Murder at Ebbets Field

Troy Soos

In August, 1914, the New York Giants are in first place in the National League. There is every chance they will be the league champions and go on to the World Series. Mickey Rawlings, utility player with a batting average below .250, is proud to be on the team. Since he is not a star or high ranking player, he does not play all the time. He gets in some play time, and does his job to the best of his ability.

While the Giants are playing the Brooklyn Dodgers, a movie crew arrives. They are making a baseball movie that stars Florence Hampton, one of the owners of the Dodgers. They would like to have a couple "real" baseball players featured. The Dodgers allow Casey Stengel to be in the movie. The Giants' manager, John McGraw, did not want to cooperate. Finally he offered Rawlings. Thus the protagonist finds himself involved in the still-young film world.

After a night at a movie party, the still-hungover Rawlings discovers the nude body of the now-dead Hampton. Both a newspaper man and one of Hampton's co-workers, Marguerite Turner, prompt Rawlings to investigate further. Was the death an accidental drowning, or was a murderer hiding behind one of those suave faces?

This cozy who-done-it will be appreciated by any baseball fan. Rawlings is a likeable character, and rubs shoulders with the great baseball players of the era. The setting gives us a picture of urban American in the early 1900's before our involvement in World War I. I had to chucked while Turner kept waiting for the movie fad to die away. This average book is good for an enjoyable diversion.

Murder at Fenway Park
Murder at Ebbets Field
Murder at Wrigley Field
Hunting a Detroit Tiger
The Cincinnati Red Stalkings
Hanging Curve