Full Description
When in 1911 Phillies pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander set the National League record for wins by a rookie (28), it was a sign of things to come. Alexander went on to win 373 games over his 20-year career, the third highest total in major league history, and he would lead the league in ERA four times, shutouts seven times, complete games six times, and wins six times. But he also became a deeply troubled man. After the Shell-Shocked pitcher returned from World War I, he would battle alcoholism, epilepsy, and personal demons that damaged his reputation and proved disastrous for his life outside of baseball.
This biography sheds new light on the pitcher and the man, focusing on Alexander's personal life, especially his complex relationship with his wife, Aimee, as well as their marriages and divorces. His Hall of Fame career, wartime service, and long decline are also documented.
Contents
Table of Contents
Preface
1. Alone in a Crowd
2. A Stone's Throw Away
3. A Big League Pitcher
4. A Pennant Flies in Philadelphia
5. Nobody Does It Better
6. The Changing of the Uniforms
7. The Cub Years
8. Managerial Merry-Go-Round and McCarthy
9. A Strikeout for the Ages
10. Forty Years Old and Counting
11. The End of the Road
12. When the Cheering Stopped
13. The Long Road Downhill
14. Brother Can You Spare Me a Dime?
15. The Last Hurrah
16. Coming Home
17. Bottom of the Ninth
Appendix: Lifetime Statistics
Notes
Bibliography
Index
