The Called Shot

Nearly 80 years after the event took place, a home run in the fifth inning of game three of the 1932 World Series between the New York Yankees and the Chicago Cubs is still being discussed and debated. Yankee outfielder Babe Ruth came to the plate and while being heckled by players from the Cubs dugout, he supposedly pointed to center field and proceeded to homer in the area to which he pointed. The verification of that event, while still being debated today, is only one of a number of topics about the 1932 baseball season on display in this excellent book by Thomas Wolf.

The possibility of a reader getting confused by the title and not reading anything about the “called shot” until near the end is the only thing about the book that may not sit well with that reader. Otherwise, the reader is treated to great writing about the 1932 Yankees, Cubs, key personnel on both clubs, a little bit about teams that challenged them to their pennants and also the social, political and economic issues of that year.

Wolf dives deep into some of the better known baseball players of that time, especially if they were with the Yankees or Cubs that season. Of course, Babe Ruth is prominently mentioned throughout the book. Another well-known player is Rogers Hornsby, who is given a less-than-flattering portrayal as he was fired as the Cubs’ player-manager 99 games into the season. Hornsby’s penchant for gambling is also on display here, getting him into financial difficulty to the point he was borrowing money from Cubs teammates.

There is also an excellent write up on the Cubs shortstop Billy Jurges, who was shot by his girlfriend Violet Popovich. Wolf does include that among the many Cubs fans in attendance at Wrigley Field that year was Bernard Malamud, who used a fictional account of this incident in his novel “The Natural.” There is also an excellent story about how two prisoners were able to attend one of the World Series games with the prison warden at Wrigley. It is connections to non-baseball people like this that make the book an excellent read as it does show that baseball, especially at that time, had an impact on so many people in all walks of life.
The book also delves into the political and economic landscape at the time. America was in the midst of the Great Depression and the presidential campaign is also discussed. Especially noteworthy is the fact that both parties had their convention in Chicago that year. The writing on these topics is just as engrossing and informative as the baseball writing.

As for the subject of the title, readers who wish to know whether this really took place or not will be disappointed to learn that Wolf doesn’t engage in that debate, leaving it for others. But his description of that home run, as well as the rest of the material in the book, make for outstanding reading and readers who are interested in baseball or history should add this book to their list.

I wish to thank University of Nebraska Press for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Reading the ARC provided by Netgalley I was grateful for the approval of the book. What I was disappointed in was that there were many typos and just incomplete stats when revering to a player or even a historical figure.
The story takes you back to 1932 in the height of the depression and you get a look at the baseball world first through the Yankees than to the Cubs. You do get a little history of both clubs and of players. Herewith the Yankees he goes into Ruth mainly and also other top stars from the day. You are taken through parts of the Hoover administration and how he was trying to fix things but nothing was working. You also had what was called the bonus march on Washington, veterans from World War were promised money and other things only to be denied so they not only marched on D.C. but were now camping out.
You move along the season with Cubs shortstop Billy Jurges being shot in his hotel room by his girlfriend Violet Popovich. Which would later become the basis for the book the Natural written by a young man who was in the stands at the Cubs game. You also get a look at the Presidential primary which was being held in Chicago and the back-door deals for a man named F.D.R. to run for president. He was not even their and flew they’re from New York to accept the nomination.
His descriptions of the games and the different players will keep you entertained, as will the fights different players have among themselves, umpires, and sometimes fans. Sounds from the stands must have been great along with all of the chatter from the dugout and the field, for this is one of the author's descriptions of what Ruth was pointing to or at. You still get to make up your own mind as to what happened. People at least baseball ones will continue to talk about this for years to come. This book though was so much more and if it was not for all of the typos, I would give it 5 stars, instead, it is 4 because of those. I hope if you like the sport you will take the time to read this good book.

A comprehensive account of the 1932 Major League Baseball season, and the World Series at it's conclusion, The Called Shot is an interesting journey into the sport and world at the time.

I decided to mix it up a little and read a nonfiction book. This was about the Major League Baseball Season of 1932, and I really enjoyed it. Some crazy things happened (one player got shot by his girlfriend!) that season. If you’re a baseball fan or a history buff, I’d highly recommend this audiobook!