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Charlie Murphy: The Iconoclastic Showman behind the Chicago Cubs
2023 SABR Larry Ritter Book Award
Finalist for the 2022 CASEY Award
You don’t know the history of the Chicago Cubs until you know the story of Charles Webb Murphy, the ebullient and mercurial owner of this historic franchise from 1905 through 1914. Originally a sportswriter in Cincinnati, he joined the New York Giants front office as a press agent—the game’s first—in 1905. That season, hearing the Cubs were for sale, he secured a loan from Charles Taft, the older half-brother of the future president of the United States, to buy a majority share and become the team’s new owner. In his second full season, the Cubs won their first World Series. They won again in 1908, but soon thereafter Murphy’s unconventional style invited ill will from the owners, his own players, and the press, even while leading the team through their most successful period in team history.
In Charlie The Iconoclastic Showman behind the Chicago Cubs , Jason Cannon explores Murphy’s life both on and off the field, painting a picture of his meteoric rise and precipitous downfall. Readers will get to know the real Murphy, not the simplified caricature created by his contemporaries that has too frequently been perpetuated through the years, but the whirling dervish who sent the sport of baseball spinning and elevated Chicago to the center of the baseball universe.
Cannon recounts Murphy’s rise from the son of Irish immigrants to sports reporter to Cubs president, charting his legacy as one of the most important but overlooked figures in the National League’s long history. Cannon explores how Murphy’s difficult teenage years shaped his love for baseball; his relationship with the Tafts, one of America’s early twentieth-century dynastic families; his successful and tumultuous years as a National League executive; his last years as an owner before the National League Board of Directors ousted him in 1914; and, finally, Murphy’s attempt to rewrite his legacy through the construction of the Murphy Theater in his hometown of Wilmington, Ohio.
Finalist for the 2022 CASEY Award
You don’t know the history of the Chicago Cubs until you know the story of Charles Webb Murphy, the ebullient and mercurial owner of this historic franchise from 1905 through 1914. Originally a sportswriter in Cincinnati, he joined the New York Giants front office as a press agent—the game’s first—in 1905. That season, hearing the Cubs were for sale, he secured a loan from Charles Taft, the older half-brother of the future president of the United States, to buy a majority share and become the team’s new owner. In his second full season, the Cubs won their first World Series. They won again in 1908, but soon thereafter Murphy’s unconventional style invited ill will from the owners, his own players, and the press, even while leading the team through their most successful period in team history.
In Charlie The Iconoclastic Showman behind the Chicago Cubs , Jason Cannon explores Murphy’s life both on and off the field, painting a picture of his meteoric rise and precipitous downfall. Readers will get to know the real Murphy, not the simplified caricature created by his contemporaries that has too frequently been perpetuated through the years, but the whirling dervish who sent the sport of baseball spinning and elevated Chicago to the center of the baseball universe.
Cannon recounts Murphy’s rise from the son of Irish immigrants to sports reporter to Cubs president, charting his legacy as one of the most important but overlooked figures in the National League’s long history. Cannon explores how Murphy’s difficult teenage years shaped his love for baseball; his relationship with the Tafts, one of America’s early twentieth-century dynastic families; his successful and tumultuous years as a National League executive; his last years as an owner before the National League Board of Directors ousted him in 1914; and, finally, Murphy’s attempt to rewrite his legacy through the construction of the Murphy Theater in his hometown of Wilmington, Ohio.
- GenresBaseballNonfiction
400 pages, Hardcover
Published June 1, 2022
2 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 16, 2022
The early history of the Chicago Cubs is very different than the club that is familiar to baseball fans. For one example, they have not always played home games in Wrigley Field on the north side of the city – they were at the West Side Ball Park in the early 20th century when they had their greatest run of success with five consecutive National League pennants and two World Championships. That and many other differences make the era of owner Charlie Murphy very interesting and that comes through in this biography of Murphy by Jason Cannon.
Murphy can be accurately described as an owner who certainly was not like his contemporaries. Acquiring the Cubs for the bargain price (at least to Murphy) of $100,000, Murphy didn’t rest on his remarkable rise from newspaper reporter to a team owner. He immediately immersed himself into the running of the ball club, overseeing much of the operations. He was very active in the trades and personnel of the team, but was also wise enough to leave the managing of the team on the field to the capable hands of Frank Chance, one part of the famous “Tinkers to Evers to Chance” double play team.
Despite Murphy’s connections (his co-owner was Charles Taft, the half brother of President William Howard Taft who was a visitor to a Cubs game) and his ideas for innovation in the game, he eventually gained enemies in both the National League offices (Charles Ebbets of the Dodgers was an especially harsh critic of Murphy) and to his popular players. His poor handling of the contracts with Chance and then Evers for managing the club led to not only bad public relations with Cubs fans but also to his fellow owners and the two league presidents. Believing that he was not helping Organized Baseball, Murphy was forced out in 1913 and the club eventually was sold to Charles Weeghman, who moved them to the north side and started to have the personality of the team we know now.
