by Lloyd Carroll, Chronicle Contributor
“Chili Dog MVP” (Eckhartz Press) by John Owens and David Fletcher looks back at how mercurial slugger Dick Allen saved the Chicago White Sox franchise with his MVP season. Pitchers Terry Forster and Wilbur Wood, the great knuckleballer, along with charismatic manager Chuck Tanner, helped propel them to their best season in 13 years.
The book is far more than a recap of the ’72 White Sox season as authors Owens and Fletcher do a fantastic job taking readers back to what life was like in the Windy City 50 years ago as they discuss such Chicago institutions as Mayor Richard “Boss” Daley and the city’s top columnist, the colorful Mike Royko, who remains one of my journalism heroes. I learned that hot dogs served with seasoned ground beef were a popular concession item at Comiskey Park.