Overview

This is a baseball book. It is for the common fan and aficionados. It has a central figure, a unique player, and record-setting slugger named Fred “Cy” Williams.

From Notre Dame University and with a professional degree in architecture, we follow Cy’s path to the “Big Leagues”, 19 years with the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies. This book explains how Major League Baseball (MLB) is different today compared to the 1910s and 1920s, two of the most exciting and “gold-gilded” decades of baseball. It is about the biggest change ever created in the game…not a rule change…when in 1920 MLB went from using a dead ball to a live ball in games. It was a manufacturing change. The new ball traveled faster and farther. Early on it was called the “rabbit ball”.

Cy’s long career from 1912 to 1930 owned a unique balance of years in each era, with only one other position player nearing his years and balance. You will see how MLB changed through Cy’s statistics as well as through other players of the day.

To suggest that Cy Williams is the most unique slugger in MLB history may seem like a strange claim. After listening to the book, you will have a better understanding of why the claim has validity. It is based on the combination of how many years he played in both eras, on what he accomplished in setting MLB and National League (NL) home run records and other unique records, on his speed in the outfield, on how he got into the game, on the handicap he faced, and on what he gave to the game regarding ethics and dedication. Some things centerfielder Cy accomplished back then are remarkable even today.

Review

I always like to listen to books about baseball in the off season. So, this one definitely intrigued me.

I had never heard of Cy Williams. I found his life very interesting, especially since he was an architect. He also had some rare experiences in baseball.

I also enjoyed learning about baseball during the early 1900s. Lord, how times have changed.

All of that being said, there are quite a few parts that drove me a bit batty. This really does need a good fact checker. Plus, the listing of all the stats…and this happened quite a few times…just made me hit fast forward. Yes, I know baseball is game of math and statistics, but this could have been moved to the end of the book or cut down.

The narrator, Ward Paxton, I could listen to all day!

Need a book about a baseball player that had a unique career…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this audiobook from the publisher for a honest review.

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