The St. Louis Baseball Reader

Richard Peterson

456 pages

Published: October 2006

30 illus.

ISBN: 9780826216878

Sports and American Culture

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Price: $34.95

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About This Book: The St. Louis Baseball Reader is a tale of two teams: one the city’s lovable losers, the other a formidable dynasty.
The St. Louis Cardinals are the most successful franchise in National League history, while the St. Louis Browns were one of the least successful, yet most colorful, American League teams. Now Richard Peterson has collected the writings of some of baseball’s greatest storytellers to pay tribute to both these teams. His book, the first anthology devoted exclusively to the Cardinals and Browns, covers the rich history of St. Louis baseball from its late-nineteenth-century origins to the modern era.
The St. Louis Baseball Reader is a celebration of the many legendary stars and colorful characters who wore St. Louis uniforms and the writers who told their stories, including Alfred Spink, Roger Angell, George Will, and Baseball Hall of Fame writers Bob Broeg, J. Roy Stockton, Red Smith, and Fred Lieb. Here, too, are John Grisham, who grew up a Redbirds fan in Mississippi, and Jack Buck, the most identifiable voice in Cardinal history. Great players—Grover Cleveland Alexander, Rogers Hornsby, Marty Marion, and Satchel Paige—tell their own stories, while Bill Veeck offers an account of his wild ride as the last Browns owner and Whitey Herzog shares regrets about the play that cost the Cardinals the 1985 World Series.
From the days of the Gas House Gang to the 1944 “Streetcar Series,” from Bill Veeck’s legendary stunts to Mark McGwire’s pursuit of Roger Maris’s home-run record, the Reader will bring back memories for every fan. It takes in all of the magic of the ballpark—whether recounting the unhittable pitching of Bob Gibson, the slugging prowess of Stan “The Man” Musial, or the sterling glove-work of Ozzie Smith—along with reflective commentaries that tell how Jackie Robinson confronted racism and Curt Flood challenged the reserve clause.
St. Louis is a city blessed with a memorable baseball history, and The St. Louis Baseball Reader perfectly captures the joy and heartbreak of its winning and losing teams. It’s a book that will delight current fans of the Cardinals and old-timers who fondly recall the Browns.
Authors and Editors: Richard “Pete” Peterson is Professor Emeritus of English at Southern Illinois University, the author of Extra Innings: Writing on Baseball and the editor of The Pirates Reader. He is also the editor of the Kent State University Press Writing Sports Series. He lives in Makanda, Illinois.
Praise For This Book: “As a Chicago Cubs fan, I believe—no, I know—that the St. Louis Cardinals are fully paid-up, card-carrying members of the Axis of Evil. Nevertheless, as this splendid volume shows, the Cardinals do have a history worth savoring.”—George F. Will

“Over the years, many baseball books have been written about the St. Louis Cardinals; not much has been written about the St. Louis Browns. The St. Louis Baseball Reader covers them both and is a must for every true baseball fan. Richard Peterson couldn’t have written it better. I thoroughly enjoyed every word.”
—Whitey Herzog, Manager, St. Louis Cardinals, 1980–1990

“Only Pete Peterson could lovingly craft such a rich history of baseball in St. Louis. The breadth and depth of The St. Louis Baseball Reader—from the topics it discusses to the unique perspectives it affords—will delight all baseball fans, especially the fans from the best baseball city in America. He leaves no stone unturned—and unturns many that others would ignore—in compiling these essays. This is a truly wonderful collection.”—Rob King, Anchor, Fox Sports Network

“This wonderful, deep-dish apple pie of a book is bound to turn any baseball fan into an overnight Cardinals addict—and you don’t have to come from Missouri!”—Ray Robinson, author of Iron Horse: Lou Gehrig in His Time and Matty: An American Hero