Boxing
Roberts, Randy. Joe Louis: Hard Times Man. Yale University Press. Ill.; notes; bib.; index; 328p. ISBN: 978-0-300122-220. $27.50 October, 2010.
As the case with most celebrities, their public persona’s are nearly always perfect (or at least our perception of it is) and their private lives are nearly always the complete opposite. In most instances, it is better to maintain the public image in your mind and forget about the other. And, needless to say, this not so perfect material is gist for the juicy tell-all book.
Randy Roberts picture of Joe Louis is a complete one set against the background of a vilely racist American society, both North and South. He presents Louis as the seventh of eight children born into an Alabama sharecroppers family with no particular aptitude for much of anything, until he got to Detroit. By that time, his father had died, his mother remarried and the family all went north in search of work in the auto industry. It turns out Louis had a talent – the ability to take and give out punishment with his fists. Therein lies the tale.
Joe Louis fought thirteen times in 1935 as a new heavyweight. That was inside the ring. Outside, he had to deal with the social challenges faced by every black fighter. The unofficial color line in the heavyweight division was set through the disruptive actions of Jack Johnson, the first black champion. Johnson reveled in the fact that he was champion and could take whatever he wanted as a result. His behavior made him anathema to most whites who never wanted to see another black champion. Joe Louis followed some hard and fast rules to overcome this prejudice and was largely successful despite his dalliances.
Hard Times Man is more than a biography. It is a cultural history of a bygone life and times. Joe Louis towered over the world in his reign as champion; he meant many things to many people and his emotional story is ably retold here for the benefit of a new generation lacking in genuine heroes.
As the case with most celebrities, their public persona’s are nearly always perfect (or at least our perception of it is) and their private lives are nearly always the complete opposite. In most instances, it is better to maintain the public image in your mind and forget about the other. And, needless to say, this not so perfect material is gist for the juicy tell-all book.
Randy Roberts picture of Joe Louis is a complete one set against the background of a vilely racist American society, both North and South. He presents Louis as the seventh of eight children born into an Alabama sharecroppers family with no particular aptitude for much of anything, until he got to Detroit. By that time, his father had died, his mother remarried and the family all went north in search of work in the auto industry. It turns out Louis had a talent – the ability to take and give out punishment with his fists. Therein lies the tale.
Joe Louis fought thirteen times in 1935 as a new heavyweight. That was inside the ring. Outside, he had to deal with the social challenges faced by every black fighter. The unofficial color line in the heavyweight division was set through the disruptive actions of Jack Johnson, the first black champion. Johnson reveled in the fact that he was champion and could take whatever he wanted as a result. His behavior made him anathema to most whites who never wanted to see another black champion. Joe Louis followed some hard and fast rules to overcome this prejudice and was largely successful despite his dalliances.
Hard Times Man is more than a biography. It is a cultural history of a bygone life and times. Joe Louis towered over the world in his reign as champion; he meant many things to many people and his emotional story is ably retold here for the benefit of a new generation lacking in genuine heroes.
Ancient Rome
Meijer, Fik. Chariot Racing I n the Roman Empire. Translated by Liz Waters. Johns Hopkins University Press. Ill.; maps; notes; glossary; bib.; index. 208p. ISBN: 978-0-8018-9677-2. $29.95 September, 2010.
Fans of Ben Hur will find this very readable book entertaining and informative. Fik Meijer begins the book with a description of the Nika Riot, which occurred in early January, AD 532, in Constantinople after a series of contested chariot races were held in the Hippodrome. Some thirty thousand people were killed after tensions between the Blues and the Greens (two racing teams), escalated into outright chaos. He then reviews the historical background of racing starting in the 1st Century BC and ending with a lively chapter on chariot racing in the movies.
But this book is not just about fun and games. Meijer also looks at the political importance of these spectacles, as they were a place where all classes of Romans with their Emperor filled the stadium; the Emperor could also judge the approval or disapproval of the people on almost any issue. These crowds grew to enormous numbers, the Circus Maximus holding up to 150,000 people, including (or not) SRO.
Mixing obscure contemporary sources into his lively narrative, Meijer recreates these races in more detail than thought possible, given the length of time passed. It is an in-your-seat, in-your-face ancient history worthy of any bookshelf.
