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9781250116567

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Heartfelt and entertaining. . . . Cook's narrative is splendid, but the subtext of his book is even better. -- The Wall Street Journal A wonderful book by someone who clearly loves the game and the seemingly small moments that cement that love. Bravo! --Ken Burns A poignant study that goes beyond baseball. --The New York Times The 1947 World Series had everything: Joe DiMaggio and Jackie Robinson, Yankee Stadium and Ebbets Field. It went a full and fully dramatic seven games, with enduring legends in both dugouts. And yet, as so often happens in baseball, bit players jumped from the agate type into the headlines as well. Kevin Cook offers a fine appreciation of the games, the subplots, and the personalities that made '47 a true Fall Classic. --Bob Costas [An] essential summer read... a fascinating deep dive into the unlikely characters that made the 1947 World Series between the Yankees and Dodgers a classic --New York Post Entertaining, well-researched history.... In profiling the lives of these six overlooked men, Cook reveals the complicated reality of baseball's golden era. --Publishers Weekly (starred review) An impressively reported, smoothly written book --Kirkus Reviews [An] entertaining slice of baseball history. --Booklist An outstanding collection of stories about men, about life and about one glorious World Series, it is one that all baseball readers should add to their libraries. --SportsBookGuy.com Electric October is a great baseball story and a classic American tale, as the six hard-working men at the heart of the narrative seized the moment when fate called. Kevin Cook has crafted one of the best books you'll read this year. --James Bradley, author of Flags of Our Fathers and The China Mirage The pleasures of Electric October are many: from the spectacle of a Babe Ruth popup to the insights of the boy-manager Bucky Harris; from the origin of the relief specialist to the inception of a signature radio call; from a famous running catch to a terrifying prank among teammates. You'll also learn how it feels to be fired - because Kevin Cook reveals that disappointment, and what skilled men do with it, has defined baseball across its many years. --Nicholas Dawidoff, author of The Catcher Was a Spy and The Crowd Sounds Happy The lives on the margins always have been far more interesting to me than the ones at the top of the sports page. That's what makes Electric October such a wonder. Six character actors named Snuffy and Cookie, Burt and Al, and Bill and Bucky have their leading-man moments during the implausible events of the 1947 World Series. There is magic here and we all get to share in it. Terrific. --Leigh Montville, author of The Big Bam: The Life and Times of Babe Ruth and Sting Like a Bee: Muhammad Ali vs. the United States of America, 1966-1971 A wonderful book by someone who clearly loves the game and the seemingly small moments that cement that love. Bravo! --Ken Burns The 1947 World Series had everything: Joe DiMaggio and Jackie Robinson, Yankee Stadium and Ebbets Field. It went a full and fully dramatic seven games, with enduring legends in both dugouts. And yet, as so often happens in baseball, bit players jumped from the agate type into the headlines as well. Kevin Cook offers a fine appreciation of the games, the subplots, and the personalities that made '47 a true Fall Classic. --Bob Costas [An] essential summer read... a fascinating deep dive into the unlikely characters that made the 1947 World Series between the Yankees and Dodgers a classic --New York Post Entertaining, well-researched history.... In profiling the lives of these six overlooked men, Cook reveals the complicated reality of baseball's golden era. --Publishers Weekly (starred review) An impressively reported, smoothly written book --Kirkus Reviews [An] entertaining slice of baseball history. --Booklist An outstanding collection of stories about men, about life and about one glorious World Series, it is one that all baseball readers should add to their libraries. --SportsBookGuy.com Electric October is a great baseball story and a classic American tale, as the six hard-working men at the heart of the narrative seized the moment when fate called. Kevin Cook has crafted one of the best books you'll read this year. --James Bradley, author of Flags of Our Fathers and The China Mirage The pleasures of Electric October are many: from the spectacle of a Babe Ruth popup to the insights of the boy-manager Bucky Harris; from the origin of the relief specialist to the inception of a signature radio call; from a famous running catch to a terrifying prank among teammates. You'll also learn how it feels to be fired - because Kevin Cook reveals that disappointment, and what skilled men do with it, has defined baseball across its many years. --Nicholas Dawidoff, author of The Catcher Was a Spy and The Crowd