More than a century has passed since the “glorious Beaneaters” era of Boston’s baseball history in the 1890s. While Boston would soon have a second baseball club that would capture the hearts of New England (the Red Sox), never again would there be such dominance over a decade as the Beaneaters accomplished. The team won five pennants in the decade. Nine of these players are enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
This book includes biographies of every player to appear with the team in the 1890s, as well as year-by year-recaps of seasons 1891 through 1899, bios of the owner and manager, articles on the ballparks they played in, recaps of 50 of the team's most thrilling and historic games, and articles on the team's impact on pop culture and 1980s baseball.
Legendary manager Connie Mack called that era “a turbulent decade of the so-called roughhouse days in baseball. The Boston Beaneaters were ready for any fray, ever willing to take on the pugnacious Baltimore Orioles and give them a dose of their own medicine.”
“The tumultuous 1890s witnessed a player revolt against high-handed and monopolistic management,” wrote baseball historian John Thorn, “The game was in a period of consolidation, or hibernation, or stagnation; one’s perspective depended upon whether he were an owner, fan, or player.”
This book represents the combined efforts of more than 50 writers and editors from the Society for American Baseball Research.
PLAYERS
Jimmy Bannon by Thomas J. Brown, Jr.Charlie Bennett by Paul HofmannMarty Bergen by Brian McKennaCliff Carroll by Alan CohenBoileryard Clarke by Matt AlbertsonJohn Clarkson by Brian McKenna.Jimmy Collins by Charlie BevisFrank Connaughton by Joanne HulbertCozy Dolan by Bob LeMoineHugh Duffy by Bill LambCharlie Frisbee by Bill NowlinCharlie Ganzel by Chad MoodyHank Gastright by Glen SparksPretzels Getzien by Mike HuberBilly Hamilton by David L. FleitzJoe Harrington by Seth Moland-KovashKing Kelly by Peter M. GordonFred Klobedanz by Mark S. SternmanTed Lewis by Rory CostelloHerman Long by Richard “Dixie” TourangeauBobby Lowe by Richard “Dixie” TourangeauTommy McCarthy by Bill LamBill Merritt by Bob LeMoineBilly Nash by Richard “Dixie” TourangeauKid Nichols by Richard BogovichJoe Quinn by Rochelle Llewelyn NichollsJack Ryan by Matt CleverGeneral Stafford by Richard “Dixie” TourangeauChick Stahl by Dennis AugerHarry Staley by JW StewartJack Stivetts by Gregory H. WolfHarry Stovey by Paul HofmannJim Sullivan by Richard BogovichBilly Sullivan Sr by Trey StreckerMarty Sullivan by Mike HuberFred Tenney by Mark S. SternmanTommy Tucker by David NemecVic Willis by Daniel R. LevittGeorge Yeager by Richard Bogovich
MANAGER
Frank Selee by David L. Fleitz.
OWNERS
James B. Billings by Charlie BevisWilliam H. Conant by William H. LyonsArthur Soden by Brian McKenna
BALLPARKS
South End Grounds by Bob RuzzoCongress Street Grounds by Charlie Bevis
OTHER
How Bostonians Became the Beaneaters by Mark SouderSlide, Kelly Slide by Joanne Hulbert1897: Last Gasp of the Temple Cup by Bill FelberKing Kelly’s Funeral by Peter M. GordonStarts, Stops, and Streaks – A Modern Fan’s Guide to the 1890s Baseball Schedule by Richard “Dixie” TourangeauBoston Beaneaters Spring Training in the 1890s by Bill Nowlin
GAMES
April 22, 1891: Beaneaters Start Championship Run in First Game in New Polo Grounds by Stew ThornleyApril 27, 1891: Kid Nichols Shuts Out Phillies in Beaneaters’ Home Opener by Richard A. CuicchiJune 11, 1891: Beaneaters’ Hot Bats Earn Series Split With Colts by Bill MortellJune 12, 1891: Kid Nichols Strikes Out 12 and has Game-Winning Hit by Kevin LarkinAugust 17, 1891: Kid Nichols One-Hits the Giants by Bill LambSeptember 4, 1891: A Meeting with Grampa by Rob Nee...and over 40 more!
