In this Book
- Terrier Town: Summer of ’49
- Book
- 2003
- Published by: Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Debate still rages on about who invented baseball. But one thing is certain...it was alive and fractious in southwestern Ontario in the summer of 1949. Charlie Hodge, just finishing his last year of high school, has made the Galt Terriers’ roster and will be riding the bench with a star-studded team, many of whom had played with the major leagues.
When those seasoned pros arrive in town, big things are expected, and they don’t disappoint. There is the towering home run that Goody Rosen hits into the Grand River; the frozen baseball scheme that backfires; and the busload of promotional cooking oil hijacked just before game time. It all comes down to Game 7 in the Terriers’ semi-final series with the Brantford Red Sox, when a convicted gambler, playing centre field that night, makes one of the most controversial plays ever seen at Dickson Park.
Based on exhaustive research and extensive interviews, David Menary recreates that post-war season in Terrier Town through the eyes of Charlie Hodge. While Charlie is a fictional character, the other players are not. This is a story that will resonate with young and old alike, baseball fans or not. This is a team that became a vital part of the town, and the town an elemental part of the team. This is a time rapidly fading from memory — a summer of myths and legends.
Table of Contents
- Acknowledgements
- pp. ix-x
- Introduction
- pp. 1-8
- Game Seven
- pp. 9-12
- A Time and a Place
- pp. 13-22
- Beginnings
- pp. 23-30
- Twinkletoes
- pp. 31-38
- Winter and Spring
- pp. 39-50
- Waiting for Warren
- pp. 51-54
- Tom Padden
- pp. 55-66
- The Red Sox
- pp. 75-84
- Pennell and the Prime Minister
- pp. 85-100
- Rivalry and Legends
- pp. 101-104
- Born of the Spring
- pp. 105-110
- Summer Day at Mill Creek
- pp. 119-124
- The Dog Days
- pp. 125-132
- More Dog Days
- pp. 133-140
- Summer Days, Summer Nights
- pp. 141-144
- Lefty Comes to Town
- pp. 145-156
- Honus and the Boys
- pp. 157-164
- The Glovebox
- pp. 165-168
- Hustlin’ Gus
- pp. 169-176
- Only the Ball Was White
- pp. 187-196
- Young Blood
- pp. 197-200
- Murderer’s Row
- pp. 201-208
- The Hodge Boys
- pp. 209-210
- Billy Gibbs
- pp. 213-216
- Across the River
- pp. 217-220
- Hitting the Fence
- pp. 221-224
- Back Door into the Playoffs
- pp. 225-230
- The Prelude
- pp. 231-238
- The Playoffs
- pp. 239-246
- The Last Game
- pp. 247-258
- Old Leaves and Autumn
- pp. 259-264
- The Last Game: Aftermath
- pp. 265-268
- Final Innings
- pp. 281-282
- Johnny Lockington
- pp. 283-288
- Billy Gibbs
- pp. 289-290
- Stan Lipka
- pp. 291-296
- Tex Kaiser
- pp. 297-300
- Don Gallinger
- pp. 301-306
- Ernie Goman
- pp. 307-310
- Frank Udvari
- pp. 311-316
- Lefty Perkins
- pp. 317-320
- Johnny Kumornik
- pp. 321-324
- Wes Lillie
- pp. 325-332
- Tulsa Tommy Warren
- pp. 333-340
- Johnny Clark
- pp. 341-344
- Jeff Shelton
- pp. 345-350
- Connie Waite
- pp. 351-352
- Laurie Brain
- pp. 353-360
- Connie Creedon
- pp. 361-364
- Goody Rosen
- pp. 365-368
- Bert McCrudden
- pp. 369-370
- Tom Padden
- pp. 371-376
- Larry PennellL
- pp. 377-388
- Gus Murray
- pp. 389-404
- Charlie Hodge
- pp. 405-420
Additional Information
Copyright
2003