If a person on an Eau Claire street is asked by a tourist about baseball history in the city, the answer 95% of the time would probably center on Hank Aaron. That’s fine, but baseball in Eau Claire is so much more than just the “Hammer”. Professional baseball here dates back to the 1800’s—barely after Eau Claire was born! And there were an astounding 41 players who donned an Eau Claire uniform before World War I that also played in the major leagues! In 1887 alone, there were 16 former or future major leaguers that called Eau Claire home (and yet somehow the team still finished in last place in the league)! The pioneers of baseball in Eau Claire have been touched upon in previous books, but only briefly. "Diamonds in Clear Water" goes into great detail and brings their long-forgotten stories to the public consciousness. Some examples include: *How did the man who quite possibly was the inspiration for Ernest Thayer’s hero in “Casey at the Bat” do in his short stint in Eau Claire? *What outfielder, purchased by Eau Claire for $100, went on to be traded for Shoeless Joe Jackson? *Who was the mysterious Eau Claire infielder that went on to become an Illinois state senator (he played under a false name and his true identity wasn’t discovered for a century, thus becoming Eau Claire’s ultimate “Player to be Named Later”)? The book also describes each professional season for Eau Claire, highlighting key games and serving as a reference book for statistics and rosters. Off-the-field issues such as financial struggles, attendance numbers, blue laws, gambling, and a constant battle for respect from professional baseball circles round out the picture of a time in the history of the National Pastime very different from the present.
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