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The Best Team Over There: The Untold Story of Grover Cleveland Alexander and the Great War
Finalist for the 2022 SABR Seymour Medal
Grover Cleveland Alexander was one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, with 373 career victories during twenty seasons in the Major Leagues. Elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1938, the right-hander remains a compelling—and tragic—figure. “Pete” Alexander’s military service during World War I was the demarcation line between his great seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies and his years of struggle and turmoil with the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals after the Great War. Indeed, Alexander’s service during World War I has all but been forgotten, even though it dramatically changed his life—and his game.
Alexander served in the 342nd Field Artillery Regiment, which included big leaguers and star athletes among its officers and men. Naturally, the regiment fielded an outstanding baseball team, but it also faced hard service during the final weeks of the war. After the armistice in November 1918, the unit undertook occupation duty in Germany.
The Best Team Over There examines this crucial period where Alexander was stationed, how he was trained, how he withstood the effects of combat and shelling, how he interacted with his fellow athletes and soldiers, and how the war changed his baseball career, revealing for the first time the little-known details of this critical stage in the legendary pitcher’s life and career. We can’t truly understand Alexander and his enduring appeal to baseball fans without also understanding his life as a gunner and soldier.
Grover Cleveland Alexander was one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, with 373 career victories during twenty seasons in the Major Leagues. Elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1938, the right-hander remains a compelling—and tragic—figure. “Pete” Alexander’s military service during World War I was the demarcation line between his great seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies and his years of struggle and turmoil with the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals after the Great War. Indeed, Alexander’s service during World War I has all but been forgotten, even though it dramatically changed his life—and his game.
Alexander served in the 342nd Field Artillery Regiment, which included big leaguers and star athletes among its officers and men. Naturally, the regiment fielded an outstanding baseball team, but it also faced hard service during the final weeks of the war. After the armistice in November 1918, the unit undertook occupation duty in Germany.
The Best Team Over There examines this crucial period where Alexander was stationed, how he was trained, how he withstood the effects of combat and shelling, how he interacted with his fellow athletes and soldiers, and how the war changed his baseball career, revealing for the first time the little-known details of this critical stage in the legendary pitcher’s life and career. We can’t truly understand Alexander and his enduring appeal to baseball fans without also understanding his life as a gunner and soldier.
280 pages, Hardcover
Published March 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 28, 2021
A very sad story at times about the life of Grover Cleveland Alexander, one of the best pitchers of all time that was hit hard by the effects of WWI. Upon coming home he won 160 more games as a pitcher, but became an alcoholic due to shellshock from the war. I thought this book was a little dry (no pun intended) with a little TOO much on games being played overseas and I wanted to know more about Alexander himself. Not bad, but not what I was expecting, hoping for.
July 26, 2023
A solid book on Grover Cleveland Alexander with a focus on his and others wartime service, how once drafted he and other major and minor Leagues were were recruited into the 342nd field artillery regiment so that they could form the best baseball team in the army.
How he developed both a drinking problem and PTSD in the army. Still was a major success for a while after coming back from the War but ultimately died a divorced penniless drunk.
How he developed both a drinking problem and PTSD in the army. Still was a major success for a while after coming back from the War but ultimately died a divorced penniless drunk.
June 5, 2022
I really enjoyed the story told. Seeing some of the trials and turmoils that Alexander went through was fascinating. I had no idea of his struggles after the war.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews