Fifty-Nine in '84

De: Edward Achorn

Narrado por: Ax Norman

In 1884, Providence Grays pitcher Charles "Old Hoss" Radbourn won an astounding 59 games - more than anyone in major-league history ever had before, or has since. He then went on to win all three games of baseball's first World Series.

Fifty-nine in '84 tells the dramatic story not only of that amazing feat of grit but also of big-league baseball two decades after the Civil War - a brutal, bloody sport played barehanded, the profession of uneducated, hard-drinking men who thought little of cheating outrageously or maiming an opponent to win.

It is the tale, too, of the woman Radbourn loved, Carrie Stanhope, the alluring proprietress of a boarding-house with shady overtones, a married lady who was said to have personally known every man in the National League.

Wonderfully entertaining, Fifty-nine in '84 is an indelible portrait of a legendary player and a fascinating, little-known era of the national pastime.

©2010 Edward Achorn (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Long forgotten era of baseball giants

Well researched and it keeps your interest. Radbourn(e) was a character of his times and his record of wins set in 1884 will never be broken. It was very interesting to learn about not only the amazing season of 1884, but what life was like for a ball player in the 1880s. And what life was like In this era In general. Lots of good info on Providence, RI here. If you are a baseball fan like I am, or I suspect even if you are not, you will appreciate this history and background of this mostly forgotten legend. The feats of ‘Old Hoss’ are still amazing to this day and symbolize the grit and determination of the American spirit.

A MLB record that will never be broken

Fanatics of major league baseball often talk about records that may never be broken. Records that seem unattainable include Pete Rose's 4,256 career hits, Cal Ripken Jr.'s 2,632 consecutive games played, and of course, Cy Young's 511 career wins. In 1884, Charles "Hoss" Radbourn, the work horse for the Providence Grays, won 59 games in a single season. This remarkable achievement is distinguished author's Edward Achorn focus in "Fifty-Nine in '84."

Achorn takes the reader back to nineteen century baseball, where a coin flip determined which team would bat first. A single umpire would officiate a game, and as you might image, he was often under trained and scorned for making the wrong calls. It was certainly a different baseball landscape during this period, as pitchers stood a mere 50 feet from home plate surrounded by a rectangle.

During the 1884 season, Radbourn accepted the role as the primary pitcher after star hurler Charlie Sweeney was expelled from the club. Radbourn previously had a tirade of his own, but agreed to pitch the majority of starts in exchange for a pay increase and the ability to become a free agent at the end of the season. This was a significant concession granted by the Providence Grays, as players were locked to their teams under the dreaded reserve clause.

The author lists the mind boggling numbers Radbourn posted in 1884. Hoss, as he was commonly called, pitched 678 innings, in a single season. Radbourn faced 2,672 batters, and completed 73 games. The rubber armed thrower also struck out 441 batters, and posted a 1.38 earned run average (ERA). The future hall of famer led his team to a clean sweep of the New York Metropolitans, becoming World Series champions.

Achorn brilliantly details Radbourn's single season record that will never be achieved again. "Fifty-Nine in '84" makes for a great companion to Achorn's "The Summer of Beer and Whiskey," which relives the exciting 1883 American Association pennant race. If you are a fan of nineteen century baseball, there works are essential. Here's hoping that the stories "King" Kelly and the Delahanty brothers finally will be told in audiobooks!

A Baseball Record that will never be beaten

Where does Fifty-Nine in '84 rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It is one of the best. The book while recounting an incredible record also gives us a great history of the early game of baseball. The narrator does a nice job and of course the story is one of my favorite baseball books.

What other book might you compare Fifty-Nine in '84 to and why?

The Glory of Their Times: Another outstanding baseball book which does a great job on the history of baseball through the players themselves simply telling their stories.

Which scene was your favorite?

There are so many good scenes, it's hard to pick one.

Any additional comments?

Hoss was a local boy having lived and died in Bloomington IL. That makes this book even more special to me if that is possible.

Excellent Book

The story of Charles “Old Hoss” Radbourn is a must read for baseball fans! No one will ever surpass his record. The stories of how tough the game was in the 1800’s are eye-opening.
The narrator was fine, just didn’t quite bring it to life considering the time period & how tough the players used to be. Definitely recommend this book.