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September 1918: War, Plague, and the World Series
One hundred years ago, in September 1918, three things came to war, plague, and the World Series.
This is the unimaginable story of that late summer month, in which a division of Massachusetts militia volunteers led the first unified American fighting force into battle in France, turning the tide of World War I. Meanwhile the world’s deadliest pandemic—the Spanish Flu—erupted in Boston and its suburbs, bringing death on a terrifying scale first to military facilities and then to the civilian population. At precisely the same time, in a baseball season cut short on the homefront and amidst the surrounding ravages of death, a young pitcher named Babe Ruth rallied the sport’s most dominant team, the Boston Red Sox, to a World Series victory—the last World Series victory the Sox would see for 86 years.
In September 1918: War, Plague and the World Series , the riveting, intertwined stories of this remarkable month introduce readers to a richly diverse cast of David Putnam, a Boston teenager and America’s World War I Flying Ace; a transcendent Babe Ruth and his teammates, battling greedy owners and a hostile public; entire families from all social strata, devastated by sudden and horrifying influenza death; unknown political functionary Calvin Coolidge, thrust into managing the country’s first great public health crisis by an absentee governor; and New England’s soldiers, enduring trench warfare and poisonous gas to drive back German forces.
At the same time, other stories were also Cambridge high school football star Charlie Crowley, a college freshman teamed up with stars Curly Lambeau and George Gipp under a first-time coach named Knute Rockne; Boston suffrage leader Maud Wood Park was fighting for women’s right to vote, even as they flexed their developing political muscle; poet E.E. Cummings, an Army private found himself stationed at the center of a biological storm; and Massachusetts Senator Henry Cabot Lodge maneuvered as the constant rival of a sitting wartime president.
In the tradition of Erick Larsen's bestselling Devil in the White City , September 1918 is a haunting three-dimensional recreation of a moment in history almost too cinematic to be real.
This is the unimaginable story of that late summer month, in which a division of Massachusetts militia volunteers led the first unified American fighting force into battle in France, turning the tide of World War I. Meanwhile the world’s deadliest pandemic—the Spanish Flu—erupted in Boston and its suburbs, bringing death on a terrifying scale first to military facilities and then to the civilian population. At precisely the same time, in a baseball season cut short on the homefront and amidst the surrounding ravages of death, a young pitcher named Babe Ruth rallied the sport’s most dominant team, the Boston Red Sox, to a World Series victory—the last World Series victory the Sox would see for 86 years.
In September 1918: War, Plague and the World Series , the riveting, intertwined stories of this remarkable month introduce readers to a richly diverse cast of David Putnam, a Boston teenager and America’s World War I Flying Ace; a transcendent Babe Ruth and his teammates, battling greedy owners and a hostile public; entire families from all social strata, devastated by sudden and horrifying influenza death; unknown political functionary Calvin Coolidge, thrust into managing the country’s first great public health crisis by an absentee governor; and New England’s soldiers, enduring trench warfare and poisonous gas to drive back German forces.
At the same time, other stories were also Cambridge high school football star Charlie Crowley, a college freshman teamed up with stars Curly Lambeau and George Gipp under a first-time coach named Knute Rockne; Boston suffrage leader Maud Wood Park was fighting for women’s right to vote, even as they flexed their developing political muscle; poet E.E. Cummings, an Army private found himself stationed at the center of a biological storm; and Massachusetts Senator Henry Cabot Lodge maneuvered as the constant rival of a sitting wartime president.
In the tradition of Erick Larsen's bestselling Devil in the White City , September 1918 is a haunting three-dimensional recreation of a moment in history almost too cinematic to be real.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 28, 2018
25 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
Skip Desjardin
1 book1 followerSkip Desjardin, the author of “September 1918: War, Plague and the World Series,” is a television veteran who now works for Google, where he oversees sports and local content for the company’s ground-breaking new businesses – YouTube TV and Google Fiber.
