Cooperstown Confidential Heroes, Rogues, and the Inside Story of the Baseball Hall of Fame

by Chafets, Zev

• ISBN13: 9781596915459
• ISBN10: 1596915455
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2009-07-01
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA

Summary

The first book to draw back the veil on the Hall of Fame, combining an insider's history of the Hall and its players with a consideration of baseball's place in culture.The National Baseball H all of Fame is the holiest institution in American sports. It's not just a place to honor great athletes. It's where America's pastime announces to the world what it is and what it wants to be. It's not just a sports museum; it's a mirror of American culture. As Zev Chafets points out, it's no coincidence that the first black Hall of Famer, Jackie Robinson, was inducted in 1962, at the height of the civil rights movement. Or that the Hall is now planning a wing to honor Latino players. For a hundred years, the story of the Hall of Fame has been deeply tied up with the story of America.For the first time, this book shows the inner workings of the Hall: the politics, the players, and the people who own and preserve it. From the history of the founding Clark family to a day on the town with the newly inducted Goose Gossage, from the battle over steroids to the economics of induction and secret campaigns by aspiring players, this is a highly irreverent and highly entertaining tour through the life of an American institution. For anyone who cares about baseball, this is essential reading.

Author Biography

Zev Chafets is the author of ten books, including A Match Made in Heaven, Members of the Tribe, and The Devil’s Night. He is a frequent contributor to the New York Times Magazine, among many other periodicals, a former columnist for the New York Daily News, and the founding editor of Jerusalem Report. He lives in Westchester, New York, with his wife and children.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. 1
Induction Weekend	p. 7
Paternity Suit	p. 21
James and the Vets	p. 38
A Question of Character	p. 49
The Monks	p. 72
The Haul of Fame	p. 85
Bad, Bad Barry Bonds	p. 110
The Marvin Miller Affair	p. 137
Lost in Translation	p. 151
Mitchell and Clemens	p. 163
A Few Closing Thoughts	p. 194
Acknowledgments	p. 199
Rules for Election	p. 201
Hall of Fame Members	p. 205
The Honor Rolls of Baseball	p. 215
Notes	p. 217
Bibliography	p. 223
Index	p. 227
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

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