Ol' Pete: The Grover Cleveland Alexander Story [Hardcover]

Jack Kavanagh (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 7, 2001

A story of personal determination, courage, triumph, and tragedy, this biography of Hall of Fame pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander tells the tale of the man who was undeniably one of the greatest pitchers ever to take the mound, despite an ongoing battle with alcoholism and epilepsy.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Alexander, a Hall-of-Famer since 1938, pitched 373 winning games during his tenure with three teams. This poignant saga tells of Alexander's tragic post-baseball life, during which he sank into an alcoholic stupor. This well-written, appealing account will do well in most collections.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 221 pages
• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing (November 7, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888698039
• ISBN-13: 978-1888698039
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,837,864 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ol' Pete...So Great And Yet So Sad, November 17, 1998

By 

Grissum C. Smackerson (Toronto, Ontario CANADA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ol' Pete: The Grover Cleveland Alexander Story (Hardcover)

Reading this book was difficult. Not difficult to read, but difficult to accept. Hard to imagine that one of baseball's most loved and storied legends had such a difficult life. A well written and well researched book. Kept me interested from beginning to end. When I finally closed the book, I could not help but sigh. A sigh of such sadness will overcome you. Truly a sad outcome for such a gifted pitcher.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ol' Pete's Life - A Rare Glimpse into his Life, December 17, 2005

By 

Winslow Bunny "Winslow_Bunny" (Rockledge, Florida United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ol' Pete: The Grover Cleveland Alexander Story (Hardcover)

A favorable trend over the last few years has been biographies appearing on some of the biggest stars in early baseball, ones who have not have their lifes covered previously - Honus Wagner, Walter Johnson, George Sisler, Cy Young, etc. I was glad to see that a biography had been written about Grover Alexander, as there seemed to be contridictions in his life after baseball and too many rumors about his life in baseball. Jack Kavanagh, I believe, has done his best to sort out fact from fiction in Alexander's life through his baseball career; it makes for interesting reading and clears up some misconceptions about incidents in his baseball life and life during baseball. The only weak point in the book is that there isn't a lot said about his life after baseball - but this may be because there isn't a lot of information about that period of his life, and that may be unfair to Kavanagh. Nonetheless, I found myself feeling somewhat embarrassed over the fall of G.C. Alexander after his big-league days were over and the level that he sunk to. But our "heroes" of the big leagues are merely people, subject to the same excesses and faults that we all are, and no matter of the problems of Alexander should be judged too harshly by us. This is a good book, entertaining and probably as thorough a biography as we have at this point, or may have at all. Alexander has been overlooked as a great pitcher and a biography about him is overdue - read, enjoy and learn.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A VERY SAD TALE ABOUT A GREAT PITCHER, March 22, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ol' Pete: The Grover Cleveland Alexander Story (Hardcover)

THIS IS THE STORY ABOUT ONE OF THE LEGENDARY PITCHERS OF THE GRAND OLD GAME. A TREMENDOUS ON THE FIELD SUCCESS AND OFF THE FIELD FAILURE. HIS 1926 WORLD SERIES IS LEGENDARY AS IS HIS STORIED CAREER. BUT HIS OFF THE FIELD DRINKING AND EPILEPSY IS VERY SHOCKING AND GUT WRENCHING. I WONDER WHAT SORT OF CAREER HE COULD HAVE HAD IF HE DIDN'T HAVE TO FIGHT THE DEMON OF ALCOHOLISM. ALEX'S PLAYING DAYS ARE DONE IN GREAT DETAIL, JUST WISH MORE WAS AVAILABLE ABOUT HIS PRIVATE LIFE. BUT A WELL DONE JOB BY THE AUTHOR. A MUST READ FOR BASEBALL HISTORY FANS.