Fans of Ben Hur will find this very readable book entertaining and informative. Fik Meijer begins the book with a description of the Nika Riot, which occurred in early January, AD 532, in Constantinople after a series of contested chariot races were held in the Hippodrome. Some thirty thousand people were killed after tensions between the Blues and the Greens (two racing teams), escalated into outright chaos. He then reviews the historical background of racing starting in the 1st Century BC and ending with a lively chapter on chariot racing in the movies.
But this book is not just about fun and games. Meijer also looks at the political importance of these spectacles, as they were a place where all classes of Romans with their Emperor filled the stadium; the Emperor could also judge the approval or disapproval of the people on almost any issue. These crowds grew to enormous numbers, the Circus Maximus holding up to 150,000 people, including (or not) SRO.
Mixing obscure contemporary sources into his lively narrative, Meijer recreates these races in more detail than thought possible, given the length of time passed. It is an in-your-seat, in-your-face ancient history worthy of any bookshelf.
Baseball
Elias, Robert. The Empire Strikes Out: How Baseball Sold U.S. Foreign Policy and Promoted the American Way Abroad. The New Press. Ill.; notes; index. 448p. ISBN: 9789-1-59558-195-2. $27.95 February, 2010.
Anyone expecting a dry, academic tome full of statistics and factoids about how American foreign policy and baseball traveled hand in hand around the globe, will be disappointed in The Empire Strikes Out. If one would like a lively recounting of an “unauthorized” history of our national pastime from the American Revolution forward, then this book is for you.
Elias traces both the history of baseball and U.S. foreign policy from 1775 to 2009. the text is laden with gems of baseball information, used to illustrate his points. Starting with the very interesting beginning of the term “Yankee Doodle” (leave it to the military, in this case the British), to the origins of various baseball terms such as bullpen, to his comparison of baseball and the world as we know it today – globalization and the minor league farm system. These hooks keep the pages turning. Some of the items will have you scrambling for corroboration; i.e. Thomas Jefferson not being very impressed with the game and Abraham Lincoln's enjoyment as a player and spectator are just two that come to mind.
All in all, this book will definitely make you think of just how much more closely did the diamond follow the flag than is generally known or even thought of as relevant? Just how much has baseball been part and parcel of American diplomacy, imperialism and globalization? Or are baseball and the American Dream really one and the same? Not just for baseball fans.
Anyone expecting a dry, academic tome full of statistics and factoids about how American foreign policy and baseball traveled hand in hand around the globe, will be disappointed in The Empire Strikes Out. If one would like a lively recounting of an “unauthorized” history of our national pastime from the American Revolution forward, then this book is for you.
Elias traces both the history of baseball and U.S. foreign policy from 1775 to 2009. the text is laden with gems of baseball information, used to illustrate his points. Starting with the very interesting beginning of the term “Yankee Doodle” (leave it to the military, in this case the British), to the origins of various baseball terms such as bullpen, to his comparison of baseball and the world as we know it today – globalization and the minor league farm system. These hooks keep the pages turning. Some of the items will have you scrambling for corroboration; i.e. Thomas Jefferson not being very impressed with the game and Abraham Lincoln's enjoyment as a player and spectator are just two that come to mind.
All in all, this book will definitely make you think of just how much more closely did the diamond follow the flag than is generally known or even thought of as relevant? Just how much has baseball been part and parcel of American diplomacy, imperialism and globalization? Or are baseball and the American Dream really one and the same? Not just for baseball fans.
Sports Biography
Buford, Kate Native American Son: The Life and Sporting Legend of Jim Thorpe Knopf. Ill.; notes; bib.; index. 496p. ISBN: 978-0-375-41324-7. $35.00 October, 2010.
There are many heroic, tragic life stories that are a vital part of American history, yet there are none that exemplify these two elements more than the life of Jim Thorpe. A Native American, Thorpe was the first major international celebrity athlete and despite all that has happened to him, continues to ranked in the top ranks of “Greatest Athlete” lists. His name is synonymous with physical strength and endurance, courage and excellence. Unfortunately, as with too many other major sports stars, his life was not without its major tragedies and scandals.
Jim Thorpe's list of accomplishments would fill these pages by themselves. He first came to public attention as a football player at the Carlisle Indian School, coached by the legendary “Pop” Warner, leading his team to victories over many of the major collegiate football powerhouses of the time. In the 1912 Olympics, he won the gold medal in the decathlon and pentathlon and is the only Olympian to have done so. He helped create what would become the National Football League and played professional baseball for the New York Giants. Playing some semi-pro ball would cost him his Olympic glory, as he was stripped of his gold medals because of it.
