Characters from the Diamond

Wild Events, Crazy Antics, and Unique Tales from Early Baseball

Ronald T. Waldo

Baseball during the late 1800s and the Deadball Era was filled with aggressive, hard-nosed players who had no qualms about exhibiting belligerent behavior while tenaciously achieving victory on the diamond. These unique and eccentric individuals helped the game grow in popularity through their brilliance on the field and their legendary exploits off it. From manager Miller Huggins fighting with a pitcher over thick, juicy steaks to Rube Waddell getting arrested for tossing doughnuts at the coiffure of a waitress, their stories kept baseball fans entertained throughout the season—and still entertain us today.

In Characters from the Diamond: Wild Events, Crazy Antics, and Unique Tales from Early Baseball, Ronald T. Waldo chronicles the adventures of an unparalleled group of players, managers, and umpires whose tales continue to define that era of baseball. From the days of Chris Von der Ahe when his St. Louis Browns dominated the American Association to the Great War, this book presents an array of unique stories, peculiar accounts, and humorous anecdotes involving the men who were the very fabric of the game during that time period. Baseball icons such as John McGraw, Willie Keeler, Ty Cobb, Frank Chance, Rube Waddell, and Mike Donlin are profiled in this book, while numerous lesser-known players—including Arthur Evans, Jack Rowan, Bill Kellogg, Bill Bailey, Ping Bodie, and William Dugan—are also given their moment in the sun alongside their more famous baseball brethren.

Characters from the Diamond breathes life back into baseball from the late nineteenth century and Deadball Era. Illuminating, entertaining, and noteworthy, these stories surrounding some of the game’s most unique individuals paint a humorous, off-beat picture of an often-forgotten era for baseball lovers everywhere.

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 278 • Trim: 6¼ x 9½

978-1-4422-5868-6 • Hardback • March 2016 • $45.00 • (£29.95)

978-1-4422-5869-3 • eBook • March 2016 • $42.50 • (£29.95)

Subjects: Sports & Recreation / Baseball / History, Sports & Recreation / History

Characters from the Diamond

Wild Events, Crazy Antics, and Unique Tales from Early Baseball

Hardback

eBook

Summary

Baseball during the late 1800s and the Deadball Era was filled with aggressive, hard-nosed players who had no qualms about exhibiting belligerent behavior while tenaciously achieving victory on the diamond. These unique and eccentric individuals helped the game grow in popularity through their brilliance on the field and their legendary exploits off it. From manager Miller Huggins fighting with a pitcher over thick, juicy steaks to Rube Waddell getting arrested for tossing doughnuts at the coiffure of a waitress, their stories kept baseball fans entertained throughout the season—and still entertain us today.

In Characters from the Diamond: Wild Events, Crazy Antics, and Unique Tales from Early Baseball, Ronald T. Waldo chronicles the adventures of an unparalleled group of players, managers, and umpires whose tales continue to define that era of baseball. From the days of Chris Von der Ahe when his St. Louis Browns dominated the American Association to the Great War, this book presents an array of unique stories, peculiar accounts, and humorous anecdotes involving the men who were the very fabric of the game during that time period. Baseball icons such as John McGraw, Willie Keeler, Ty Cobb, Frank Chance, Rube Waddell, and Mike Donlin are profiled in this book, while numerous lesser-known players—including Arthur Evans, Jack Rowan, Bill Kellogg, Bill Bailey, Ping Bodie, and William Dugan—are also given their moment in the sun alongside their more famous baseball brethren.

Characters from the Diamond breathes life back into baseball from the late nineteenth century and Deadball Era. Illuminating, entertaining, and noteworthy, these stories surrounding some of the game’s most unique individuals paint a humorous, off-beat picture of an often-forgotten era for baseball lovers everywhere.

Details

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 278 • Trim: 6¼ x 9½

978-1-4422-5868-6 • Hardback • March 2016 • $45.00 • (£29.95)

978-1-4422-5869-3 • eBook • March 2016 • $42.50 • (£29.95)

Subjects: Sports & Recreation / Baseball / History, Sports & Recreation / History

Author

Ronald T. Waldo has written six books on baseball history, including Fred Clarke: A Biography of the Baseball Hall of Fame Player-Manager (2010), The Battling Bucs of 1925: How the Pittsburgh Pirates Pulled Off the Greatest Comeback in World Series History (2011), Hazen “Kiki” Cuyler: A Baseball Biography (2012), Pennant Hopes Dashed by the Homer in the Gloamin’: The Story of How the 1938 Pittsburgh Pirates Blew the National League Pennant (2013), The 1902 Pittsburgh Pirates: Treachery and Triumph (2015), and Honus Wagner and His Pittsburgh Pirates: Scenes from a Golden Era (2015).

