Download or read book Playing the Game with Red Murray written by J. J. Murray and published by . This book was released on 1942 with total page 7 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Outlaw Ballplayers written by R.G. (Hank) Utley and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2014-08-23 with total page 209 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The players of the independent Carolina League were outlaws. A diverse lot that included preachers and ex-cons, with many former and future Major Leaguers, they played ball during the desperate years of the Great Depression, when half of organized professional baseball's minor leagues went broke and ceased operations. Despite the number of defaulting leagues and teams, the players were held to their prior contracts, and many found themselves unemployed, unable to play without violating the reserve clause that bound them to their previous club. The threat of being blackballed by organized baseball notwithstanding, hundreds of players went to bat for the independent Carolina League, and their stories offer unique glimpses into the pastime's--and America's--most difficult years. This follow-up to the immensely popular and award-winning The Independent Carolina Baseball League, 1936-1938 (McFarland, 1999) takes the story of outlaw baseball into extra innings, offering a wealth of previously unpublished interviews with the key players and personnel associated with the league. With outstanding coverage of nearly 20 players, including the notorious Edwin Collins "Alabama" Pitts and well-known Lawrence Columbus "Crash" Davis, this book also offers the unique perspectives of umpires, journalists and players' wives. Appendices include a Pitts family history, the Kannapolis Towelers team record book, player records, and the history of the Carolina Victory League.

Download or read book Stealing Games written by Maury Klein and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2016-03-22 with total page 417 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The 1911 New York Giants stole an astonishing 347 bases, a record that still stands more than a century later. That alone makes them special in baseball history, but as Maury Klein relates in Stealing Games they also embodied a rapidly changing America on the cusp of a faster, more frenetic pace of life dominated by machines, technology, and urban culture. Baseball, too, was evolving from the dead-ball to the live-ball era--the cork-centered ball was introduced in 1910 and structurally changed not only the outcome of individual games but the way the game itself was played, requiring upgraded equipment, new rules, and new ways of adjudicating. Changing performance also changed the relationship between management and players. The Giants had two stars--the brilliant manager John McGraw and aging pitcher Christy Mathewson--and memorable characters such as Rube Marquard and Fred Snodgrass; yet their speed and tenacity led to three pennants in a row starting in 1911. Stealing Games gives a great team its due and underscores once more the rich connection between sports and culture.

Download or read book A Cunning Kind of Play written by Warren N. Wilbert and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2002-05-29 with total page 264 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The rivalry between the Chicago Cubs and the New York Giants--the National League's greatest teams in its early days--took hold with the founding of the league in 1876. Between the two bitter rivals there were nine first-second finishes, eight second-third finishes, and 30 out of a possible 65 championships in the league's first six decades. Their games often showcased match-ups between baseball's most talented and toughest players and often had playoff implications. This history of the rivalry begins coverage in 1876 (when the Cubs won the first NL championship) and goes through 1932 (when John McGraw stepped down as manager of the Giants). All of the many great personalities, player match-ups, streaks, and pennant races are included.

Download or read book The Annotated Baseball Stories of Ring W Lardner 1914 1919 written by Ring Lardner and published by Stanford University Press. This book was released on 1995 with total page 654 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An annotated and copiously illustrated edition of the 24 short stories published between 1914 and 1919 by Ring Lardner, which include the stories collected later and known as "You know me, Al."

Download or read book When the Cubs Won It All written by George R. Matthews and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2009-09-12 with total page 235 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the fall of 1908, no one could have guessed that the Chicago Cubs, a team that had dominated the National league three straight years, would for a century be shut out in its efforts to reclaim the world championship. Stars like Frank Chance, Ed Reulbach, and Three Finger Brown were still in their prime, and the Cubs had just emerged the winner in the most remarkable pennant race in history. In the decades since, the achievement of the 1908 Cubs has been overshadowed first by the events of the season, which included the Merkle Game and a playoff that pitted two all-time great pitchers against each other, and more recently by the calendar, as the centennial anniversary of the last Cubs championship closed in. This book rescues the 1908 team from its status as footnote to baseball history, following one of the all-time great clubs on a thrilling, season-long march toward the World Series.

