Author Perry T. Cooper is our guest this week. Cooper's new book, "The 1890 Louisville Cyclones: Major League Baseball's Original Worst-to-First Team" (McFarland, March 2026). Louisville finished the 1889 American Association season with 27 wins, 111 losses, the first Major League team to lose 100 games during a campaign. Under new manager Jack Chapman, Louisville rebounded in 1890 to first place in the AA and an 88-44 record.

Cooper regales listeners in this interview with stories about the characters on this team and the untamed baseball world in the 1890s.

The 1890 Louisville Cyclones at McFarland Press.
https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/the-1890-louisville-cyclones/
Find the book at most online retailers - the book is not presently available in physical form at Bookshop.org, but can be purchased as an ebook there.

Consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if available), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns.

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