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1: Rebels, Sharpened Spikes, and Baseball Innovation in the Late Nineteenth Century
Chapter 2: Pranksters, Practical Jokes, and Tricks on the Diamond
Chapter 3: Baseball Icons, Turkey Mike, the Great Zim, Two Unique Catchers, and Ping’s Parrot
Chapter 4: Odd Occurrences, Two Men Called Rube, and Sleepy Bill
Chapter 5: Men in Blue Handling the Indicator from Three ’til Five Every Afternoon
Chapter 6: Hug, Hughie, the Peerless Leader, and Fellow Managers
Chapter 7: Bushers on the Farm and Minor League Mayhem
Chapter 8: Demon Rum, John Barleycorn, and Frothy Suds
Chapter 9: Cases of Mistaken Identity and Things Not Appearing as They Seem
Chapter 10: Pennant Fever, Copping the Flag, and World Series Moments
Chapter 11: Baseball and the Great War
Chapter 12: A Grand Baseball Era Comes to an End
Notes
Bibliography
Index
About the Author

Reviews

Ronald T. Waldo has brought forth another winner . . . For fans of early baseball he has produced a compilation of some great stories of baseball’s early years. From the games greats like Ty Cobb, and then the games not so greats like Arthur Evans, the author has regaled the reader with some very entertaining stories. He also does go beyond just the players. He includes Umpires, Owners and often forgotten names from this unique era in baseball history. Characters from the Diamond paints a unique picture of what baseball was really like during its early years. . . .The picture this book paints helps keep a unique era in baseball’s history preserved in print, so as time marches on fans of the game will realize where the sport came from and how we got to where we are now at today. Author Ronald T. Waldo has really found his niche in this era. From his previously published books and now including this one he has undertaken measurable tasks with his books. He is working in an era that very few players, if any are still alive. Even people who witnessed the end of this era are few and far between, so he is trying to compile stories in the fourth and fifth person down the line. That is a monumental task for a writer. The pressure involved with fact checking and putting your name on the line that you got the story correct is monumental. As one is reading Waldo’s work you get the feel that the research is thorough and you are getting the complete story. That is both a compliment to his dedication and writing style. This is a very hard era to make the reader feel like they are actually there, but Ronald T. Waldo pulls it off. The main reason being that between alcohol and gambling alone the game of baseball on and off of the field is such a different game than what we are used to. Baseball fans should take the time to check this one out. It is a great history lesson for everyone, and an era where a few laughs up until now have been hard to find. It is also important for everyone to see where we have come from and be able to appreciate what we now have on the field.
— Gregg's Baseball Bookcase

If you like stories from that bygone era, especially from the screwballs who were everywhere in baseball, you may want to pick up Characters From the Diamond, by Ronald T. Waldo. The author writes about not just the stars of the era like Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth and John McGraw, but lesser known players who didn't leave a lasting mark on the game, but for their wild and crazy antics they will be remembered.
— The Mighty Quinn Media Machine

In Characters from the Diamond, Ronald Waldo has brought out the vibrancy in one of baseball’s most colorful eras.
— Joe Niese, author of Burleigh Grimes: Baseball’s Last Legal Spitballer

Ronald Waldo makes other researchers envious. Whenever I look at his work, I end up asking myself: ‘Where does he come up with all this wonderful stuff?’ Characters from the Diamond is packed with outrageous personalities and fascinating anecdotes—some of which are of the laugh-out-loud variety. You don’t have to be a hardcore baseball fan to enjoy this book. There’s a little something for everyone here.
— Jonathan Weeks, author of Mudville Madness and Baseball's Dynasties and the Players Who Built Them

Awards

• Winner, Sports Collectors Digest Best Baseball Books of 2016

Characters from the Diamond

Wild Events, Crazy Antics, and Unique Tales from Early Baseball

Ronald T. Waldo

Characters from the Diamond

Wild Events, Crazy Antics, and Unique Tales from Early Baseball

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