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Branch Rickey: Baseball's Ferocious Gentleman

Ferocious Gentleman Aug 06 2007 12:42 PM

Hi I'm Lee Lowenfish author of the new biography BRANCH RICKEY: BASEBALL'S FEROCIOUS GENTLEMAN in its second printing from University of Nebraska Press. I'm eager and willing to discuss Rickey's role in what I call his three baseball revolutions, the farm system, racial integration (which had national/international importance) and the Continental League which failed but brought the Mets into existence. What isn't widely known is that Rickey was asked by Bill Shea to run the Mets but he didn't want it thought that he only worked for a third league to get a job in the older leagues. Rickey was not a saint but he is a far more interesting character than previous interpretations have made him out to be. After writing two editions of the grisly labor history of baseball THE IMPERFECT DIAMOND I have found it challenging and exciting to bring back to life a man who was an unusual conservative revolutionary. Am also appearing twice in the next few weeks at the Museum of City of New York in conjunction with the Glory Days of NYC baseball exhibit. I have an essay "Two Cheers for Horace Stoneham" in the book of the same name. Tues Aug 14 6:30p discussing personal memories of the 1950s with author/editor John Thorn and contributors Alan Schwarz of the Ny Times and Kevin Baker Wed Sept 5 6:30p A panel with Bill Rhoden of NY Times and others on Jackie Robinson, Baseball and Civil Rights. For the record I am an Oriole fan (used to live in Baltimore when they more than held their own against the hated Yankees) with good feelings about the Mets. But after 10 years of living with Branch Rickey I am wary of big city and big market domination of any sport. Don't like the mediocrity/parity of NFL but as long as Yankees don't win all the time I think baseball is on cusp of truly great prosperity if not already there. The quality of play and the ridiculous schedule concerns me but it remains the greatest game of all. yours in baseball, Lee Lowenfish

DocTee Aug 06 2007 12:56 PM

But haven't you heard? Baseball is dead. (or so sayeth one of our regular posters). Sounds like a fascinating read. Met broadcster Ralph Kiner has some choice things to say about Branch Rickey, as I am sure you know.

metirish Aug 06 2007 12:59 PM

Hi Lee,looks like a great read ,did you enjoy the recent HBO Documentary on the Dodgers? What would Rickey make of Tony LaRussa in your opinion.

Willets Point Aug 06 2007 01:15 PM

Looks like a good book. I had always thought of Rickey highly because he was an innovator and help usher in integration. Then I read Ralph Kiner's book and learned that Ralph has an extremely low opinion of Rickey. Now my opinion of Rickey is more nuanced. What are your thoughts on Rickey from a player's perspective like Kiner?

Frayed Knot Aug 06 2007 02:00 PM

Welcome FG. Seen your book but have yet to pick it up (looks like quite a project). Will get around to it at some point.

MFS62 Aug 07 2007 06:20 AM

A hearty welcome from a one-time Brooklyn Dodger fan. Stay a while. You'll like this place. Later

seawolf17 Aug 07 2007 11:35 AM

Just requested your book from the library. Looking forward to reading it. I've had a strange opinion of Rickey through the years; when I lived in Rochester, he was somewhere between savior and pariah there, because he helped create the Red Wings, but it was really the local folks (Morrie Silver, et al) who were beloved; and I've read Ralph's book too, so I've read his perspective. Didn't Frank Thomas have something negative about Rickey in his book too, or am I just thinking of Ralph's book? Either way, welcome.

Benjamin Grimm Aug 07 2007 11:38 AM

According to Frank Thomas in Kiss it Good-bye, his dealings with Branch Rickey were consistent with Ralph Kiner's.

seawolf17 Aug 07 2007 11:42 AM

I thought so, but I wasn't sure if I was just mixing the books.

soupcan Aug 07 2007 11:43 AM

="seawolf17"]Just requested your book from the library. Pssssst. I think he wants you to buy it.

seawolf17 Aug 07 2007 11:45 AM

Hey, the library bought it, right? Still counts as a sale.

Benjamin Grimm Aug 07 2007 11:49 AM

Frank Thomas on Branch Rickey: http://cranepoolforum.net/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=1946&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=60 He was "no good."

Willets Point Aug 07 2007 12:56 PM

Yancy Street Gang wrote: According to Frank Thomas in Kiss it Good-bye, his dealings with Branch Rickey were consistent with Ralph Kiner's. That's right. It was the double whammy of reading Thomas, then Kiner, that made me reevaluate what I thought I knew about Rickey.

Elster88 Aug 07 2007 05:46 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Aug 08 2007 05:42 PM

Looks like I was wrong.

Willets Point Aug 07 2007 06:00 PM

seawolf17 wrote: Hey, the library bought it, right? Still counts as a sale. I love you man!

Ferocious Gentleman Aug 08 2007 08:05 AM

metirish wrote: Hi Lee,looks like a great read ,did you enjoy the recent HBO Documentary on the Dodgers? What would Rickey make of Tony LaRussa in your opinion. Good question about LaRussa - Rickey would be interested in any baseball man who thought outside the box and could motivate players to do well. Whether he would have liked LaRussa's constant meddling and thinking that in some ways he was above the game in his attitude I doubt he would have liked that. I liked a lot of the Brooklyn Dodger documentary but wish they had consulted me because I could have added more. I was in the Larry Doby Showtime documentary that aired during Black History month and re-aired last month. Doby's 14 will be worn by every Indian against the Yankees I believe this Friday or Saturday. Cheers from Lee Lowenfish