Faithful reader, big-time Rebel fan, and dedicated elementary school teacher Melissa Dodge's favorite book is How Georgie Radbourn Saved Baseball, by David Shannon. It's an excellent little tale about a day far off into the future when baseball is outlawed. Naturally, winter is eternal and the sun never shines. Georgie Radbourn, however, brings back the game and the sun and life and hope and you'll just have to read it to find out how he did it.
As soon as Melissa told me about the book and I heard the name "Radbourn," I immediately thought of Old Hoss Radbourn, a pitcher primarily with the Boston Braves, who played from 1880-1891. It's no wonder they called him "Old Hoss" as he was indeed, a horse, racking up 489 complete games in only 11 seasons including 1884 when he had 73! (Yes, that's 73 as in 12 more than the National League totaled last season and only two fewer than the entire American League registered in 2008.) Of course, he went 59-12 that year pitching for Providence of the National League. Radbourn, who amassed some amazing totals, particularly by today's standards, died only 6 years after he retired. Perhaps, his arm fell off. Old Hoss, whose real name was Charles, was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1939.
Old Hoss, as it turns out, had a brother, who pitched in only 3 games in his big league career for Detroit in 1883. George Radbourn was 1-2 with a 6.55 ERA, giving up a whopping 38 hits and 7 walks in only 22 innings.
The real George Radbourn never saved baseball, never made the Hall of Fame, as did his brother, and is less famous than his fictional counterpart. Nevertheless, he's listed in the Baseball Encyclopedia and I'd give almost anything to be listed there, even if it said "He stunk" where the statistics are supposed to go.
So, Melissa and all you How Georgie Radbourn Saved Baseball fans, that's the story of the real George Radbourn.
YAY! Thanks for sharing that little tidbit Austin! That books remains one of my all time favorites and let me tell you I've read a ton of them! I can't wait to share it with my class this year. It sure sounds like Old Hoss could really 'hum that apple'! Here's some well deserved kudos to those boys of summer!
Posted by: Melissa Dodge | April 20, 2009 at 09:03 PM