Joe Cronin: A Life in Baseball

Mark Armour

Biographies & Memoirs

University Of Nebraska Press

The Red Sox spent most of the 1950s far out of pennant contention, winning just enough games to keep their fans’ hopes up for the next season. But there can be little doubt that the club was filled with absorbing and fascinating people, and stories that still resonate in New England and beyond. From Harry Agganis and Jimmy Piersall to Jackie Jensen and Pumpsie Green, the names and stories have been the subjects of books and movies. Dominating it all, of course, was Ted Williams, the great star and personality. In this book, members of SABR present biographies of all of these men and many others, 46 in all, along with a season-by-season recap. In Boston, the baseball landscape changed dramatically in 1953 when the Braves moved to Milwaukee. Despite having the city to themselves, the Red Sox steadily lost attendance throughout the decade, due mainly to a series of teams that failed to contend. But because of television, fans of the region were able to “watch” Red Sox baseball for the first time without setting foot in Fenway Park. With its lagging fortunes of the team on the field, the club retained its hold on the hearts of the region throughout this period. The 1950s Red Sox were teeming with huge stories. You might know about Ted Williams, of course, but consider his teammates: Harry Agganis, a legendary local athlete whose tragic death is remembered by millions in the region; or Jimmy Piersall, whose illness and breakdown led to a book and two movies; or Jackie Jensen, a famous collegiate football star who forged a great career with the Red Sox. The Red Sox are famous for failing to integrate until 1959, the last team to do so. Depicted here are the people mostly blamed for this oversight (Tom Yawkey, Joe Cronin, and Mike Higgins), as well as the man who finally broke the color line (Pumpsie Green). Thanks to the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), you can read the stories of 46 of these men, including all of of the aforementioned and one of the greatest announcers ever, Curt Gowdy. But along with many of the people you might remember, there are still plenty of lesser-known players that you can discover for the first time. All of these men made it the major leagues and played well enough to stick around for at least a few years. We think all of them are worth learning about, and hope you enjoy doing so. PITCHERS Frank Baumann by Paul Geisler Tom Brewer by Tom Larwin Jerry Casale by Tom Larwin Ike Delock by Ray Birch Mike Fornieles by Thomas Ayers Tom Hurd by Jim Elfers Russ Kemmerer by John Green Leo Kiely by Greg Erion Ellis Kinder by Mark Armour Mickey McDermott by John Vorperian Willard Nixon by Wynn Montgomery Mel Parnell by Bill Nowlin Dave Sisler by Rick Huhn Frank Sullivan by Herb Crehan CATCHERS Pete Daley by John Green Haywood Sullivan by Mathew Sisson Sammy White by Herb Crehan FIRST BASEMEN Harry Agganis by Mark Brown Walt Dropo by Bill Nowlin Dick Gernert by Don Hyslop Mickey Vernon by Rich Westcott Norm Zauchin by Bill Nowlin SECOND BASEMEN Billy Goodman by Ron Anderson Pumpsie Green by Bill Nowlin Pete Runnels by Hugh Poland THIRD BASEMEN Ted Lepcio by Tom Harkins Frank Malzone by Bill Nowlin SHORTSTOPS Milt Bolling by Jeremiah Woolsey Don Buddin by Bill Nowlin Billy Consolo by Joanne Hulbert Billy Klaus by Charlie Bevis LEFT FIELDERS Gene Stephens by Todd Newville Ted Williams by Bill Nowlin CENTER FIELDERS Marty Keough by Bill Nowlin Jimmy Piersall by Mark Armour RIGHT FIELDERS Jackie Jensen by Mark Armour Faye Throneberry by Russell Wolinsky Clyde Vollmer by Chip Greene Al Zarilla by Maurice Bouchard

Red Sox Baseball in the Days of Ike and Elvis: The Red Sox of the 1950s

Sports & Outdoors

Baseball

Society for American Baseball Research

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Books by Mark Armour