Over the course of a 35-year career in the media, Desjardin has changed the way we watch television. In the 1980s he helped launch the country’s first regional sports network, then pioneered the pay-per-view business in the 1990s as the head of PPV for the World Wrestling Federation in the heyday of WrestleMania. As an executive at ESPN in the 2000s, Desjardin launched the company’s first digital network, its interactive TV services and the first-ever video-on-demand agreement for a basic cable network. Later, he was executive producer of the Walt Disney Company’s first sponsored webisodes, for which he won three Telly Awards and was a 2008 Webby Award honoree.
A native of Maine, Desjardin holds two degrees from the University of Notre Dame and lives in Connecticut.
Over the course of a 35-year career in the media, Desjardin has changed the way we watch television. In the 1980s he helped launch the country’s first regional sports network, then pioneered the pay-per-view business in the 1990s as the head of PPV for the World Wrestling Federation in the heyday of WrestleMania. As an executive at ESPN in the 2000s, Desjardin launched the company’s first digital network, its interactive TV services and the first-ever video-on-demand agreement for a basic cable network. Later, he was executive producer of the Walt Disney Company’s first sponsored webisodes, for which he won three Telly Awards and was a 2008 Webby Award honoree.
A native of Maine, Desjardin holds two degrees from the University of Notre Dame and lives in Connecticut.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 27, 2019
3.5 thoughts soon.
January 2, 2019
If it weren't for the 1918 World Series and the explanation that this was nearly the end of Major League Baseball as it was known at the time (and to a large extent still is today) I would have given this book only two stars. When the topics switched to either the flu epidemic of the Great War , the writing seemed choppy and more of a name-dropping exercise than a good explanation of what the true issues were. Sure, the government wasn't too forthcoming about either the extent of the flu outbreak, but it seemed like all we read e about was how many sailors and Bostonians were afflicted. I would like to have read about the treatments and stories of those who either helped patients or survived the outbreak. As for the writing about the war in Europe, it also felt incomplete as it concentrated only on certain people. Then, out of nowhere, the topic of women's suffrage was discussed. While the issue was relevant in 1918, with women finally achieving their goal.of voting two years later, the placement of this topic near the end of the book with no mention of it earlier just seemed off. This was a book that I had hoped for when opening it,but became very discouraged with it. I did finish it but with disappointment.
November 5, 2022
As a reader fascinated by the 1918 Influenza pandemic, I picked up this book to learn more about the outbreak in Boston, Mass, where the U.S. pandemic began its worst surge. The author pulls together the unusual confluence of events all linking back to Boston in the fateful month of September 1918.
The World Series between the Red Sox (featuring a youthful Babe Ruth, still seen as a pitcher more than as a hitter) and the Chicago Cubs was shortened and held early because of the Wilson Administration's new "work or fight" requirement; ball players were not exempt from the draft requirements unless they took up jobs assisting the War effort. One year before the Black Sox scandal, the Series was tainted by bonus disputes and possible "thrown" games.
Also in September, Suffragettes were pushing Congress to pass the 19th Amendment giving women the vote. Republican Senator Henry Cabot Lodge was against women gaining the franchise; Massachusetts suffragette Maud Wood Park led the effort to win the necessary votes in Congress.
Meanwhile New England troops were launching the first big, all-American offensive in France at St. Mihiel.
All of this unfolded against the horrifying Influenza outbreak, which spread from Boston to other parts of the country through troop movements, before infecting and spreading among civilians. We meet Lieutenant Governor Calvin Coolidge, on whom an absent Governor dumped the job of coping with a public health response to the flu. And we see the dismay and horror of infectious disease doctors who had warned of how a disease outbreak could hamper military efforts, and now found themselves helpless to save hundreds of soldiers (and doctors and nurses) from dying.
Some of the more interesting sections of the book addressed the War PR push by Federal authorities and how the Sedition Act, barring any reporting or statements against the War, caused many newspapers and public authorities to downplay the seriousness of the Influenza outbreak, lest they be seen as anti-War. The rise of anti-German sentiment because someone irresponsibly suggested the Germans had released the sickness on America led to immigrant communities self-isolating, during which many entire families died due to lack of medical help.
