Students of baseball history remember Joss as a gifted hurler with the Cleveland Indians after the turn of the century. Joss compiled a lifetime 160-92 record for a .632 winning percentage during a career shortened by a tragic illness. Addie's numbers won't stand up to the awesome numbers of some of his contemporaries like Gettysberg Eddie Plank, Walter Johnson, or Christy Mathewson - the greatest of the greats in major league baseball. Addie's career statistics don't even compare with the second tier of star pitchers of his decade: Ed Walsh, Rube Waddell, Jack Chesbro, or Chief Bender. Don't look for this statistical comparison in King of the Pitchers. Longert's goal is to convince the reader that Joss is wothy of the Hall

of Fame.

One can make a compelling argument for Joss when you consider his lifetime era of 1.88 is second all-time next to Ed Walsh. However, Joss didn't pitch in the twilight of his career (due to his tragic death), which probably would have raised his ERA, and Joss had the benefit of pitching in the dead ball era.

Joss and Ed Walsh engaged in one of the greatest pitching duels of the era at the end of the 1908 season. On the last weekend of the year, in a wild, 4 team pennant race, Addie Joss tossed a perfect game against the White Sox and Ed Walsh to beat the Palehose 1-0. Walsh threw a four hitter, allowing one unearned run but losing what many claim to be the greatest game ever pitched (with apologies to fans of Hippo Vaughn and Fred Toney).

Kudos to Longert for adding some character to the long-forgotten hurler. I would have never pegged Joss for a cow-tipper, but he grew up in Wisconsin. Joss played semi-pro ball in all of those small Wisconsin towns that you pass through when you take a bus to Green Bay from Milwaukee.

Joss even began his college education at Sacred Heart in Wisconsin, studying civil engineering while playing for the college team. Joss never completed his degree, but he did use the education to design a mechanical scoreboard for League Park several years later. The Joss Indicator didn't work, but others improved on the design. One could make a case that Addie was the father of the modern scoreboard.

Joss helped put the Toledo Mud Hens on the baseball map - not as much as Corporal Klinger in MASH, but who can compete with Hollywood? Joss pitched well for Toledo, impressed a local girl, won her hand, and settled down along the banks of the Maumee River.

Fans of the day referred to Joss as an 'Elongated Twirler' due to his long limbs and sidearm style of whipping a fastball toward the plate. Others called him The Human Slat because of his slight of build.

After Joss became a major league star with the Cleveland Naps, the Toledo Bee hired Addie as a sportswriter to cover the World Series and to give anecdotes about life as a professional ballplayer. The job was perfect for Joss. He could capitalize on his fame while staying close to his family. Joss continued this offseason venture until his death, and soon became a seasoned scribe.

Joss elevated his stature with two OUTSTANDING seasons in 1907 and 1908. By 1908, Joss and Ed Walsh may have been considered the best hurlers in the game. A sore arm and a letdown resulted in a sub-.500 season in 1909.

Joss set out to reverse his fortunes in 1910. We'll never know whether Joss was washed up, because he collapsed in Spring Training. Joss was diagnosed with spiral meningitis, a swelling of the brain. There wasn't much doctors could do except feed Addie pain killers to reduce the pain from the constant headaches.

The baseball community was saddened by his death. In 1911, rivals and teammates played the first All-Star game to raise $14,000 for Joss's widow - a princely sum around the turn of the century. Lucky fans were able to see Ty Cobb in a Cleveland Indians uniform.

King of the Pitchers is a capable biographical account of a great pitcher. It's not an even-handed account. One should consider that the author is trying to convince you of Joss's Cooperstown credentials. The author does a great job of personalizing an unknown superstar. It's worth a read.

Addie Joss: King of the Pitchers may be available for purchase on the net at one of these sites.

--Royal Rooter, March 1, 1999

© 1999 Rob Homa