The 1919 World Series: What Really Happened? [Paperback]

William A. Cook (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2001

One of baseball’s infamous events is the 1919 World Series between the Chicago White Sox and the Cincinnati Reds. Overshadowed by the suspicion cast upon, and the subsequent indictment of, eight White Sox players for throwing the games, the 1919 World Series has often been simplistically and inaccurately portrayed by the popular media in the decades since. This book takes an objective look at the series, players, managers, owners, and on-field events to separate fact from fiction in regard to the outcome. The Reds would probably have emerged victorious no matter how the game was played because they were, in fact, an excellent team capable of beating the seemingly superhuman White Sox. Included are various statistical references that include line and box scores as well as comparative statistical charts of batting averages, pitching and team records, and other relevant information.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Looks objectively at the series, players, managers, and owners" -- The SABR Bulletin

"Punctures holes and shatters myths" -- Baseball America

"Worthwhile...recommend[ed]" -- The Diamond Angle

About the Author

William A. Cook, a health care administrator, is also the author of Pete Rose: Baseball’s All-Time Hit King (2003) and The Summer of ’64: A Pennant Lost (2002). He lives in North Brunswick, New Jersey.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Mcfarland & Co Inc Pub (June 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786410698
• ISBN-13: 978-0786410699
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,268,444 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

William A. Cook's latest work Jim Thorpe - a Biography, was published in July 2011. Unlike other Thorpe biographies, Cook's work provides the reader with broader attention to Thorpe's major and minor league baseball career and stormy relationship with legendary New York Giants manager John McGraw.

Cook's epic and well researched work the 1919 World Series - What Really Happened, published in 2001, reignited the dialogue among baseball historians on the facts of baseball's most notorious event, spawning more than ten new titles on the subject within a few years of the publication of his book. Cook's thesis in his book is reviting in that he asserts that no matter how the World Series was played, fair, fixed, or otherwise, the Chicago White Sox were not going to win. The 1919 Cincinnati Reds were simply a better team.

Also Cook's exiciting and fast paced, King of the Bootleggers - a Biography of George Remus, has gained significant attention from flim makers and screen writers alike and is one of most interesting and well documented works about the prohibition era recently published. As one reviewer stated, Cook has the ability in his writing to take historical facts and make the read like a novel.

As a historian, Cook has a repuation as being objective and detailed in his writing. Cook's work Pete Rose - Baseball's All-Time Hit King, is an example of his laser like ability to describe events objectively and let the reader make-up their mind as to the legacy of a sports celebrity surrounded by lasting controversey.

Cook's forthcoming work is a biography of 1950s baseball icon and strongman Ted Kluszewski and will be published in 2012.

William A. Cook was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. He has served in the nation's health care system in hospitals and social service agencies in several states. He has resided in North Brunswick, New Jersey for the past 24 years where he also served one-term as a township councilman. Prior to coming to the east coast, Cook lived and worked in Chicago and Minneapolis. His educational experience includes holding an MA, University of Illinois at Chicago; BS, University of Cincinnati; AA, University of Cincinnati. A widower, he was married for 14 years.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars KUDOS!!!, February 14, 2006

By 

Sabrina A. Cunningham (Lawrenceburg, IN USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The 1919 World Series: What Really Happened? (Paperback)

It's about time that someone gives the 1919 Cincinnati Reds the respect they deserve. In his well documented book, author, William A. Cook has finally brought to light the fact that the Cincinnati Reds were quite capable of winning the 1919 World Series, without any help from the Chicago White Sox.The inning by inning replay of the series in the book should raise a few historian's eye brows in that Mr. Cook raises some very important questions in regard to propaganda advanced by the media on baseball's most infamous event over the past 87 years.
I highly recommend the book for baseball fans and historians alike, who have a penchant for objectivity. KUDOS to Mr. Cook for his bold insight.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Real Straight Scoop on the 1919 Series., August 13, 2007

By 

David - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The 1919 World Series: What Really Happened? (Paperback)

Will Cook's book on the much publicised 1919 Worls Series is right on the money. More rumors have been spread on this series than all other sporting events. Rotten rumors were flying all over Cincinatti. Cook doesn't question, there is no need to, the many lies, tricks, baloney, and double crosses that occurred before the opening pitch. But, he reveals most of the rumors never transpired onto the playing field. Each team had 12 errors and several shabby plays. Modern computer data, not available in 1919, fully confirm Cook's theory that the Sox were a good team, about even with the two top Reds rivals in the National League. But, for the year 1919 the Reds were a great pitching loaded team. They were much better prepared for a tough series, fully capable of beating the Sox week in and week out of 1919. The Red under ace manager Pat Moran were ready and the Sox were down with sore armed pitchers, poor relief, and low morale.
Will Cook reveals a factual true as possible survey of the series. He covers all the controversial plays using all available data to arrive at a verdict. Also, he lists several "grey areas" in which no present day man can detect the true motive of certain players. Cook plainly states that Sox hero and captain, Hall of Famer Edd Collins, had a miserable series. In the first six games he had 2 hits that produced nothing, all while disgraced Joe Jackson had 8 hits.
Every student of the 1919 series should read this book and then reread it to get the real picture. Then they will understand the truth in Will Cooks premise that its high time the media quits low-rating the 1919 Reds. Will Cook helps the Reds gain full credit for a great series performance.

David Karickhoff

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic resource, February 19, 2006

By 

Katheryn White (Ocean Grove, NJ) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The 1919 World Series: What Really Happened? (Paperback)

Cook provides the first-ever objective look at the events in the 1919 World Series. His research is well done and superbly documented. In doing so he raies a lot of very important questions that historians need to re-examine. I liked the book very much and recommend it and believe that it will set the standard for future books on the 1919 World Series.