Rothstein (67 page)
Authors: David Pietrusza
Tags: #Urban, #New York (State), #Sociology, #Social Science, #True Crime, #20th Century, #Criminology, #New York (N.Y.), #New York, #General, #Criminals & Outlaws, #Criminals, #baseball, #Sports & Recreation, #Nineteen twenties, #Biography & Autobiography, #Crime, #Biography, #History
I’d also like to thank the following individuals for their selfless assistance: Irene Bayly; Reen Bodo; David R. Craig, Perry Desmond; Rob Edelman; Jim W. Faulkinbury, CGRS; James Gallagher; William Gienapp; Chuck Jacobi; Cathy Karp, to whom this book is dedicated and who has patiently listened to every story I’ve told about Arnold Rothstein and about scores of people, places, and events even remotely related to A. R.; John Kenrick, of “The MusicalslOl.com Archive;” Audrey Kupferberg; Bruce Markusen; Frank D. Mayer, Jr. of Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw; Herb M. Moss; Peter J. McManus, greatnephew of George McManus; Jim Overmyer; Paul H. Replogle; Dr. Eugene Schoenfeld; Stuart Shea; Carlton Stowers; Steven Syzdek; David W. Smith of Project Retrosheet; Steve L. Steinberg; Dr. Martha Stonequist, City Historian/Archivist, Saratoga Springs, New York; Eric Thomsen, greatnephew of Abe Attell; John Thorn; Lieutenant Bernie Whelan of the New York City Police Department; and Joe Wolfe.
A special note of appreciation goes to Ralph J. Christian of Des Moines, Iowa, who has performed yeoman research regarding the Midwestern gamblers involved in fixing the 1919 World Series.
And, of course, particular thanks to my wife Patty, who has probably been wondering why this project has taken so long (so have I, come to think of it); my agent Robert Wilson of Wilson Media, who guided this project to publication; and to Carroll & Graf’s Philip Turner, Keith Wallman, Claiborne Hancock, and Simon M. Sullivan who helped turn my words into the book before you.
May 2003
DAVID PIETRUSZA, former president of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) and Editor-in-Chief of Total Sports, is the author of judge and jury: The Life and Times of Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, winner of the 1998 CASEY Award. At one time a member of the Amsterdam (N.Y.) City Council, Pietrusza serves as Public Information Officer for the New York State Governor’s Office of Regulatory Reform. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from the State University of New York at Albany. An expert on the 1920’s, Pietrusza has served on the Board of Directors of the Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation.
He is also the author of Lights On!: The Wild Century-Long Saga of Night Baseball (a finalist for the 1997 CASEY Award); Minor Miracles: The Legend and Lure of Minor League Baseball; Major Leagues; and Baseball’s Canadian-American League. In 2001 he coauthored Teddy Ballgame: My Life in Pictures with Ted Williams (first published as Ted Williams: My Life in Pictures). He has co-edited more than a dozen other sports books. He has appeared on Good Morning America, ESPN, and National Public Radio and written for numerous publications including USA Today Baseball Weekly and Baseball America.
Pietrusza’s experience in both sports history and in general history/public affairs (his juvenile titles include The Roaring 20s, John F. Kennedy, The End of the Cold War, The Chinese Cultural Revolution, The Battle of Waterloo, and The Invasion of Normandy) has made him unusually qualified to research the life and death of Arnold Rothstein.
Pietrusza lives with his wife in upstate New York.
For more on David Pietrusza, visit www.davidpietrusza.com
Table of Contents
The Players in Our Drama—
I • “I’ve Been Shot” •
• “Nobody Loves Me” •
• “Everyone Gambled” •
• “Why Not Get Married?” •
• “I’ve Got Plans” •
• “He’ll Crucify the Big Feller” •
• “Let’s Go Looking for Some Action” •
“Take Any Price” •
• “Chicken Feed” •
I0 • “I Never Take My Troubles to the Cops” •
• “AM WIRING YOU TWENTY GRAND” •
I2 • “I Wasn’t In On It” •
• “The Chic Thing to Have Good Whiskey” •
• “The Man to See Was Arnold Rothstein” •
• “I Can’t Trust a Drunk” •
CHAPTER 16 • “I Don’t Bet On … Boxing” • 232
• “I’m Not a Gambler” •
• “I Will Be Alone” •
• “Will I Pull Through?” •
CHAPTER 20 • Coverup: “A Decenter, Kinder Man
• “Tell Me Who is Using My Money for Dope” •
• Aftermath: “A Wonderful Box” •
• Case Closed: “I Did It, You Know”’
• Epilogue •
Notes •
Bibliography •
Acknowledgments •
Index •
Table of Contents
The Players in Our Drama—
I • “I’ve Been Shot” •
• “Nobody Loves Me” •
• “Everyone Gambled” •
• “Why Not Get Married?” •
• “I’ve Got Plans” •
• “He’ll Crucify the Big Feller” •
• “Let’s Go Looking for Some Action” •
“Take Any Price” •
• “Chicken Feed” •
I0 • “I Never Take My Troubles to the Cops” •
• “AM WIRING YOU TWENTY GRAND” •
I2 • “I Wasn’t In On It” •
• “The Chic Thing to Have Good Whiskey” •
• “The Man to See Was Arnold Rothstein” •
• “I Can’t Trust a Drunk” •
CHAPTER 16 • “I Don’t Bet On … Boxing” • 232
• “I’m Not a Gambler” •
• “I Will Be Alone” •
• “Will I Pull Through?” •
CHAPTER 20 • Coverup: “A Decenter, Kinder Man
• “Tell Me Who is Using My Money for Dope” •
• Aftermath: “A Wonderful Box” •
• Case Closed: “I Did It, You Know”’
• Epilogue •
Notes •
Bibliography •
Acknowledgments •
Index •