Electric October by Kevin Cook

ELECTRIC OCTOBER by Kevin Cook is not to be missed if you enjoy baseball and history.  Cook, an established author and former senior editor at Sports Illustrated, focuses on six lesser known individuals associated with the 1947 World Series. That was the first integrated World Series and the first to be televised (some video footage). Cook describes the early lives of each of these men, events leading to and during the pennant race, plus the series itself between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Yankees and their lives afterwards.  It is highly likely that these players - Cookie Lavagetto, Al Gionfriddo, Bill Bevens, and Snuffy Stirnweiss - and the two managers - Burt Shotton and Bucky Harris - are not readily recognizable to you.  Yet, Cook points out the memorable plays made (for some in their last major league game) and the impact that the managers especially have had on the game: developing the farm system, instituting a new form of relief pitching and much more.  ELECTRIC OCTOBER is a fun read that provides an entertaining chronicle of many, many events in baseball history. For example, some of the profiled athletes played with Ty Cobb or worked with Branch Rickey (who, we learn, set a still-standing record as a back-up catcher in 1907, allowing the most stolen bases ever during a game.). As a rookie, Bucky Harris helped win the 1924 World Series for Washington – much to President Coolidge’s delight (see vintage footage). As I read, I was impressed again and again by the courage, risk-taking and team spirit shown by these boys/men originally from small town America and playing America’s game.  ELECTRIC OCTOBER had a starred review from Publishers Weekly.