The World Series in the Deadball Era: A History in the Words and Pictures of the Writers and Photographers

The World Series in the Deadball Era: A History in the Words and Pictures of the Writers and Photographers, edited by Steve Steinberg with contributions by members of the Deadball Era Committee of SABR, The Society for American Baseball Research. (Haworth, new Jersey: St. Johann Press, 2018). The World Series of 1903-1919 were played before the emergence of radio, when newspaper sportswriters and photographers brought the action to fans across the country. The era and the action come alive in the words of the Damon Runyon, Grantland Rice, Ring Lardner and others, as well as players and managers. With 180 evocative photos, many seen for the first time in a century.

The game of baseball at the beginning of the 20th century was remarkably similar to the game that is played today, although pitching was dominant and offense was hard to come by. But missing was the coverage by radio, television, motion pictures, audio/video tapes and the internet. Today’s coverage includes not only these new media but also expanded use of newspapers and photography.

The Deadball Era (1901-1919), so named because the ball being used was not the lively ball introduced in the twenties and beyond, demanded that the writers and photographers provide all the information in the form of the printed word and still photography.

Writers included not only known names such as Ring Lardner, Grantland Rice, Damon Runyon, and from that era Tim Murname, Charles Dryden, Hugh Fullerton plus many more, including players, managers, owners, and others, some of whom were “ghosted” by regular sportswriters. Photographers did not have the luxury of instant multiple shots but had to sense the opportunity of when to take the best action photo, hence the often posed photos taken before the game. Yet their instincts led them to some incredible and uncanny shots of action during the game.

The editor, Steve Steinberg, has assembled an excellent and knowledgeable group of researchers and writers from the Society of American Baseball Research (SABR) to provide us with a remarkable view of the Word Series in the Deadball Era. You will not be reading about the Deadball World Series from the point of the 21st century, rather you will be transported to this great era that set the groundwork for today’s game.