ABOUT THE BOOK
2020 SABR Seymour Medal Finalist
2020 Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Award—Honorable Mention
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The Workingman's Game is a true story of professional baseball in the 1880s and 1890s, when attendance was low, team rosters were unstable, and monopolistic Major League owners were shrinking the game to avoid losing money.
Players resisted these efforts by organizing and improving their craft. The roots of this resistance were in the minor league ballparks of southern New York and northern Pennsylvania amid bitter disagreements over the economics of anthracite coal and the justice of racial and ethnic integration.
In Waverly, NY, and neighboring towns, former and future major leaguers played alongside common laborers. Their experiences as working men reflected the era, a time when economic dislocation, racial and labor strife, and record-high immigration levels led many to question whether instability was a permanent part of the American experience.
It was a transitional era very similar to our own.
READER PRAISE
"This book is fantastic. It is a fascinating look at the history of baseball in this specific area." - Judge, 28th Annual Writers Digest Self-Published Book Awards.
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"Impressive ... very nicely done."
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"It was great to learn about the intricacies and nuances of the early days of baseball."
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"Enjoyed it very much... I learned a great deal about these "rough" towns in their early days."
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Future Hall of Famers in the book include:
John Montgomery Ward, John McGraw, Hughie Jennings, Willie Keeler, Bud Fowler, Frank Grant, Sol White, Nap Lajoie, Honus Wagner, Vic Willis and Jack Chesbro.
FEATURED WAVERLY PLAYERS
John Clapp (1851-1904)
1887 Waverly Catcher and Captain
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One of Major League Baseball's top catchers and highest paid players for 11 seasons. First manager of the New York Giants (1883).
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Born & raised in Ithaca, NY.
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One of the first ball players to be covered by the reserve clause.
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Painter and Policeman in Ithaca.​
Harry L. Taylor (1866-1955)
1887 Waverly Second Baseman
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Played in MLB for four seasons; finished with Baltimore Orioles in 1892. Earned law degree from Cornell during off-seasons.
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Born & raised in Halsey Valley, NY.
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Served as Counsel to the baseball players union in 1900-1901; paved way for the American League.
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Later worked as an Attorney, Eastern League President (1906) and NYS Judge (1907-1936).​
Bill Donovan (1876-1923)
1896 Waverly Pitcher & Outfielder
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All Star pitcher in MLB for 18 seasons; mostly with the Detroit Tigers. Twice won 25 games.
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Managed for four seasons, mostly for the NY Yankees.
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Mentored a young Ty Cobb while with Detroit, and a young Babe Ruth, while with Providence.
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Born in Lawrence, MA.
John "Bud" Waller (1875-?)
1896 Waverly Infielder
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A true "slugger" and Waverly's best hitter.
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Reportedly played at least one game for the Cuban Giants alongside Hall of Famers Sol White & Frank Grant.
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Born in NYS.
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Worked as a Laborer and later as a Chauffeur for prominent Waverly citizens.