I also learned that the flu was dubbed "the Spanish Influenza" because Spain, a neutral country in WWI, was the only European nation that was not censoring news of the outbreak. This made it seem Spain was the source, when in fact influenza was widespread not only among soldiers and sailors, but across the battling nations.
At times, the author's outrage over the refusal of health authorities and politicians to admit the seriousness of the sickness and order stringent shutdowns bursts off the page. Seeing parallels to the COVID19 outbreak is disheartening, to say the least. I wonder what edits or additions Mr. Desjardin might have made if his 2018 book had been written in 2020.
A nice addition to my volumes on the Great Influenza.
The World Series between the Red Sox (featuring a youthful Babe Ruth, still seen as a pitcher more than as a hitter) and the Chicago Cubs was shortened and held early because of the Wilson Administration's new "work or fight" requirement; ball players were not exempt from the draft requirements unless they took up jobs assisting the War effort. One year before the Black Sox scandal, the Series was tainted by bonus disputes and possible "thrown" games.
Also in September, Suffragettes were pushing Congress to pass the 19th Amendment giving women the vote. Republican Senator Henry Cabot Lodge was against women gaining the franchise; Massachusetts suffragette Maud Wood Park led the effort to win the necessary votes in Congress.
Meanwhile New England troops were launching the first big, all-American offensive in France at St. Mihiel.
All of this unfolded against the horrifying Influenza outbreak, which spread from Boston to other parts of the country through troop movements, before infecting and spreading among civilians. We meet Lieutenant Governor Calvin Coolidge, on whom an absent Governor dumped the job of coping with a public health response to the flu. And we see the dismay and horror of infectious disease doctors who had warned of how a disease outbreak could hamper military efforts, and now found themselves helpless to save hundreds of soldiers (and doctors and nurses) from dying.
Some of the more interesting sections of the book addressed the War PR push by Federal authorities and how the Sedition Act, barring any reporting or statements against the War, caused many newspapers and public authorities to downplay the seriousness of the Influenza outbreak, lest they be seen as anti-War. The rise of anti-German sentiment because someone irresponsibly suggested the Germans had released the sickness on America led to immigrant communities self-isolating, during which many entire families died due to lack of medical help.
I also learned that the flu was dubbed "the Spanish Influenza" because Spain, a neutral country in WWI, was the only European nation that was not censoring news of the outbreak. This made it seem Spain was the source, when in fact influenza was widespread not only among soldiers and sailors, but across the battling nations.
At times, the author's outrage over the refusal of health authorities and politicians to admit the seriousness of the sickness and order stringent shutdowns bursts off the page. Seeing parallels to the COVID19 outbreak is disheartening, to say the least. I wonder what edits or additions Mr. Desjardin might have made if his 2018 book had been written in 2020.
A nice addition to my volumes on the Great Influenza.
February 20, 2024
September 1918: war, plague and the world series is a very interesting look at Boston in that pivotal month over a century ago. While most of the story centers on Boston, much of the war information comes from the front lines in Europe and is quite interesting. The Spanish Flu plague details mainly concern the Boston area. The look at the World Series between Boston, with a young Babe Ruth, and the Chicago Cubs is also very detailed, although the author chooses to mainly concern himself with the turmoil surrounding the series rather than the actual games themselves. One point to mention is that the World Series took place in September that year because the war cut the season short, ending on labor day. I am a big baseball history fan, but some of the information provided in the book was new to me. I must say that the author seems to take a negative view of nearly everything. He quotes newspaper stories saying baseball is a dying sport, none sounding interested in the games. He paints a picture of a nation near a civil war between unions and the establishment, resorting to bombings and murder. I have the feeling that despite all the bad news most families coped far better than the book seems to say. One little problem I had with the book was acting that once the flu was weakening in Boston the crisis was over. I know Boston is the subject of the book, but the plague continues to kill Americans for the next year. I really liked the book, it tells a story about a key month in the history of Boston and America.
