Jim Thorpe : A Biography

by Cook, William A.

• ISBN13: 9780786463558
• ISBN10: 0786463554
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-04-26
• Publisher: McFarland & Co Inc Pub

Summary

Most biographies of Jim Thorpe (1888-1953) emphasize his Olympic glory and his remarkable abilities in track and football. Thorpe's 1912 gold medals in the decathalon and pentathalon and his talent on the gridiron rank him high among outstanding athletes of the twentieth century. That Thorpe also played brilliantly on the baseball diamond is an often overlooked facet of his career. This narrative of Thorpe's rise and fall in American sports pays particular attention to his time in the major and minor leagues, including his stormy relationship with New York Giants manager John McGraw and baseball's role in stripping Thorpe of his Olympic medals. By chronicling Thorpe's involvement in baseball, football and track concurrently, this profile offers a complete portrait of one of the most versatile athletes in sports history.

Author Biography

William A. Cook is the author of numerous nonfiction books, including six on baseball history. A retired health care administrator and former township councilman, he lives in North Brunswick, New Jersey.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 1
Ancestors	p. 5
The Road to Carlisle	p. 8
The Rise of the Carlisle Athletic Program	p. 19
Pop Warner Meets Jim Thorpe	p. 31
Thorpe Plays Baseball in North Carolina	p. 43
The 1912 Olympic Games	p. 52
The 1912 Carlisle Football Season	p. 63
Thorpe Loses His Olympic Medals	p. 72
Thorpe Signs with the New York Giants	p. 80
The 1913 Giants and White Sox World Tour	p. 93
Congress Investigates Carlisle	p. 105
Thorpe Struggles with the Curve Ball	p. 112
Thorpe Plays for the Canton Bulldogs	p. 117
McGraw Loans Thorpe to the Cincinnati Reds	p. 128
Thorpe's Major League Career Ends	p. 136
Post-War Professional Football	p. 143
The NFL Is Born	p. 149
A Fading Star	p. 162
Thorpe Goes to Hollywood	p. 170
The Battle for Thorpe's Medals and Remains	p. 186
Chapter Notes	p. 203
Bibliography	p. 211
Index	p. 215
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