Research for his book, Tinker to Evers to Chance: The Chicago Cubs and the Dawn of Modern America done at Historical Society.
TROY N.Y., June 8, 2018 - The Rensselaer County Historical Society (RCHS) announced today that acclaimed journalist and baseball historian David Rapp, author of Tinker to Evers to Chance: The Chicago Cubs and the Dawn of Modern America, will be giving a talk during the upcoming June Troy Night Out about his new book and the research for it he did at RCHS.
Tinker to Evers to Chance examines the pivotal moment in American sports history when baseball became the game that we know today. Each man in this historic double-play combo came from a different corner of the country, in the late nineteenth century and brought a distinctive local culture with him: Johnny Evers from the Irish-American hothouse of South Troy, New York; Tinker from the urban parklands of Kansas City, Missouri; Chance from the verdant fields of California’s Central Valley. The stories of these early baseball stars shed unexpected light not only on the evolution of baseball and on the enthusiasm of its players and fans all across America, but also on the broader convulsions transforming the U.S. into a confident, new, industrial society.
“We are thrilled to have David Rapp return to RCHS to share his stories of writing this book and using our research library to explore the history of Johnny Evers and the story of Troy in the late 19th century,” said Karin Krasevac-Lenz, Executive Director of RCHS.
“I'm excited by the prospect of coming back to Troy, where my journey on this project began, and where I encountered such welcoming and helpful people,” Said Rapp. “I'm very grateful for all the insights and guidance the Historical Society provided.”
David Rapp has been a political journalist and publishing executive in Washington, D.C. for more than 30 years. He is the former Editors of Congressional Quarterly and Roll Call, as well as the author of How The U.S Got into Agriculture – and Why It Can’t Get Out. He got his start covering Indiana High School sports in his hometown of Evansville, Indiana for the Evansville Press, Rapp then attended Vanderbilt University on the Grantland Rice Scholarship for young sportswriters.
The Troy Night Out event will be the regional debut of Rapp’s presentation on this material.
David will give a brief talk during TNO (on June 29th) here at RCHS about his research from 6 pm - 6.30 pm & again from 7 pm - 7.30 pm.
As always, RCHS admission is FREE for TNO!
About the Rensselaer County Historical Society
The Rensselaer Historical Society is a dynamic not-for-profit educational organization established in 1927 to connect local history and heritage with contemporary life. RCHS is a diverse community of people with a common intellectual engagement in the ideals, skills, and artifacts that form the roots of the region. Together, the society creates spaces, hosts evens, and promotes ideas that cultivate a longstanding tradition of shared storytelling in Rensselaer County.