Sold: “John McGraw: The Tumultuous Life and Times of Baseball’s ‘Little Napoleon'” by Daniel R. Levitt

Very excited to have sold a great new baseball book to Rob Taylor University of Nebraska Press, one of the very best editors and publishers of sports books. John McGraw: The Tumultuous Life and Times of Baseball’s ‘Little Napoleon’ by Daniel R. Levitt, will be the first full biography of the New York Giants’ legendary player-manager in two decades. As described in my announcement of the deal, his “acumen as a field general was unparalleled, with innovations in play that enlivened the dead-ball era…[With] gambling and on-field fisticuffs common….McGraw, a diminutive second basemen was usually among the brawlers; on the base paths, belligerence reigned as just two umpires enforced the rules, and McGraw and opponents often tangled in mutual brazen aggression.” With a tip of the ball cap to publishing pal David Wilk, who referred the author to me. For publication in 2027. #baseball #biography #NewYorkCity #DeadBallEra