Play Ball: Stories of the Ball Field
 | |
| Author | King Kelly |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | King Kelly |
| Genre | Autobiography, Sports book |
| Publisher | Emery & Hughes |
Publication date | 1888 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Paperback |
Play Ball: Stories of the Ball Field is an 1888
Boston Globe journalist John J. "Jack" Drohan.[1]
Howard W. Rosenberg's 2004 biography of Kelly dispelled any notion that Boston reporter Jake Morse had been the ghostwriter, by quoting Drohan's involvement with the book at length, including unearthing the following sentence about Drohan from the 1889 book "The Story of the Irish in Boston.": "His only literary work outside of his newspaper was the preparation of M. J. Kelly's book, 'Play Ball.'"[2]
History
AA pennant winners (a precursor to the World Series), gave in to complaints over Kelly's drinking (particularly by manager Cap Anson) and tried to control Kelly. Spalding and Anson tried to Kelly's drinking in various ways including withholding $250 of his $2000 salary in 1886, promising to return it if Kelly remained sober. These efforts failed, however, as Kelly continued to drink.[4]
The
Boston Beaneaters
in 1887.
References
- Specific
- ^ The Story of the Irish in Boston, p. 316. Cullen, James and Taylor Jr., William. Boston, Massachusetts: J.B. Cullen & Co. 1889. Available digitally from the Internet Archive.
- ISBN 0-9725574-1-5., p. 145, citing Cullen and Taylor, pp. 315-316.
- ^ "King Kelly's Career statistics". Retrosheet, Inc. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
- ^ ISBN 1-57886-003-2, pp. 98-99.
- General
- Rosenberg, Howard W. (2004); Cap Anson 2: The Theatrical and Kingly Mike Kelly: U.S. Team Sport's First Media Sensation and Baseball's Original Casey at the Bat. Arlington, Virginia: Tile Books. ISBN 0-9725574-1-5
- Appel, Marty (1996); Slide, Kelly, Slide. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 1-57886-003-2
- Cullen, James and Taylor Jr., William (1889); "The Story of the Irish in Boston." Boston, Massachusetts: J.B. Cullen & Co. ISBN 1-4366-1806-1
- Kelly, Mike (1888); Play Ball. Boston, Massachusetts: Emery & Hughes. Available digitally on Baseball Chronology. Mondout, Patrick. May 1, 2008.