Yes, I know it has been MORE THAN A CENTURY since the Cubs won the World Series.
As a realistic yet always hopeful lifelong Cubs fan, I recently picked up a book that has been sitting in my bookcase for some time: Crazy ’08: How a Cast of Cranks, Rogues, Boneheads, and Magnates Created the Greatest Year in Baseball History.
This book documents the 1908 season.
I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this book unless you are a serious history buff with a great attention span and appreciation for detail, to the point you would enjoy following the play by play for an entire season 100+ years ago…
Detailed history buff does not describe me – BUT I did find LOTS in the book I appreciated and will share that information below.
The most interesting (and perhaps depressing part) is that the 1908 World Series win was largely due to a huge controversy referred to as the “Merkle Game.” You may have been to Merkle’s in Wrigleyville. If you don’t know the history of this season or this name, read on…
thanks to its crazy story line:
is super nostalgic for me, but that’s not the only reason I think it’s the perfect book to give at a baby shower or to a new baby!
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previously read by Gene Kaufman with a textbook control card. I’m keeping the card for a bookmark, and I’m keeping the cover too, but unfortunately, the rest of the old book needs to go into the recycling bin because it is literally falling apart.