Charles C. Alexander (1)Besprekingen

Alexander's biographies of deadball baseballers are legendary. This book is also superbly written, but somehow I found it a little harder go. His story here is of the seasons of 1890 and 1891, the former being the year of baseball's original labor movement, the Players League, the latter the final year of the American Association. This book is more academic, in fact published by a university press, and the author spends more of his space on economics and backroom politicking. His descriptions of game action and pennant races area bit of a job for the 1890 season, juggling as they do three leagues; he tries hard to keep the reader in the narrative, but, though the players' names will be familiar enough to deadball diehards like myself--really the only audience which will be troubled to read this--at many points managers and owners become crucial, and these, especially for the owners, are much less familiar. Don't skip the appendix: it, along with the thumbnail biographies and character sketches he sprinkles throughout his narrative, were my favorite parts of the book.½

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Read this book back in the 70's when it was published by the Government Printing Office as a NASA Document. Very good and straight forward history of the Mercury Project.

This was a very good baseball bio. Never read the Al Stump Cobb bio, but this one by all accounts is probably more balanced. A great look at the personality of this crazy person.

A very interesting look at one of baseball's greatest players.

Wow, I read a lot of baseball books in the early 90's. This is a solid history where each decade is given it's own history. I remember the chapter on the rise of the american league was quite good.

Being a very sound biography of a player who managed to be at one and the same time fiery and yet somehow enigmatic. There are plenty of biographies of Cobb, and this is best consulted in twain with the others, but it's arguably the best and it's an enjoyable read.

This is a fascinating look at the world of major league baseball and its players during the "hard times" of the 1930s and up to the start of World War 2. Though the author offers interesting information on the highlights of each season, the book excels when addressing the impact of the Great Depression on the leagues, the players, and the fans. For instance, during the early 1930s, exhibition games were held to raise money for the unemployed.

The first night games, postseason barnstorming, and the development of the minor league farm system (particularly by the St Louis Cardinals' Branch Rickey) are among the most interesting topics covered in the books. Also of interest is the coverage given to the winding down of the careers of some stars, such as Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig as well as the rise of others, such as Bob Feller, Joe DiMaggio, and Ted Williams.

I would recommend this to baseball fans and also to American history buffs.