Baseball Fever book club - The Gashouse Gang by John Heidendry

[Captain Cold Nose]

http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?p=1570968#post1570968

I waited a little for those who didn't own the book to get it/check it out of the library. So, for everyone who is participating the the Baseball Fever bookclub, please discuss the book here. As this isn't really formal, anyone who has read the book or knows the subject can freely comment.

I'm fifty pages in. I like what I've read so far.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Hmm. Guess everyone went to Facebook. This was a nice thought, anyway.

[Extra Innings]

Hmm. Guess everyone went to Facebook. This was a nice thought, anyway.

I was just waiting for someone to comment on what they have read thus far.

I wonder what people thought of Paul Dean. It was Dizzy and then Paul, but back then was Paul always in the shadow of Dizzy?, or was he considered an establlished pitcher in his own right?

[Eddie Ball Four]

I wonder what people thought of Paul Dean. It was Dizzy and then Paul, but back then was Paul always in the shadow of Dizzy?, or was he considered an establlished pitcher in his own right?

From what I can gather, Paul was a pretty fair pitcher, but statistically and in reality, Dizzy Dean was by far the better of the two brothers, so I suppose Dizzy always overshadowed Paul, and rightfully so I guess. Paul's career ended a bit prematurely because of injury, so he never really established himself a record to compare with Dizzy's, but a pretty credible pitcher in any case.

But the biggest difference seems to be in their personalities. Clearly, Dizzy was a big talker and a huge personality. With Dizzy doing all the talking, it seems like Paul was more of a follower (he was the little brother), but having said that, it seems to me that Paul was more of his own man than perhaps he's given credit for. Especially as Paul matured as a competent big leaguer, he seemed to present more of his own personality. A good example of that is Paul agreeing to and signing a new contract with the Cards even as Dizzy continued to bitch and complain about his and Paul's wages. But the two are forever linked, and there is little doubt about their loyalty to each other, so Paul will always be in Dizzy's shadow, and I suppose that's the way it should be. It's a good story.

[Eddie Ball Four]

I thought The Gashouse Gang was a decent read. I'm not sure there is a lot of new material here, but the author did his homework and he has pulled a lot of history together and put it between the covers of one book. What was of greatest interest to me was the cast of characters who wove their way through this story. What a group! The Deans, Rickey, Frisch, Hornsby, Medwick, Martin, Durocher (what a piece of work he was! Did he really come up with the term "The Gashouse Gang"?), Stengel, Terry, Greenberg, Rowe, and so many others. What a time that must have been in terms of baseball lore.

What struck me was the parallels between 1934 and today. Bad economic times then and now, but have today's players taken 50% cuts in their pay? Times are tough today, but man, the 1930's were brutal. Yet, baseball players were making pretty good wages compared to the rest of society. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Dizzy going on strike over his perceived salary deficiencies seemed a lot like Manny manipulating his way out of Boston. Yesterday's ball player was just as much about money as today's.

[tag0519]

Not sure if there was any discussion about the next book. I'll be back from vacation on 8/9 and will be ready to contribute to the thread. Any thoughts on "Three Nights In August" or "Last Nine Innings"?

-tag

[Captain Cold Nose]

Not sure if there was any discussion about the next book. I'll be back from vacation on 8/9 and will be ready to contribute to the thread. Any thoughts on "Three Nights In August" or "Last Nine Innings"?

-tag

What is "Last Nine Innings" about?


We're doing "Gashouse Gang" now. No offense to Cardinal fans, but I'd like to wait a little longer to get back to a Cardinal-related book.

[Extra Innings]

What is "Last Nine Innings" about?


We're doing "Gashouse Gang" now. No offense to Cardinal fans, but I'd like to wait a little longer to get back to a Cardinal-related book.

I'll throw a suggestion out for the next book: 'Opening Day:The story of Jackie Robinson's First Season' by Jonathan Eig.

I thought we could move from the mid-'30s to 1947. Just a thought.

[tag0519]

Agreed regarding the Cards comment - but I heard it was an excellent book.

Last Nine Innings is about the last game of the 2001 WS between the Yanks and Dbacks. But the author hits on many aspects of baseball while analyzing the game.

[ol' aches and pains]

"Opening Day" works for me, I would join in that discussion. I'm out of work, so I have time to read books, but not much money to buy them. I already own "Opening Day".

[Captain Cold Nose]

Agreed regarding the Cards comment - but I heard it was an excellent book.

Last Nine Innings is about the last game of the 2001 WS between the Yanks and Dbacks. But the author hits on many aspects of baseball while analyzing the game.

I have, as well. I'd like to read it, I really liked "Friday Night Lights."


We have two good suggestions on the table, certainly. Three, with "Three Nights in August".

[Eddie Ball Four]

We have two good suggestions on the table, certainly. Three, with "Three Nights in August".

Any interest in reading Miracle Ball which is about the hunt for the Bobby Thompson home run ball? If not, I would prefer Last Nine Innings over another Cardinal book (I've read Three Nights anyways) or another book with Branch Rickey as a key character (Opening Day and Gashouse Gang).

[Extra Innings]

Is anyone still reading Gashouse Gang? Has anyone decided what the second book will be?

[Captain Cold Nose]

I'm almost finished, should have it done by the weekend.

[Captain Cold Nose]

I am finished. I liked it, found out a bit I did not know. But I feel it focused way too much on Dizzy and his brother and disagreements with Frisch and not so much about the Gashouse Gang itself. I know Joe Medwick was surly. I know Pepper Martin was a character. Just stating such each time they were referenced without really going into detail doesn't tell me much, period.


So what's the next step? Is there much more interest from members here, on this site? Is it worth going on with only three of four members posting about the book here?