Sid Gordon An American Baseball Story by Steven D. Cahn

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A Jewish Boys Journey from the Brooklyn Sandlots to Major League Baseball

Sid Gordon was a Brooklyn kid who learned his craft on the local sandlots. He grew up in the shadows of Ebbets Field, however, began his career with the Giants in 1941. Baseball during the Great Depression, the Second World War, and the critical post war years is a story of the contributions of immigrants, selfless patriots, and the heroes of the game of baseball. Mark Twain once called baseball “the very symbol of America.” The game has produced many of Americas greatest heroes. There are, however, stories of great men not in the Hall of Fame, who also made tremendous contributions to baseball, and American society. Sid Gordon is an important and untold part of this story. You may think you know baseball, and the history of the game, but I assure you there are stories you have never heard, until you read the history of this great player.

Gordon played alongside the greatest players of the game and was a two-time all-star. He once hit two home runs in one inning and four grand slams in a season. From 1948 to 1953 he was one of the best players in the league. He has a higher career on-base-percentage than Pete Rose, and even Albert Pujols. Remarkably, he has a better lifetime fielding percentage in the outfield than both Joe DiMaggio and Willie Mays. Leo Durocher said of Gordon, he was “the type of guy he wanted at the plate with an important run waiting at third.” While this is a book about baseball, Gordon’s real contributions were outside of the ball parks. As a Jewish ball player in the 1940’sand 50’s he was the target of harassment and discrimination, and as a result, often teaming up with Jackie Robinson, he was a leader in the movement to create a brotherhood through sports. Al Abrams, the Sports Editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote in 1954, “Despite his quite mannerisms, Gordon is a commanding figure respected by his teammates and rival players.” The Story of Sid Gordon is much more than a baseball story, it part of the great American story and a must read for any fan.

Year first published: 2023