Blackguards and Red Stockings
A History of Baseball’s National Association, 1871–1875, Revised Edition
$29.95
In stock
About the Book
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.
About the Author(s)
Bibliographic Details
William J. Ryczek
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 272
Bibliographic Info: 23 photos, appendix, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2016
pISBN: 978-0-7864-9945-8
eISBN: 978-1-4766-2552-2
Imprint: McFarland
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
1. Opening Day 3
2. Elysian Fields to Fort Wayne 7
3. Collier’s Rooms 15
4. The Game 19
5. The Players 27
6. Play Ball 42
7. The First Pennant Race 53
8. The Pernicious Practice 68
9. A Two-Tiered League 78
10. The Tournament 92
11. Financial Troubles 100
12. The Umpire 107
13. A New Powerhouse 117
14. The Mutuals 124
15. Boston Makes a Run 130
16. The Return of the White Stockings 136
17. A Trip to Europe 142
18. Going for Three 154
19. Not Cricket 163
20. The Mutuals Repulsed 173
21. Going West 185
22. The Force Case 191
23. Going Broke 202
24. An Early Challenge 210
25. A Little Chin Music, Maestro 220
26. A Stunning Succession 228
27. Grand Central Hotel 235
Appendix—Selected Statistics: Statistical Leaders of the National Association, 1871–75 241
Chapter Notes 251
Bibliography 264
Index 267
Book Reviews & Awards
Winner, Macmillan–SABR Baseball Research Award
“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.
