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The First Fall Classic: The Red Sox, the Giants and the Cast of Players, Pugs and Politicos Who Re-Invented the World Series in 1912
Acclaimed author Mike Vaccaro presents a riveting, must-read account of what remains, nearly a century later, the greatest World Series ever played.
In October of 1912, seven years before gambling nearly destroyed the sport, the world of baseball got lucky. It would get two teams-the Boston Red Sox and the New York Giants, winners of a combined 208 games during the regular season-who may well have been the two finest ball clubs ever assembled to that point. Most importantly, during the course of eight games spanning nine days in that marvelous baseball autumn, they would elevate the World Series from a regional October novelty to a national obsession. The games would fight for space on the front pages of the nation's newspapers, battling both an assassin's bullet and the most sensational trial of the young century, with the Series often carrying the day and earning the “wood.”
In The First Fall Classic , veteran sports journalist and author Mike Vaccaro brings to life a bygone era in cinematic and intimate detail-and gives fans a wonderful page-turner that re-creates the magic and suspense of the world's first great series.
In October of 1912, seven years before gambling nearly destroyed the sport, the world of baseball got lucky. It would get two teams-the Boston Red Sox and the New York Giants, winners of a combined 208 games during the regular season-who may well have been the two finest ball clubs ever assembled to that point. Most importantly, during the course of eight games spanning nine days in that marvelous baseball autumn, they would elevate the World Series from a regional October novelty to a national obsession. The games would fight for space on the front pages of the nation's newspapers, battling both an assassin's bullet and the most sensational trial of the young century, with the Series often carrying the day and earning the “wood.”
In The First Fall Classic , veteran sports journalist and author Mike Vaccaro brings to life a bygone era in cinematic and intimate detail-and gives fans a wonderful page-turner that re-creates the magic and suspense of the world's first great series.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published October 6, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
November 17, 2018
I absolutely loved this book. How interesting can a book be about one world series played over a hundred years ago? It can be engrossing in the hands of Mike Vaccaro. This was easily the best world series up until 1912 in baseball, and perhaps one of the best ever. The author brings alive the love for the game that America had for baseball in those early days. Thousands lined streets, not only in NY and Boston, but in Chicago and LA to watch bill boards posting scores of the eight game series. Overflow crowds sat on the field close to the players in a game. President Taft was obsessed with the series. American heroes like Christian Gentleman Christy(Matty) Mathewson and youngsters like Smoky Joe Wood, Rube Marquard, and stars like Tris Speaker, Chief Bender, Harry Hooper, and Duffy Lewis played in that series that went into extra innings three times. I found the story of venal James McAleer ordering his manager Jake Stahl not to pitch Wood in game 6, which Boston led 3-1 and could have clinched at NY) a fascinating incident in history. McAleer wanted an extra gate and wanted the series to return to Boston. It so infuriated Wood that he may have actually thrown his next start in Boston in vengeance. I was also struck by how much the Speed Boys of Boston disliked each other. Apparently they were split by religion. Speaker and his protestant men against the Irish/Catholic contingent of Carrigan. Interestingly, Speaker would also cause tension over the funeral of Ray Chapman in 1920 again over religion. The description of the games, The Royal Rooters, the men themselves and sub stories involving Theodore Roosevelt and corrupt police Captain Charles Becker's trial also enhanced a feel for the times. The last game is notorious for several reason but especially for the $30,000 muff by Fred Snodgrass, and another miscue by Fred "Bonehead" Merkle. This is a wonderful book for any fan of the game.
August 3, 2021
Too often books about baseball history read like old box scores. Full of names and events we do not remember, they often lack dramatic impact. Vaccaro neatly avoids this in his recounting of the 1912 World Series by grounding his story in then-current events (a highly dramatic presidential election and a shocking murder trial in which a New York police lieutenant was the defendant). To add to the drama are the larger-than-life characters of the teams in that series such as Boston Red Sox outfielder Tris Speaker and New York Giants manager John McGraw. While I do not believe he quite proves the thesis of his title, Vaccaro does give us a fun recounting of the drama of an exciting series. If you are a baseball team you will find it easy to imagine yourself outside one of the newspaper offices in Boston or New York, eagerly awaiting the latest score update.
July 30, 2011
This will sound snotty, but it needs to be said:
In a somewhat bizarre author’s note preceding the book, the author promises the reader that when he was writing the book, he saturated himself in contemporary news stories and research materials from the National Baseball Museum. This seems unnecessary for the author to say, especially at the beginning and not the end of a book, where such statements usually appear with annotations and a bibliography. But when you turn to the back you realize why: this is a book of history, saturated with quotes and detail, but it has no annotations, no references, and no bibliography. Which seems weird. Thus, the author’s note—a preemptive “don’t worry reader, this is all trustworthy” assurance that is frankly kind of creepy. If you did all this research, author, why didn’t you annotate your book?