Sounds Happy The lives on the margins always have been far more interesting to me than the ones at the top of the sports page. That's what makes Electric October such a wonder. Six character actors named Snuffy and Cookie, Burt and Al, and Bill and Bucky have their leading-man moments during the implausible events of the 1947 World Series. There is magic here and we all get to share in it. Terrific. --Leigh Montville, author of The Big Bam: The Life and Times of Babe Ruth and Sting Like a Bee: Muhammad Ali vs. the United States of America, 1966-1971 Entertaining, well-researched history.... In profiling the lives of these six overlooked men, Cook reveals the complicated reality of baseball's golden era. --Publishers Weekly (starred review) An impressively reported, smoothly written book --Kirkus Reviews [An] entertaining slice of baseball history. --Booklist An outstanding collection of stories about men, about life and about one glorious World Series, it is one that all baseball readers should add to their libraries. --SportsBookGuy.com A wonderful book by someone who clearly loves the game and the seemingly small moments that cement that love. Bravo. --Ken Burns The 1947 World Series had everything: Joe DiMaggio and Jackie Robinson, Yankee Stadium and Ebbets Field. It went a full and fully dramatic seven games, with enduring legends in both dugouts. And yet, as so often happens in baseball, bit players jumped from the agate type into the headlines as well. Kevin Cook offers a fine appreciation of the games, the subplots, and the personalities that made '47 a true Fall Classic. --Bob Costas Electric October is a great baseball story and a classic American tale, as the six hard-working men at the heart of the narrative seized the moment when fate called. Kevin Cook has crafted one of the best books you'll read this year. --James Bradley, author of Flags ofOur Fathers and The China Mirage The pleasures of Electric October are many: from the spectacle of a Babe Ruth popup to the insights of the boy-manager Bucky Harris; from the origin of the relief specialist to the inception of a signature radio call; from a famous running catch to a terrifying prank among teammates. You'll also learn how it feels to be fired - because Kevin Cook reveals that disappointment, and what skilled men do with it, has defined baseball acrossits many years. --Nicholas Dawidoff, author of The Catcher Was aSpy and The Crowd Sounds Happy The lives on the margins always have been far more interesting to me than the onesat the top of the sports page. That's what makes Electric October such a wonder. Six character actors named Snuffy and Cookie, Burt and Al, and Bill and Bucky have their leading-man moments during the implausible events of the 1947 World Series. There is magic here and we all get to share in it. Terrific. --Leigh Montville, author of The Big Bam: The Life and Times of Babe Ruth and Sting Like a Bee: Muhammad Ali vs. the United States of America, 1966-1971 The 1947 World Series had everything: Joe DiMaggio and Jackie Robinson, Yankee Stadium and Ebbets Field. It went a full and fully dramatic seven games, with enduring legends in both dugouts. And yet, as so often happens in baseball, bit players jumped from the agate type into the headlines as well. Kevin Cook offers a fine appreciation of the games, the subplots, and the personalities that made '47 a true Fall Classic. --Bob Costas Electric October is a great baseball story and a classic American tale, as the six hard-working men at the heart of the narrative seized the moment when fate called. Kevin Cook has crafted one of the best books you'll read this year. --James Bradley, author of Flags ofOur Fathers and The China Mirage The pleasures of Electric October are many: from the spectacle of a Babe Ruth popup to the insights of the boy-manager Bucky Harris; from the origin of the relief specialist to the inception of a signature radio call; from a famous running catch to a terrifying prank among teammates. You'll also learn how it feels to be fired - because Kevin Cook reveals that disappointment, and what skilled men do with it, has defined baseball acrossits many years. --Nicholas Dawidoff, author of The Catcher Was aSpy and The Crowd Sounds Happy The lives on the margins always have been far more interesting to me than the onesat the top of the sports page. That's what makes Electric October such a wonder. Six character actors named Snuffy and Cookie, Burt and Al, and Bill and Bucky have their leading-man moments during the implausible events of the 1947 World Series. There is magic here and we all get to share in it. Terrific. --Leigh Montville, author of The Big Bam: The Life and Times ofBabe Ruth and Sting Like a Bee: Muhammad Ali vs. the United States ofAmerica, 1966-1971 Setting out to mine a brief, time-blurred moment in baseball's past, that admirable pick-and-shovel worker Kevin Cook has uncovered a deep, clear seam of vivid American sports history. The