September 23, 2019
In 1918, the Boston Red Sox beat the Chicago Cubs to win their 4th World Series in 7 years, but it was the last World Series the Red Sox would win for another 86 years. This is all I thought was going on in Massachusetts that year but, incredibly, it was one of the least interesting, important events during the month of September, 1918, which also included World War I being fought in Europe and the plague, an influenza pandemic from which 700,000 people died in the U.S. and between 50 - 100 million people worldwide. Also, a few months later, the women's suffrage movement finally prevailed when Congress voted to approve the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution giving women the right to vote. A thoroughly interesting book packed with much history, particularly for those who are from Massachusetts.
August 20, 2020
The title says it all. This book is about one month in 1918 in Boston. Topics include Boston, Spanish flu (from Kansas), WWI, women’s vote, Babe Ruth, Red Sox, Cubs, Calvin Coolidge, Woodrow Wilson and John Singer Sargeant. And somehow they all really do go together in this book. Filled with details, this is a well told story. The parallel to the current pandemic is striking. With an equivalent loss of 2 million souls in the US, the book makes me worry that we may have a long sad road ahead. Like now, the virus was no respecter of status or party or even training. And the people rebelled then as now to pleas for distancing. But then it went away.
October 22, 2018
Desjardin's new book is an interesting take on 1918. He focuses on one city, Boston, to describe a country in the middle of sending its sons off to WWI, citizens dying of the flu epidemic in large numbers, and fans trying to hold on to a possible World Series win with the help of a young Babe Ruth. This narrative nonfiction will be of interest to history lovers and historical novel readers as well. He selects well-known politicians, labor leaders, authors, and artists who were active on the home front or at the battlefront to help tell the story.
February 11, 2019
OK truth - I could care less about the World Series in 1918, found the war in 1918 of some interest and the plague of 1918 very disappointing. This book was incomprehensible to me. For the life of me why would these three disparate subjects be squeezed into one book. Well, the war I will grant you was responsible for spreading the Spanish flu but baseball? So in reading this book I quickly found myself skipping to the chapters relating to the flu and skimming the ones on the war and totally ignoring the ones about baseball. Not a favorite.
March 30, 2022
Book concentrates on Boston and Massachusetts and its citizens in September 1918. The 26th, the Yankee, Division was taking part in the Battle of St. Mihiel, the Red Sox, led by Babe Ruth, won the World Series, and there was a major outbreak of the Influenza epidemic. Whew!
Desjardin describes these events in alternating chapters. In baseball, the Red Sox and Cub players almost walked out in a dispute with owners over their share of the Series proceeds. The official response to the influenza outbreak was hampered by misinformation and refusals to acknowledge the problem. In France, the Bay State doughboys suffered casualties as they played a big role in winning the first "All-American" battle of WW I.
It was odd to read that Massachusetts governor Samuel McCall spent the entire month on vacation in Canada. This dereliction of duty shone a light on lieutenant governor Calvin Coolidge.
Although the war took place overseas, it was the determining factor in events at home. The baseball season ended on Labor Day because of a work or fight order. The epidemic started in the Army barracks at Fort Danvers near Boston and sailors at the Boston Navy Yard. It was exacerbated by so many doctors and nurses being in the military. As soldiers and sailors moved to new postings, they carried the virus with them.
Desjardin also describes the efforts of Boston's Maud Wood Park and her fellow suffragettes to secure passage of the 19th Amendment. And the ploys used by Massachusetts senator Henry Cabot Lodge to block it.
This book was published in 1918. Since then, not surprisingly, history has come full circle. Boston and the rest of country have dealt with a pandemic, it has seen ballplayers and owners squabbling over money, and there is another war in Europe.
Desjardin describes these events in alternating chapters. In baseball, the Red Sox and Cub players almost walked out in a dispute with owners over their share of the Series proceeds. The official response to the influenza outbreak was hampered by misinformation and refusals to acknowledge the problem. In France, the Bay State doughboys suffered casualties as they played a big role in winning the first "All-American" battle of WW I.
