Ebook: The 1902 Pittsburgh Pirates: treachery and triumph

After many years of being an also-ran in the National League, the Pittsburgh Pirates' fortunes changed dramatically following the 1899 season after a monumental deal with the Louisville Colonels. The addition of star players such as Fred Clarke, Honus Wagner, Tommy Leach, and Deacon Phillippe allowed Pittsburgh to become the first baseball dynasty of the twentieth century as they won National League pennants in 1901, 1902 and 1903. Without question, the 1902 Pirates aggregation was the greatest of those three squads. This definitive historical account examines the record-breaking 1902 Pittsburgh season, the politics that shaped baseball's landscape during that time period and the players who were responsible for allowing that squad to claim its rightful place in baseball history.;Player influx catapults Pittsburgh into a pennant contender -- Williams jumps to the Americans, Pirates win the pennant -- Barney Dreyfuss battles fellow National League magnates -- Pittsburgh breaks out of the gate in splendid fashion -- Executive discipline fails to detrail the Pirates train -- Honus Wagner and Jack O'Connor heading to St. Louis? -- Jack Chesbro becomes the National League's top pitcher -- Pirates rooters demand a shift to the American League -- Ban Johnson lures Pirates stars to the American League -- Jack Chesbro and Jesse Tannehill issue an ultimatum to Dreyfuss -- Pittsburgh breaks record as Tommy Leach fight intensifies -- Pirates win third consecutive pennant despite loss of stars.