The Boyer Brothers of Baseball - by Lew Freedman (Paperback)

About the Book

"This [is] the story of the seven baseball-playing Boyer brothers from Missouri who signed professional contracts in the 40s, 50s and 60s. Led by oldest brother Cloyd, a pitcher, third baseman Ken and third baseman Clete, three of the seven siblings in a family of 14, reached the majors. This book recounts their hardscrabble upbringing and their success"--

Book Synopsis

This the story of the seven baseball-playing Boyer brothers from western Missouri who signed professional contracts in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. Led by oldest brother Cloyd, a pitcher, third baseman Ken and third baseman Clete, three of the seven brothers reached the majors. This book recounts their hardscrabble upbringing and how they fought their way to success.

Initially discouraged by arm injuries that curtailed his big-league career, Cloyd became a coach and manager at the minor and major league levels, and remained in the game for nearly half a century. The most accomplished, Ken, became a perennial National League All-Star, and was the 1964 Most Valuable Player. In the 1960s, he was the face of the St. Louis Cardinals, and after his playing days ended he returned to manage the team. Clete gained prominence as a regular for the American League champion New York Yankees, and competed in five World Series before starring in the National League and concluding his career in Japan. While they did not make it to the top, the other four brothers enrich the story with their own baseball histories, and help illustrate how the closeness of the family helped each of them succeed.

Review Quotes

"[A] readable, enjoyable, and sound contribution that will be valued by fans of the game"-Sport in American History.

About the Author

Lew Freedman is a long-time, prize-winning journalist for such newspapers as the Philadelphia Inquirer, Chicago Tribune, Anchorage Daily News and Wyoming's Cody Enterprise. Specializing in sports and the outdoors, he has written more than 100 books. He lives in Columbus, Indiana.