Baseball History

Victory on Two Fronts
The Cleveland Indians and Baseball through the World War II Era
By Scott H. Longert

Like other teams, the Cleveland Indians suffered as World War II drained rosters and distracted fans. But in 1945, star pitcher Bob Feller returned from naval service and was soon joined by the American League’s first Black players: Larry Doby and Satchel Paige. This book shows how, in 1948, they led the Indians to a World Series championship.

Cy Young
An American Baseball Hero
By Scott H. Longert

Cy Young: American Baseball Hero tells the life story of Cy Young, the hardest-throwing pitcher in baseball history, and introduces middle-grade readers to America’s favorite pastime, explaining balls, strikes, and outs in an exciting and easy-to-understand way.

Bad Boys, Bad Times
The Cleveland Indians and Baseball in the Prewar Years, 1937–1941
By Scott H. Longert

In 1937, the Great Depression was still lingering, but at baseball parks across the country there was a sense of optimism. Major League attendance was on a sharp rise. Tickets to an Indians game at League Park on Lexington and East 66th were $1.60 for box seats, $1.35 for reserve seats, and $.55 for the bleachers. Cleveland fans were particularly upbeat—Bob Feller, the teenage phenomenon, was a farm boy with a blistering fast ball. Night games were an exciting development.

No Money, No Beer, No Pennants
The Cleveland Indians and Baseball in the Great Depression
By Scott H. Longert

A lively history of the ups and downs of a legendary team and its iconic players as they persevered through internal unrest and the turmoil of the Great Depression, pursuing a pennant that didn’t come until 1948. Illustrated with period photographs and filled with anecdotes of the great players, this book will delight fans of baseball and fans of Cleveland.