On the other side of Thorpe, he struggled with alcoholism, suffered the loss of his first child and was divorced three times. He was a soft touch and was always in need of money. Thorpe became an advocate for Native American rights, pursued a Hollywood career and, being somewhat of a recluse, suffered with the celebrity status and scrutiny for the rest of his life.
Kate Buford has done a remarkable job in bringing all facets of this complicated man to life. If a biography can be a page turner, then this is one. If anyone cares about history, sports, Native Americans or the human condition, this is a must read.
There are many heroic, tragic life stories that are a vital part of American history, yet there are none that exemplify these two elements more than the life of Jim Thorpe. A Native American, Thorpe was the first major international celebrity athlete and despite all that has happened to him, continues to ranked in the top ranks of “Greatest Athlete” lists. His name is synonymous with physical strength and endurance, courage and excellence. Unfortunately, as with too many other major sports stars, his life was not without its major tragedies and scandals.
Jim Thorpe's list of accomplishments would fill these pages by themselves. He first came to public attention as a football player at the Carlisle Indian School, coached by the legendary “Pop” Warner, leading his team to victories over many of the major collegiate football powerhouses of the time. In the 1912 Olympics, he won the gold medal in the decathlon and pentathlon and is the only Olympian to have done so. He helped create what would become the National Football League and played professional baseball for the New York Giants. Playing some semi-pro ball would cost him his Olympic glory, as he was stripped of his gold medals because of it.
On the other side of Thorpe, he struggled with alcoholism, suffered the loss of his first child and was divorced three times. He was a soft touch and was always in need of money. Thorpe became an advocate for Native American rights, pursued a Hollywood career and, being somewhat of a recluse, suffered with the celebrity status and scrutiny for the rest of his life.
Kate Buford has done a remarkable job in bringing all facets of this complicated man to life. If a biography can be a page turner, then this is one. If anyone cares about history, sports, Native Americans or the human condition, this is a must read.
American League Baseball
Whalen, Thomas J. When the Red Sox Ruled: Baseball's First Dynasty, 1912-1918. Ivan R. Dee. Ill.; bib.; index. 240p. ISBN: 978-1-56663-745-9. $24.95 April, 2011.
One can argue baseball's first dynasty 'till the cows come home but Thomas Whalen has made a case for the Deadball Era Boston Red Sox who, between 1912 and 1918 won four World Series (1912, 1915, 1916 and 1918) and finished second twice in between. They soundly defeated four different National League teams during their run and for almost the last decade of the era were baseball's number one team.
Whalen begins by retelling Boston's baseball history from 1871, quickly setting the stage for the 1912 season and the heart of the book. He presents the material in a pleasant, rolling narrative, with very few statistics and no play by play but with plenty of behind the scenes snippets which makes for an enjoyable read.
One can argue baseball's first dynasty 'till the cows come home but Thomas Whalen has made a case for the Deadball Era Boston Red Sox who, between 1912 and 1918 won four World Series (1912, 1915, 1916 and 1918) and finished second twice in between. They soundly defeated four different National League teams during their run and for almost the last decade of the era were baseball's number one team.
Whalen begins by retelling Boston's baseball history from 1871, quickly setting the stage for the 1912 season and the heart of the book. He presents the material in a pleasant, rolling narrative, with very few statistics and no play by play but with plenty of behind the scenes snippets which makes for an enjoyable read.
Jamieson, Dave Mint Condition: How Baseball Cards Became an American Obsession. Atlantic Monthly Press. Ill.; notes; 320p ISBN: 978-0-802-119395. $25.00 April, 2010.
Finally, a well-researched and well-written history of the baseball card phenomenon from the late 1860's to the present day. Jamieson tracks the evolution of the card from its first appearance in 1868 as advertisement for the Red Stockings, to its inclusion in packages of cigarettes, the introduction of bubble gum, the the disappearance of the gum to the present day of contained scarcities, autographs, hair samples and other inanities as inducements to purchase overpriced packs of cards.
In Mint Condition, we get a rare inside look at the industry and the creators of some of the classiest cardboard ever to grace the spokes of a bicycle (especially if they depicted the New York Yankees), and the present day collections of those fortunate enough to keep their collections intact. We also get a lively discussion of the evolution of cards from their first function as “stiffeners” to prevent cigarettes from being crushed in various clothing pockets to whatever their purpose is today. Jamieson includes interviews with two of the men who founded TOPPS and a collector who has dealt in million dollar cards.
