Customer Reviews

Root for the Cubs: Charlie Root and the 1929 Chicago Cubs

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The 1929 Cubs were perhaps the greatest Cubs team of all time, and Charlie Root was their ace pitcher. Unfairly maligned by the baseball media, Root was, and remains, the winningest pitcher in Cubs history. But in 1929, the 30-year-old Root's career was at a crossroads. "Root for the Cubs" follows the pitcher and his devoted wife and children, along with the other Cubs, such as owner William Wrigley, chasing that elusive World Series ring; manager Joe McCarthy; hard-drinking slugger Hack Wilson; 30-year-old rookie pitcher Berly Horne, finally living his dream of playing in a big-league uniform, and all the rest on their way to a fateful October date with the Philadelphia Athletics. "Root for the Cubs" is a page-turner with the tension and pacing of a novel. It's the story of a great baseball team and its race for the National League flag. But most of all, it's a love story as Root achieves stardom, wife Dorothy stands solidly behind him, and daughter Della carries on the fight for Charlie Root to get the respect he deserves.

Charlie Root was my grandfather. I loved this book for that reason, but more for the great insight I gained about the "Good ol' days" of baseball.

The spirit of baseball was different in those days, and this book shows how wonderful it was. The author paints a picture with his words, taking the reader back to the days when the players played as much (or more) for the love of the game as for the salary. The details and timeline of how it all came together for the Cubs in 1929 are fascinating. The personalities of the players, their idiosyncrasies and their shenanigans are so well portrayed by the author that I felt like I had met them personally.

Mr. Snell takes a subject that is generally something only a baseball fan would enjoy and makes it a story for all who enjoy a good read.

As a personal friend of the author I highly recommend this great book to any and all baseball fans. You don't have to be Cub's fan either. The story is an incredible human interest story and clears up the matter of the "Called Shot" by the great Babe Ruth once and for all. For the record, Mr. Snell is a Pulitzer winner from his days as a reporter over a decade ago and writes in an entertaining style that holds your interest and turns the pages. It is a must for baseball fans and anyone who likes a great story that happens to be true.

I am a Yankees fan, familiar of course with the Ruthian Called Shot of the 1932 World Series. Up until now, Charlie Root was only a footnote to me. Now I know better about what kind of man, player, and Cub Root was. I am also convinced by reading this book that the legend of Ruth pointing out to center just before his home run is a myth because Root would have deposited the Babe on his rear end with the next pitch. Root was not a man to be trifled with in that manner.

Roger Snell does a great job of weaving baseball history, anecdotes, and reminiscences of people who were there to produce an entertaining story. Yes, I said "people who were there." I knew that much of the narrative comes from journals and recollections of Root's nonagenarian daughter Della Root Arnold. I also was aware that the author happened to be neighbors with Cubs team member Berly "Trader" Horne whose memories provided much material for this book.

However, I was amazed that Snell was able to contact 97-year-old Eddie Lautenbacher, the last man cut from Cubs spring training at Catalina Island in 1929 (his closest chance at ever making the major leagues) who was still alive, kicking, and available for a telephone interview in 2004. The book wraps up with an account of Snell's visit to Catalina Island, what's left of the Cub training faciltiy, and the "unofficial Cub museum" that adorns the walls of the local barbershop.

Interesting stuff from start to finish, and this from a Yankees fan. I recommend this book.

Roger Snell captures, in pure form, a time when baseball was "America's" game. He skillfully uses his saavy reporting talents to unlock an entirely different and exciting viewpoint... from that day's eyewitness, Della Root Arnold.

At first glance, your thoughts turn to the 1929 Cubs, one of the greatest teams assembled. But soon you are introduced to a family struggling to survive, the Root family. Young Charlie, barely out of his teen-age years, gets noticed because of his arm... and his accuracy. While his father disapproves, Charlie's newlywed wife spurses him on to become great among his peers, and eventually in all of baseball.

Intermingled throughout the "I can't put this down" book, you learn of another struggle: that of minor league veteran Berly "Trader" Horne. Horne also gets his "chance" with the Cubs in 1929. He had fought his way up to Triple-A ball over 10 years. Something Mr. Wrigley saw in him persuaded the Cub's owner to offer Horne a contract. Read how Berly impresses the reporters, takes down opposing clubbers, and opens a bright future for himself.

But at the heart of story we find a man and a family who absolutely love the game of baseball, and devote their lives to the game. To me, Charlie Root is one of the great heros of the game we knew, thanks to this marvelous book.

As we learn from the author, "Trader" Horne also devotes his life to baseball, though from a different level.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read about heros, a united family, "the thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat."

Roger Snell has squashed one of baseball's greatest myths and presented a story that is compelling and engaging. I can't wait to see the movie.

The characters, are extremely well developed that you feel as if you know them & are there with them & is what drew me in & made it so hard to stop reading, & then being mad that it had to finally end. What a talent this author has to assemble such a heartwarming story (with the help of so many research hours, & resources weaved in such as the personal accounts of Della Root, Berly Horne, & Eddie Lautenbacher & make it available for the rest of us to thoroughly enjoy. Then to top that off with the accounts of the folks like the Saldana's & others that live at Catalina Island that shared their time, recollections & resources to the author to make this book that much finer for us all to enjoy. It really comes across that the author loved the story, he did a heck of a job putting it all together over a long time just to get it precisley correct.

Hey, Cubs & ALL baseball fans, this book you are for sure going to want to get in your hands. The real truth is, You don't have to know a thing or even care about baseball to love reading & appreciating this book. Please take the time to read this beautiful story and let it take you back to a wonderful time & place. You WILL NOT regret having this one. Thanks Roger.

This was a great book about my wife's uncle Charlie. Many family
stories were greatly appreciated. Thanks Della!

I HAVE READ MANY BASEBALL BOOKS, THIS ONE IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THE BETTER ONES. ROGER SNELL REALLY RESEARCHED THIS AND INTERVIEWED THE LAST REMAINING PERSON WHO KNEW CHARLIE REAL WELL, HIS DAUGHTER. WE ALSO GET SOME FACTS AND INSIGHT INTO A FEW OTHER SUPERSTARS IN ROGERS HORNSBY AND HACK WILSON. THE PHOTOS ALONE ARE AWESOME. WE GET THE LIFE STORY OF CHARLIE ROOT ALONG WITH A VERY DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE 1929 CUBS REGULAR SEASON AND THE WORLD SERIES AGAINST THE PHILADELPHIA A'S. AND FOR MORE BANG FOR YOU BUCK WE GET MANY INSIGHTS AND OPINIONS OF THE 1932 CALLED SHOT BY THE BABE. I HAVE SEEN FILMS OF THIS AND MY OPINION IS THAT BABE DID NOT POINT TO THE BLEACHERS. ALL IN ALL THIS IS A GREAT READ FOR ALL CUB AND BASEBALL HISTORIANS. EXCELLENT JOB.