Lost in the Sun
The Comebacks and Comedowns of Major League Ballplayers
$29.95
In stock
About the Book
Baseball players, like teams, have their ups and downs. Pitchers inexplicably lose their command of the strike zone, batters think themselves into deep slumps, and injuries, addiction, and poor decision-making can radically change the fortunes of either. It’s in the response to such adversity that memorable stories are made. This book focuses both on players whose determination in the face of injury or private demons landed them back in the big leagues and stars who never recovered from their dramatic, unexpected falls. Profiled here are 14 players whose stories are among the most stirring in baseball history: Tony Conigliaro, Monte Stratton, Pete Rose, Bert Shepard, Eddie Waitkus, Mark Wohlers, Red Barney, Lou Brissie, Tommy John, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Steve Blass, Dave Dravecky, and Joe Jackson.
About the Author(s)
Bibliographic Details
G. Richard McKelvey
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 219
Bibliographic Info: 21 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2008
pISBN: 978-0-7864-3218-9
Imprint: McFarland
Table of Contents
Preface 1
Introduction 3
1. Joe Jackson: “Say It Ain’t So, Joe” 5
2. Monte Stratton and Bert Shepard: Two Comebacks—Each to a Different Level of the Game 29
3. Eddie Waitkus: He Made It All the Way Back 41
4. Rex Barney: Bases on Balls Bring Down a Promising Career 51
5. Lou Brissie: A Heroic Comeback 67
6. Tony Conigliaro: More Than One Comeback 77
7. Tommy John: Two Arms and Two Careers 93
8. Steve Blass: Missing More Than the Plate 113
9. Pete Rose: An Icon Lost to the Game 125
10. Dave Dravecky: A Dramatic Comeback and a Horrifying Disappointment 149
11. Mark Wohlers: Sudden Wildness and the Search for an Answer 162
12. Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa: A Steep Descent for a Pair of Heroes 178
Notes 197
Bibliography 203
Index 205
