Waite Hoyt was much more than a baseball player. A multi-faceted, sometimes troubled man, Hoyt was a vaudevillian, a mortician, a writer, a painter, and (of course) a Hall of Fame pitcher. He was also an alcoholic who overcame his demons and became one of the first players to make the transition to the announcer's booth. His teammates and managers were among the all-time greats, but he'll always be associated with his friend Babe Ruth. He was there when Ruth hit 29 homers for a new record in 1919; when Ruth hit his 60th in 1927; when the Babe hit his 714th, and last, home run; he was even a pallbearer at Ruth's funeral. His career on the mound and as the Cincinnati Reds announcer lasted from 1915 to 1965, and to walk in his footsteps is to journey through the history of baseball in the 20th century. This biography of Waite Hoyt involves many great moments in baseball history, and includes some of the classic tales that Hoyt, a natural-born storyteller, would tell about his teammates. It follows his transition from a career on the field to his career behind the microphone, and his struggles with alcoholism that almost cost him his dream of working as a broadcaster. Later chapters chronicle his years in the announcer's booth, his induction into Cooperstown, and his longtime championing of Babe Ruth as beyond compare, even as Ruth's most prominent records fell to Maris and Aaron.

Cincinnati Magazine taps into the DNA of the city, exploring shopping, dining, living, and culture and giving readers a ringside seat on the issues shaping the region.

Cincinnati Magazine taps into the DNA of the city, exploring shopping, dining, living, and culture and giving readers a ringside seat on the issues shaping the region.

An anecdotal history of America's professional baseball teams.

Most baseball fans know of the amazing accomplishments Hall of Fame members achieved on the field, from Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hit streak to Cy Young’s 511 career wins. But few are as familiar with the ballplayers’ lives away from the diamond—especially those icons who played before the Internet and 24/7 media coverage. Beyond their baseball statistics, what kind of individuals were they? How did they conduct themselves out of the spotlight? What made them tick? In Beyond the Ballpark: The Honorable, Immoral, and Eccentric Lives of Baseball Legends, John A. Woodlooks at the personal lives of fifty members of the Hall of Fame, examining their childhoods, families, influences, life-changing events, defining moments, and more. The players range from the really good guys to bizarre characters and even the downright immoral. The author considers how tragedies may have impacted players, such as the shooting of Ty Cobb’s beloved father by his own mother, and seeks to explain the dispositions of others, such as why the great Rogers Hornsby couldn’t seem to get along with anybody. By taking a closer look at who the players were as men, Beyond the Ballpark captures the essence of these fifty Hall of Famers. Including such names as Cy Young, Walter Johnson, Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig, and Babe Ruth, this book is for all fans who are interested in more than just a ballplayer’s statistics.

The basic subject of the book is to justify which athlete was the Greatest to ever wear a particular number. In my research, I listed all of the possible uniform numbers 0 to 99, took the finest athletes from the four major sports (baseball, basketball, football, and hockey), and slotted them under their appropriate uniform number. For each player, I created a mini-biography detailing their finest exploits on the field-whether it was All Star nods, championships won, records held, on-field highlights etc. Basically, I created a "case" for that athlete to be considered the best to ever wear the number. Among the possible uniform numbers, I've listed nearly 850 athletes for consideration and provided the accompanying biography. At the end of eahc section, I form a debate as to the Greatest to ever wear the number and then make a selection. After the selection is posted, I then list some quotes made by or about the athlete for the reader to gain even more insight into the player. Even if the reader is not overly concerned about the choice as to the Greatest under each uniform number, the book also serves as a wonderful reference guide. If the reader is interested in finding out more about any of the listed athletes, it's easy to look up the player and find out who he played for and what he did between the white lines. In either cae, Right On the Numbers serves multiple uses and is a must have for any true sports fan.

From Nick Altrock to Casey Stengel, Dizzy Dean to Satchel Paige, Bill Veeck to Bob Uecker, baseball has always admired the clever. This book tells the stories of some of the players, coaches, managers and broadcasters who had the most fun in the Major Leagues and made fans laugh out loud (or shake their heads in disbelief). The author recounts tales both famous and little known that capture the character of unusual and offbeat players, unique and engaging personalities and the succession of eccentrics who were officially dubbed "Clown Prince of Baseball."

Looks at the history of every existing major league baseball team and provides a variety of team and player statistics.

About the Book(97 words)The '27 Yankees is the story of the most legendary and revered team in the annals of baseball: a team whose magical name, even today, evokes the standard of excellence in America's most treasured sport. The book is the definitive historical account of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Tony Lazzeri, Earle Combs, Waite Hoyt, Herb Pennock, and their teammates from Spring Training in St. Petersburg, Florida through the World Series. The '27 Yankees transports the reader back to that exciting season to experience events on and off the diamond through the detailed day-to-day recreations of the team's games.