It gets stranger. The book is full of conversation. In the author’s note, the author explains that he basically invented many of these quotes in accordance with what his extensive research led him to believe the characters would have said. I’m fine with this; I’ve never been terribly bothered with made up conversations—-but only when those conversations have an annotation that helps you understand on what the author is basing them, and only when the actual real quotes have references that lets you know, “oh, ok, this was actually said; it’s a direct quote.”
By deciding to have fictionalized quotes and not annotate his real quotes (and not annotate anything for that matter), the author has left the reader in a pickle. The reader doesn’t know what is literally true, what is essentially true, and what is imaginative but still believable. That’s a problem when the book is presented as one of history.
The book is, other than that, well written. I liked it. A riveting story about a great world’s series (as they said it then). You’ll like it if you are a baseball fan, but if you’re like me, you’ll be troubled throughout by the growing sense that you cannot separate the truth from the historical fiction.
In a somewhat bizarre author’s note preceding the book, the author promises the reader that when he was writing the book, he saturated himself in contemporary news stories and research materials from the National Baseball Museum. This seems unnecessary for the author to say, especially at the beginning and not the end of a book, where such statements usually appear with annotations and a bibliography. But when you turn to the back you realize why: this is a book of history, saturated with quotes and detail, but it has no annotations, no references, and no bibliography. Which seems weird. Thus, the author’s note—a preemptive “don’t worry reader, this is all trustworthy” assurance that is frankly kind of creepy. If you did all this research, author, why didn’t you annotate your book?
It gets stranger. The book is full of conversation. In the author’s note, the author explains that he basically invented many of these quotes in accordance with what his extensive research led him to believe the characters would have said. I’m fine with this; I’ve never been terribly bothered with made up conversations—-but only when those conversations have an annotation that helps you understand on what the author is basing them, and only when the actual real quotes have references that lets you know, “oh, ok, this was actually said; it’s a direct quote.”
By deciding to have fictionalized quotes and not annotate his real quotes (and not annotate anything for that matter), the author has left the reader in a pickle. The reader doesn’t know what is literally true, what is essentially true, and what is imaginative but still believable. That’s a problem when the book is presented as one of history.
The book is, other than that, well written. I liked it. A riveting story about a great world’s series (as they said it then). You’ll like it if you are a baseball fan, but if you’re like me, you’ll be troubled throughout by the growing sense that you cannot separate the truth from the historical fiction.
November 8, 2009
Must read for serious baseball lovers. The author gives a comprehensive account of the controversial 1912 World Series between the NY Giants and Boston Red Sox. With the rampant and open gambling, cheating and an apparent fixing of game 6 by the Red Sox owner, puts the purity of the game at that time in to question.
March 27, 2013
An excellent book that makes a terrific case that the first great World Series was the 1912 Series between the Giants and the Red Sox. The author fully engages the reader in this entertaining and compelling book. The only thing that could have made the book even better is if the Giants had won that Series. (grin)
June 10, 2011
A great baseball book, covering with wit and insight the eight World Series games, the personalities on the teams, and the culture of baseball fandom in the early twentieth century. Highly recommended for any fan of the game!
July 4, 2010
Vaccaro not only chronicles the 1912 series but the politics and culture surrounding it. Great read for fans of the game.
Read
June 24, 2011Very interesting cast of characters. Christy Mathewson near the end of his career, John McGraw being John McGraw.
January 19, 2012
Not exactly what I'd call history or perfectly accurate, but it is still a really good read. Just take it all with a grain of salt. Kind of like a movie based on a true event.
July 20, 2012
Outstanding. Makes the 1912 World Series come to life, as if it was happening this year.
August 1, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. I love all things baseball and this book really made me wish that television cameras caught this amazing World Series.
April 4, 2022
The subtitle suggests that the 1912 World Series (which was the 9th one overall) was somehow revolutionary among all the others. The author doesn't much advance that case, but he does submit a really good history of this historic matchup between the Red Sox and the Giants. He really brings out the personalities that were involved, the culture of fandom at the time, and the use of such technology as was available (with "playographs" and such). He doesn't footnote his work; so baseball scholars might be frustrated with that part -- and it leaves you wondering how much of the commentary is literary embellishment (whether it be from the author or from the eccentricities of early 20th-century journalism). But it's interesting to read either way. He gives detailed descriptions of each game - and not just a dry statistical/box-score run-down, but a deep sense of all the drama that was involved. He also blends in accounts of historic developments of the time (particularly with a high profile police trial, and the developing 1912 Presidential race). It was interesting to me that such a landmark World Series was essentially decided by sloppy fielding at crucial moments - on both sides of the series. But the huge draw was how climactic this series turned out; it wasn't decided until the 10th inning of the final game. So this book is very entertaining to read.
