Many high school stories are both poignant and complex. When they flow out of the 1960s—one of the most volatile decades in modern American history—those stories can be mesmerizing. The story of the 1968–69 East High Tigers struck me as a quintessential American saga rich in drama that encompasses politics, race, sports, and history. Many stories above the Mason-Dixon Line got lost in the hard roiling of southern history. The 1968–69 Tigers represents one such story.
Peter Gethers, my longtime editor at Alfred A. Knopf, was in Europe when I first told him about the idea for this book. By the time he landed back in America, he had made up his mind that he wanted to publish Tigerland. During the years of my researching and writing, he deepened my understanding and appreciation of this story. His line editing was crucial; his knowledge of baseball a saving grace.
Also at Knopf, I’d like to thank Sonny Mehta, Janna Devinsky, Jenna Brinkley, Kathy Zuckerman, Victoria Pearson, Madison Brock, Paul Bogaards, Emily Murphy, Maggie Hinders, and Tyler Comrie.
Esther Newberg, my indomitable literary agent, has been an important and indispensable figure through the years of my writing life (now eight books together!). She has my deep gratitude.
I was fortunate in 2017 to receive the Patrick Henry Writing Fellowship, bestowed by the Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience at Washington College, in Chestertown, Maryland. It is given for a writing project that addresses “the nation’s founding ideas.” That the Starr Center had faith in this project was wonderful; that they supplied me with a home and collegial atmosphere to work in was an added gift. I would like to thank those affiliated with the center, among them Adam Goodheart, director; Pat Nugent, deputy director; Jean Wortman, assistant director; and Michael Buckley, program manager. Also at Washington College, my gratitude extends to Patrice DiQuinzio, Amanda Ceruzzi, and James Allen Hall.
At Miami University, in Oxford, Ohio, I’d like to thank Gregory Crawford, Richard Campbell, Ron Scott, James Tobin, Claire Wagner, Patti Newberry, Ted Pickerill, Donna Boen, and Susan Coffin for their unending support while I was working on this book.
This book is dedicated to Phyllis Callahan, provost at Miami University, and to Paul Pennell, retired Tiger coach. Their gracious and humbling spirits are inspiring. The names Jack Gibbs and Bob Hart also appear on the dedication page of this book. They gave so much to East High School.
There were many, beyond the writing, who offered encouragement and warmhearted gestures along the way. My thanks to Peter Guralnick, Bill Orrico, Tina Moody, Carol Tyler, Larry James, Faness Haygood, Greg Moore, Tom Martin, Tony Stigger, Pam Williams, Rick Momeyer, Naomi Shavin, Frank Hurst, Ron Peleg, Michael Coleman, Bob Davis, Sue Momeyer, Alex Shumate, Donna James, Sherri Geldin, Michelle Fee Smith, Lynn Peterson, Robert Lewis, Kat Bogel, Beth White, Ellen Hurst, Larry Young, Mary Jo Green, Sabrina Goodwin Monday, David Hodge, Professor Serena Williams, Warren Tyler, Patricia Pfeiffer, Valerie Hodge, Marty Anderson, Steve Flannigan, Vic Pfeiffer, and Bob Miller. Shane Cagney and the folks at Politics & Prose have my gratitude as well. Steve Reiss’s lessons about the craft continue to resonant.