Synopsis
Discusses reasons for the huge increase in home runs during the 1920s, and looks at the accomplishments of Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, George Sisler, Lou Gehrig and Rogers Hornsby
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Reviews
When Babe Ruth hit 54 home runs in 1920, he changed the game of baseball, with the result that fans demanded the use of the "long ball" that powered homers, players started to swing for the fences and salaries for sluggers began to rise. Yet, as Curran ( Mitts ) points out, the decade saw not only the proliferation of home runs but also a tremendous spurt in batting averages: .400 hitters were no rarity (in the 1930 season 54 batters hit over .300), and even team averages of .300-plus were not uncommon. Many sports writers have wagered that a newly constructed "hopped-up" ball was responsible for the transformation, but Curran contends that the cause lay instead in such practices as the outlawing of certain pitches (e.g., the spitball). Regardless, this was baseball's most exciting era--and one in which there is abiding interest, which will be whetted by Curran's fine effort.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Curran's title summarizes the dramatic hitting surge of the 1920s, as swelling batting averages and skyrocketing home run totals changed baseball forever. Curran, author of Mitts: A Celebration of the Art of Fielding ( LJ 6/1/85), describes the influence of the livelier baseball and the emergence of Babe Ruth as a slugger, as the game shifted from tight defensive play to wide open offensive play. Recording the hitting achievements of Ruth, Ty Cobb, Lou Gehrig, Rogers Hornsby, and others, Curran recaps the decade's pennant chases and World Series. Somewhat paralleling William B. Mead's Two Spectacular Seasons ( LJ 2/1/90), this is worthwhile for popular sports collections.
- Morey Berger, Monmouth Cty . Lib., Manalapan, N.J.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Search results for Big Sticks: The Batting Revolution of the Twenties
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Big Sticks : The Batting Revolution of the 1920s
Published by
HarperCollins Publishers, 1990
ISBN 10: 0688064698
ISBN 13: 9780688064693
Used
Hardcover
Seller: Better World Books: West, Reno, NV, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Very Good. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects. Seller Inventory # 51534201-75
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Big Sticks : The Batting Revolution of the 1920s
Published by
HarperCollins Publishers, 1990
ISBN 10: 0688064698
ISBN 13: 9780688064693
Used
Hardcover
Seller: Better World Books, Mishawaka, IN, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Seller Inventory # 3396060-6
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Big Sticks: The Batting Revolution of the Twenties
Seller: ThriftBooks-Dallas, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. Former library book; May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less. Seller Inventory # G0688064698I4N10
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Big Sticks: The Batting Revolution of the Twenties
Seller: ThriftBooks-Atlanta, AUSTELL, GA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Former library book; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less. Seller Inventory # G0688064698I3N10
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Big Sticks: The Batting Revolution of the Twenties
Seller: ThriftBooks-Atlanta, AUSTELL, GA, U.S.A.
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Hardcover. Condition: Fair. No Jacket. Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less. Seller Inventory # G0688064698I5N00
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Big Sticks: The Batting Revolution of the Twenties
Seller: ThriftBooks-Atlanta, AUSTELL, GA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Fair. No Jacket. Former library book; Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less. Seller Inventory # G0688064698I5N10
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Big Sticks: The Batting Revolution of the Twenties
Published by
William Morrow & Company, First Edition stated, 1990
ISBN 10: 0688064698
ISBN 13: 9780688064693
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Mike's Baseball Books, Chula Vista, CA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. William Curran examines Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, George Sisler, Rogers Hornsby, Lou Gehrig, plus minor league stars like Ike Boone, Paul Strand, Buzz Arlett, and Smead Jolley. Curran argues it was not a "rabbit ball" that created this hitting explosion. Rather he maintains it was Ruth's new swing-copied from Joe Jackson; the outlawing of the spitball; and the use of clean baseballs after the death of Ray Chapman which created this batting revolution. First Edition stated with all numbers from 1 to 10 present. Both the non price clipped Dust Jacket and the book are in very good condition. I have around 300 publications on the history of baseball in stock. Discounts are available when you purchase multiple items on the same order. Seller Inventory # ABE-1650909984288
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Big Sticks: The Batting Revolution of the Twenties
Seller: Books From California, Simi Valley, CA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Includes dust jacket. Dj has heavy wear/tear. Seller Inventory # mon0003275586
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Big Sticks: The Batting Revolution of the Twenties
Published by
William Morrow & Co, 1990
ISBN 10: 0688064698
ISBN 13: 9780688064693
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Callaghan Books South, New Port Richey, FL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fair. 1st Edition. Large, sturdy book, cream covers, very bright gilt lettering on spine, blue color inside covers and adjacent end papers, 288 pages including two photo sections, embossed iniitials at bottom front right. DJ glossy cream background, three photos on front of Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth, blue and black lettering, praise on white center back from Los Angeles Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Wall Street Journal and others. DJ has tiny tears and nicks to most edges. Near Good DJ/Very Fine book. Seller Inventory # 059744
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Big Sticks: The Batting Revolution of the Twenties
Published by
William Morrow & Company, New York, 1990
ISBN 10: 0688064698
ISBN 13: 9780688064693
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: MLC Books, Northfield, MN, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hard Cover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. First Edition. Cobb, Sisler, Gehrig, Hornsby, Ruth and more. Spine heel gently bumped. Jacket lightly rubbed and crimped with short tears to the spine head, in mylar. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Seller Inventory # 150039