October 9, 2023
Considered the first great World Series, the 1912 series is a great topic. Vaccaro does a fine job in telling the story of not only the baseball series but also mixing in other events happening at the same time like the Presidential campaign, where Roosevelt is shot, and the Becker trial. It has a very readable narrative and is broken down well.
Highly recommended, it was an entertaining read throughout.
Highly recommended, it was an entertaining read throughout.
March 30, 2021
Such an entertaining read! The author does an exceptional job dramatizing the historical account of the 1912 World Series between the Boston Red Sox and New York Giants. Players you and I have never heard of are brought back to life and given their due legacy. I would give this 4-1/2 stars if I could.
June 14, 2018
Fun start with the retelling of Christi Mathewson happening upon an automobile accident in Washington Heights entroute to the Polo Grounds. Excellent recount of a fabulous grind between the Giants and Bosox.
March 7, 2018
One of the best baseball books ever penned...I was riveted...
November 23, 2019
A well written account of a World Series for the ages. Just the thing to get a baseball fan through the month following the end of a season, whether you’re a Red Sox fan or not.
December 9, 2019
A tremendously fun account of the first World Series that was actually competitive start to finish. A great read for early baseball fans.
March 24, 2011
This is an absolutely excellent book on baseball history, describing the hotly contested 1912 World Series between the NY Giants of the National League and the Boston Red Sox of the American League. The author does a phenomenal job of describing the action in the eight (yes 8) games played, all the while weaving in the events of the time, in particular the Presidential election of 1912 involving Taft, Wilson and Teddy Roosevelt. A famous murder trial was also taking place in NYC during the World Series, involving a corrupt policeman named Charles Becker, and it is interesting to see how the competition between the trial and the baseball World Series competed for front page space in the numerous NYC newspapers.
The final chapter, which discusses what eventually happened to all of the major players in the book, including the baseball players, the politicians, and the presidential candidates, was a delight to read. Even the author's final few pages of acknowledgments, where he described the many places he did his research while writing the book, were interesting. This author has written two other books about baseball, and I know I will eventually read both of these two also.
I still rate Crazy '08 just a tad better than this book, but it's a close race - this is an outstanding book and I recommend it for anyone interested in baseball and American history.
The final chapter, which discusses what eventually happened to all of the major players in the book, including the baseball players, the politicians, and the presidential candidates, was a delight to read. Even the author's final few pages of acknowledgments, where he described the many places he did his research while writing the book, were interesting. This author has written two other books about baseball, and I know I will eventually read both of these two also.
I still rate Crazy '08 just a tad better than this book, but it's a close race - this is an outstanding book and I recommend it for anyone interested in baseball and American history.
September 19, 2013
I hesitate to give 5 stars to a book like this, because I'd really like to reserve that kind of rating for a piece of classic literature.
However, I really need to rate this 5 stars within the particular type of book that this is. And I have to admit that every night I was very much looking forward to laying down and cracking this book open to read another chapter.
I came across this book as part of Joe Posnanski's list of best sports books that he posted last Christmastime. And so far Poz's list hasn't steered me wrong. I love his writing and it seems that the books he likes are probably going to be ones I like as well. So... kudos to him.
Vaccaro takes you into the world of 1912 baseball and really gets in depth with the Boston Red Sox and New York Giants' teams. With few exceptions, each chapter covers one game of the 1912 World Series.
If you're into the Deadball, Christy Mathewson, John McGraw, Jake Stahl, or Boston Red Sox history, you can't go wrong with this read. Highly recommended.
However, I really need to rate this 5 stars within the particular type of book that this is. And I have to admit that every night I was very much looking forward to laying down and cracking this book open to read another chapter.
I came across this book as part of Joe Posnanski's list of best sports books that he posted last Christmastime. And so far Poz's list hasn't steered me wrong. I love his writing and it seems that the books he likes are probably going to be ones I like as well. So... kudos to him.
Vaccaro takes you into the world of 1912 baseball and really gets in depth with the Boston Red Sox and New York Giants' teams. With few exceptions, each chapter covers one game of the 1912 World Series.
If you're into the Deadball, Christy Mathewson, John McGraw, Jake Stahl, or Boston Red Sox history, you can't go wrong with this read. Highly recommended.
October 9, 2012
Re-read this with the 100th anniversary this month of the event. Still a great book. Liked it just as much as when I read it about three years ago. Here is my review from 2009...
Like the it says in the title of this book, Mike Vaccaro has written a true classic.
