The Lost Art of Baseball Humor - Paperback

by Gerard S. Petrone (Author)

The Lost Art of Baseball Humor (1860-1900) is an off-beat, annotated collection of humorous 19th Century baseball writing, embellished with period baseball illustrations and cartoons, plus little-known tidbits of historical information. Marvel how baseball writing evolved to include elements of slang, sarcasm, wit, and faux erudition, all intended to interest the reader through humor. Within these pages are the writings of Charles Dryden, O.P. Caylor, Ren Mulford, Leonard Washburne, and many others who plied their craft anonymously. And though these writing styles have faded away like so much dust on the base paths, the pages herein contain numerous samples to ponder for baseball historians and casual fans alike. Nuf Ced!

Author Biography

A Washington State native by birth, Gerard S. Petrone is an 80-year-old retired physician who lives in San Diego with his wife Pam, two spoiled Welsh Corgis, and a cage full of very loud parakeets. His interest in baseball dates to his childhood when he enjoyed brief glory in the summer of 1952 as a terror on the mound in the Under-14 League in Tacoma. In recent years, Petrone has confined his baseball research exclusively to the 19th Century, irresistibly drawn to the period by its zany lawlessness, rough-and-tumble ways, and host of unforgettable characters.