About this item
Highlights
- It was a novel experiment as baseball's leading men formed the National Association, bringing order to the hodgepodge of professional and amateur clubs that made up the sport from the end of the Civil War through 1870.
- About the Author: William J. Ryczek is a finance professional from Wallingford, Connecticut, who writes about early baseball, football, the Yankees, and the Mets.
- 272 Pages
- Sports + Recreation, Baseball
Description
About the Book
"Like most sporting endeavors, it was entertaining, with the best players in the world displaying their talents throughout the northeastern and mid-western United States and, in 1874, during a ground-breaking journey to England. In its second edition, this book covers all the action"--Book Synopsis
It was a novel experiment as baseball's leading men formed the National Association, bringing order to the hodgepodge of professional and amateur clubs that made up the sport from the end of the Civil War through 1870. It was an imperfect beginning to organized professional sports in America--the league was plagued by gambling, contract jumping and rumors of dishonest play--but it laid the groundwork for the multi-billion-dollar enterprises of the 21st century. Like most sporting endeavors, it was entertaining, with the best players in the world displaying their talents throughout the northeastern and mid-western United States and, in 1874, during a ground-breaking journey to England. The present volume covers all the action--both on and off the field--of the NA's five years, providing the definitive history of the first professional sports league in the U.S.
Review Quotes
"a comprehensive examination of the history of the National Association of baseball"-ProtoView; "Until 1969, no one had any doubt that the National Association of 1871-75 was the first big league, but then Major League Baseball changed its view and cast the NA into official darkness. Bill Ryczek loves that unruly, raucous circuit...so do I...and he unveils its story brilliantly."-John Thorn, Official Historian of Major League Baseball; Reviews of the first edition: "an extensive amount of research...very informative...excellent"-Nine; "engaging...a good discussion of strategy"-Choice; "an excellent guide to a murky period in baseball's past...strongly recommend[ed]"-Nineteenth Century Notes; "comprehensive"-Reference & Research Book News; "diligent research and flavorsome writing...reliable, comprehensive history"-Baltimore Evening Sun; "intriguing...extremely rare look into the first professional sports league"-Houston Post; "[This book] sparkles with the author's wit and charm of a bygone era. It is an exhaustively researched, beautifully fashioned account of the National Association. All baseball histories should be this good!"-Darryl Brock, author of If I Never Get Back.
About the Author
William J. Ryczek is a finance professional from Wallingford, Connecticut, who writes about early baseball, football, the Yankees, and the Mets.