Harry Wright: The Father of Professional Base Ball

This is a biography of Hall of Famer Harry Wright, known for his important role in establishing professionalism as a legitimate element of the game and for promoting its popularity as the national pastime. Possessed of an analytical mind, Wright liked the head-games of management more than the physicality of the game, and he could seem to be both behind the scenes and on the front lines simultaneously. In 1869, while he was Cincinnati's captain, manager and centre fielder, he was also the team's general manager, travelling secretary and public relations department. The book covers his youth from his birth on 10th January, 1835, in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England; his early career in baseball (which partly came about as a result of his cricket skills); his relationship with his wife Carrie and their seven children; the ups and downs of his years with the Cincinnati Red Stockings; his hiring of his brother George; his moves to Providence and Boston; and his death on 10th August, 1937, just a few weeks following his induction into the Hall of Fame, at the age of 90.