotes that will be appreciated by baseball fans. (Feb.)