THE SUMMER OF BEER AND WHISKEY How Brewers, Barkeeps, Rowdies, Immigrants, and a Wild Pennant Fight Made Baseball America's Game

Edward Achorn's second book digs into nineteenth-century baseball, focusing on Chris Von der Ahe, an immigrant who became the owner of the St. Louis Browns. Achorn, who is becoming a preeminent historian of early baseball, captures the hardships of the 1880s and baseball's growing pains. Ax Norman delivers a solid narration that includes imitating Von der Ahe's thick German accent. The owner was known for boisterous, colorful expressions, and Norman projects a vivid image of Von der Ahe's bombastic style. While Norman's young voice lacks the gravitas one would expect of a historical account, it doesn't mar the listening experience. M.B. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2013]