Download or read book The Cultural Encyclopedia of Baseball 2d ed written by Jonathan Fraser Light and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2016-03-25 with total page 1112 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: More than any other sport, baseball has developed its own niche in America's culture and psyche. Some researchers spend years on detailed statistical analyses of minute parts of the game, while others wax poetic about its players and plays. Many trace the beginnings of the civil rights movement in part to the Major Leagues' decision to integrate, and the words and phrases of the game (for example, pinch-hitter and out in left field) have become common in our everyday language. From AARON, HENRY onward, this book covers all of what might be called the cultural aspects of baseball (as opposed to the number-rich statistical information so widely available elsewhere). Biographical sketches of all Hall of Fame players, owners, executives and umpires, as well as many of the sportswriters and broadcasters who have won the Spink and Frick awards, join entries for teams, owners, commissioners and league presidents. Advertising, agents, drafts, illegal substances, minor leagues, oldest players, perfect games, retired uniform numbers, superstitions, tripleheaders, and youngest players are among the thousands of entries herein. Most entries open with a topical quote and conclude with a brief bibliography of sources for further research. The whole work is exhaustively indexed and includes 119 photographs.

Download or read book Smoky Joe Wood written by Gerald C. Wood and published by U of Nebraska Press. This book was released on 2021-08-06 with total page 487 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: WINNER OF THE 2014 SEYMOUR MEDAL sponsored by the Society for American Baseball Research and finalist for 2014 SABR Larry Ritter Award Though his pitching career lasted only a few seasons, Howard Ellsworth "Smoky Joe" Wood was one of the most dominating figures in baseball history--a man many consider the best baseball player who is not in the Hall of Fame. About his fastball, Hall of Fame pitcher Walter Johnson once said: "Listen, mister, no man alive can throw harder than Smoky Joe Wood." Smoky Joe Wood chronicles the singular life befitting such a baseball legend. Wood got his start impersonating a female on the National Bloomer Girls team. A natural athlete, he pitched for the Boston Red Sox at eighteen, won twenty-one games and threw a no-hitter at twenty-one, and had a 34-5 record plus three wins in the 1912 World Series, for a 1.91 ERA, when he was just twenty-two. Then in 1913 Wood suffered devastating injuries to his right hand and shoulder that forced him to pitch in pain for two more years. After sitting out the 1916 season, he came back as a converted outfielder and played another five years for the Cleveland Indians before retiring to coach the Yale University baseball team. With details culled from interviews and family archives, this biography, the first of this rugged player of the Deadball Era, brings to life one of the genuine characters of baseball history.

Download or read book Going Going Caught written by Jason Aronoff and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2009-01-23 with total page 277 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Though Willie Mays' World Series catch of Vic Wertz's long drive in 1954 immediately comes to mind, there are many catches that have been called "the greatest." This work documents baseball's best catches by outfielders from 1887 through 1964 (the year of Duke Snider's retirement, the demolition of the Polo Grounds, and, arguably, Willie Mays' last great grab). After introductory chapters on factors that influenced the catches and their legacies--from ballpark quirks, changes to the baseball and the evolution of baseball gloves, to sportswriters and photography--the book describes famous catches by decade from such players as Mays, Willie Keeler, Joe DiMaggio, Duke Snider, Roberto Clement, Curt Flood and many others. Extensive research yields a wealth of information for each catch, including commentary by period sportswriters, players, and, often, the man who snagged the ball.

Download or read book Society of American Baseball Research written by and published by Turner Publishing Company. This book was released on 2000-06-23 with total page 120 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Where does that endless supply of facts, figures, statistics and trivia that braodcasters spout actually come from? SABR takes the inside story of the development of baseball research, its resources, techniques and fascinating anecdotes by the folks who dig it up.

