The Glory of Their Times: The Story of the Early Days of Baseball Told by the Men Who Played It

Baseball in the deadball era when the fences were so far out that the league leading home run hitter hit 4 home runs; all of them inside the park runs. Baseball when you got one ball to play with. Fred Snodgrass' story *alone* is worth the price of the book, but you also get to hear what it was like to play with Walter Johnson, Babe Ruth (with the Red Sox), lots of dirt on Ty Cobb and Christey Matthewson.......

Each of these stories is like a summer day and makes you feel like grabbing a ball and mitt and heading outside.

What else is there to say? Pick it up!


The Best Baseball Book - Period   March 2, 2003
 3 out of 3 found this review helpful


This is, and will always be, my most favorite baseball book ever. Read all of the previous reviews and you will understand why so many readers love this book. Read the book and you will realize why you love baseball so much.

If you are debating whether or not to read The Glory of Their Times ask yourself this question, do you know who Charles Victory Faust is? No? Then read the book. That alone is worth the price of admission.

I have reread this book a number of times and there is still a Germany Schaefer story I love to tell any baseball enthusiast who hasn't heard it. But that is just one of many great stories told by a colorful collection of great players who help make baseball the great game that it is.


Baseball as pure as it can get   December 22, 2002
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

Ritter spent six years tracking down professional baseball players from the early 1900s, then stepped aside to let them tell their remarkable stories in their own words. Virtually all of these men are gone now, but thanks to Ritter they'll never be forgotten. If you're a fan of baseball, you'll be a fan of this book!


baseball as it should be   November 30, 2002
 6 out of 7 found this review helpful

I first read this book as an 11 year old and i have treasured it since. This is how all children should learn about the game. Mr. Ritter deserves a place in the Hall of Fame for preserving the storys of these players. At the time the book was written these men were elderly and most were long forgotten. Some had stayed in the game (Hans Lobert), some were successful in other fields (Fred Snodgrass) and some like Bill Wambgnass and Stan Coveleski barely scrapped by. But from their memories you understand that they are all intellegent men who were, in their youth, the best ball players in the nation. They paint a vivid picture, as only men who lived the llfe can, of what baseball was like at the turn of the century. The storys in this book are gems. You get to hear about the greats of the game not from some sportswriter (most of whom usually get it wrong) but by the players. And they pull no punches. Ty Cobb was a bastard, Bugs Raymond was a drunk. From their memories you get a REAL picture of what Hans Wagner, Babe Ruth, Chrisy Mathewson and Walter Johnson were like not just as players but as men. It should be noted that almost as a direct result of this book Goose Goslin, Rube Marquard and Stan Coveleski were elected to baseball Hall of Fame.


A Priceless Collection   October 15, 2002
 8 out of 8 found this review helpful

Being a die hard baseball fan, I am always on the look out for great baseball books. And after reading numerous lists of favorite baseball books by Amazon.com readers, it seemed that there was one unanimous choice, The Glory of Their Times, by Lawrence Ritter. And let me say, that I wasn't dissapointed in the least. The beauty of this book is that you feel like you yourself are sitting down with the different players interviewed and having them regale you with stories about playing baseball in the early 20th Century or earlier. The players interviewed are not all household names which adds so much to it. Most of us know the exploits of Cobb and Ruth. Not as many know the stories of Harry Hooper, Wahoo Sam Crawford, and Paul Waner to name just a few. This book is a pleasure to read through and all I can say is thank God that Mr. Ritter wrote this book when he did as all of the players interview here have since passed on I believe. Don't miss this book!