Other highlights of the book include Jamieson's discussions of some of the more well-known non-sport card sets, such as Horrors of War, Mars Attacks and Civil War News; his profile of Jefferson Burdick, the original classifier and cataloger of all sorts of cards whose collection resides at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, and his thoughts on the future of cards and card collecting. Kudos go to the publisher, who included some color photographs of these miniature works of art.
This is truly a fun book to read and an informative one.
Finally, a well-researched and well-written history of the baseball card phenomenon from the late 1860's to the present day. Jamieson tracks the evolution of the card from its first appearance in 1868 as advertisement for the Red Stockings, to its inclusion in packages of cigarettes, the introduction of bubble gum, the the disappearance of the gum to the present day of contained scarcities, autographs, hair samples and other inanities as inducements to purchase overpriced packs of cards.
In Mint Condition, we get a rare inside look at the industry and the creators of some of the classiest cardboard ever to grace the spokes of a bicycle (especially if they depicted the New York Yankees), and the present day collections of those fortunate enough to keep their collections intact. We also get a lively discussion of the evolution of cards from their first function as “stiffeners” to prevent cigarettes from being crushed in various clothing pockets to whatever their purpose is today. Jamieson includes interviews with two of the men who founded TOPPS and a collector who has dealt in million dollar cards.
Other highlights of the book include Jamieson's discussions of some of the more well-known non-sport card sets, such as Horrors of War, Mars Attacks and Civil War News; his profile of Jefferson Burdick, the original classifier and cataloger of all sorts of cards whose collection resides at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, and his thoughts on the future of cards and card collecting. Kudos go to the publisher, who included some color photographs of these miniature works of art.
This is truly a fun book to read and an informative one.
Hawkins, Jim. Al Kaline: The Biography of a Tigers Icon. Triumph Books. Ill.; bib.; index. 290p. ISBN: 978-1-60078-314-2. $24.95 2010.
In a Catholic High School on the west side of Detroit during the fall of 1968, something seemingly miraculous occurred. In classrooms equipped with televisions, the World Series was on and we were allowed to watch. Unbelievable! Everything could wait because the Tigers were playing the St. Louis Cardinals. Back then, the games were played in the afternoon and most importantly, Al Kaline was finally playing in the Fall Classic.
On one hand, it is unbelievable that this book is the first full biography of Mr. Tiger and on the other hand, knowing that the icon is quiet and unassuming, almost private, it is no surprise. Given that reclusiveness, the book is full of surprises when detailing the life of Kaline. The basic story is well known; Al is from Baltimore, never spent a day in the minor leagues and, spent his entire career with Detroit. What is least known about the man is sometimes revealed here; the very painful deformity in his foot for instance, leaves one amazed at the drive and desire to succeed that is in the man. There are others, so go get the book.
For some strange reason, the book sometimes repeats itself and although slightly irritating, does not detract from the value of the information presented.
This us a must for every Tiger bookshelf.
In a Catholic High School on the west side of Detroit during the fall of 1968, something seemingly miraculous occurred. In classrooms equipped with televisions, the World Series was on and we were allowed to watch. Unbelievable! Everything could wait because the Tigers were playing the St. Louis Cardinals. Back then, the games were played in the afternoon and most importantly, Al Kaline was finally playing in the Fall Classic.
On one hand, it is unbelievable that this book is the first full biography of Mr. Tiger and on the other hand, knowing that the icon is quiet and unassuming, almost private, it is no surprise. Given that reclusiveness, the book is full of surprises when detailing the life of Kaline. The basic story is well known; Al is from Baltimore, never spent a day in the minor leagues and, spent his entire career with Detroit. What is least known about the man is sometimes revealed here; the very painful deformity in his foot for instance, leaves one amazed at the drive and desire to succeed that is in the man. There are others, so go get the book.
For some strange reason, the book sometimes repeats itself and although slightly irritating, does not detract from the value of the information presented.
This us a must for every Tiger bookshelf.
