Fifty-nine in '84 : old Hoss Radbourn, barehanded baseball, and the greatest season a pitcher ever had

"First-class narrative history that can stand with everything Steven Ambrose wrote. . . . Achorn's description of the utter insanity that was barehanded baseball is vivid and alive." —Boston Globe "A beautifully written, meticulously researched story about a bygone baseball era that even die-hard fans will find foreign, and about a pitcher who might have been the greatest of all time." — Joseph J. Ellis, Pulitzer prize-winning historian In 1884 Providence Grays pitcher Charles "Old Hoss" Radbourn won an astounding fifty-nine games—more than anyone in major-league history ever had before, or has since. He then went on to win all three games of baseball's first World Series. Fifty-nine in '84 tells the dramatic story not only of that amazing feat of grit but also of big-league baseball two decades after the Civil War—a brutal, bloody sport played barehanded, the profession of uneducated, hard-drinking men who thought little of cheating outrageously or maiming an opponent to win. Wonderfully entertaining, Fifty-nine in '84 is an indelible portrait of a legendary player and a fascinating, little-known era of the national pastime. Chronicles The Career Of Charles Old Hoss Radbourn Who, In 1884, Had The Winningest Single Season Of Any Major-league Baseball Pitcher. Also Tells The Story Of Baseball In The 1880s--a Brutal, Bloody Sport Played Barehanded. In 1884, Providence Grays Pitcher Charles 'old Hoss' Radbourn Won An Astounding Fifty-nine Games--more Than Anyone In Major-league History Ever Had Before, Or Has Since. He Then Went On To Win All Three Games Of Baseball's First World Series. This Book Tells The Dramatic Story Not Only Of That Amazing Feat Of Grit But Also Of Big-league Baseball Two Decades After The Civil War--a Brutal, Bloody Sport Played Barehanded, The Profession Of Uneducated, Hard-drinking Men Who Thought Little Of Cheating Outrageously Or Maiming An Opponent To Win. It Is The Tale, Too, Of The Woman Radbourn Loved, Carrie Stanhope, The Alluring Proprietress Of A Boarding-house With Shady Overtones, A Married Lady Who Was Said To Have Personally Known Every Man In The National League. Wonderfully Entertaining, This Book Is An Indelible Portrait Of A Legendary Player And A Fascinating, Little-known Era Of The National Pastime. -- Publisher Description. Prologue: Ole Hoss Is Ready -- The Importance Of Grit -- I Am A Pitcher -- Raging, Tearing, Booming -- Lucky Man -- Treasure From The Gold Country -- Brimstone And Treacle -- Pneumonia Weather -- She's Yours, Rad -- Red Fire -- A Working Girl -- An Ugly Disposition -- Rendezvous Of The Wayward -- Crackup -- Drunk Enough To Be Stupid -- The Severe Wrenching -- Inward Laughs -- A Promise Kept -- The Best On Earth -- Epilogue: Called Out By The Inexorable Umpire. Edward Achorn. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Fifty-nine in '84 is award–winning journalist Edward Achorn's riveting history of late nineteenth century baseball and the era's most legendary pitcher. In 1884, Providence Grays pitcher Charles "Old Hoss" Radbourn won an astounding fifty-nine games—more than anyone in major-league history ever had before, or has since. He then went on to win all three games of baseball's first World Series. Fifty-nine in '84 tells the dramatic story not only of that amazing feat of grit but also of big-league baseball two decades after the Civil War—a brutal, bloody sport played barehanded, the profession of uneducated, hard-drinking men who thought little of cheating outrageously or maiming an opponent to win. Wonderfully entertaining, Fifty-nine in '84 is an indelible portrait of a legendary player and a fascinating, little-known era of the national pastime. "A beautifully written, meticulously researched story about a bygone baseball era that even die-hard fans will find foreign, and about a pitcher who might have been the greatest of all time." —Joseph J. Ellis, Pulitzer Prize–winning historian "First-class narrative history that can stand with everything Steven Ambrose wrote. . . . Achorn's description of the utter insanity that was barehanded baseball is vivid and alive." — Boston Globe In 1884, Providence Grays pitcher Charles "Old Hoss" Radbourn won an astounding fifty-nine gamesmore than anyone in major-league history ever had before, or has since. He then went on to win all three games of baseball's first World Series. Fifty-nine in '84 tells the dramatic story not only of that amazing feat of grit but also of big-league baseball two decades after the Civil Wara brutal, bloody sport played barehanded, the profession of uneducated, hard-drinking men who thought little of cheating outrageously or maiming an opponent to win. It is the tale, too, of the woman Radbourn loved, Carrie Stanhope, the alluring proprietress of a boarding-house with shady overtones, a married lady who was said to have personally known every man in the National League. Wonderfully entertaining, Fifty-nine in '84 is an indelible portrait of a legendary player and a fascinating, little-known era of the national pastime.