Fall baseball book review III: The ghosts of hardball past, like reading elaborate tombstones

== The books: "Major League Baseball Profiles: 1871-1900," volumes 1 and 2
== The author: Compiled and edited by David Nemec, with writing also from David Ball, Jeffrey Kittel, Brian McKenna, Eric Miklich, Peter Morris, Lyle Spatz, John Thorn, Dick Thompson, Frank Vaccaro and Philip Von Borres
== The background info: University of Nebraska Press, $39.95 each, 660 and 550 pages

== The scoop: Volumn one is focused on, position by position, the "Ballplayers who Built the Game," with the eccentric followup shining a light on "The Hall of Famers and Memorable Personalities who Shaped the Game," including those who died mysterious deaths, scandals, rogues, ethnic firsts, and notable one-game players.
Got a few hundred hours? Enjoy reading the telephone book? Then take the phone off the hook and hunker down. This could take awhile.
All for the good.
But with no pictures. Sorry.

A bio at random: Page 147 of Volume 2:

Taylor, George J.
Managed 109 games, won 40, lost 64. 0 Pennants.
Born: 11/22/1852, New York.
Died: 10/28/1911
Teams: 1884 Brooklyn A
"A writer with a handlebar mustache and an unhealthy complexion, George Taylor was the visionary who gave Brooklyn the team that became the Dodgers. ... (with a journalism degree) he worked for the New York Herald. For years he advocated a professional club for Brooklyn and finally dipped into his own pocket to set up Brooklyn's entry in the 1883 Interstate Association. ... Taylor insisted on managing 'for health's sake' because his journalism career kept him cooped up in small offices. Nonetheless, he would often smoke a box of cigarettes during a game. Quiet and unobtrusive, Taylor usually piloted from the scorer's table. He designed the team's pokla-dot uniform and made Wednesday 'Ladies' Day.' ... on January 12, 1884, Taylor made his first appearance with the American Association entry when he led one half of the team then under contract to the Brooklyns in a game at Brooklyn's Washington Park against the other half of the team, which was managed by Henry Chadwick. The game was played on ice skates, with Sam Kimber pitching for Taylor's nine, final score unknown ..."
Can you top that?