O'Toole, Andrew. Paul Brown: The Rise and Fall and Rise Again of Football's Most Innovative Coach. Clerisy Press. Ill; notes; bib.; 442p. ISBN: 978-1-57860-357-2. tp. $16.95 August, 2009
In one of two recently published biographies (the other by George Cantor), author O'Toole presents as complete a life story of a sports celebrity whose personal life was very private. Paul Brown, innovative and pioneering head football coach at the high school, college and professional levels was a complicated man. Interviews with Brown's widow and children, various coaches who learned under Brown and former players help to bring out all facets of this football genius.
Paul Brown's influence on the game of football is without a doubt the reason the game evolved the way it did. He invented many things that we take for granted in the game today. Such things as the playbook, classroom instruction, face masks, game film libraries and sending plays in to play via players as messengers, to name a few, were all the brain children of Paul Brown.
In 1932, at the ripe old age of 23, Brown built a high school powerhouse team in Massillon, Ohio; in nine years his record stood at 80-8-2, with six consecutive state titles. Next came a brief stint at Ohio State University from 1941 to 1943, winning the 1942 national championship before duty called and Brown coached two years at the Great Lakes Naval Station. In 1946 Brown began his remarkable seventeen-year career with the Cleveland franchise of the All-American Football Conference. There is some contention about the team's nickname, Browns, and from whom it was borrowed; either from boxing legend Joe Louis, known as the “Brown Bomber” or from the head coach himself. In either case, the Browns won all four championships in the AAFC before its merger with the National Football League and continued their winning ways by capturing three titles in the NFL.
O'Toole presents Paul Brown warts and all. The “father of the modern offense” was also stingy, did not like players' agents or players who stood up for themselves and failed to make the Cincinnati Bengals a solid organization as principle owner, general manager and head coach.
Anyone interested in why the game of football is played the way it is played today should read this book.
In one of two recently published biographies (the other by George Cantor), author O'Toole presents as complete a life story of a sports celebrity whose personal life was very private. Paul Brown, innovative and pioneering head football coach at the high school, college and professional levels was a complicated man. Interviews with Brown's widow and children, various coaches who learned under Brown and former players help to bring out all facets of this football genius.
Paul Brown's influence on the game of football is without a doubt the reason the game evolved the way it did. He invented many things that we take for granted in the game today. Such things as the playbook, classroom instruction, face masks, game film libraries and sending plays in to play via players as messengers, to name a few, were all the brain children of Paul Brown.
In 1932, at the ripe old age of 23, Brown built a high school powerhouse team in Massillon, Ohio; in nine years his record stood at 80-8-2, with six consecutive state titles. Next came a brief stint at Ohio State University from 1941 to 1943, winning the 1942 national championship before duty called and Brown coached two years at the Great Lakes Naval Station. In 1946 Brown began his remarkable seventeen-year career with the Cleveland franchise of the All-American Football Conference. There is some contention about the team's nickname, Browns, and from whom it was borrowed; either from boxing legend Joe Louis, known as the “Brown Bomber” or from the head coach himself. In either case, the Browns won all four championships in the AAFC before its merger with the National Football League and continued their winning ways by capturing three titles in the NFL.
O'Toole presents Paul Brown warts and all. The “father of the modern offense” was also stingy, did not like players' agents or players who stood up for themselves and failed to make the Cincinnati Bengals a solid organization as principle owner, general manager and head coach.
Anyone interested in why the game of football is played the way it is played today should read this book.
Cash, Jon David. Before They Were Cardinals: Major League Baseball in Nineteenth Century St. Louis. University of Missouri Press. Illustrated; notes; bibliography; index; appendix; 320p. ISBN: 978-0-8262-1401-0. $34.95 2002.
Nineteenth century baseball is largely unknown today except when an event occurring today is compared to one in the past, especially a long-standing record that was finally broken; sometimes a scandal involving gambling, drug abuse, etc, that either compares or contrasts to baseballs' past.
America's game has a controversial and colorful past full of characters of all sizes and stripe. There are not many cities who can claim to be charter members of professional baseball and St. Louis is one of them. Their franchise dates back to the formation of the National League in 1876 and in still in existence today.
In Before They Were Cardinals we have an excellent history of baseball in St. Louis from 1876 to the turn of the twentieth century. Jon Cash explores the relationship of the team to the city and its place in the life of its inhabitants; and what it was like to own a franchise in the late nineteenth century. The St. Louis Brown Stockings were formed in 1875 and, despite initial success was disbanded three years later. In 1880, however, German immigrant and businessman Chris Von der Ahe, initially interested in concession rights, bought a controlling interest in the franchise, as a member of the American Association, in fact a major league. Then follows the most colorful period in the Beer & Whiskey League, as the AA was known in derision – beer was allowed to be sold on the AA grounds; in fact it was a major source of income in all American Association cities, along with Sunday ball. In 1891, the National League and the American Association merged, for better or worse and the author includes discussions of the pros and cons surrounding that merger.
