Being the story of Charley Radbourn's magnificent accomplishment, nearly unimaginable today, of pitching to fifty-nine wins in the 1884 season, told against a background of life in Providence, for whom he pitched, in the day, and incorporating such biographical information about Radbourn as is known. The author does a good job here of telling his story and weaving together the baseball threads with the period color taken from Providence and the league in general at that time. The only misgivings I might have about the book's readability is that it may have a bit too much baseball for the general reader and a bit too much 'not-baseball' for the fan.. ( )

I am fascinated by professional sports in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. While the players may not have been as big, fast, or strong and modern athletes, they seem a thousand times more rugged and tough.

This book focuses on a pitcher who played in the barehanded era who holds the professional baseball record for most wins in a season at an unbelievable 59. Charles Radbourn, or “Old Hoss,” played from 1880 to 1991, mostly with the Providence Grays. In 1884, pitching nearly every day, which is something I can not even fathom, he compiled his 59 wins. This book is mostly about the life and playing days of this taciturn hero, mostly forgotten by all but the most studied baseball historians.

But the book is more than a biography. It also provides a glimpse into what baseball was like in an era where pitchers pitched frequently, you caught the ball with your bare hands, and violence and dirty tactics on the field of play were the norm not an aberration. To sit back and think what a rugged, brutal, physically demanding, and even debilitating game baseball was in the late 1800’s is simply mindboggling.

This book is an excellent addition to baseball history. While the author does provide a bit more day to day detail than was probably needed, it is a fascinating read and one those who love baseball history should enjoy.
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Impressive story of early baseball. Easy reading ( )

It was really fun to read about how the game used to be played, but I didn't feel like this came together as a coherent story. I felt that Achorn should have focused more on Radbourn's 1884 season, and spent less time on his personal life, which he apparently had little to no information about. While this lack of facts was certainly not the author's fault, I can only read the phrase "perhaps with Carrie" at the end of every chapter so many times before I get frustrated. ( )

Given the lack of primary-source information about Radbourn (he left no letters or writings of any kind), this is as well-done a book as one could expect. Well-written. ( )