| Mark Armour has authored numerous books and | | | | 1948 through 1950 were the constant contract |
| articles on baseball, and is also the director of | | | | struggles with stars Ted Williams and Dom |
| SABR's Baseball Biography Project. It was his | | | | DiMaggio and the harnessing of Manager Joe |
| efforts on the Baseball Biography Project that | | | | McCarthy who was battling serious alcohol |
| started Mark on the path to writing this book. | | | | problems. |
| Since Joe Cronin had been involved in the game | | | | One of the key negatives that historians will point |
| at the highest levels since 1926 through his final | | | | to in a Cronin biography is the fact that the Red |
| days as AL President in 1973, his story was | | | | Sox were the last team to integrate in the Major |
| intermingled with most of the players that Mark | | | | Leagues. It was not until Pumpsie Green joined |
| was compiling in the project. After questioning a | | | | the team in 1959, eleven and one-half years after |
| trusted colleague about why there had not been a | | | | Jackie Robinson had broken the color barrier, that |
| complete biography of the man, Mark's colleague | | | | every team had fielded an African American |
| said it was up to him to write it. His inspiration | | | | player. Whether is was a directive, poor planning |
| was set. | | | | and scouting, or poor timing, this is a responsibility |
| Joe Cronin ascended from the sandlots of San | | | | that must be accounted for when discussing Joe |
| Francisco through the ranks of star player, field | | | | Cronin's legacy. |
| manager, general manager and American League | | | | Some of the most important decisions the game |
| President to become one of the most influential | | | | had ever known greeted Joe Cronin when he |
| people the game of baseball has ever seen. | | | | became the President of the American League. |
| One of the first individuals in the game to | | | | Issues ranging from antitrust to unionization of the |
| recognize the skills that young Cronin possessed | | | | umpires to League expansion are just some of |
| as a player, and also as a leader, was Clark | | | | the items needing attention during his Presidency. |
| Griffith owner of the Washington Senators. | | | | Mark makes the intriguing case in the book that |
| Griffith put complete faith in a 26 year old | | | | although it was natural for Cronin to ascend to |
| shortstop to lead his team as player-manager, | | | | these ever increasing responsibilities, he did not |
| which he did well, leading them to the World | | | | come from any formal pedigree that would be a |
| Series in 1933. This relationship to the Griffith | | | | requirement for the position today. However, it |
| family lasted a lifetime, including Cronin's marriage | | | | must be said that no matter what rank he |
| to Griffith's niece Mildred. | | | | served, he performed it well. |
| Expectations were high when Cronin arrived in | | | | During the writing of this book, Mark had the |
| Boston prior to the 1935 season to be the | | | | chance to speak to a central figure in the history |
| player-manager of owner Tom Yawkey's Red | | | | of the labor movement, both inside and outside of |
| Sox, and the challenges of managing some of his | | | | baseball, Marvin Miller. Miller related the scenario |
| new teammates who had already demonstrated | | | | that although he liked Cronin personally, everyone |
| Hall of Fame caliber success was difficult for the | | | | liked Cronin personally, they were not speaking |
| young man. He did however continue to | | | | the same language as it pertained to the rights of |
| demonstrate high caliber skills, earning him seven | | | | the players as employees in a collective bargaining |
| All-Star selections as a shortstop and was widely | | | | agreement. The game was changing in ways that |
| considered one of the game's most popular | | | | were unimaginable. |
| players. | | | | Cronin always had the perspective that the game |
| Cronin's transition to the Red Sox General | | | | had treated him right, and through hard work and |
| Manager position came about gradually as he | | | | perseverance he had risen from a sandlot |
| obtained more influence with the team as his | | | | ballplayer to the highest position in his League. He |
| playing time waned (during the war years he | | | | felt that the game would continue to go on to |
| played somewhat out of necessity) and health | | | | reward ballplayers who followed the same work |
| impediments interfered with of job duties of the | | | | ethic. |
| current GM Eddie Collins. Cronin knew the players | | | | Historian and author Mark Armour has written the |
| and the needs of the team better than anyone | | | | definitive biography of Cronin's life in Joe Cronin: A |
| else. | | | | Life in Baseball. Mark Armour's web site is at |
| It seemed his greatest challenges as he took | | | | Mark-Armour.net or you can visit the SABR web |
| over the General Manager's role during the years | | | | site to keep up with the latest happenings there. |