All in all, Before They Were Cardinals is a riveting account of major league baseball in the “Gateway to the West”, complete with gambling, contract jumping, and the like and a great rivalry between St. Louis and Chicago. Also, there some ball players mentioned. Great stuff!!
Nineteenth century baseball is largely unknown today except when an event occurring today is compared to one in the past, especially a long-standing record that was finally broken; sometimes a scandal involving gambling, drug abuse, etc, that either compares or contrasts to baseballs' past.
America's game has a controversial and colorful past full of characters of all sizes and stripe. There are not many cities who can claim to be charter members of professional baseball and St. Louis is one of them. Their franchise dates back to the formation of the National League in 1876 and in still in existence today.
In Before They Were Cardinals we have an excellent history of baseball in St. Louis from 1876 to the turn of the twentieth century. Jon Cash explores the relationship of the team to the city and its place in the life of its inhabitants; and what it was like to own a franchise in the late nineteenth century. The St. Louis Brown Stockings were formed in 1875 and, despite initial success was disbanded three years later. In 1880, however, German immigrant and businessman Chris Von der Ahe, initially interested in concession rights, bought a controlling interest in the franchise, as a member of the American Association, in fact a major league. Then follows the most colorful period in the Beer & Whiskey League, as the AA was known in derision – beer was allowed to be sold on the AA grounds; in fact it was a major source of income in all American Association cities, along with Sunday ball. In 1891, the National League and the American Association merged, for better or worse and the author includes discussions of the pros and cons surrounding that merger.
All in all, Before They Were Cardinals is a riveting account of major league baseball in the “Gateway to the West”, complete with gambling, contract jumping, and the like and a great rivalry between St. Louis and Chicago. Also, there some ball players mentioned. Great stuff!!
Deveney, Sean. The Original Curse: Did the Cubs Throw the 1918 World Series To Babe Ruth's Red Sox and Incite the Black Sox Scandal? McGraw-Hill. Illustrated; notes; bibliography; index. 243p. ISBN: 978-0-07-162997-3. $24.95. October, 2009.
Probably the most famous incident in major league baseball's past is the 1919 Black Sox scandal, when the Chicago White Sox threw the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds. Not really discovered officially until the investigation of a possible fix of a August, 1920 game involving the Chicago Cubs, the eight White Sox players were acquitted by jury but banned for life from baseball by the new commissioner, Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis. This was, officially, the only incident of “fixing” a major league baseball game. But was it?
The Original Curse presents the case for the 1918 World Series being thrown by the Cubs to the Boston Red Sox and the evidence for the presence of gamblers, gambling and game fixing throughout the entire major leagues up through the mid-1920's. The credence of the curse theory, however, is up to the individual.
Baseball and gambling have gone hand in hand since the beginning. It is the level of involvement that has evolved up until at least the '20's (not counting Pete Rose). Gamblings' success in baseball depended on the financial situation present at any given time in this country's history. In the 1918 season, for instance, baseball's future was at stake with the United States' involvement in World War I. A shortened season, small gate receipts and players leaving to serve in the armed forces or to jobs involving the war effort, meant smaller paychecks and therefore, an environment ripe for scandal.
There is a fair amount of evidence supporting a fix in 1918 but it is circumstantial (stated by the author). The discovery of Chicago White Sox pitcher Eddie Cicotte's deposition taken in 1920, in which he talks about the Cubs being paid to throw the '18 Series is the smoking gun. It is not the first time that questions were raised concerning the validity of the outcome of a World Series. 1912, 1914 and all six World Series between 1917 and 1922 are all under suspicion. Perhaps it is time for a complete rewrite of baseball history. Deveney's book is definitely food for thought.
Probably the most famous incident in major league baseball's past is the 1919 Black Sox scandal, when the Chicago White Sox threw the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds. Not really discovered officially until the investigation of a possible fix of a August, 1920 game involving the Chicago Cubs, the eight White Sox players were acquitted by jury but banned for life from baseball by the new commissioner, Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis. This was, officially, the only incident of “fixing” a major league baseball game. But was it?
