PICKLEBALL!: The Curious History of Pickleball From Its Origins As Picklepong 1959 - 1963

Book Synopsis: PICKLEBALL! The Curious History of Pickleball From its Origins as Picklepong 1959 – 1963 is for ALL to enjoy! Dive into this fascinating account of Pickleball's earliest iterations as told by someone who was there to participate in its birth, an eyewitness to the beginnings of Pickleball. Captured here in his witty humorous style, author Patrick Smith shares childhood memories that bring light to the game’s journey from Picklepong, created in Pat’s family side yard, to Pickleball, the game as we know it today. Readers will laugh out loud as they learn about 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 also features traditional food and drink recipes, to serve up the Perfect Pickleball Party in an authentic style of olde! Find out what being “pickled” is all about! For anyone who is curious to know … A GREAT GIFT for every Pickleballer’s collection, this book is sure to become a classic! Pickleball, Must-own Sports Booksexcerpts from review by Peter Fox, Co-founder of ESPN https://sportsedtv.com/blog/is-this-picklegate-the-curious-history-of-pickleball

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. ... 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. 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, ... 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 ...