It was a novel experiment as baseball's leading men formed the National Association, bringing order to the hodgepodge of professional and amateur clubs that made up the sport from the end of the Civil War through 1870. It was an imperfect beginning to organized professional sports in America--the league was plagued by gambling, contract jumping and rumors of dishonest play--but it laid the groundwork for the multi-billion-dollar enterprises of the 21st century. Like most sporting endeavors, it was entertaining, with the best players in the world displaying their talents throughout the northeastern and mid-western United States and, in 1874, during a ground-breaking journey to England. The present volume covers all the action--both on and off the field--of the NA's five years, providing the definitive history of the first professional sports league in the U.S.
Rezensionen / Stimmen
"a comprehensive examination of the history of the National Association of baseball"-ProtoView; "Until 1969, no one had any doubt that the National Association of 1871-75 was the first big league, but then Major League Baseball changed its view and cast the NA into official darkness. Bill Ryczek loves that unruly, raucous circuit...so do I...and he unveils its story brilliantly."-John Thorn, Official Historian of Major League Baseball; Reviews of the first edition: "an extensive amount of research...very informative...excellent"-Nine; "engaging...a good discussion of strategy"-Choice; "an excellent guide to a murky period in baseball's past...strongly recommend[ed]"-Nineteenth Century Notes; "comprehensive"-Reference & Research Book News; "diligent research and flavorsome writing...reliable, comprehensive history"-Baltimore Evening Sun; "intriguing...extremely rare look into the first professional sports league"-Houston Post; "[This book] sparkles with the author's wit and charm of a bygone era. It is an exhaustively researched, beautifully fashioned account of the National Association. All baseball histories should be this good!"-Darryl Brock, author of If I Never Get Back.
Auflage
Sprache
Verlagsort
Zielgruppe
Interest Age: From 18 years
Produkt-Hinweis
Illustrationen
23 photos, appendix, notes, bibliography, index
Maße
Höhe: 229 mm
Breite: 152 mm
Dicke: 17 mm
Gewicht
ISBN-13
978-0-7864-9945-8 (9780786499458)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Klassifikation
William J. Ryczek is a finance professional from Wallingford, Connecticut, who writes about early baseball, football, the Yankees, and the Mets.
Table of Contents
Introduction
1.?Opening Day
2.?Elysian Fields to Fort Wayne
3.?Collier's Rooms
4.?The Game
5.?The Players
6.?Play Ball
7.?The First Pennant Race
8.?The Pernicious Practice
9.?A -Two-Tiered League
10.?The Tournament
11.?Financial Troubles
12.?The Umpire
13.?A New Powerhouse
14.?The Mutuals
15.?Boston Makes a Run
16.?The Return of the White Stockings
17.?A Trip to Europe
18.?Going for Three
19.?Not Cricket
20.?The Mutuals Repulsed
21.?Going West
22.?The Force Case
23.?Going Broke
24.?An Early Challenge
25.?A Little Chin Music, Maestro
26.?A Stunning Succession
27.?Grand Central Hotel
Appendix-Selected Statistics: Statistical Leaders of the National Association, 1871-75
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index