The Original Curse presents the case for the 1918 World Series being thrown by the Cubs to the Boston Red Sox and the evidence for the presence of gamblers, gambling and game fixing throughout the entire major leagues up through the mid-1920's. The credence of the curse theory, however, is up to the individual.
Baseball and gambling have gone hand in hand since the beginning. It is the level of involvement that has evolved up until at least the '20's (not counting Pete Rose). Gamblings' success in baseball depended on the financial situation present at any given time in this country's history. In the 1918 season, for instance, baseball's future was at stake with the United States' involvement in World War I. A shortened season, small gate receipts and players leaving to serve in the armed forces or to jobs involving the war effort, meant smaller paychecks and therefore, an environment ripe for scandal.
There is a fair amount of evidence supporting a fix in 1918 but it is circumstantial (stated by the author). The discovery of Chicago White Sox pitcher Eddie Cicotte's deposition taken in 1920, in which he talks about the Cubs being paid to throw the '18 Series is the smoking gun. It is not the first time that questions were raised concerning the validity of the outcome of a World Series. 1912, 1914 and all six World Series between 1917 and 1922 are all under suspicion. Perhaps it is time for a complete rewrite of baseball history. Deveney's book is definitely food for thought.
Skipper, John C. Charlie Gehringer: A Biography of the Hall of Fame Tigers Second Baseman. McFarland. Illustrated; notes; bibliography; index. 209p. ISBN: 978-0-7864-5521-8. $29.95 December, 2008. www.mcfarlandpub.com
One of the quietest superstars of baseball's past, Charlie Gehringer brought a workman's ethic to the game everyday for eighteen seasons. Noted for his flawless fielding, he earned the nickname, “Mechanical Man” and is still ranked 5th among the top 50 all-time second basemen. No slouch at the plate either, he is still the best two-strike hitter of all time, with a lifetime .320 batting average.
John Skipper's enjoyable biography brings back to life not only Gehringer but major league baseball's “golden age” from the 1920's to the 1940's, when most ballplayers had second jobs in the off season and were grateful for both through the Great Depression years. Gehringer, born into a farm family in Fowlerville, Michigan was signed off the sandlots in 1923 and stayed with the Tigers for eighteen seasons.
Sports writers, mostly from New York, always stated that Charlie was too quiet to be a star. Compared to an “extrovert” like Babe Ruth, that was probably all too true. Charlie's answer was always that he didn't hit with his mouth and eventually all became reconciled to the fact that there wouldn't be too many quotes.
The book also follows Gehringer's post-baseball career, as he quietly built (with a partner), a lucrative automobile parts business; his Hall of Fame induction in 1949; his brief sojourn as the Tigers' general manager; and, finally, his death in 1993. All in all, Charlie Gehringer is a workman's biography fit for every bookshelf.
One of the quietest superstars of baseball's past, Charlie Gehringer brought a workman's ethic to the game everyday for eighteen seasons. Noted for his flawless fielding, he earned the nickname, “Mechanical Man” and is still ranked 5th among the top 50 all-time second basemen. No slouch at the plate either, he is still the best two-strike hitter of all time, with a lifetime .320 batting average.
John Skipper's enjoyable biography brings back to life not only Gehringer but major league baseball's “golden age” from the 1920's to the 1940's, when most ballplayers had second jobs in the off season and were grateful for both through the Great Depression years. Gehringer, born into a farm family in Fowlerville, Michigan was signed off the sandlots in 1923 and stayed with the Tigers for eighteen seasons.
Sports writers, mostly from New York, always stated that Charlie was too quiet to be a star. Compared to an “extrovert” like Babe Ruth, that was probably all too true. Charlie's answer was always that he didn't hit with his mouth and eventually all became reconciled to the fact that there wouldn't be too many quotes.
The book also follows Gehringer's post-baseball career, as he quietly built (with a partner), a lucrative automobile parts business; his Hall of Fame induction in 1949; his brief sojourn as the Tigers' general manager; and, finally, his death in 1993. All in all, Charlie Gehringer is a workman's biography fit for every bookshelf.
Lefebvre, Jim. Loyal Sons: The Story of the Four Horsemen and Notre Dame Football's 1924 Champions. Great Day Press. Ill; appendices; bib; index. 288p. ISBN: 978-0981884103. $24.95 September, 2008
This is not your ordinary football history/biography. It is much more than that. A vibrant look at the United States in 1924, the values and hard work that drove ordinary people in their daily lives. Loyal Sons captures the essence of character, family and teamwork exemplified in four young college athletes and their success on the football field.
