Jimmie Foxx: The Pride of Sudlersville (American Sports History Series) [Paperback]

Mark R. Millikin (Author)

Book Description

Series: American Sports History Series | Publication Date: September 21, 2005

While major league baseball gained popularity in large American cities at the beginning of the twentieth century, it was still relatively unseen by small town inhabitants who could only read about it in the newspaper or catch an exhibition game as major league teams traveled through the United States. What was popular was "town baseball," fierce competitions between local teams to best the other in all aspects of baseball, particularly power hitting. It was from this environment that Jimmie Foxx, one of major league baseball's most talented players, began his journey toward the majors.
Jimmie Foxx: The Pride of Sudlersville, is the story of one of baseball's most ferocious hitters. Growing up in small town Maryland, Jimmie seemed destined to play major-league baseball. By age 16 he was already playing professionally and wowing fans with his ability to smash homers. During his major-league career he appeared in three straight World Series, played for the Philadelphia Athletics and the Boston Red Sox, and spent the 1932 baseball season closely pursuing Babe Ruth's single-season home run record. The comparison to Babe Ruth has not been lost on many baseball scholars, but goes relatively unknown by the general public and many baseball fans.
The most inclusive biography of Jimmie Foxx to date, Millikin's book provides a complete picture of his subject.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Millikin contacted classmates, cousins, and friends of Foxx and interviewed six close family members and over thirty teammates to provide richness and depth to this biography of the first man to challenge Ruth's single-season home run record. (Sabr Bulletin )

Though other histories of this astounding player exist, Mark Millikin's biography benefits from many privileges not enjoyed by the other books...contains a great deal more information on Jimmie Foxx's early life and childhood...this most inclusive biography of Jimmie Foxx to date finally brings this wealth of untapped anecdotal information to the surface. (Vintage And Classic Baseball Collector )

Before Mark McGwire, the strongest slugger of them all might have been Jimmie Foxx...features previously unpublished material based on interviews with the Foxx family. (Usa Today Baseball Weekly )

[Jimmie Foxx] had neither a business agent nor a showboat personality. He is nonetheless by now the subject of at least four books; Millikin's is the most sensitive and thorough. (Baltimore Sun )

...the author has done an effective job of illustrating the extent to which Foxx proved one of baseball's consummate hitters of all time, and not just a home run slugger... a good baseball book. (Journal Of Sport History )

[Jimmie Foxx] had neither a business agent nor a showboat personality. He is nonetheless by now the subject of at least four books; Millikin's is the most sensitive and thorough..... (Baltimore Sun )

As someone who knew Jimmie Foxx during his career with the Philadelphia Athletics, I found the book to be one of the most factual accounts of his life. In addition I would like to thank Mr. Millikin for his extensive research and numerous personal interviews which lead to the creation of such an enjoyable and informative read of one of baseball's greatest players. (Albert Ruggieri )

Mark Millikin has prepared the definitive work on Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx...does an excellent job...Jimmie Foxx: The Pride of Sudlersville is a well-written and quite interesting account of one of baseball's most intimidating powerhitters. (World-Wide Collectors Digest )

Thanks to Mark Millikin, baseball fans can now enjoy a comprehensive biography of Jimmie Foxx...Millikin has written perhaps the most detailed account of Foxx's life to date. (William Kashatus Nine )

I want to congratulate and thank Mark Millikin and the Scarecrow Press, for writing and publishing this fine tribute to a great and honorable man. (Elden L. Auker )

About the Author

Mark R. Millikin received his B.S. from the University of Maryland and a M.S. from the College of Charleston (South Carolina). He has written articles on Jimmie Foxx and other major league players for the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles, and is a member of the Society of American Baseball Research.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Scarecrow Press (September 21, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810856859
• ISBN-13: 978-0810856851
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,207,592 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mark R. Millikin has written two books related to baseball, "The Glory of the 1966 Orioles and Baltimore" and "Jimmie Foxx: The Pride of Sudlersville." He's given many book talks and book signings for each book. He's a long-standing member of SABR (Society of American Baseball Research) and the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Sports Legends Museums. He gave the keynote address at the Centennial celebration of Jimmie Foxx's birth in Foxx's hometown of Sudlersville, Maryland in October 2007.
Although Mark is a native Baltimorean, he moved to Boston at an early age and saw his first major league game in Fenway Park in 1961. After moving back to Baltimore in 1962, he attended many games at Baltimore's Memorial Stadium in the 1960s and 1970s. He's published articles related to the 1966 Orioles in Oriole Magazine, and articles on Jimmie Foxx, Jackie Jensen, Ted Williams, and Earl Wilson in Red Sox Magazine. He's written articles about Brooks Robinson and Jimmie Foxx for Scribner's Encyclopedia.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The best book out there on Double X, July 8, 2000

By 

greg walker - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jimmie Foxx: The Pride of Sudlersville (Hardcover)

A very informative book. It covers his childhood until his death. Mostly it covers his major league career of 20 years but covers his childhood in Maryland with lots of good details too. However, after his playing years (20+ years) is covered rarely quickly in about 20 pages. It was well written, but sometimes had too much game by game details and stats. Is this book worth the 40.00 price tag? No, and I'm a huge Foxx fan. Cut the price in half or wait for the softback edition to come out, and save yourself 25.00 bucks. A few pictures in the book that are average-nothing spectacular.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting book, January 17, 2010

By 

Darlene E. "Book Crazy" (Chesapeake Beach, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jimmie Foxx: The Pride of Sudlersville (American Sports History Series) (Paperback)

Finally Mark Millikin's biography, "Jimmie Foxx: The pride of Sudlersville," brings Mr. Foxx the recognition he richly deserves as one of baseball's all-time greatest home run sluggers and one of baseball's best first basemen. This book makes the case that Foxx and Lou Gehrig who played against each other in the 1920's and 1930s were very similar in overall batting and playing ability. This fact is lost in most baseball books, especially the ones written about Gehrig. Some players who played against both Foxx and Gehrig told Millikin that they rated the two star sluggers about even, while others gave a slight nod to Foxx over Gehrig or Gehrig over Foxx.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best, January 3, 2001

By 

len levin (Providence, R.I.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jimmie Foxx: The Pride of Sudlersville (Hardcover)

This book has detail about Foxx that has never appeared anywhere before except possibly contemporary newspapers. Foxx's minor league career, largely ignored by previous biographers, is treated extensively. A compelling treatment of the life of a Hall of Famer who hasn't received as much publicity as many players of lesser talent.