While major league baseball gained popularity in large American cities
at the beginning of the twentieth century, it was still relatively
unseen by small town inhabitants who could only read about it in the
newspaper or catch an exhibition game as major league teams traveled
through the United States. What was popular was "town baseball," fierce
competitions between local teams to best the other in all aspects of
baseball, particularly power hitting. It was from this environment that
Jimmie Foxx, one of major league baseball's most talented players, began
his journey toward the majors. Jimmie Foxx: The Pride of Sudlersville,
is the story of one of baseball's most ferocious hitters. Growing up in
small town Maryland, Jimmie seemed destined to play major-league
baseball. By age 16 he was already playing professionally and wowing
fans with his ability to smash homers. During his major-league career he
appeared in three straight World Series, played for the Philadelphia
Athletics and the Boston Red Sox, and spent the 1932 baseball season
closely pursuing Babe Ruth's single-season home run record. The
comparison to Babe Ruth has not been lost on many baseball scholars, but
goes relatively unknown by the general public and many baseball fans.
The most inclusive biography of Jimmie Foxx to date, Millikin's book
provides a complete picture of his subject.