As for the complete story of Murphy, from his beginnings to his ownership of the Cubs and the fractured relationships at the time of his ouster, Cannon does a very good job of brining him to life to the reader and illustrating an accurate picture of the business side of the game at that time. Cannon doesn’t stope when Murphy’s time in baseball was done, however, as he also informs the reader about Murphy’s ownership of a theatre in his hometown of Willmington, Ohio. The excellent research and detail make it a book that has to be read slowly and carefully, but it will be worth the time as the reader will learn much about the man who was behind the first great era of the Chicago Cubs.
I wish to thank University of Nebraska Press for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Murphy can be accurately described as an owner who certainly was not like his contemporaries. Acquiring the Cubs for the bargain price (at least to Murphy) of $100,000, Murphy didn’t rest on his remarkable rise from newspaper reporter to a team owner. He immediately immersed himself into the running of the ball club, overseeing much of the operations. He was very active in the trades and personnel of the team, but was also wise enough to leave the managing of the team on the field to the capable hands of Frank Chance, one part of the famous “Tinkers to Evers to Chance” double play team.
Despite Murphy’s connections (his co-owner was Charles Taft, the half brother of President William Howard Taft who was a visitor to a Cubs game) and his ideas for innovation in the game, he eventually gained enemies in both the National League offices (Charles Ebbets of the Dodgers was an especially harsh critic of Murphy) and to his popular players. His poor handling of the contracts with Chance and then Evers for managing the club led to not only bad public relations with Cubs fans but also to his fellow owners and the two league presidents. Believing that he was not helping Organized Baseball, Murphy was forced out in 1913 and the club eventually was sold to Charles Weeghman, who moved them to the north side and started to have the personality of the team we know now.
As for the complete story of Murphy, from his beginnings to his ownership of the Cubs and the fractured relationships at the time of his ouster, Cannon does a very good job of brining him to life to the reader and illustrating an accurate picture of the business side of the game at that time. Cannon doesn’t stope when Murphy’s time in baseball was done, however, as he also informs the reader about Murphy’s ownership of a theatre in his hometown of Willmington, Ohio. The excellent research and detail make it a book that has to be read slowly and carefully, but it will be worth the time as the reader will learn much about the man who was behind the first great era of the Chicago Cubs.
I wish to thank University of Nebraska Press for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
May 24, 2022
With the passing of Roger Angell this past Friday, there is time to pause and wonder what up-coming writer will last the test-of-time in telling baseball stories that send us back into that moment to capture all the details that would otherwise to lost to a yellow-and-black newsprint clipping or dimensionless almanac filled with box scores. Jason Cannon’s Charlie Murphy, The Iconoclastic Showman Behind the Chicago Cubs, captures the dynamics of Major League Baseball at its entry into the 20th Century more like a rainbow pulled from a time capsule than a dusty artifact without context of the people, places, and times in that formative era.
The biography starts where it ends, Murphy’s death, and tells the story in between of the man, his rapid accent from drugstore clerk, to sports writer, to deal maker, and ultimately owner of the Chicago Cubs. Cannon’s story about Murphy kept my attention even though the book is loaded down with lots of details but reads more like the next day’s Web news accounts of games played, trades made, and dramas from clashes of personalities and management philosophies. I looked forward to each time I picked the book up and easily began reading where I had left off.
As I read, I was struck with how even with a century past, much really hasn’t changed in what makes players and owners and fans grumble. But in the middle of that, there is still a love and commitment to baseball by all – especially Murphy. It is obvious, as Cannon points on page 308, “If Murphy was guilty of anything in terms of baseball operations, it was being ahead of his time.”
My only criticism is at times the writing style could be crisper with fewer adjectives used – really, for example, who uses “beloved” so much in modern language? This was distracting, especially at first when I was getting into the book, but smoothed out as the narrative progressed or maybe I was just drawn deeper into the story. My understanding is Cannon is working on more such baseball biographies – it will be a pleasure to watch his progress as an author and learn about the love for baseball of the personalities behind the book titles.
The biography starts where it ends, Murphy’s death, and tells the story in between of the man, his rapid accent from drugstore clerk, to sports writer, to deal maker, and ultimately owner of the Chicago Cubs. Cannon’s story about Murphy kept my attention even though the book is loaded down with lots of details but reads more like the next day’s Web news accounts of games played, trades made, and dramas from clashes of personalities and management philosophies. I looked forward to each time I picked the book up and easily began reading where I had left off.
As I read, I was struck with how even with a century past, much really hasn’t changed in what makes players and owners and fans grumble. But in the middle of that, there is still a love and commitment to baseball by all – especially Murphy. It is obvious, as Cannon points on page 308, “If Murphy was guilty of anything in terms of baseball operations, it was being ahead of his time.”
