Native Sons

Reggie Jackson (Wyncote). Roy Campanella (Philadelphia). Pat Kelly (also Philadelphia). From the most famous to the little known, 350 major league baseball players came from the Philadelphia area. Now, for the first time, celebrated baseball historian Rich Westcott brings these "native sons" home. In this short book, Westcott offers profiles of some of the most celebrated, talented, and often just hardest-working athletes to ever lift a bat and glove in major league baseball. He tells of the athletes like Mr. October, who were born here and went away, and others, like Kensington-born Jimmie Wilson, who became a star in his own hometown. Throughout "Native Sons", Westcott recounts the startling careers of some incredible players, and recreates for readers the magical place they all called home. Rich Westcott's Philadelphia All-Star Team includes: Reggie Jackson (Wyncote); Goose Goslin (Salem, NJ); Del Ennis (Philadelphia); Mickey Vernon (Marcus Hook); Eddie Stanky (Philadelphia); Jimmy Dykes (Philadelphia); Buck Weaver (Pottstown); Roy Campanella (Philadelphia); Bucky Walters (Philadelphia); Herb Pennock (Kennett Square); Ray Narleski (Camden, NJ); and, Eddie Miksis (Burlington, NJ). Author note: Rich Westcott is a lifelong resident of the Philadelphia area, and has known or covered many of the players in this book. His own undistinguished baseball career came to an inglorious conclusion when he flunked a trial with the Philadelphia Athletics (remember them?). Westcott has been a writer and editor for more than forty years, and is the founder and former editor and publisher of Phillies Report. He is the author of thirteen other books, including twelve on baseball.