Carl Hubbell: Five Fabulous Seasons that Paved the Way to Cooperstown

What made Carl Hubbell one of the great left-handed pitchers of all time? It all boils down to two things: his remarkable control and one of the best screwballs in baseball history. Carl Hubbell pitched for the New York Giants from 1928 to 1943. During his career, he was named an All-Star nine times, led the National League in wins and ERA three times, and even took home the MVP trophy twice. But Hubbell wouldn't have gone down as one of the sport's best without his improbable five-year stretch from 1933-1937. In this book, baseball historian Ronald Mayer relays the story of how Hubbell's five-year run cemented his legacy as one of the MLB's greatest pitchers of all time. Achievements during that time include: Winning 21 or more games each season Became the first unanimous NL, MVP in 1933 Won 24 consecutive games (MLB Record) between '36 and '37 Led the NY Giants to a World Championship in '33 with a 1.66 ERA In addition to recounting Hubbell's incredible five-year run, Mayer shares stories, stats, and anecdotes about other NY Giants players like Bill Terry, Mel Ott, Jo-Jo- Moore, and Gus Mancuso. Ironically, the screwball, the pitch that earned him the nickname "King Carl" and the "Meal Ticket" was the one that eventually ended his career at age forty. This book follows Hubbell's outstanding pitching career all the way to his Hall of Fame induction in 1947.

About the Author :
Ronald A. Mayer is an author of baseball history books. He's written about immortal players, single-season sagas, and even a collection of poems called Baseball Memories that celebrates America's favorite pastime in its biggest and smallest moments. He is a diehard New York Yankees fan through the good and not-so-good years, and he is an avid appreciator of the two greatest screwball pitchers of all time, Christy Mathewson and Carl Hubbell. His love for the sport comes from his father, who in his later years, would intrigue him with stories of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Earle Combs, and Bill Dickey. As many boys did, he played the game as a youth and through his college days at Montclair State University. He gave up the dream of playing major league baseball, like so many others, when pitchers began throwing that dastardly curveball. The same curve scientists once claimed was an optical illusion. He is a former member of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) and a life-long resident of New Jersey. He currently resides in East Hanover with his wife Arlene.

Review :
"Mayer brings to life the trials and tribulations of Hall of Fame pitcher Carl Hubbell, a quiet and humble man, and one of the great left-handers of his era or any other. He defied those who said he shouldn't throw his best pitch the screwball for it would hurt his arm and career. His mistake was in using it too often and not selectively like Christy Mathewson, a right-hander who made the pitch famous and used it only in tight spots. It makes one wonder if Carl Hubbell were pitching today with knowledgeable trainers and advancements in medicine, would he have been allowed to use the screwball as often. Add the huge salaries of today, it is safe to say he would have been restricted and his career would have lasted longer. Despite the wishful thinking, Carl Hubbell had a marvelous career and a phenomenal five consecutive years that paved the way to Cooperstown."