Parisian Bob Caruthers

Countless books have been written covering the minutest aspect of baseball. This is the first to focus on a small but essential piece of every game played during the last 100-plus years - the lineup card, used to record the full lineup and batting order for both teams.

---

Before Shohei Ohtani and Babe Ruth there was Robert Lee "Parisian Bob" Caruthers (1865-1911). A wunderkind pitcher and right fielder known throughout the country, he was the star on the mound for five league championships in 10 years, and one of two players in history--along with Ruth--to lead the Major Leagues in ERA+ (adjusted earned run average) and OPS+ (on-base plus slugging plus).

Coming from a wealthy family, Caruthers had something other players didn't--leverage. This resulted in several holdouts, including one which took him to Europe. This first full-length biography rediscovers one of baseball's most interesting characters and first two-way stars.