THE UNCOMMON LIFE OF DANNY O'CONNELL

A deep dive into the life of Major League Baseball player Danny O’Connell (1929-1969).

Danny who? The obscurity of the subject is part of the point: Pop historian Wiegand, author of 1876 and other books, wants to show how much hard work even a middling player had to put in. The author was inspired to research his subject after remembering how often he came across his baseball card as a kid. Though dealers dub him a “common” player whose card is practically worthless, Wiegand finds some uncommon elements. Playing for a decade for a handful of teams, O’Connell notably hit three triples in one game; scored the first run in West Coast MLB; and disclosed the secret that Bobby Thomson was tipped to the pitch he turned into the pennant-winning “Shot Heard ’Round the World.” This isn’t quite enough to sustain a full-dress biography, but Wiegand gamely leverages a folksy writing style and deep research into baseball’s idiosyncrasies in O’Connell’s time. Raised in New Jersey, he distinguished himself in the minors; a Danny O’Connell Night featured him hitting grounders while galloping horses raced to beat the throw. A hotshot infielder, he earned starting roles with the Pirates, Braves (mentoring a young Hank Aaron), and Giants before hanging up his cleats in 1962 with the Washington Senators. None of his teams made the playoffs, though, and he batted .260 for his career. The author wraps this inglorious tale with details about the rise of baseball cards and the game’s pre–free agency culture and connected with O’Connell’s children for more details—though they don’t offer much besides evidence of a hardworking family man. Wiegand’s folksiness can be overbearing at times, but for baseball buffs, the book is a reminder of the game’s reliance on unsung heroes.

Like its subject, imperfect but reflecting admirable determination.