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Baseball's Mad Russian and the American Dream

The Story of Rollicking Lou Novikoff

Baseball's Mad Russian and the American Dream cover

Baseball's Mad Russian and the American Dream

The Story of Rollicking Lou Novikoff

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Pre-order. Available 04 Feb 2027
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Description

The colorful biography of Lou Novikoff, one of the most fascinating characters in baseball history.

For baseball fans today, the name Lou Novikoff may not ring a bell--but he was the most publicized rookie in National League history when he joined the Cubs in 1941. In fact, he charmed and captivated sports enthusiasts throughout the Great Depression, World War II, and the Cold War with his power hitting and oddball antics.

In Baseball's Mad Russian and the American Dream, Gaylon White recounts for the first time the life of Lou Novikoff, bringing him back in the limelight where he always belonged. The son of Russian immigrants, Novikoff emerged from obscurity to become the king of softball in the 1930s and baseball's hard-hitting and hilarious Mad Russian during World War II. Once described as a combination of Babe Ruth, Hank Greenberg, and the Marx brothers, White details how the eccentric Novikoff enthralled baseball fans, sang like a pro, played a mean harmonica, and clowned around on the field, providing much-needed joy and laughter to a nation beaten down by the Great Depression and the war.

The Mad Russian oozed with color, but soon after World War II, he returned to the minors and eventually fast-pitch softball where he first achieved fame. Baseball forgot him, but now, decades later, Baseball's Mad Russian and the American Dream finally brings his vibrant story to life.

Accessibility Information

Additional accessibility information

  • EPUB 3.0
  • Conforms with the requirements of EPUB Accessibility Spec v1.1
  • WCAG level AA
  • WCAG v2.2 compliant
  • accessibility@bloomsbury.com

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The publication contains no hazards

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  • Has alternative text descriptions for images

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Table of Contents

Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction – A Toast to Remember

1. The Mad Russian and Other Screwballs and Flakes
2. From Russia with Milk
3. Louie the Great
4. Steel Man
5. Lou-Lou Time in La-La Land
6. The James Boys
7. The Mad Russian is Coming
8. The Forgotten Man
9. In-Again-Out-Again Lou
10. The War of Nerves
11. The Sitting Soviet
12. From Baseball Exile to Army Private
13. Misery Loves Company
14. Sleepless in Seattle
15. Slip-Sliding Away
16. Back to First Love
17. The Sad Russian

Appendix – Lou Novikoff Career Stats
Bibliography
Index
About the Author

Product details

Published 04 Feb 2027
Format Ebook (Epub & Mobi)
Edition 1st
Pages 272
ISBN 9798216472742
Imprint Rowman & Littlefield
Illustrations 43 bw images, 1 table
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Gaylon H. White

Gaylon H. White is the author of four books, The B…

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