An award winning book and deservedly so, Lefebvre recounts Knute Rockne and his coaching staff's ability to balance the importance of education with an unprecedented athletic championship season. His players learned two important lessons: 10 dedication, sacrifice and hard work will yield big results; and, 2) there is life after football. These were sons of merchants, miners and doctors drawn to the university through, amongst other things, its beginning traditions. This is a story as much about football as it is about dreams, challenges, faith, motivation and spirit. They were loyal sons indeed.
This is a well-researched, detailed, motivating masterpiece of narrative history. Well done!
This is not your ordinary football history/biography. It is much more than that. A vibrant look at the United States in 1924, the values and hard work that drove ordinary people in their daily lives. Loyal Sons captures the essence of character, family and teamwork exemplified in four young college athletes and their success on the football field.
An award winning book and deservedly so, Lefebvre recounts Knute Rockne and his coaching staff's ability to balance the importance of education with an unprecedented athletic championship season. His players learned two important lessons: 10 dedication, sacrifice and hard work will yield big results; and, 2) there is life after football. These were sons of merchants, miners and doctors drawn to the university through, amongst other things, its beginning traditions. This is a story as much about football as it is about dreams, challenges, faith, motivation and spirit. They were loyal sons indeed.
This is a well-researched, detailed, motivating masterpiece of narrative history. Well done!
Sports
Bohn, Michael K. Heroes & Ballyhoo: How the Golden Age of the 1920's Transformed American Sports. Potomac Books. Ill.; bib.; index. 336p. ISBN: 978-1-59797-412-7 $27.50 November, 2009
America's involvement in World War I ended in the November mud in 1918. The survivors were ready to move on in a big way and by 1920 life was definitely in the fast lane for most, especially if you were young. The Roaring Twenties saw society transform itself from straight laced Victorian to bobbed hair, bathtub gin and jazz, not to mention Prohibition and a more organized crime scheme. Follow the latest fad and make sure you take the time to have fun. The twenties saw more people move off the farm and into the city than ever before. There was a bit more leisure time than before too and mere games were quickly turning into mass entertainment, which saw the rise of the sports star.
Heroes & Ballyhoo profiles ten of the most prominent sports heroes and describes their effect on sports and society. Some of them are familiar, while others are not although their impact at the time was just as great. Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey, Red Grange, Knute Rockne, Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen, Bill Tilden, Helen Wills, Gertrude Ederle and Johnny Weissmuller all had a tremendous impact on their individual sport, bringing each to the front pages of newspapers across the country and around the globe.
Along with profiling the heroes, Bohn also explores the ballyhoo artists who hyped the stars to an eagerly receptive public. Sportswriters, promoters and press agents all played a part in bringing the “glitterati” into the everyday home via the newspaper and the radio. Bohn also discusses the establishment of the spectator as the focus of popular sports.
Written in a you-are-there style, this book belongs on every sports bookshelf.
America's involvement in World War I ended in the November mud in 1918. The survivors were ready to move on in a big way and by 1920 life was definitely in the fast lane for most, especially if you were young. The Roaring Twenties saw society transform itself from straight laced Victorian to bobbed hair, bathtub gin and jazz, not to mention Prohibition and a more organized crime scheme. Follow the latest fad and make sure you take the time to have fun. The twenties saw more people move off the farm and into the city than ever before. There was a bit more leisure time than before too and mere games were quickly turning into mass entertainment, which saw the rise of the sports star.
Heroes & Ballyhoo profiles ten of the most prominent sports heroes and describes their effect on sports and society. Some of them are familiar, while others are not although their impact at the time was just as great. Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey, Red Grange, Knute Rockne, Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen, Bill Tilden, Helen Wills, Gertrude Ederle and Johnny Weissmuller all had a tremendous impact on their individual sport, bringing each to the front pages of newspapers across the country and around the globe.
Along with profiling the heroes, Bohn also explores the ballyhoo artists who hyped the stars to an eagerly receptive public. Sportswriters, promoters and press agents all played a part in bringing the “glitterati” into the everyday home via the newspaper and the radio. Bohn also discusses the establishment of the spectator as the focus of popular sports.
Written in a you-are-there style, this book belongs on every sports bookshelf.