The Victory Season: The End of World War II and the Birth of Baseball's Golden AgeThe triumphant story of baseball and America after World War II. In 1945 Major League Baseball had become a ghost of itself. Parks were half empty, the balls were made with fake rubber, and mediocre replacements roamed the fields, as hundreds of players, including the game's biggest stars, were serving abroad, devoted to unconditional Allied victory in World War II. But by the spring of 1946, the country was ready to heal. The war was finally over, and as America's fathers and brothers were coming home, so too were the sport's greats. Ted Williams, Stan Musial, and Joe DiMaggio returned with bats blazing, making the season a true classic that ended in a thrilling seven-game World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals. America also witnessed the beginning of a new era in baseball: it was a year of attendance records, the first year Yankee Stadium held night games, the last year the Green Monster wasn't green, and, most significant, Jackie Robinson's first year playing in the Brooklyn Dodgers' system. The Victory Season brings to vivid life these years of baseball and war, including the littleknown "World Series" that servicemen played in a captured Hitler Youth stadium in the fall of 1945. Robert Weintraub's extensive research and vibrant storytelling enliven the legendary season that embodies what we now think of as the game's golden era. |
Other editions - View all
The Victory Season: The End of World War II and the Birth of Baseball's ... Robert Weintraub No preview available - 2013 |
The Victory Season: The End of World War II and the Birth of Baseball's ... Robert Weintraub No preview available - 2014 |
The Victory Season: The End of World War II and the Birth of Baseball's ... Robert Weintraub No preview available - 2014 |
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All-Star American army ballplayer base baseball baseman Bob Feller Bobby Doerr Boston Breadon Brecheen Brooklyn called Cardinals Cards career catcher Chandler Chapter City club clubhouse Cronin crowd Dickson DiMaggio Dixie Walker Dodgers Doerr dugout Durocher Dyer Ebbets Field Eddie Dyer fans fastball Feller Fenway Garagiola Gardella Giants going Hall of Fame Harry hitter home run homer Howie Pollet infield Jackie Robinson Joe DiMaggio Kurowski Lanier later leaguers Leo Durocher Louis MacPhail major league manager Marchildon Mexican Mexican League Montreal Musial named outfield owners Pasquel pennant Pesky pitch pitcher plate players Pollet Rachel RBIs Red Sox Redbirds Reiser reported Reserve Clause Rickey Robby scored season shortstop Slaughter Sportsman's Park spring training Stadium Stanky star teammates Ted Williams told took Truman Veeck walked Walker Williams World Series wrote Yankees York