Clark, Tom

One Last Round for the Shuffler

New York, NY: Truck Books & Pomerica Press, 1979. First Edition. Hardcover. A biography of the early, legendary baseball player Philip "Phil" Douglas (1890-1952), whose mastery of the tricky & eventually banned "spitball" pitching method was his glory (he even struck out Babe Ruth) & sudden undoing. The author, Tom Clark (1941-2018) is the great & prolific American poet, editor & biographer who is associated with the New York School & perhaps epitomizes our category of "The Prolific & Underappreciated." With many vintage photographs of Douglas in action. Clark's biographies are very well-written in swift, down-to-business prose as here. His deep interest in baseball reminds us of Jack Kerouac's devotion to & knowledge of the game. Hardcover without dust jacket as issued, first edition, first printing of February 1979 as stated on copyright page. The hardcover edition of this work is very scarce. A very significant, if not exemplary, Clark collectible. In very fine condition with only slight rubbing, spot-discolorations to front & back dark red cloth covers; mild darkening of gilt spine lettering; very slight wear to edges & corners; one small bump to lower left corner of back cover; sparse, light spotting to edges of text block. Interior very fine with only tiny bumps at upper corners of some page leaves. Very Fine. [Item #3719]

Price: $65.00