Description
Book Synopsis This first biography of four-time all-star Al Rosen covers the career of perhaps the best player on the fabulous Cleveland Indians'' teams of the 1950s. From 1951 to 1956, the Tribe won one American League pennant (1954) and finished second to New York the other five seasons. Rosen was selected as the League''s Most Valuable Player in 1953, the last Indians player to be so honored. He led the League in home runs (43) and RBI (145). Washington''s Mickey Vernon edged Rosen by a single percentage point (.337 to .336) for the league batting championship.
His play between the white lines was not the only place where Rosen left his mark on the game. He spent 14 seasons as a president or general manager for the New York Yankees (1978-1979), Houston Astros (1981-1985) and the San Francisco Giants (1986-1992). Under his guidance, those teams won two pennants and one world championship. Rosen is the only person in Major League Baseball history to win an MVP award as a player and
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
One. From Spartanburg to Miami
Two. World War II and Three Cups of Joe
Three. The Hebrew Hammer
Four. It's Unanimous!
Five. 111–43 and a Fractured Finger
Six. Decline and Retirement
Seven. George, Billy, Lem and a World Championship
Eight. The Houston Mediocres
Nine. A Pennant by the Bay
Epilogue
Appendix
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index