Download or read book The Glory of Their Times written by Lawrence S. Ritter and published by Harper Collins. This book was released on 2013-07-02 with total page 382 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Easily the best baseball book ever produced by anyone.” —Cleveland Plain Dealer “This was the best baseball book published in 1966, it is the best baseball book of its kind now, and, if it is reissued in 10 years, it will be the best baseball book.” — People From Lawrence Ritter, co-author of The Image of Their Greatness and The 100 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time, comes one of the bestselling, most acclaimed sports books of all time. Baseball was different in earlier days—tougher, more raw, more intimate—when giants like Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb ran the bases. In the monumental classic The Glory of Their Times, the golden era of our national pastime comes alive through the vibrant words of those who played and lived the game. It is a book every baseball fan should read!

Download or read book The Independent Carolina Baseball League 1936 1938 written by R.G. (Hank) Utley and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2005-05-02 with total page 301 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Shortly after the independent Carolina League was formed in 1936, officials of the National Association of Professional Baseball--which oversaw what was known as "organized baseball," including the major leagues--began a campaign to destroy the league. The NAPB declared the Carolina League "outlaw" and blacklisted its players because their teams were pirating professionally-contracted ballplayers with the lure of higher wages, small-town hero worship and a career off-season. Backed into a corner, the Carolina League wore its "outlaw" label with a defiant swagger, challenging the all-powerful monopoly of organized professional baseball and its standard player contract. This complete history of the league reveals how it persevered through three tumultuous seasons, fueled by the tight-knit community spirit of North Carolina Piedmont textile towns. Over its three seasons of existence, the Carolina League attracted professional baseball players from all over the country and it gave the players control over their careers, setting a standard that was resisted until free agency was adopted in 1973.

Download or read book The New Baseball Bible written by Dan Schlossberg and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2017-03-07 with total page 424 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For fans of baseball trivia, this updated version of The New Baseball Bible, first published as The Baseball Catalog in 1980 and selected as a Book-of-the-Month Club alternate, is sure to provide something for everyone, regardless of team allegiance. The book covers the following topics: beginnings of baseball, rules and records, umpires, how to play the game (i.e., strategy), equipment, ballparks, famous faces (i.e., Hank Aaron vs. Babe Ruth), managers, executives, trades, the media, big moments in history, the language of baseball, superstitions and traditions, spring training, today’s game, and much more. Veteran sportswriter Dan Schlossberg weaves in facts, figures, and famous quotes, discusses strategy, and provides stats and images—many of them never previously published elsewhere. With this book, you’ll discover how the players’ approach, use of equipment, and even salaries and schedules have changed over time. You will also learn the origin of team and player nicknames, fun facts about the All-Star Game and World Series, and so much more. The New Baseball Bible serves as the perfect gift for fans of America’s pastime.

Download or read book The 50 Greatest Players in Pittsburgh Pirates History written by David Finoli and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2016-03-10 with total page 355 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Pittsburgh Pirates have a vast and celebrated history dating back to 1887, winning five World Championships and nine National League pennants since their inception. Many baseball legends have called Pittsburgh home, including Hall of Famers Honus Wagner, Roberto Clemente, Paul Waner, and Arky Vaughan. Although the Pirates have had their fair share of losing seasons, recent postseason appearances have brought life back into this storied franchise. The 50 Greatest Players in Pittsburgh Pirates History celebrates the best to ever wear a Pirate uniform. David Finoli carefully and diligently ranks the Steel City icons based on statistics, awards, achievements, and postseason success. Each entry includes biographical information, accomplishments, and recaps of the player’s greatest moments. In addition to stories of glory on the field, Finoli also shares important events that took place away from the diamond, such as Roberto Clemente personally bringing supplies to earthquake-ravaged Nicaragua, a selfless act that led to his tragic death. Two concluding chapters cover the ten Pirates who almost made the cut and the players who went on to greatness after leaving the Pittsburgh organization. More than 25 photographs throughout the book enhance the rankings of these Pittsburgh legends. Sure to inspire debate and controversy among Pirate fans old and new, The 50 Greatest Players in Pittsburgh Pirates History isan engaging look at the many players who have been a part of the franchise’s long and memorable history.

