The son of a coal miner from a small Illinois town, Cleveland Indians shortstop Ray Chapman lived the American dream until his untimely death at age twenty-nine. In his brief life, he reached the pinnacle of baseball success as the best shortstop in the American League. While many professional ballplayers struggled with meager salaries, the handsome Chapman had married heiress Kathleen Daly, one of Cleveland's wealthiest women. With a child on the way and an executive job in the offseason, Chapman was moving toward a privileged place in society until an errant fastball fractured his skull and ended his life the next day.
Late in the 1920 pennant race, the Indians were in New York for a key series against the Yankees. New York pitcher Carl Mays threw a high hard one that Chapman could not evade. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors tried in vain to save his life. The tragedy did not end there. His widow took her own life eight years later, and their daughter, Rae, subsequently died from meningitis. Today, people visit Chapman's impressive grave in Cleveland's Lake View Cemetery, leaving baseballs and gloves in his memory. Though gone over a hundred years, he is well remembered as a Cleveland icon. This book goes far beyond the well-worn accounts of Chapman's untimely death to illustrate the fullness of his short life.
Industry Reviews
Scott H. Longert, whose previous books largely focus on Cleveland sports, does Chapman's memory and baseball history a huge service by rehumanizing the player. . . . From this book, the baseball world will understand anew what it lost in Chapman's tragic death. * Booklist *
Even the most passionate baseball fans know little about Ray Chapman except for his death: the only major league ballplayer to die of injuries sustained on a baseball field. This book is a worthwhile (and frankly, overdue) exploration of his life, from the hollers of Kentucky to the minor leagues to Cleveland, where he distinguished himself with his talent and ingratiated himself with his personality. -- Vince Guerrieri, sports writer
Scott H. Longert paints a complete picture of Ray Chapman as a human being, instead of Ray Chapman as a sad piece of baseball lore. Longert's biography uncovers and restores who Chapman actually was: a great baseball player, a fan favorite, and a loveable, well-respected person. Chapman had a fascinating life and career-a baseball Horatio Alger story. -- Jeremy Feador, Cleveland Guardians team historian
Scott H. Longert . . . sheds light on one of the darkest days in baseball history, bringing Ray Chapman-and his family-back to life. Not only a promising career, but also a promising life wiped out by a beanball. A welcome addition to any baseball fan's bookshelf. -- Mark Kunz, sports journalist
Although Ray Chapman's short life ended in great sorrow for all who loved him, Scott H. Longert brings to life the tremendous joy "Chappie" experienced in playing baseball and spending time with friends. Fluid prose and vivid descriptions capture dead-ball era games and propel the story forward to its inevitable, tragic conclusion. Captivating and heartbreaking, Love and Loss is a must read for all baseball fans. -- Barbara Gregorich, author of Women at Play: The Story of Women in Baseball
