Danny Turner: the Deuce Goose: A Baseball Fantasy About the St. Louis Cardinals and the 1926 World Series

By Richard B. Stansberry

With Danny Turner, Stansberry uses an epistolary to advance, color, and develop characters created in his two earlier novels, So Sings The Chattahoochee and 234 Whitehall. The book focuses on Danny Turner, high school friend of Dewey Favers, and the Campbellton children whose relationships were so solidly formed back in that magical summer of 1912. Watch for the companion book, Dewey Favers: Aviator Angel which contains the other side of this conversation. Coming soon.

The book is a collection of letters detailing a year in the life of minor league baseball star Danny Turner, as he is called up to the majors for a glorious season with the 1926 St. Louis Cardinals......the eventual World Series Champions. Perhaps life, is more important, and surprising, than baseball?

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jan 24, 2014
• ISBN: 9781491851388

Richard B. Stansberry

Richard Stansberry is a 1972 graduate of Jeffersontown High School (Kentucky), and obtained a BSC in Finance and an Education Degree from the University of Louisville in 1976. He was also named "Outstanding Senior in Finance". Working full-time as an accountant and auditor, he finished evening classes for an MBA from Georgia State University in 1986. An effective writer of law enforcement grants, he was awarded the 2003 VOLVO TOP 50 Volunteers of the Year Award for his many contributions to law enforcement agencies throughout west Georgia. Interested in preserving local historical heritage, he has been a member of the Old Campbell County Historical Society, and the Atlanta Historical Society. He currently supports and volunteers with the Villa Rica Pine Mountain Gold Museum and Railroad. TWITTER @k9henrydog

Book preview

Danny Turner

The Deuce Goose

A Baseball Fantasy about the

St. Louis Cardinals and the 1926 World Series

Richard B. Stansberry

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© 2014 Richard B. Stansberry. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 01/22/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4918-5140-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4918-5139-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4918-5138-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014900474

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Photo by: Mattingly23. Available under Wikimedia Commons

Photo by: SAN FRANCISCO HISTORY CENTER, SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY. This is a file from the Wikimedia Commons

Photo by: Collins-McCarthyThis is a file from the Wikimedia Commons.

Chicago Cubs

Photo by: Grover Cleveland Alexander Chicago. Available under Wikimedia Commons

Contents

Dedication

Author’s Note

1 - And That’s How It Was

2 - As Long As They Need Me

3 - Not so Successfully Dealing with Success

4 - Is Baseball Beautiful The Second Time Around?

5 - Little Men

6 - Follow A Star—Love Is The Greatest Thing

7 - Pictures

A collection of letters detailing a year in the life of minor league baseball star Danny Turner, as he is called up to the majors for a glorious season with the 1926 St. Louis Cardinals… . the eventual World Series Champions. Perhaps life, is more important, and surprising, than baseball?

Dedication

Grover Cleveland Alexander (Old Pete) was one of the most effective pitchers in baseball. He holds many records, including most wins by a rookie (28), most shutouts in a season (16), and lowest ERA (1.22). Three times he won 30 games. He had the leagues best control of the era, allowing less than one walk per game. Batters who waited him out were more than likely to be called out on a low curve ball that barely nicked the outside corner. In the 1926 World Series, Ruth and Gehrig went a combined 1 for 15 against him, as he compiled a 1.33 ERA with 2 wins and a save against the powerful New York Yankees. He served as an Artillery Sergeant during World War I, becoming partially deaf as a result.

Alexander had the greatness and frailty in him that makes for high drama, and often tragedy. Except for Ty Cobb among his contemporaries, no one had to deal with more personal demons. He was one of the most complex players of the Deadball Era.

He is the only player named for a sitting President, and would later be portrayed on the Silver Screen by future President Ronald Reagan (The Winning Team). Born February 26th, 1887 in the tiny farm community of Elba, Nebraska, he was one of 13 children (12 boys), sixth of only eight to live into adulthood.

Pete’s Performance in 1911 is arguably the greatest season by a rookie pitcher in the 20th Century. 28-13, with a 2.57 ERA, he led the league and maintains the record for Rookie Season. The year included a win against Boston and Cy Young, a one hit shutout in September. Second in the league with strikeouts (195), he led the League in games pitched 31, innings pitched with 367, and 7 shutouts (4 in a row). He finished fifth in ERA, and had 3 saves.

In 1915, he started a three year reign of terror over batters in Major League baseball. He won the Triple Crown for pitchers.

Many men survive a war, but most never recover from it. In a cruel irony, the war destroyed the other great National League pitcher of the era, Christy Mathewson. Alexander was drafted and reported to Fort Dunston, Kansas. He married Amy Marie Arrants of Omaha, whom he had met on a blind date. He arrived as Artillery Sergeant on the front in July 1917, and spent seven weeks under relentless bombardments that left him deaf in the left ear. Pulling the lanyard on the Howitzers caused muscle damage to his right arm. He caught shrapnel in his left ear area, which may have contributed to the cancer that stuck him 30 years later. He was shell-shocked, became epileptic and an alcoholic. In those days, men thought it better to be known as a drunk, than an epileptic, which many thought was to be ‘touched’ by the devil.

