Synopsis

The Doherty Oval is filled with nearly double its 6,500 capacity. Fans stand together in the outfield grass behind a rope, filling space between the players and outfield wall. More spill into foul territory; others are perched in trees beyond the ballpark fence. Outside the gates, 5,000 spectators mill about – some pressing their faces against the wooden fence’s seams pried wider by pocket knives, watching a sliver of the game.

Babe Ruth waits. The pitch comes in and the Bambino shoots his bulk forward, corkscrewing his bat around and smacking the ball high over two fences – one encircling the outfield 275 feet from home plate and another 100 feet beyond it.

Then all hell breaks loose.

The Doherty Silk Sox, The Lost History of Baseball’s Maverick Independent Team by Jack DeVries tells the story of this game and more.

Founded as an independent team in 1916, the Silk Sox – fueled by their deep-pocketed and winning-obsessed owner Harry Doherty – would go 399-236-15 against major league, Negro League and independent teams during 12 seasons. Then, along with their postcard-pretty Doherty Oval, the Silk Sox would disappear almost without a trace.

There are countless books about baseball history bound by leagues, statistics and championships. The 85,000-word completed book – The Doherty Silk Sox– isn’t one of them.

While it intersects with the familiar baseball world, this book is about rebels – player-mavericks who refused to be dictated to by penny-pinching major or minor league owners. It tells the story of men who created their own alternate baseball universe, taking on all comers – without regard for league affiliation or skin color.

It also tells Harry Doherty’s story – the silk mill owner who would build the best team, hire the best players and play the best opponents. And, when the game was over, Doherty would give the gate proceeds to those who needed it more, specifically the Red Cross.

After reading this book, fans will know a more complete history of baseball and the story of a team and its players who celebrated individualism as the ultimate free agents of their time.

The book follows the Silk Sox through a deadly pandemic, the Great War and Prohibition – as they roar through the 1920s until their demise at decade’s end.

Readers will meet the Silk Sox’s major league-caliber outfield of Howard Lohr, Jimmy Eschen and Bibbs Raymond; indomitable pitchers like Jimmy Clinton, Otto Rettig and Milt Gaston; and eccentric characters like Bill “Lefty” James and Paddy Smith.

Making frequent appearances are some of baseball’s icons, like Commissioner Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, Yankees GM Ed Barrow and New York Giants manager John McGraw; Negro League stars like Cyclone Joe Williams, John Henry Lloyd and Oscar Charleston; and the iconic Sultan of Swat himself, George Herman Ruth.

Drawing on meticulous research and multiple interviews, The Doherty Silk Sox details why the talented Silk Sox players turned their backs on organized baseball – choosing to play the game on their terms., not organized baseball’s.