My only criticism is at times the writing style could be crisper with fewer adjectives used – really, for example, who uses “beloved” so much in modern language? This was distracting, especially at first when I was getting into the book, but smoothed out as the narrative progressed or maybe I was just drawn deeper into the story. My understanding is Cannon is working on more such baseball biographies – it will be a pleasure to watch his progress as an author and learn about the love for baseball of the personalities behind the book titles.
April 15, 2022
Highly Recommended!
This fascinating biography of Charlie Murphy, owner of the Chicago Cubs when they won the World Series in 1907 and 1908, is BOTH a lively retelling of the early days of organized baseball AND a deeply researched scholarly work that adds to our knowledge about an important figure in baseball and Cubs history. Writing as a storyteller, Jason Cannon gives us a fun and engaging account of how Murphy rapidly ascended within baseball to become of the owner of the Cubs, how those early teams created a dynasty that led to two world championships, and how Murphy was later forced at as an owner. Along the way, we learn why the NL Chicago team earned the nickname of the "Cubs", understand how famous players like Tinkers, and Evers, and Chance shaped the ball club, and relive the famous "Merkle's Boner" game that paved the way to the 1908 NL pennant (among other interesting anecdotes). Writing as an historian, Jason has gone to great lengths to build a knowledge base about Murphy's formative years, to piece together a detailed understanding of the intrigue between owners of the NL ball clubs of that era, and to document the relationship between Murphy and his star players.
All-in-all, a wonderful book and a significant accomplishment. If you like baseball, if you like history, and if you like the Cubs (as I do!), this book is a rewarding read.
This fascinating biography of Charlie Murphy, owner of the Chicago Cubs when they won the World Series in 1907 and 1908, is BOTH a lively retelling of the early days of organized baseball AND a deeply researched scholarly work that adds to our knowledge about an important figure in baseball and Cubs history. Writing as a storyteller, Jason Cannon gives us a fun and engaging account of how Murphy rapidly ascended within baseball to become of the owner of the Cubs, how those early teams created a dynasty that led to two world championships, and how Murphy was later forced at as an owner. Along the way, we learn why the NL Chicago team earned the nickname of the "Cubs", understand how famous players like Tinkers, and Evers, and Chance shaped the ball club, and relive the famous "Merkle's Boner" game that paved the way to the 1908 NL pennant (among other interesting anecdotes). Writing as an historian, Jason has gone to great lengths to build a knowledge base about Murphy's formative years, to piece together a detailed understanding of the intrigue between owners of the NL ball clubs of that era, and to document the relationship between Murphy and his star players.
All-in-all, a wonderful book and a significant accomplishment. If you like baseball, if you like history, and if you like the Cubs (as I do!), this book is a rewarding read.
April 27, 2022
It’s a rare combination to find an author who can write with the verve and panache of a spellbinding storyteller in addition to the erudition of a world class historian, yet that is exactly what Jason Cannon has done in what will hopefully be his first book of many. Jason brings his formidable intellect to bear for our benefit while combining our national pastime, Presidential history, and biographical sports writing. His love for this trifecta is self-evident from the first page to the last. In Mr. Cannon, the game of baseball may have finally found its heir apparent to the estimable Mr. George Will.
U.S. Army Major (Ret.) William J. Ostan, Esq.
Founder and President, Arc of Justice | Advocates for Wounded Warriors
U.S. Army Major (Ret.) William J. Ostan, Esq.
Founder and President, Arc of Justice | Advocates for Wounded Warriors
April 27, 2022
Cannon brings history to life in "Charlie Murphy: The Iconoclastic Showman behind the Chicago Cubs" which is a great story that is well told. Charlie Murphy is a vibrant personality whose hustle, survival instinct, and love of baseball lead him from pharmacy clerk to owner of the Chicago Cubs. Cannon humanizes Murphy and shows us the man behind the caricature, with flaws that are both annoying and endearing; kindness and sensitivities that are touching. Much to my surprise, I related to Charlie. I cheered for his success and was saddened by his poor choices. But mostly, I loved this book and look forward to the next Cannon publication.
March 24, 2022
A truly interesting autobiography on the man who started the Chicago Cubs fame. He was fiery, misunderstood and a true innovator for baseball. What he achieved during his ownership of the Cubs was fantastic and some of the players he had on the team are all-time greats in baseball. A must read for the die hard Cub fans!
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 23, 2022
Little known owner of the Cubs (1905-1915) who built the team which won two World Series in 1907 and 1908, the team’s only WS wins until 2016. Interesting guy for the most part unfairly treated in history and largely forgotten.
August 26, 2022
a 5 star book for any baseball fan. the narrative flows easily and is filled with rich history, business acumen, love for baseball, with a Horatio Alger vibe.
June 4, 2025
Very well researched Bio of Charles Murphy, who would fit right in with today's executives.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews