Book Review: History of Baseball in the Deadball Era Vol I

Casey2296 · #1 02-27-2021, 03:20 PM

Okay I'm no book reviewer but I'm about halfway through Mark Peavey's book: A History Of Baseball in the Deadball Era Vol. I and am really enjoying it. The narrative follows through the baseball seasons year by year with a lot of great stories and fun facts. Highly recommend picking up a copy, link provided for convenience.

Mark is also a member here.

https://smile.amazon.com/History-Bas...4460019&sr=1-1

gabrinus · #2 02-27-2021, 03:24 PM

That looks cool Phil...may have to give myself an Easter present and get that...Jerry

brianp-beme · #3 02-27-2021, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casey2296

Okay I'm no book reviewer but I'm about halfway through Mark Peavey's book: A History Of Baseball in the Deadball Era Vol. I and am really enjoying it. The narrative follows through the baseball seasons year by year with a lot of great stories and fun facts. Highly recommend picking up a copy, link provided for convenience.

Mark is also a member here.

https://smile.amazon.com/History-Bas...4460019&sr=1-1

I agree with Phil, for our members this should definitely be an instant pick up. I am also about 1/2 (probably closer to 2/3rds) the way through. It took me a few pages into it to get accustomed to its style...the author for a good portion of the time lets the source material make his points. Definitely a prominent focus of the mostly chronological narrative is the inclusion of contemporary newspaper accounts of the game, chronicling what made the deadball era such a rough game, whether it be depictions of the fanatical fans, how dangerous it was to be an umpire, the birth of the American League and the rivalry between the league, players jumping leagues and the subsequent collusion between the leagues to tether their players to a team, and accounts of players gaining prominence, pivotal games, interesting stories of unusual events in player's lives, and even inclusions of newspaper poems about the game that really give you the sense how nuts Americans were about the sport. It is readily apparent that a lot of research went into tracking down these various accounts.

In an earlier post about the book, Mark (Net54 ID drumback) indicated that you could get it from him directly, and substantially cheaper. Here is what he said:

You can order either from Amazon for $18.75 plus shipping, or from me for $12 with free shipping. However, if you order from me, there will be a two or three week wait, as I am out already, and it takes that long to order more author copies. I get the same royalty either way.

Brian (and wanted to add that there are some nice photos every few pages of the players, several of them ones I have not seen before)

Mark · #4 02-27-2021, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianp-beme

I agree with Phil, for our members this should definitely be an instant pick up. I am also about 1/2 (probably closer to 2/3rds) the way through. It took me a few pages into to get into its style...the author a good portion of the time lets the source material make his points. Definitely a prominent focus of the mostly chronological narrative is the inclusion of contemporary newspaper accounts of the game, chronicling what made the deadball era such a rough game, whether it be depictions of the fanatical fans, how dangerous it was to be an umpire, the birth of the American League and the rivalry between the league, players jumping leagues and the subsequent collusion between the leagues to tether their players to a team, and accounts of players gaining prominence, pivotal games, interesting stories of unusual events in player's lives, and even inclusions of newspaper poems about the game that really give you the sense how nuts Americans were about the sport. It is readily apparent that a lot of research went into tracking down these various accounts.

In an earlier post about the book, Mark (Net54 ID drumback) indicated that you could get it from him directly, and substantially cheaper. Here is what he said:

You can order either from Amazon for $18.75 plus shipping, or from me for $12 with free shipping. However, if you order from me, there will be a two or three week wait, as I am out already, and it takes that long to order more author copies. I get the same royalty either way.

Brian (and wanted to add that there are some nice photos every few pages of the players, several of them ones I have not seen before)

thanks, I will get one. But they need to get a better name for the dead ball era.

qed2190 · #5 02-27-2021, 11:45 PM

I finished reading it and really enjoyed it. a lot of interesting stories about players like Dummy Hoy and others, along with day by day pennant races.

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