One Memorable Summer

This book includes player statistics, game-day statistics, and a brief account of each individuals' accomplishments before and after the summer of 1923. It also includes a map of the South Georgia League, photos of players, the only known photo of Shoeless Joe Jackson with the Americus club and game-day posters offering a two dollar game for the bargain of fifty cents.

For the average reader, this book provides a nostalgic look at a brief period of time in the history of Americus which probably would have gone unnoticed outside of that town had it not been for the signing of an "outlaw" ballplayer. If you aren't a fan of baseball, the inning-by-inning descriptions of games may seem boring or possibly confusing. For baseball fans, this book is so much more. If you love the game, Bell's descriptions of "four-six-three" double plays and guys with nicknames like "Lefty" and "Big Bill" will pull you in right away. You can picture the games at Play Ground park in your head as you read about them. There's also a taste of the modern game foreshadowed here when Bell talks about the way rumors were abound in the league that the Americus players were receiving high salaries. Some(like Shoeless Joe) were getting paid upwards seventy-five dollars a week! For some reason, the NY Yankees come to mind.

Also included in this book is information about the campaign to get Shoeless Joe Jackson reinstated to Major League Baseball so that he can be recognized at Cooperstown. In my opinion, he deserves to be there.

Overall, a good read for Shoeless Joe fans and baseball fans in general. If you're not into baseball, this book may be a little overwhelming with its terms and statistics. If you're a nostalgia buff, this book is worth the price for the pictures and posters alone.

Play ball.