Dixie Walker - by Lyle Spatz (Paperback)

About the Book

"Fred "Dixie" Walker was the only player to have been a teammate of both Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson. Walker is remembered for the charge that he tried to keep Robinson from joining the Dodgers. This biography covers Walker's career, revealing him to be a fiery competitor, and one of the colorful characters of baseball's memorable era"--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

Over the course of fifty years in the mid-twentieth century, Fred "Dixie" Walker lived several baseball lives. Dubbed the successor to Babe Ruth after his impressive major league debut in 1931, Walker went from sure-fire prospect to injury-plagued underachiever, to Brooklyn hero, to persona non grata because of his complicated relationship with Jackie Robinson, and finally to redeemed, well-respected minor league manager and major league batting coach. The only player to have been a teammate of both Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson, Walker is remembered too often for the charge that he tried to keep Robinson from joining the Dodgers. This illuminating biography covers Walker's rollercoaster career, revealing him to be a gentle man, a fiery competitor, and one of the most colorful characters of baseball's most memorable era.

About the Author

Lyle Spatz served as chairman of SABR's Baseball Records Committee from 1991 to 2016. He is the recipient of SABR's Bob Davids and Henry Chadwick, and Seymour Medal awards, and among the books he has written or edited are biographies of Bill Dahlen, Willie Keeler, Dixie Walker and Hugh Casey.