Acknowledgments

Of the many people in different parts of the United States who helped me in my efforts to discover and understand Rogers Hornsby, I wish especially to thank the staffs of the National Baseball Library, Cooperstown, New York; Sporting News Archives, St. Louis, Missouri; Austin History Center, Austin, Texas; Office of Records of the Clerk of the Circuit Courts, City of St. Louis, Missouri; County Clerk’s Office, Runnels County, Ballinger, Texas; and Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. Brad H. Hornsby, Murfreesboro, Tennessee; Ann Hornsby Rice, McLean, Virginia; Rogers Hornsby III, Denison, Texas; Fred Graham of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, Dallas, Texas; Thomas H. Smith, historian of the Texas Rangers baseball franchise, Arlington, Texas; George Parkinson, chief, Archives-Library Division, Ohio Historical Society, Columbus, Ohio; and Fred Schuld, Macedonia, Ohio, also provided important assistance. A number of others who were kind enough to share their time and memories of Hornsby are cited in the notes and bibliography; I thank them here collectively.

As always, Warren F. Kimball, Robert Treat Professor of History, Rutgers University, and one of my oldest friends, was willing to read my work cheerfully and perceptively. Steven F. Gietschier, Director of Research for the Sporting News, and William M. Kimok of Ohio University also gave the manuscript close and constructive readings. William B. Strachan of Henry Holt and Company has been both a professional associate and a friend, and so has Gerard F. McCauley, my longtime literary agent.

Finally, my daughter, Rachel C. Alexander, D.V.M., continues to bring joy into my life, as does her mother, the altogether remarkable JoAnn Erwin Alexander.

Athens, Ohio
November 1994