An Indian Summer

This is the story of one of the all-time great teams of major league baseball, the 1957 Milwaukee Braves. The Braves boasted a lineup packed with power and a pitching staff anchored by three aces. Four future Hall of Famers led the team to the National League pennant, and a fidgety right-hander pitched the Braves past the mighty Yankees in the World Series. Covering the Braves’ magical season in remarkable detail, the author chronicles the winning streaks and the tough stretches, comments on the key transactions and costly injuries, and recalls the unforgettable players (such as Bob “Hurricane” Hazle) and the events (the Shoe Polish Incident) that have since become part of baseball lore.

Freelance sportswriter Thad Mumau wrote for the Fayetteville Observer for more than 35 years and for the Atlantic Coast Conference Sports Journal for 22. He lives in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Thad Mumau
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 228
Bibliographic Info: 24 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2007
pISBN: 978-0-7864-3011-6
eISBN: 978-1-4766-1378-9
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      vii
Preface      1

1. From Beaneaters to Braves      3
2. Getting a Fast Start      18
3. The Big Three      36
4. Filling a Big Hole      57
5. Catching the Cardinals      80
6. A Powerful Pair      96
7. Spahn Keys Torrid August      112
8. The Clincher      129
9. Bring On the Yankees      148
10. October Sunshine      161
11. Almost a Dynasty      184
12. Breaking Up the Old Gang      197

Chapter Notes      207
Bibliography      211
Index      213

“thorough…a great read and a must for any Milwaukee Braves fan”—Midwest Diamond Report.; “Mumau presents a compelling case about an important team in baseball history.”—Charles R. Westmoreland, Sport in American History.