I picked this up a couple days before the 2009 World Series and I was impressed. Much like author Cait Murphy did in "Crazy 08", Vaccaro paints such a great picture of life nearly 100 years ago. It felt as if I was in New York City and Boston the entire time. Vaccaro not only does a good job describing each inning of each game (I won't ruin it and tell you how many games it went) but he also does a great job describing the players such as Tris Speaker, Christy Matthewson, Smokey Joe Wood, Fred Snodgrass, Harry Hooper and the NY Giants managaer, John McGraw.
I guess the best compliment I can give this book is that I am a Dodger fan that does not like the Red Sox and hates the Giants, but I still enjoyed this read.
Like the it says in the title of this book, Mike Vaccaro has written a true classic.
I picked this up a couple days before the 2009 World Series and I was impressed. Much like author Cait Murphy did in "Crazy 08", Vaccaro paints such a great picture of life nearly 100 years ago. It felt as if I was in New York City and Boston the entire time. Vaccaro not only does a good job describing each inning of each game (I won't ruin it and tell you how many games it went) but he also does a great job describing the players such as Tris Speaker, Christy Matthewson, Smokey Joe Wood, Fred Snodgrass, Harry Hooper and the NY Giants managaer, John McGraw.
I guess the best compliment I can give this book is that I am a Dodger fan that does not like the Red Sox and hates the Giants, but I still enjoyed this read.
September 22, 2012
A hundred years ago the New York Giants and the Boston Red Sox met for eight games to decide the world series champion. It was the first world series that had gone the full number of games and been decided by a close score. I don't capitalize "world series" because it wasn't capitalized back then. Only eight world series had been played before the 1912 showdown.
I love history and I love baseball and Vaccaro's account of the first great world series was very interesting to me. The train travel with every game being alternated between New York and Boston, the game that was tied resulting in a total of eight games being played, the Royal Rooters, McGraw, Mathewson, Smokey Joe Woood, Merkle, Snodgrass...I could go on and on.
I am a big San Francisco Giants fan so it is fun to look back on the Giants ancestors and the glory days of baseball in New York. I recommend this book to any baseball fan who loves history. You will enjoy it.
I love history and I love baseball and Vaccaro's account of the first great world series was very interesting to me. The train travel with every game being alternated between New York and Boston, the game that was tied resulting in a total of eight games being played, the Royal Rooters, McGraw, Mathewson, Smokey Joe Woood, Merkle, Snodgrass...I could go on and on.
I am a big San Francisco Giants fan so it is fun to look back on the Giants ancestors and the glory days of baseball in New York. I recommend this book to any baseball fan who loves history. You will enjoy it.
August 1, 2011
The main subject of this book - the 1912 World Series - is plenty interesting. You've got a number of the best historical ballplayers; you've got two great baseball cities (boston and new york); you've got labor strife. Really, this story should have been enough to fill up 280 pages. Instead, however, Vaccaro relies upon other present day issues of interest (the 1912 election; the murder trial of a new york city policeman) to fill in space and provide context. The book fails because of this. I really did enjoy reading about the series, and about guys like christy mathewson and tris speaker -- people that you know about from baseball lore but may not be able to accurately place. Why this had to be more, i don't understand. I'm sure there are people out there who like Vaccaro just fine, but for me, this format left me disappointed.
July 7, 2014
Very much enjoyed this book - often times it read as a novel rather than just a summation of the season or series as some books of this genre do. I also enjoyed the backdrop of the 1912 presidential election, Teddy Roosevelt's assassination attempt and the Charles Becker trial. It was enough to give it context, but not too much to take away from the main topic. I also enjoyed the backgrounds of some of the lesser-known players being discussed and not just the superstars. Nice effort all around of one of the greatest (and now overlooked) World Series of all time.
March 28, 2011
A great book for a baseball fan who wants to relive (thanks to with artfully re-created history) the 1912 World Series. Disappointing, unfortunately, if one reads the reviews about the invented dialogue and some factual errors. There is enough of merit, however, to recommend this book to those who enjoy baseball, especially dead-ball era baseball and the characters who made it.
February 15, 2011
I was wondering if I'd be able to get up for the 2011 Giants season considering they achieved the ultimate goal last fall. After reading The First Fall Classic, a gift from my sister, I'm ready to go. Pitchers and catchers reported yesterday and I'm ready for a repeat. Go Giants!
January 7, 2010
Book details one of the first great world series between the Giants and Red Sox in 1912
January 1, 2010
Ah ... a little winter dose of baseball. Anyone who loves the game should read it.
December 6, 2010
Fascinating look at the early days of the World Series. Well worth a read.
May 16, 2015
If you like / love baseball read the book. A great view of how the World Series began and a look back at early American baseball.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews