Can anyone recommend some good books on 19th century baseball that I should look for. As always any help you provide would be greatly appreciated.

William Turner

cap anson wrote a book but i can't think of the name. i haven't read it but i'd be willing to guess it has some great stories in it.

Anson's book is called "A Ball Player's Career". Anson was terribly racist and I think I've read somewhere that his racism even shows in his own book.

I would recommend "Spalding's World Tour...." by Mark Lamster

http://tinyurl.com/yp3shl

It's a great read.

"A Clever Base-Ballist: The Life and Times of John Montgomery Ward" by DiSalvatore is one of my favorites.

In the book, Anson spoke repeatedly about the black team mascot. The stories he told, such as the time they all had to hold him down to bath him because he refused to do so himself, are not only racist but likely untrue.

The book has some very nice black and white plates but the text is pretty awful.

Are you looking for a modern history of the 19th century, or a book written back then?

man i had no idea. i know he was a racist but i didn't know it came through in his book. i've never read it and don't think i'll be picking it up anytime soon.

Among the modern classics of 19th century baseball history, two that stand out are Harold Seymour's two volume set, and David Voigt's three volume set. But we live in an age where in the last ten years a thousand books have been written about various areas of baseball history, so it's hard to pick out one or two.

Thanks for the info so far, I am looking for modern accounts and books written during the period.

William

Anson's treatment of the mascot who accompanied them on the World Tour was despicable. He was treated well by the other players from the accounts given in the book.

If you want to learn about and research 19th Century baseball then you should join SABR (The Society for American Baseball Research). They also have a 19th
Century committee you can join. Go to www.sabr.org

Here's a few references: The Great Encyclopedia of 19th Century Baseball by David Nemec 1997. Great reference guide.

SABR has also come out with the following publications:

- Nineteenth Century Stars (biographies) 1989

NOTE: This book has a picture of Will White wearing glasses. He was the first major leaguer to wear glasses.

- Baseball's First Stars ( Volume 2 of 19th Century Biographies) 1996

Also "The National Pastime" A review of Baseball History" Spring 1984 by SABR has a great Special Pictorial Issue: The Nineteenth Century" I'll check it out and let you know if any pictures of Will White are in it.

Hope this helps. Mike