Baseball at the Abyss

Dan Taylor

doi:10.5771/9781538174012

Baseball at the Abyss

The Scandals of 1926, Babe Ruth, and the Unlikely Savior Who Rescued a Tarnished Game

Published 2023

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doi.org/10.5771/9781538174012
ISBN print: 978-1-5381-7400-5
ISBN online: 978-1-5381-7401-2
Rowman & Littlefield, Lanham Rowman & Littlefield, Lanham

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Zusammenfassung

The untold story behind one of baseball’s biggest scandals and the men who saved a tarnished game.

In the winter of 1926, Major League Baseball became enveloped in scandal. Two of baseball’s biggest stars, Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker, were accused of fixing and betting on games. Sportswriters called the scandal worse than that of the infamous “Black Sox.” The reputation of baseball was in tatters.

In Baseball at the Abyss, Dan Taylor reveals the behind-the-scenes story of how baseball was saved after the banishment of Cobb and Speaker. It was all set in motion by one unlikely individual—Christy Walsh, the business manager for Babe Ruth and baseball’s first player agent. Taylor follows Walsh and Ruth as the agent arranges for the Babe to star in a motion picture and presses for Ruth to hire a fitness guru, change his habits, and train while in Hollywood. The results were astonishing. The scandal was soon forgotten as a reinvigorated Babe Ruth enjoyed his greatest season in 1927, slugging 60 home runs and powering his New York Yankees to heights never seen before.

Baseball at the Abyss features fascinating details of the 1926 scandal and the incredible resurgence of the national pastime when it seemed the game was permanently tarnished. It’s the story of a remarkable year in baseball history and the men who restored glory to a troubled game.

Schlagworte

sports history baseball baseball history Babe Ruth New York Yankees Ty Cobb Tris Speaker Rogers Hornsby Christy Walsh Babe Comes Home Babe Ruth movie 1926 scandal Black Sox scandal vaudeville baseball sports gambling sports scandals strength and conditioning Kenesaw Mountain Landis gambling in baseball game fixing baseball conditioning baseball movie baseball scandal

Chapter Expand | CollapsePage
Preface
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
1–9 1. Sour Grape Grower 1–9
10–20 2. Landing the Big One 10–20
21–27 3. Tarnished Stars 21–27
28–33 4. The Very Important Hero 28–33
34–42 5. Ty Swings Away 34–42
43–50 6. Baseball at the Abyss 43–50
51–57 7. Decision Day 51–57
58–65 8. The Red-Faced Cardinal 58–65
66–75 9. Stealing the Show 66–75
76–85 10. Reinvigorating Babe Ruth 76–85
86–92 11. Digesting a Cobb Salary 86–92
93–98 12. That’s a Wrap 93–98
99–107 13. The Plan Goes Awry 99–107
108–114 14. A Different Babe 108–114
115–121 15. Dawn of a New Day 115–121
122–128 16. Move Over, Babe 122–128
129–132 17. Reviews Are In 129–132
133–139 18. Rewrite the Record Book 133–139
140–148 19. The Greatest Season 140–148
149–156 20. From Disdain to Acclaim 149–156
157–176 Notes 157–176
177–198 Bibliography 177–198
199–204 Index 199–204
205–206 About the Author 205–206

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