ABOUT THE BOOK
That Lively Railroad Town, a sequel to The Workingman's Game, tells the true intertwined stories of minor and Major League baseball at the turn of the twentieth century.
Major League Baseball underwent a seismic shift in 1901 with the elevation of the American League. Simultaneously, Waverly, NY, put together such a powerful semi-pro team that it acquired a coveted New York State League franchise, and fought to retain it against huge odds and much larger towns and cities.
It was a challenging transitional era for ballplayers and their societal peers alike. As the baseball season ended, two young men, former industrial workers, sat together on death row in Auburn, NY, frustrated, disillusioned and delusional. One would soon be executed for the murder of a young Waverly woman he professed to love too much; the other for the murder of the President.
The book features cover design and content illustrations from award-winning artist and historian Gary Cieradkowski. More information about Gary's work on the book can be found at the Studio Gary C link below.
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READER PRAISE
"A handsome production... It is right up my alley!"
"I am impressed with how well it's put together."
"I really enjoyed it. A lot of it was very surprising to me. I had no idea Teddy Roosevelt was attacked in Elmira with a turnip to the head! And I liked how the connections were drawn from one Waverly player to another, and to subsequent events very smoothly."
"The interaction between the characters, their living environment and their ascendency or non-ascendency to the majors is what made the book inviting to me. At certain times I felt like I was taking on the persona of the characters (players). It was like I was part of the story and living in the moment."
Bill Ging pitches for Waverly versus Albany, August 9, 1901.
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Waverly's central location via multiple railroad lines made it a natural stop for traveling baseball teams. Map is from a 1907 Chamber of Commerce brochure.
FEATURED PLAYERS
Frank "Wildfire" Shulte
(1876-1923)
1900 Waverly Outfielder
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Also played for Lestershire, NY, team (present day Johnson City).
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Born in Cochecton, NY, and raised in Lestershire.
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All Star MLB outfielder for 15 seasons, mostly with the Chicago Cubs.
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Named the NL's first MVP (Chalmers Award) in 1911
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Managed briefly in Binghamton and then retired in Oakland, CA.
Bill Heine
(1868-1929)
1900 & 1901 Waverly Second Baseman
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Born in Germany, and raised in Elmira, NY.
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Played over 16 years in the minor leagues. Teammates included Harry Taylor, John McGraw, Willie Keeler and Jimmy Collins.
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Hard-hitting and crafty.
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Managed Waverly in 1901 during its NYSL run. Later managed a warehouse and a minor league club in Addison, NY.
Fred Tucker (Talada)
(1874-1943)
1896, 1900 & 1901 Waverly Pitcher
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Born in Athens Township, PA.
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Lost a professional pitching tryout in Harrisburg to future Hall of Famer Vic Willis (1895).
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Managed Waverly team in 1900 and the first half of 1901.
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Very versatile and enterprising - filled in wherever needed, including pitcher and catcher.
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Cigar manufacturer in Waverly. Later was a machinist and recreation director at the Lehigh Valley Railroad Shops in Sayre.
Bill Ging
(1872-1950)
1900 & 1901 Waverly Pitcher
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Born and raised in Elmira, NY.
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Pitched a complete game 2-1 victory for Boston over New York in his only MLB appearance (9/25/1899).
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Won both ends of a double-header versus Albany (8/9/1901).
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Very crafty pitcher. After Waverly, was a fan favorite with the Johnstown-Amsterdam-Gloversville JAGs in the NYS League.
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After baseball, worked in Elmira as a laborer and clerk, and served briefly as the "city sealer."
John "Sandy" McDougal
(1874-1910)
1900 & 1901 Waverly Pitcher
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Born and raised in Buffalo, NY.
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Pitched two seasons in the MLB, with Brooklyn (1895) & St. Louis (1905).
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Pitched against Christy Mathewson in the New England League (1899).
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Teammate of Archie "Moonlight" Graham in Scranton (1906-7).
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Known for his unusual wind-up and for being a very good hitter.
