{"product_id":"hell-of-a-way-to-make-a-living","title":"Hell of a Way to Make a Living","description":"\u003cp\u003eFor 50 years, Paul Hagen lived the dream of being a beat writer covering the Dodgers, Rangers, and Phillies. But, as \u003ci\u003eHell of a Way to Make a Living\u003c\/i\u003e demonstrates, the enviable job isn't always as glamorous as it seems.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis insider's account gives readers an all-access pass to the press box, clubhouse, and dugout to discover what the experience is really about. It's both a clear-eyed dissection of the daily grind and a breezy, occasionally gossipy, account of being to paid to watch baseball games.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHagen features entertaining and insightful anecdotes such as confirming to manager Terry Francona that the Phillies were going to fire him two weeks before it happened and building trust with players from the last man on the roster to future Hall of Famers like Mike Schmidt, Ferguson Jenkins, Billy Wagner, and Scott Rolen. He also addresses the changing media landscape, what's on the record and off, the ethics of reporting on a team fairly, and how sports writing has changed over the decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCovering all the bases, \u003ci\u003eHell of a Way to Make a Living\u003c\/i\u003e is an ode to the importance of conscientious beat writing and building trust with readers.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57504829309301,"sku":"9781439928035","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781439928035.jpg?v=1786953746","url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/products\/hell-of-a-way-to-make-a-living","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}