well-lit pleasures of Electric October are many: from the wondrous spectacle of a Babe Ruth popup to the cunning strategic insights of the boy-manager, Bucky Harris; from the origin story of the modern relief specialist to the inception of a signature broadcasting phrase; from the anatomy of a famous running catch to the terrifying execution of a cruel prank among teammates. You'll also learn how it feels to be fired. That's because what Cook ultimately reveals is that disappointment, and what skilled men do with it, has defined the game across all its many years. --Nicholas Dawidoff, author of The Catcher Was a Spy and The Crowd Sounds Happy The 1947 World Series had everything: Joe DiMaggio and Jackie Robinson, Yankee Stadium and Ebbets Field. It went a full and fully dramatic seven games, with enduring legends in both dugouts. And yet, as so often happens in baseball, bit players jumped from the agate type into the headlines as well. Kevin Cook offers a fine appreciation of the games, the subplots, and the personalities that made '47 a true Fall Classic. --Bob Costas -Setting out to mine a brief, time-blurred moment in baseball's past, that admirable pick-and-shovel worker Kevin Cook has uncovered a deep, clear seam of vivid American sports history. The well-lit pleasures of Electric October are many: from the wondrous spectacle of a Babe Ruth popup to the cunning strategic insights of the boy-manager, Bucky Harris; from the origin story of the modern relief specialist to the inception of a signature broadcasting phrase; from the anatomy of a famous running catch to the terrifying execution of a cruel prank among teammates. You'll also learn how it feels to be fired. That's because what Cook ultimately reveals is that disappointment, and what skilled men do with it, has defined the game across all its many years.---Nicholas Dawidoff, author of The Catcher Was a Spy and The Crowd Sounds Happy

-Setting out to mine a brief, time-blurred moment in baseball's past, that admirable pick-and-shovel worker Kevin Cook has uncovered a deep, clear seam of vivid American sports history. The well-lit pleasures of Electric October are many: from the wondrous spectacle of a Babe Ruth popup to the cunning strategic insights of the boy-manager, Bucky Harris; from the origin story of the modern relief specialist to the inception of a signature broadcasting phrase; from the anatomy of a famous running catch to the terrifying execution of a cruel prank among teammates. You'll also learn how it feels to be fired. That's because what Cook ultimately reveals is that disappointment, and what skilled men do with it, has defined the game across all its many years.---Nicholas Dawidoff, author of The Catcher Was a Spy and The Crowd Sounds Happy

Heartfelt and entertaining. . . . Cook's narrative is splendid, but the subtext of his book is even better. -- The Wall Street Journal A wonderful book by someone who clearly loves the game and the seemingly small moments that cement that love. Bravo! --Ken Burns The 1947 World Series had everything: Joe DiMaggio and Jackie Robinson, Yankee Stadium and Ebbets Field. It went a full and fully dramatic seven games, with enduring legends in both dugouts. And yet, as so often happens in baseball, bit players jumped from the agate type into the headlines as well. Kevin Cook offers a fine appreciation of the games, the subplots, and the personalities that made '47 a true Fall Classic. --Bob Costas [An] essential summer read... a fascinating deep dive into the unlikely characters that made the 1947 World Series between the Yankees and Dodgers a classic --New York Post Entertaining, well-researched history.... In profiling the lives of these six overlooked men, Cook reveals the complicated reality of baseball's golden era. --Publishers Weekly (starred review) An impressively reported, smoothly written book --Kirkus Reviews [An] entertaining slice of baseball history. --Booklist An outstanding collection of stories about men, about life and about one glorious World Series, it is one that all baseball readers should add to their libraries. --SportsBookGuy.com Electric October is a great baseball story and a classic American tale, as the six hard-working men at the heart of the narrative seized the moment when fate called. Kevin Cook has crafted one of the best books you'll read this year. --James Bradley, author of Flags of Our Fathers and The China Mirage The pleasures of Electric October are many: from the spectacle of a Babe Ruth popup to the insights of the boy-manager Bucky Harris; from the origin of the relief specialist to the inception of a signature radio call; from a famous running catch to a terrifying prank among teammates. You'll also learn how it feels to be fired - because Kevin Cook reveals that disappointment, and what skilled men do with it, has defined baseball across its many years. --Nicholas Dawidoff, author of The Catcher Was a Spy and The Crowd Sounds Happy The lives on