Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms: A Lifetime of Memories from Striking Out the Babe to Teeing It Up with the President [Hardcover]

Elden Auker (Author), Tom Keegan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2001

Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms brings baseball legends to life through the eyes of Elden Auker, a submarine-style pitcher in the American League from 1933-1942.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In the past few years there has been a dearth of quality baseball books that don't deal with the Mets, Yankees, or one of baseball's new millionaires. This book of reminiscences by 1930s pitcher Elden Auker breaks this trend. Only the most dedicated fan could still identify Auker as one of the rare submarine pitchers in the Major Leagues, but all fans will find his recollections enjoyable. Now over 90, Auker recalls his boyhood growing up in Kansas and pitching against the great Negro Leagues star Satchel Paige, his Major League career with several teams, and a post-baseball business career that included a particularly interesting visit on Cape Cod fishing with Joseph P. Kennedy. Auker recalls his relations with such stars of his era as Lou Gehrig, Hank Greenberg, Jimmie Foxx, and Ted Williams, and the closeness that traveling together by train brought to a team of players. Auker was not a star, never winning 20 games, but he played on two pennant winners and one must wonder what his talents might be worth today. This memoir deserves wide reading and is highly recommended for all public and school libraries. William Scheeren, Hempfield Area H.S. Lib., Greensburg, PA
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 218 pages
• Publisher: Triumph Books; 1st edition (April 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1892049252
• ISBN-13: 978-1892049254
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #934,110 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The baseball book you've been waiting for!, June 25, 2001

By 

Stephen M Civitello (Connecticut) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms: A Lifetime of Memories from Striking Out the Babe to Teeing It Up with the President (Hardcover)

True fans have always known that the real story of baseball players and their lives lay somewhere between the idealized William Bendix/Gary Cooper portrayals of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, and the hatchet jobs done by Jim Bouten and his like. "Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms" is that story.

Elden Auker and Tom Keegan tell the story of baseball players who are basically honest, moral and hard-working guys doing a job, albeit one of the best jobs anyone could ever have. Do they have their faults and weaknesses, their bouts with anger and depression? Yes, of course. Who doesn't? Do they love their job and the game of baseball? Yes, but they don't obsess over it. They love their families and friends more.

This book is touching and sincere, funny and raunchy all at once. This is a wonderful story and a wonderful book, engagingly told and smartly written. It is a must read for baseball fans, or for anyone looking for a good read that also helps keep life in perspective.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Man Who Has Lived A Full Life, June 10, 2001

By 

C. W. Emblom "Bill Emblom" (Ishpeming, Michigan USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms: A Lifetime of Memories from Striking Out the Babe to Teeing It Up with the President (Hardcover)

Elden Auker provides the reader with a number of interesting stories from his rich interesting life. Some of the stories I have read in other books, but Mr. Auker provides his own frank opinions on a number of baseball personalities. He pulls no punches in his dislike for Leo Durocher whom he regards as a thief for stealing The Babe's watch. Nevertheless, Leo was a great manager and he turned his life around before he died which should account for something. Auker believes Pete Rose should not be reinstated into baseball because baseball has ironclad evidence that he bet on baseball but Rose will never admit it. Auker states that Charles Comiskey is the one who should have been kicked out of baseball because Auker says that Joe Jackson was given $5,000 by the mob and when he turned it in to Comiskey and said, "Here, I don't want this money. I don't want in on this deal.", Comiskey told him to keep his mouth shut. I have read quite a bit on the Black Sox scandal, but I have never come across this story. That Jackson accepted $5,000 I can agree with, but that he turned it in to Comiskey with the above comments, is certainly news to me. Nevertheless, Auker has led a full life which has included more than baseball. I would suggest you read the book. I'm sure you will enjoy it.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, a good baseball book, April 4, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms: A Lifetime of Memories from Striking Out the Babe to Teeing It Up with the President (Hardcover)

It's inconceivable that this man, 90 years old, had such a wealth of stories, yet no one had ever bothered to ask him to write a book. This is the best baseball book I've read since Boys of Summer. Very entertaining and well written.