I was really intrigued by this book. I don't know a lot about pre-war baseball, so I was really excited to read this.
One thing that really struck me is that I found myself skimming the sections dedicated to Ruth and really focussing on Cobb. I had never known (and would never have expected) Cobb to treated a black man like Alex Rivers with respect. Just as shocking was that Rivers thought enough of Cobb to name his son after him.
The portrait of Ruth that Stanton paints didn't feel as nuanced. Maybe it's from being a Yankee fan and knowing about Ruth's ego-mania and his caustic behavior. Maybe it's because rekindling a legend is easier than deflating one.
What did you find surprising?
Did you have a favorite chapter or scene?
What do you wish Stanton had give you more of?
Feel free to leave nominations for next month's book. We'll have a new poll up tomorrow.