the margins always have been far more interesting to me than the ones at the top of the sports page. That's what makes Electric October such a wonder. Six character actors named Snuffy and Cookie, Burt and Al, and Bill and Bucky have their leading-man moments during the implausible events of the 1947 World Series. There is magic here and we all get to share in it. Terrific. --Leigh Montville, author of The Big Bam: The Life and Times of Babe Ruth and Sting Like a Bee: Muhammad Ali vs. the United States of America, 1966-1971 A wonderful book by someone who clearly loves the game and the seemingly small moments that cement that love. Bravo! --Ken Burns The 1947 World Series had everything: Joe DiMaggio and Jackie Robinson, Yankee Stadium and Ebbets Field. It went a full and fully dramatic seven games, with enduring legends in both dugouts. And yet, as so often happens in baseball, bit players jumped from the agate type into the headlines as well. Kevin Cook offers a fine appreciation of the games, the subplots, and the personalities that made '47 a true Fall Classic. --Bob Costas [An] essential summer read... a fascinating deep dive into the unlikely characters that made the 1947 World Series between the Yankees and Dodgers a classic --New York Post Entertaining, well-researched history.... In profiling the lives of these six overlooked men, Cook reveals the complicated reality of baseball's golden era. --Publishers Weekly (starred review) An impressively reported, smoothly written book --Kirkus Reviews [An] entertaining slice of baseball history. --Booklist An outstanding collection of stories about men, about life and about one glorious World Series, it is one that all baseball readers should add to their libraries. --SportsBookGuy.com Electric October is a great baseball story and a classic American tale, as the six hard-working men at the heart of the narrative seized the moment when fate called. Kevin Cook has crafted one of the best books you'll read this year. --James Bradley, author of Flags of Our Fathers and The China Mirage The pleasures of Electric October are many: from the spectacle of a Babe Ruth popup to the insights of the boy-manager Bucky Harris; from the origin of the relief specialist to the inception of a signature radio call; from a famous running catch to a terrifying prank among teammates. You'll also learn how it feels to be fired - because Kevin Cook reveals that disappointment, and what skilled men do with it, has defined baseball across its many years. --Nicholas Dawidoff, author of The Catcher Was a Spy and The Crowd Sounds Happy The lives on the margins always have been far more interesting to me than the ones at the top of the sports page. That's what makes Electric October such a wonder. Six character actors named Snuffy and Cookie, Burt and Al, and Bill and Bucky have their leading-man moments during the implausible events of the 1947 World Series. There is magic here and we all get to share in it. Terrific. --Leigh Montville, author of The Big Bam: The Life and Times of Babe Ruth and Sting Like a Bee: Muhammad Ali vs. the United States of America, 1966-1971 Entertaining, well-researched history.... In profiling the lives of these six overlooked men, Cook reveals the complicated reality of baseball's golden era. --Publishers Weekly (starred review) An impressively reported, smoothly written book --Kirkus Reviews [An] entertaining slice of baseball history. --Booklist An outstanding collection of stories about men, about life and about one glorious World Series, it is one that all baseball readers should add to their libraries. --SportsBookGuy.com A wonderful book by someone who clearly loves the game and the seemingly small moments that cement that love. Bravo. --Ken Burns The 1947 World Series had everything: Joe DiMaggio and Jackie Robinson, Yankee Stadium and Ebbets Field. It went a full and fully dramatic seven games, with enduring legends in both dugouts. And yet, as so often happens in baseball, bit players jumped from the agate type into the headlines as well. Kevin Cook offers a fine appreciation of the games, the subplots, and the personalities that made '47 a true Fall Classic. --Bob Costas Electric October is a great baseball story and a classic American tale, as the six hard-working men at the heart of the narrative seized the moment when fate called. Kevin Cook has crafted one of the best books you'll read this year. --James Bradley, author of Flags ofOur Fathers and The China Mirage The pleasures of Electric October are many: from the spectacle of a Babe Ruth popup to the insights of the boy-manager Bucky Harris; from the origin of the relief specialist to the inception of a signature radio call; from a famous running catch to a terrifying prank among teammates. You'll also learn how it feels to be fired - because Kevin Cook reveals that disappointment, and what skilled men do with it, has defined baseball acrossits many years. --Nicholas Dawidoff, author of