Jim Thorpe
A Biography
$29.95
In stock
About the Book
Most biographies of Jim Thorpe (1888–1953) emphasize his Olympic glory and his remarkable abilities in track and football. Thorpe’s 1912 gold medals in the decathalon and pentathalon and his talent on the gridiron rank him high among outstanding athletes of the twentieth century. That Thorpe also played brilliantly on the baseball diamond is an often overlooked facet of his career. This narrative of Thorpe’s rise and fall in American sports pays particular attention to his time in the major and minor leagues, including his stormy relationship with New York Giants manager John McGraw and baseball’s role in stripping Thorpe of his Olympic medals. By chronicling Thorpe’s involvement in baseball, football and track concurrently, this profile offers a complete portrait of one of the most versatile athletes in sports history.
About the Author(s)
Bibliographic Details
William A. Cook
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 232
Bibliographic Info: 19 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2011
pISBN: 978-0-7864-6355-8
eISBN: 978-0-7864-8577-2
Imprint: McFarland
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
1. Ancestors 5
2. The Road to Carlisle 8
3. The Rise of the Carlisle Athletic Program 19
4. Pop Warner Meets Jim Thorpe 31
5. Thorpe Plays Baseball in North Carolina 43
6. The 1912 Olympic Games 52
7. The 1912 Carlisle Football Season 63
8. Thorpe Loses His Olympic Medals 72
9. Thorpe Signs with the New York Giants 80
10. The 1913 Giants and White Sox World Tour 93
11. Congress Investigates Carlisle 105
12. Thorpe Struggles with the Curve Ball 112
13. Thorpe Plays for the Canton Bulldogs 117
14. McGraw Loans Thorpe to the Cincinnati Reds 128
15. Thorpe’s Major League Career Ends 136
16. Post-War Professional Football 143
17. The NFL Is Born 149
18. A Fading Star 162
19. Thorpe Goes to Hollywood 170
20. The Battle for Thorpe’s Medals and Remains 186
Chapter Notes 203
Bibliography 211
Index 215
