The 1940 Cincinnati Reds: A World Championship and Baseball's Only In-Season Suicide [Paperback]

Brian Mulligan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2005

One of the oldest and most celebrated franchises in baseball history, the Cincinnati Reds have left an indelible mark on the national pastime. Perhaps the most compelling but overlooked period in Reds history is the 1940 championship season, during which the team won 100 games and earned the world title while overcoming an in-season tragedy faced by no other team in baseball history. Four attempted suicides, three of which were successful, by individuals connected to the team dealt a tragic and unprecedented setback to what was ultimately a successful season.

This book addresses both the 1940 Cincinnati Reds as a collective group and, to a greater degree, the individual players who comprised that championship squad. The book begins with the story of Willard Hershberger, the 1940 reserve catcher for the Reds and the only player ever to commit suicide during a major league season. Later chapters tell the stories of Bill McKechnie and Warren Giles, the managers who together led the Reds to victory over the Detroit Tigers in 1940, and the stories of the players on the pennant-winning team: Frank McCormick, Lonnie Frey, Billy Myers, Billy Werber, Eddie Joost, Paul Derringer, William "Bucky" Walters, Johnny Vander Meer, Gene Thompson, Jim Turner, Joseph Beggs, Jimmy Ripple, and Ernie Lombardi. The crucial games, important performances, and personal tragedies of the 1940 season, culminating in the drama of a seven-game World Series, are chronicled in this book.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

SABR member Brian Mulligan, a writer and public relations executive, lives in Long Island, New York. His work has been published in Elysian Fields Quarterly.

Product Details

• Paperback: 230 pages
• Publisher: McFarland & Company (February 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786420901
• ISBN-13: 978-0786420902
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,621,661 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book- exciting new author, August 22, 2006

By 

D. Heffernan - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The 1940 Cincinnati Reds: A World Championship and Baseball's Only In-Season Suicide (Paperback)

This book was both an exciting read and an informative picture of pre-war Americana. From the Deacon to the Duke I just couldn't put it down. By the time the story reaches its inevitable climax....the 1940 World Series...you not only feel like you are there, but as if you are part of the team. Lets Go Reds! I can't wait for the next tome from this great new writer.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book...well researched, May 31, 2006

By 

Anthony J. Warren (Cincinnati, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The 1940 Cincinnati Reds: A World Championship and Baseball's Only In-Season Suicide (Paperback)

If you are a baseball fan, you know the stories of the big-named players from the 1940s. This is the story of a team of not-so-famous players who pulled off a World Series Championship. in 1940. If you enjoy baseball history, you will enjoy this book. You get know the stories behind a group of rather ordinary guys -- a great snapshot of life in the US just before World War II,

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just sooo great...for men and women too, February 13, 2008

By 

Corinne M. Heffernan (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The 1940 Cincinnati Reds: A World Championship and Baseball's Only In-Season Suicide (Paperback)

I borrowed my husbands copy of this book, not expecting to enjoy it (I'm not much into Baseball), but I was CAPTIVATED!! Baseball aside this is a human story, one the author approachs with the softness and sensativity of young William's mother....I cried and then was enthralled with the ultimate victory...against all odds... of the 1940 Reds. This should be part of Oprah's book club. I just wish the cover had the author's picture on it.....I just wonder if he has kind eyes.