Eddie Plank won 326 games and has the most complete games and shutouts by a left-handed pitcher in Major League history. But how much do we know about the hurler best known as “Gettysburg Eddie” in his playing days? And what of him that we do know is factual? This biography of Plank sorts out the truth and the myths—and everything in between—as he made his way from a college team in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, all the way to the Hall of Fame, 20 years after his death. Along the way, readers will discover what made Plank so great, the secrets behind his famous crossfire delivery, and more.

Dave Heller has written and reported on sports for more than 30 years for a myriad of national newspapers, magazine and websites. He has published four previous books on sports history. He lives in Wisconsin.

Dave Heller
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 261
Bibliographic Info: 39 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2021
pISBN: 978-1-4766-8454-3
eISBN: 978-1-4766-4248-2
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments ix
Preface 1
1. Baseball Beginnings 5
2. From College (Sort of) Straight to the Pros 14
3. Quickly Making a Name for Himself 25
4. A Champion 32
5. The Crossfire 42
6. The Workhorse 48
7. Hitting 300 One Final Time 61
8. The Gettysburg Guide 75
9. A Death in the Family 84
10. California, Cuba and Everywhere in Between 97
11. Catching Ire 108
12. 36 and Stronger Than Ever 118
13. Slowing Down 132
14. The Pinnacle and the Mathewson Myth 143
15. Holding Out and Helping Out 155
16. Making a Federal Case 166
17. One Year with the Feds 177
18. Meet Me in St. Louis (Again) 188
19. A Disappearing Act 197
20. Industrial Work 205
21. End of the Line 213
22. Legacy 221
Chapter Notes 231
Bibliography 239
Index 243

• Winner, Larry Ritter Book Award—SABR