About the Book
PICKLEBALL! The Curious History of Pickleball From its Origins as Picklepong 1959 - 1963 is for ALL to enjoy! This fascinating account of Pickleball's earliest iterations, from someone who was there to witness its birth, exposes the true beginnings of Pickleball as told by an eyewitness, albeit a young one.
Patrick Smith's eloquently shared descriptions of the life and times and the people involved as the game was first invented, BEFORE 1965, gives the flavor of Washington state's history and some of the movers and shakers of the late 1950s and 60s.
Captured here in his witty, humorous style, the author shares childhood memories that bring light to the game's journey from Picklepong, created in Pat's family sideyard, to Pickleball, the game as we know it today.
Readers will laugh out loud as they learn of the characters who practiced getting pickled both on and off the courts, flavored with references to some of Washington State's cultural and historic highlights.
In addition, the book features traditional food and drink recipes of the times, to serve up the Perfect Pickleball Party in the authentic style of olde!
Find out what being "pickled" is really all about! For anyone who is curious to know ...
A great gift for every Pickleballer's collection, this book is sure to be a Classic!
About the Author :
Patrick W. Smith, born and raised in Washington State, now resides in Guilford, Connecticut and Frye Island, Maine. In the world of music, Patrick is a virtuoso percussionist/tympanist, composer and conductor. He has toured internationally, performing with many artists and can be heard on numerous recordings. As a teacher, Patrick has mentored musicians of all ages for over five decades. He is a Grammy Recognized and award-winning music educator. To gain perspective in life and learn to walk his own peaceful path, Patrick has studied Martial Arts since 1964 and is now a Master level black belt instructor with Dillman Karate International. As a devoted student of martial arts with nearly 60 years of training in numerous styles, he offers classes throughout New England and online. To share his experience and perspective with the community, Patrick is a Level One Certified practitioner of Kingian Nonviolence Reconciliation, bringing forth nonviolence as a way of life and spirit. Maria Mortali, editor-in-chief at YellowBird Ventures, LLC has over thirty years of diverse experience in individual tutoring, small group facilitating, and classroom leadership. Maria has a broad and unique set of qualifications, including Grammar, Reading, Writing, Algebra, Geometry, Spanish language instruction, U.S. History, and Physics. Maria brings a depth of understanding that deepens her value as an editor along with an ability to impart her knowledge in a way that is hard to find anywhere. Maria began her lifelong journey in education with her studies at Purdue University, followed by an entrepreneurial lifestyle wherein she was, among other things, a literary editor. Her drive to teach and share led her to open her own business, engage as a private academic tutor for students from elementary through college, and in 2009 co-found Connecticut Experiential Learning Center. Maria is now editor-in-chief for all things literary at YellowBird Ventures, LLC.
Review :
Pickleball, Must-own Sports BooksIs This Picklegate? The curious history of pickleball
By Peter Fox, Co-founder of ESPN
www.SportsEdTv.com
We may have missed the boat.
When we started our Must Read Sports Books channel we should have, could have, but didn't, account for sports books that didn't have much to do with sports instruction-our sweet spot.
What about entertaining sports books?
The Curious History of Pickleball: From Its Origins as Picklepong is one of them.
Author Patrick W. Smith, himself an entertaining figure recounts how his family's adult beverage-infused lawn game may very well have serendipitously begat the pickled part of pickleball eventually, though he readily accounts that his circa 1959 to 1963 memories called that game picklepong.
It reminds this scribe of a similar sports naming episode that occurred in the gymnasium of the Springfield Massachusetts YMCA when a winter-frustrated-rugby team was introduced to what was to be boxball but became basketball when inventor James Naismith's handyman couldn't find the box James wanted, so brought him a peach basket instead.
Author Patrick Smith goes out of his way, early in the pre-publication edition he provided, to calm the waters between today's Pickleball historians, including us, who relate the history of its origins to friends and family of then-Congressman Joel Pritchard (R) who honored their own backyard game with the name Pickeleball in 1965.
Long story short, Congressman Pritchard was a not infrequent visitor to the home of Patrick Smith's aunt and uncle Gretchen and Chuck Bechtlell well-known Republican fundraisers during those pre-1965 times where picklepong was played.
Once past the hopeful passing of the olive branch, Patrick recounts how picklepong came to be named at the Bechtells. Amply lubricated visitors, he tells, often earned the popular version of drunk then called pickled, as they pickle-ponged their Wiffle ball over another legendary backyard net.
Adding to the pickle naming heritage that is Smith's or rather his Aunt Gretchen's German gherkins, translated as pickles. Gretchen's Gherkins were co-pilot to pickle-pong onlooking imbibers of drinks with Bechtell monikers of their own such as Rump Slappin' Dirty Martinis and/or Mother's Ruin a Gretchen Gin Gimlet.
The Curious History of Pickleball: From Its Origins as Picklepong once it passes its not quite apologetic telling of the birthing story becomes sort of a National Geographic of Puget Sound, showing in mapped detail how the Bechtell's backyard of pissed politicos is 25 nautical miles north of Congressman's Pritchard's vacation venue on Bainbridge Island the until now exclusive stake to pickle sports.
What intrigue's the reviewer is the author, Patrick Smith. Educated at Yale, a Master Karate Instructor, a former Rolling Stones percussionist, now classically engaged in the symphony, Grammy-nominated, teaching at multiple levels as well as partnered with Melinda Alcosser agent to travelers with big hearts and-surprise-pickleballers who want to "seize the dinks and travel to play."
It's an interesting read, stuffed with recipes for cocktails and nosh especially Gretchen's Gherkins the pickles that started it all.
Move over Heinz and Vlassic it feels like Gretchen's Gherkins may have the necessary pickleball tumult to barge its way onto the supermarket shelves-if only there was an entrepreneurial couple around to lead the way.