Download or read book The Days of Rube Matty Honus and Ty written by Chuck Kimberly and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2018-11-28 with total page 366 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The early Deadball Era featured landmark achievements, great performances by several of baseball’s immortals, and a delightful array of characters. John McGraw won his first pennant as a manager and repeated the feat the following year with the team he later called his greatest. His Giants were praised for their playing ability and criticized for their rowdy behavior. Meanwhile the Cubs were putting together the greatest team in franchise history, emphasizing speed on the bases, solid defense and outstanding pitching. Jack Chesbro won 41 games in 1904 by employing a new pitch—the spitball. Other pitchers began using it, accelerating the trend toward lower batting averages. The White Sox entered baseball lore as the “Hitless Wonders,” winning the 1906 pennant through adroit use of “scientific baseball” tactics.

Download or read book John McGraw written by Charles C. Alexander and published by U of Nebraska Press. This book was released on 1995-01-01 with total page 386 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "There has been only one manager-and his name is McGraw."-Connie Mack. "Diligently researched and artfully written, John McGraw illuminates not only the man but the transformation of America and its national pastime between 1890 and 1930."-San Francisco Chronicle. "Absorbing. . . . Alexander is a lively writer and a crisp storyteller."-New York Times. "From a historian of Alexander's stature one can expect more than just another sports book, and the result is not disappointing. With great erudition and meticulous research, he brings to life not only a game and its competitors but a whole period of U.S. history."-America. "Sports biography at its best: an entertaining, scholarly treatment of the life and times of a legendary figure. . . . Alexander portrays famed Giant manager John McGraw without sentimental bias."-Library Journal. "He ate gunpowder every morning, " complained one umpire, "and washed it down with warm blood." That described John McGraw, who in the 1890s was the rowdiest member of the ferocious Baltimore Orioles, the club that pioneered the hit-and-run, the cutoff, the squeeze play, and the "Baltimore chop." In 1902 he began his thirty-season reign as manager of the Giants, winning ten pennants-a record matched only by Casey Stengel. His career in baseball spanned forty years and two eras-from the game's raucous early days to its emergence as big business. Charles C. Alexander, a professor of history at Ohio University, Athens, and the author of Ty Cobb, calls John McGraw "perhaps the single most significant figure in baseball's history before Babe Ruth transformed the game with his mammoth home runs and unparalleled showmanship."

Download or read book The Giants Encyclopedia written by Tom Schott and published by Sports Publishing LLC. This book was released on 2003 with total page 674 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the first pitch at the original Polo Grounds on May 1, 1883, to the night of August 9, 2002, at Pacific Bell Park, where Barry Bonds crushed his 600th career home run -- and beyond -- the New York and San Francisco Giants have been one of the most successful -- and popular -- franchises in Major League Baseball. They have won five World Series championships (plus three 19th-century titles) and 20 National League pennants. Some 50 Giants are enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York (more than any other franchise). Now, all the highlights and the individuals who provided them are captured in this comprehensive history of the club. The Giants Encyclopedia is more than just a running narrative of the franchise's history. It chronicles all 120 seasons in minute detail (the world championships, pennant winners, near-misses and disappointments). The book features biographies of more than 100 players (from Hall of Famers like Willie Mays and Christy Mathewson to present-day stars like Barry Bonds and Robb Nen), plus prominent owners (such as John Day, Horace and Charles Stoneham, Bob Lurie and Peter Magowan); front office executives (like Chub Feeney, Al Rosen and Brian Sabean); managers (such as John McGraw, Leo Durocher, Roger Craig and Dusty Baker); and broadcasters (Russ Hodges, Lon Simmons and Hank Greenwald).