Native Sons

by Westcott, Rich

• ISBN13: 9781592132157
• ISBN10: 1592132154
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-11-01
• Publisher: Temple Univ Pr

Summary

Reggie Jackson (Wyncote). Roy Campanella (Philadelphia). Pat Kelly (also Philadelphia). From the most famous to the little known, 350 major league baseball players came from the Philadelphia area. Now, for the first time, celebrated baseball historian Rich Westcott brings these "native sons" home.In this short book, Westcott offers profiles of some of the most celebrated, talented, and often just hardest-working athletes to ever lift a bat and glove in major league baseball. He tells of the athletes like Mr. October, who were born here and went away, and others, like Kensington-born Jimmie Wilson, who became a star in his own hometown. Throughout Native Sons, Westcott recounts the startling careers of some incredible players, and recreates for readers the magical place they all called home.Rich Westcott's Philadelphia All-Star Team:Reggie Jackson (Wyncote)Goose Goslin (Salem, NJ)Del Ennis (Philadelphia)Mickey Vernon (Marcus Hook)Eddie Stanky (Philadelphia)Jimmy Dykes (Philadelphia)Buck Weaver (Pottstown)Roy Campanella (Philadelphia)Bucky Walters (Philadelphia)Herb Pennock (Kennett Square)Ray Narleski (Camden, NJ)Eddie Miksis (Burlington, NJ) Author note: Rich Westcott is a lifelong resident of the Philadelphia area, and has known or covered many of the players in this book. His own undistinguished baseball career came to an inglorious conclusion when he flunked a trial with the Philadelphia Athletics (remember them?). Westcott has been a writer and editor for more than forty years, and is the founder and former editor and publisher of Phillies Report. He is the author of thirteen other books, including twelve on baseball.

Author Biography

Rich Westcott is the founder and former editor and publisher of Phillies Report.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. xi
Introduction	p. 1
Philly's Finest: An all-star team from the Philadelphia area	p. 5
Some Stayed Home: They played with the Phillies or Athletics	p. 36
Standouts from the Surrounding Area: Top players from the Philadelphia suburbs, South Jersey, and northern Delaware	p. 49
City Guys Who Got Away: Players who left town to perform elsewhere	p. 61
The Current Contingent: Recent major leaguers from the region	p. 71
Rarities, Oddities, and Ironies: The status quo has not always been maintained	p. 83
The Decision Makers: Managers of all kinds dictated their brands of strategy	p. 96
Long, Long Ago: Noteworthy players from the 19th century	p. 109
Strongly Represented: Why have so many major leaguers come from the Philadelphia area?	p. 127
The Best of the Best: Facts, figures, and league leaders (since 1900)	p. 136
Everyone Who Played: A complete list of 20th- and 21st-century major league players from the Philadelphia region	p. 141
Photo Credits	p. 165
About the Author	p. 167
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