Baseball Rowdies of the 19th Century: Brawlers, Drinkers, Pranksters and Cheats in the Early Days of the Major Leagues - Paperback

by Eddie Mitchell (Author)

During the 19th century, baseball was a game with few rules, many rowdy players and just one umpire. Dirty tricks were simply part of a winning strategy--spiking, body-blocking, cutting bases short or hiding an extra ball to be used when needed were all OK. Deliberately failing to catch a fly in order to have the game called due to darkness was also acceptable. And drinking before a game was perhaps expected. Providing brief bios of dozens of players, managers, umpires and owners, this book chronicles some of the flamboyant, unruly and occasionally criminal behavior of baseball's early years.

Author Biography

Eddie Mitchell has been a baseball fan for 63 years. Upon retirement he took up his passion by being an assistant high school coach for 12 years, helping to win four state championships. He lives in Portsmouth, Virginia.