It was odd to read that Massachusetts governor Samuel McCall spent the entire month on vacation in Canada. This dereliction of duty shone a light on lieutenant governor Calvin Coolidge.
Although the war took place overseas, it was the determining factor in events at home. The baseball season ended on Labor Day because of a work or fight order. The epidemic started in the Army barracks at Fort Danvers near Boston and sailors at the Boston Navy Yard. It was exacerbated by so many doctors and nurses being in the military. As soldiers and sailors moved to new postings, they carried the virus with them.
Desjardin also describes the efforts of Boston's Maud Wood Park and her fellow suffragettes to secure passage of the 19th Amendment. And the ploys used by Massachusetts senator Henry Cabot Lodge to block it.
This book was published in 1918. Since then, not surprisingly, history has come full circle. Boston and the rest of country have dealt with a pandemic, it has seen ballplayers and owners squabbling over money, and there is another war in Europe.
November 13, 2021
I found this a bit of a mixed bag. The pandemic sections were easily the strongest, and the military side of September 1918 dovetailed nicely for the most part. But I found the baseball side of things rather boring and distracting from what I thought to be the main action. It all felt incidental next to the war and sweeping illness.
January 13, 2023
The chapters felt long at times but it was because of the layout of the book, each chapter a different chunk of days in September. The baseball and Red Sox chapters were earlier on. Really cool read about the war, the influenza epidemic, and how both effected the world (and Boston specific) in this book.
April 8, 2020
Compelling read, especially now - proves clearly that history repeats itself without our learning the lessons it attempts, and utterly fails, to teach us. Well done account by Skip Desjardin who must be sitting at home in isolation saying 'yup.'
August 2, 2022
Well it did happen in 1918 but he overloaded with baseball now don’t get me wrong I LOVE BASEBALL but it was a little to much.I wanted to know more about the Spanish Flu but by the time he got to that he was almost done finishing it
September 9, 2018
Loved it! This book about the 1918 World Series in Boston in the midst of the devastating Spanish flu pandemic and the waning days of WWI is a riveting read for sports fans and history buffs.
October 8, 2018
I don't know how this guy managed to make 3 of my favorite things to read about boring, but he did it spectacularly.
October 14, 2018
Combines several themes of interest: baseball, history, World War 1, and the Spanish flu.
March 16, 2020
Some interesting parallels to what is currently happening with COVID-19. Some people learned from history, some did not.
April 1, 2022
Not well written - some compelling story lines but lacking emotional depth.
April 1, 2024
The author bounces five different subjects.
August 15, 2020
Now I know
I wanted to understand the current pandemic compared to the last. I am amazed to learn that, other then a world war occurring at the same time ,we are going through the same thing . We have Government coverups,people who don’t listen to science , and a cultural war as women are fighting for the right to vote. This is a good read to help us understand the adage “ The more things change the more they remain the same”
I wanted to understand the current pandemic compared to the last. I am amazed to learn that, other then a world war occurring at the same time ,we are going through the same thing . We have Government coverups,people who don’t listen to science , and a cultural war as women are fighting for the right to vote. This is a good read to help us understand the adage “ The more things change the more they remain the same”
December 26, 2023
This is an engaging book that reads like a great story. The author has brilliantly identified an amazing confluence of events in September 1918. It is fascinating to read how the war effort affected the Cubs vs Red Sox World Series; which in turn was a locus for soldiers spreading influenza. The war was also an incubator for influenza and the war propaganda fanned the disease.
October 28, 2020
A great way to examine the world of 1918, by focusing on baseball (one year prior to the Black Sox scandal), the beginnings of the flu pandemic, and the war that was coming to an end. Excellent writing and an enlightening read.
February 4, 2019
I've read other nonfiction that does a better job making the facts feel like a story; however, very interesting information about Massachusetts and its impact on WWI, the World Series, and the Spanish Flu, especially if you grew up there, like I did.
September 16, 2018
I don’t have too much to say about this book. It was decent. Fairly well written. It was interesting. It just didn’t always hold my interest at times.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews