Fenway 1912 : the birth of a ballpark, a championship season, and Fenway's remarkable first year

In anticipation of the one hundredth anniversary of Americas most beloved ballpark, the untold story of how Fenway Park was born and the remarkable first season ever played there For all that has been written in tribute to the great Fenway Park, no one has ever really told the behind-the-scenes true story of its tumultuous yet glorious first year. Nineteen twelve was a leap year, the year the Titanic sank, but also the year baseballs original shrine was "born." And while the paint was still drying, the infield grass still coming in, the Red Sox embarked on an unlikely season that would culminate in a World Series battle against the Giants that stands as one of the greatest ever played. Fenway 1912 tells the incredible storyand storiesof Fenway, from the unorthodox blueprint that belies the parks notorious quirks, to the long winter when locals poured concrete and erected history, to the notorious fixers who then ruled the game, to the ragtag team who delivered a world championship, Fenways first. Drawing on extensive new research, the esteemed baseball historian Glenn Stout delivers a rollicking tale of innovation, desperation, and perspiration, capturing Fenway as never before. A Boston Glebe bestseller and the only book to win both the Seymour Medal as best best of biography or history and the Larry Ritter Awad as best book of the Deadball era by the Society for American Baseball Research Fenway 1912 breaks new ground in telling the full story of the building and construction of Fenway Park obsolete. In the context of its first season Stout tells you precisely why Fenway looks the way it does, what architectural styles and influences played a part in its design, exactly how it was built, how it evolved during its first season and how Fenway Park contributed to the Red Sox 1912 world championship. Not a thumbnail history of the franchise like other Fenway books, Fenway 1912 tells the story of Fenway Park as an actual story, a drama that over the course of a little more than a year changed the history of the Red Sox and the City of Boston forever. Fenway Park is the main character, but there are many others – architect James E. McLaughlin, contractor Charles Logue, groundskeeper Jerome Kelley, and players like Tris Speaker, Smoky Joe Wood, Duffy Lewis, Royal Rooters like Nuf Ced McGreevey, team owner James McAleer and others. The end result if a living history of Fenway Park and the breakout baseball bestseller of the 2011 holiday season, a book for any baseball fans, and not just fans of the Red Sox. For All That Has Been Written In Tribute To The Great Fenway Park, No One Has Ever Really Told The Behind-thescenes True Story Of Its Birth, Construction, And Tumultuous Yet Glorious First Season - 1912. While The Paint Was Still Drying And The Infield Still Turning Green, The Red Sox Embarked On An Unlikely Season That Would Culminate In A World Series Battle Against John Mcgraw's Mighty Giants That Stands As One Of The Greatest Ever Played. Fenway Park Made All The Difference, Helping To Turn An Average Team Into The Greatest In Red Sox History. 1911 -- Hot Stove -- Hot Springs -- Opening Days -- The Wall And The Cliff -- Home Stand -- The Big Trip -- Home Safe -- Heavyweights -- Giants On The Horizon -- The Gathering Of The Clans -- Home Sweet Home -- Giant Killers -- Last Stand At Fenway Park -- Boston Red Sox 1912 Statistics. Glenn Stout. Includes Index.