He returned from the War a wreck, but worked diligently back to pitching shape. He was a different pitcher, depending on finesse, knowledge, and pinpoint control; but managed to win more than he lost. After several losing seasons, the Cubs brought in Joe McCarthy to managed Wrigley’s Chicago club. Thinking Alexander’s drinking was hurting the team, he let him go to St. Louis late in the 1926 season, where Cards coach Rogers Hornsby felt he needed some pitching fire power, and was willing to deal with him.

Facing veteran bombers like Babe Ruth, and Bob Meusel, and young guns like Lou Gerhig and Tony Lazzeri, he became a legend. He pitched complete-game wins in Games 2 and 6, before a climatic and historic 7th Game. Alexander entered the game to relieve Jesse Haines in the 7th inning with bases loaded, two out, and the Cardinals hanging on to a 3-2 lead. He struck out Lazzeri, held the lead and finally won the game by turning around in the 9th to throw out Babe Ruth who surprisingly tried to steal second. Rumors abound about his condition at the moment. It is not known if he was drunk, hung over, or sober; but his wife Amy maintained to her death that he was sober. He played on till 1930, but then began to spiral out of control. His wife divorced him in an effort to shock him into his senses, charging him in a lawsuit as a Love Pirate! They remarried in 1931. In time he became an embarrassment to the National League. There are archived letters between Baseball Commissioner Kennesaw Mountain Landis, National League President Ford Frick, Cardinal President Sam Breadon, and Cardinal VP Branch Rickey addressing the continuing question of what to do about Alexander. They finally set up a National League pension which was sent to a man hired to keep him out of trouble. It was hoped those funds, plus a small military pension that had finally been provided to WWI vets, would keep him from going under. He spent time in Sanitariums seeking help which did not work. He had a joyous 1938, being elected to the first Baseball Hall of Fame. He was there for the first induction ceremony in Cooperstown on June 12th, 1939. Enjoying himself, he did note to a reporter that "I am in the Hall of Fame… . and proud to be there, but I can’t eat the Hall of Fame.’

He suffered a heart attack October 15th, 1946, as he was leaving Sportsman’s Park after watching the Cards beat the Red Sox in a World Series game. The next year, he fell during an epileptic seizure in Los Angeles, and also developed cancer. His last public appearance was the 1948 World Series in New York as a guest of the New York Yankees, who defeated the Phillies that year. Later, back in St. Paul, Minnesota, he left to mail a letter to his wife Amy telling her he was looking forward to seeing her again. He went back to his hotel room, and was later found dead of cardiac failure. He was buried with full military honors in a family plot at Elmwood Cemetery outside St. Paul.

Ever speaking kindly of him, Amy lived on to age 87, dying in Los Angeles in 1979.

At the funeral it was noted, Never meeting a batter he couldn’t beat, or a bottle he could… . he was pursued by demons one can only imagine. A cursed life of great achievement.

Author’s Note

This work is a book of fantasy fiction, given as a gift to a local law enforcement officer, Danny Turner of Tallapoosa, Georgia. There are sports heroes, and there a real heroes… . many who patrol the streets late at night, and face risks most of us lack the courage to confront. This book is a Thank-you to Sergeant Turner, and Law Enforcement Officers everywhere. We live in a culture with intrusive media that seems intent on denigrating the sacrifices and efforts of those who have dedicated their lives to protecting our liberties. I was raised in a time that provided respect and courtesy to police officers. Too many children view these rare men as opponents these days, and a needless intrusion on their less-than-praiseworthy activities. We would do well to return to ‘better times’. I write this book, as small payback to someone who no doubt would rather be playing baseball.

Placing Officer Turner into the 1926 St. Louis Cardinals, required removing a player of note. There were many future Hall-of-Fame inductees on the team. Pete Alexander was the obvious choice, as so much of the drama and success of the team stemmed from his efforts. Where possible, I reconstructed games from box scores available on-line. Baseball-Reference.com was a major source, as was Wikipedia. Many of the thrills described in these pages actually happened, and I hope by exposing them to new readers, they will be remembered again and carried on to the next generation. On a personal level, I have no knowledge whatsoever of the individual team members personalities or activities, and social interactions were developed solely for entertainment appeal and dramatic effect. I hope this work has honored all of them.

1926 National League Standings

St. Louis Cardinals

Cincinnati Reds

Pittsburgh Pirates

Chicago Cubs

New York Giants

Brooklyn Robins

Boston Braves

Philadelphia Phillies

St. Louis Cardinals

Time fades all but memory

Chapter 1

And That’s How It Was

Evansville, Indiana—Friday—September 11th, 1925

Dewey ole pal!! I suppose you seen in the papers where I been sold to the Cardinals. Believe me, it comes as a surprise to me and I bet it did to all you good ole buds down home! You could have knocked me over with a feather when old man Whittinghill come up to me and says Danny… . I’ve sold you to the Cards.

I didn’t have no idea that anything like that was coming off. For five minutes I was just dumb and couldn’t say a word. He says we aren’t getting what you are worth but I want you to go up to that big league and show those birds that there is an Evansville on the map! He says go and pitch the ball like you been pitching down here and there won’t be nothing to it. He says all you need is nerve, and Hack Wilson or Ruth or no one else will have nothing on you.

So I says I would do the best I could and thanked him for the treatment here I got at Bosse Field. It is a grand ole park, and they was always good to me here and though I did more than my share I always felt that my work was appreciated by the fans. We are finishing second and I done most of it. I can’t