The Catcher Was aSpy and The Crowd Sounds Happy The lives on the margins always have been far more interesting to me than the onesat the top of the sports page. That's what makes Electric October such a wonder. Six character actors named Snuffy and Cookie, Burt and Al, and Bill and Bucky have their leading-man moments during the implausible events of the 1947 World Series. There is magic here and we all get to share in it. Terrific. --Leigh Montville, author of The Big Bam: The Life and Times of Babe Ruth and Sting Like a Bee: Muhammad Ali vs. the United States of America, 1966-1971 The 1947 World Series had everything: Joe DiMaggio and Jackie Robinson, Yankee Stadium and Ebbets Field. It went a full and fully dramatic seven games, with enduring legends in both dugouts. And yet, as so often happens in baseball, bit players jumped from the agate type into the headlines as well. Kevin Cook offers a fine appreciation of the games, the subplots, and the personalities that made '47 a true Fall Classic. --Bob Costas Electric October is a great baseball story and a classic American tale, as the six hard-working men at the heart of the narrative seized the moment when fate called. Kevin Cook has crafted one of the best books you'll read this year. --James Bradley, author of Flags ofOur Fathers and The China Mirage The pleasures of Electric October are many: from the spectacle of a Babe Ruth popup to the insights of the boy-manager Bucky Harris; from the origin of the relief specialist to the inception of a signature radio call; from a famous running catch to a terrifying prank among teammates. You'll also learn how it feels to be fired - because Kevin Cook reveals that disappointment, and what skilled men do with it, has defined baseball acrossits many years. --Nicholas Dawidoff, author of The Catcher Was aSpy and The Crowd Sounds Happy The lives on the margins always have been far more interesting to me than the onesat the top of the sports page. That's what makes Electric October such a wonder. Six character actors named Snuffy and Cookie, Burt and Al, and Bill and Bucky have their leading-man moments during the implausible events of the 1947 World Series. There is magic here and we all get to share in it. Terrific. --Leigh Montville, author of The Big Bam: The Life and Times ofBabe Ruth and Sting Like a Bee: Muhammad Ali vs. the United States ofAmerica, 1966-1971 Setting out to mine a brief, time-blurred moment in baseball's past, that admirable pick-and-shovel worker Kevin Cook has uncovered a deep, clear seam of vivid American sports history. The well-lit pleasures of Electric October are many: from the wondrous spectacle of a Babe Ruth popup to the cunning strategic insights of the boy-manager, Bucky Harris; from the origin story of the modern relief specialist to the inception of a signature broadcasting phrase; from the anatomy of a famous running catch to the terrifying execution of a cruel prank among teammates. You'll also learn how it feels to be fired. That's because what Cook ultimately reveals is that disappointment, and what skilled men do with it, has defined the game across all its many years. --Nicholas Dawidoff, author of The Catcher Was a Spy and The Crowd Sounds Happy The 1947 World Series had everything: Joe DiMaggio and Jackie Robinson, Yankee Stadium and Ebbets Field. It went a full and fully dramatic seven games, with enduring legends in both dugouts. And yet, as so often happens in baseball, bit players jumped from the agate type into the headlines as well. Kevin Cook offers a fine appreciation of the games, the subplots, and the personalities that made '47 a true Fall Classic. --Bob Costas -Setting out to mine a brief, time-blurred moment in baseball's past, that admirable pick-and-shovel worker Kevin Cook has uncovered a deep, clear seam of vivid American sports history. The well-lit pleasures of Electric October are many: from the wondrous spectacle of a Babe Ruth popup to the cunning strategic insights of the boy-manager, Bucky Harris; from the origin story of the modern relief specialist to the inception of a signature broadcasting phrase; from the anatomy of a famous running catch to the terrifying execution of a cruel prank among teammates. You'll also learn how it feels to be fired. That's because what Cook ultimately reveals is that disappointment, and what skilled men do with it, has defined the game across all its many years.---Nicholas Dawidoff, author of The Catcher Was a Spy and The Crowd Sounds Happy

Author Information

Kevin Cook is the author of the award-winning Tommy's Honor (the basis for the feature film), Titanic Thompson, Kitty Genovese, and The Dad Report: Fathers, Sons and Baseball Families. He is a former senior editor at Sports Illustrated whose writing has appeared in the New York Times, Men's Journal, GQ, Playboy, Smithsonian, Details, and many other publications. He lives in Northampton, Massachusetts.

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