Jimmie Foxx - (American Sports History) by Mark R Millikin (Paperback)

About the Book

The story of one of baseball's most ferocious hitters, Jimmie Foxx. The most inclusive biography of Foxx to date, Millikin's book provides a complete picture of his subject.

Book Synopsis

While major league baseball gained popularity in large American cities at the beginning of the twentieth century, it was still relatively unseen by small town inhabitants who could only read about it in the newspaper or catch an exhibition game as major league teams traveled through the United States. What was popular was 'town baseball, ' fierce competitions between local teams to best the other in all aspects of baseball, particularly power hitting. It was from this environment that Jimmie Foxx, one of major league baseball's most talented players, began his journey toward the majors. Jimmie Foxx: The Pride of Sudlersville, is the story of one of baseball's most ferocious hitters. Growing up in small town Maryland, Jimmie seemed destined to play major-league baseball. By age 16 he was already playing professionally and wowing fans with his ability to smash homers. During his major-league career he appeared in three straight World Series, played for the Philadelphia Athletics and the Boston Red Sox, and spent the 1932 baseball season closely pursuing Babe Ruth's single-season home run record. The comparison to Babe Ruth has not been lost on many baseball scholars, but goes relatively unknown by the general public and many baseball fans. The most inclusive biography of Jimmie Foxx to date, Millikin's book provides a complete picture of his subject.

Review Quotes

...the author has done an effective job of illustrating the extent to which Foxx proved one of baseball's consummate hitters of all time, and not just a home run slugger... a good baseball book.

[Jimmie Foxx] had neither a business agent nor a showboat personality. He is nonetheless by now the subject of at least four books; Millikin's is the most sensitive and thorough.

As someone who knew Jimmie Foxx during his career with the Philadelphia Athletics, I found the book to be one of the most factual accounts of his life. In addition I would like to thank Mr. Millikin for his extensive research and numerous personal interviews which lead to the creation of such an enjoyable and informative read of one of baseball's greatest players.

Before Mark McGwire, the strongest slugger of them all might have been Jimmie Foxx...features previously unpublished material based on interviews with the Foxx family.

I want to congratulate and thank Mark Millikin and the Scarecrow Press, for writing and publishing this fine tribute to a great and honorable man.

Mark Millikin has prepared the definitive work on Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx...does an excellent job...Jimmie Foxx: The Pride of Sudlersville is a well-written and quite interesting account of one of baseball's most intimidating powerhitters.

Millikin contacted classmates, cousins, and friends of Foxx and interviewed six close family members and over thirty teammates to provide richness and depth to this biography of the first man to challenge Ruth's single-season home run record.

Thanks to Mark Millikin, baseball fans can now enjoy a comprehensive biography of Jimmie Foxx...Millikin has written perhaps the most detailed account of Foxx's life to date.

Though other histories of this astounding player exist, Mark Millikin's biography benefits from many privileges not enjoyed by the other books...contains a great deal more information on Jimmie Foxx's early life and childhood...this most inclusive biography of Jimmie Foxx to date finally brings this wealth of untapped anecdotal information to the surface.

About the Author

Mark R. Millikin received his B.S. from the University of Maryland and a M.S. from the College of Charleston (South Carolina). He has written articles on Jimmie Foxx and other major league players for the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles, and is a member of the Society of American Baseball Research.