Big Ed Walsh: The Life and Times of a Spitballing Hall of Famer

by Jack Smiles

Overview

As a young man living in the Anthracite coal region of Pennsylvania, it seemed Ed Walsh's course in life was set. But he emerged from the hardscrabble life of the mines to become one of the Deadball Era's greatest pitchers, winning fame, world championships, and eventually induction to the Hall of Fame.

This biography closely describes Walsh's life and 14-year playing career, with special discussion of the spitball, a pitch that profoundly affected his fortunes—and ultimately his arm. The years 1905-1911 are explored in depth, especially his contributions to the 1906 world champion White Sox and his prominent role in the now-famous 1908 pennant race. Chapters are also devoted to his holdout in 1909, the athletic careers of his sons Bob and Ed, and his repeated attempts at comebacks after his arm injury.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786432783
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Publication date:	12/18/2007
Pages:	238
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.48(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

SABR member Jack Smiles is associate editor of the Sunday Dispatch in Pittston, Pennsylvania. He lives in Wyoming, Pennsylvania.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments     
Preface     

1. Big Ed: Coal Miner     
2. Big Ed: Rookie     
3. The Spitter     
4. Ze Meestaire Walsh     
5. The Hitless Wonders     
6. Big Ed: World Champion     
7. South of the Border     
8. Sox Are Tamed by the Tigers     
9. Big Ed: Ironman     
10. The Holdout     
11. Big Ed Opens Comiskey Park     
12. Big Ed Owns the Cubs     
13. What’s the Matter with Big Ed?     
14. Arm Trouble     
15. Big Ed: Manager     
16. Big Ed Doesn’t Like the Jeers     
17. Little Ed and Big Bob     
18. Big Ed: Old-Timer     

Notes     
Bibliography     
Index     

Editorial Reviews

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From the Publisher

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