Dizzy and the Gashouse Gang: The 1934 St. Louis Cardinals and Depression-Era Baseball (review)

Doug Feldman. Dizzy and the Gashouse Gang: The 1934 St.Louis Cardinals and Depression-Era Baseball. Jefferson NC: McFarland & Company, 2000. 215pp. Paper, $28.50.

Perhaps no baseball team ever captivated the hearts of Americans like the Gashouse Gang from St.Louis. Rivals come to mind, such as the Dodgers of the 1940s and 1950s and, more recently, the 1993 Philadelphia club. All three were lovable because they represented a collection of characters to whom the average fan could relate. The uniqueness of the Cardinals team lies with the fact that they flowered at a time when people needed a diversion from hard times and economic gloom. Unlike the other teams, St.Louis also revolved around a central figure, Dizzy Dean, who at once held the club together and divided it by becoming a lightning rod for criticism and media attention. Without him, the club, while somewhat unique, was still interesting but not memorable.

Doug Feldman, in his account Dizzy and the Gashouse Gang, attempts to retell their story to a modern audience. He divides his book into four sections discussing the era, the team, the season, and the championship series with the Detroit Tigers. In the process, he sometimes drifts from the time period and brings up information that seems irrelevant to his major thesis. This is especially true in the book's conclusion when it loses its focus and drops off into extraneous material. The author does his best work when he sticks to the book's major theme.

Some of the errors, which are few, are still annoying and could have been rectified with better editing. Ruth's contract in 1932 was for $80,000, not $20,000. Pee Wee Reese was still playing for the Dodgers in 1953, not doing Game of the Week broadcasts. The hit on which Enos Slaughter scored the winning run in the 1946 series was ruled a double, not a single, thus taking away the sensation of having him score from first on a single. Many times, Feldman simply doesn't nail down the exact year in which an event happens and instead cites only the decade. Most frustrating is the fact that the author, an academician, does not list a bibliography.

On a more positive note, Feldman offers keen insights into the combative nature of Joe Medwick and the practical jokes of Pepper Martin as well as a reminder to the reader that the spotlight on Dean was often resented by his teammates. He also gives an interesting comparison between Dean and Bob Gibson and points out how the Tigers got their revenge thirty-four years later.

While some followers of the national pastime may question the need for yet another account of this well-remembered collection of misfits, Feldman at least recognizes that other, more famous sportswriters have covered them. On numerous occasions, he cites the work of Paul Gallico, Grantland Rice, and Roy Stockton. Although Feldman's work doesn't match up with the coverage that Stockton gave the team in his contemporary writing, the reader can at least enjoy quotes from these early wordsmiths. Perhaps the best thing about this book is that it can introduce a memorable team to young readers who are quickly losing touch with the game.