Ken Williams: A Slugger in Ruth's Shadow

by Dave Heller

Overview

Perhaps familiar today as an answer to sports trivia questions, Ken Williams (1890-1959) was once a celebrity who helped bring about a new kind of power baseball in the 1920s. One of the great sluggers of his era (and of all time), he beat Babe Ruth for the home run title in 1922, and became the first to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in a season that year. Later recognized for his accomplishments, he was considered for but not inducted into the Hall of Fame. This first-ever biography of Williams covers his life and career, from his small town upbringing, to his unlikely foray into pro baseball, to his retirement years, when he served as a police officer and ran a pool hall in his hometown.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476665351
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Publication date:	02/13/2017
Pages:	280
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Dave Heller has written and reported on sports for more than 30 years for a myriad of national newspapers, magazine and websites. He has published four previous books on sports history. He lives in Wisconsin.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Preface
 1. Grants Pass and the ­Semi-Pro Life
 2. O Canada: The Path to Pro Ball
 3. Making a Name for Himself
 4. A Small Taste of Cincinnati
 5. Across the Ocean and Up the Ladder
 6. The Minors, a Major War and the Big Leagues (Again)
 7. Getting Established in St. Louis
 8. Changing Style and Becoming a Top Slugger
 9. “Who makes fans forget about Babe Ruth?”
10. Starting the 30–30 Club
11. Setting Career Highs Amid Team Strife
12. Powered Off and Back On
13. One Pitch Changes Everything
14. Battling for Playing Time
15. Goodbye St. Louis, Hello … Boston?
16. Winding Down a Career
17. Back to the Minors
18. The Hometown Boy Returns to Grants Pass—and St. Louis
19. Ken Williams’s Legacy
Appendix A: Career Statistics
Appendix B: Home Run Log
Appendix C: Articles Appearing Under Williams’s Byline
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

Researched primarily in newspapers, online sources, and interviews with Williams’ two sons, Dave Heller produces a gripping and easy read.”—Terry Lindley, Union University; “[A] diligently researched account ... Through interviews with Williams’ two sons, Ken Jr. and Jack, Heller is able to give the reader a look into the man, as well as the player.”—The Inside Game (SABR Deadball Era Committee Newsletter).

From the Publisher