Once Upon a Team

"Once Upon a Team is a marvelous book by Jon Springer that explores the primordial ooze from which our current game of baseball emerged. What really came through in this book though were the personalities and antics of the players. The behind-the-scenes events that would shape the season and provide great context to the primordial ooze from which our current game emerged."
—Jon Shepherd, Camden Depot

"So little is known about nineteenth century baseball that virtually all sources say the true history of the game began in 1901, with the advent of the American League. But say it ain't so, Joe: this well-researched history reveals that teams and leagues fought for fans, recognition, and revenue in a rough-and-tumble era of rowdy players and changing rules. Beyond their quixotic name, the Wilmington Quicksteps represent the flavor of early baseball, brought to life brilliantly by author Jon Springer."
—Dan Schlossberg, author of The New Baseball Bible

“[A] fascinating glimpse of a little-known part of baseball history. . . . Once Upon a Team paints a vivid picture of baseball in America a century before free agency, giant ballparks, first-class hotels and travel, giant salaries, and guaranteed contracts.”
—Douglas B. Lyons, author of New York Yankees Home Run Almanac

"In Once Upon a Team, Springer so aptly humanizes the hardscrabble cast of characters of the 1884 Wilmington Quicksteps that one can't help mourn the team's tragic journey from Eastern League powerhouse to Union Association doormat. The book beatifully weaves solid baseball history research into compelling yarns of cutthroat business decisions, excessive drinking, and shifting loyalties."
—Dirk Lammers, author of Baseball's No-Hit Wonders

"Jon Springer has brought to life the sepia-toned baseball era of the late 1800s in full living color in this entertaining history of the Wilmington Quicksteps. Baseball fans will find much to ponder and discuss, and even non-baseball fans will enjoy this lively history of Delaware at a time when immigrants and the sons of immigrants made baseball their great American passion."
—David Healey, author of Great Storms of the Chesapeake

"Once Upon a Team is a marvelous book by Jon Springer that explores the primordial ooze from which our current game of baseball emerged. What really came through in this book though were the personalities and antics of the players. The behind-the-scenes events that would shape the season and provide great context to the primordial ooze from which our current game emerged."
—Jon Shepherd, Camden Depot

"So little is known about nineteenth century baseball that virtually all sources say the true history of the game began in 1901, with the advent of the American League. But say it ain't so, Joe: this well-researched history reveals that teams and leagues fought for fans, recognition, and revenue in a rough-and-tumble era of rowdy players and changing rules. Beyond their quixotic name, the Wilmington Quicksteps represent the flavor of early baseball, brought to life brilliantly by author Jon Springer."
—Dan Schlossberg, author of The New Baseball Bible

“[A] fascinating glimpse of a little-known part of baseball history. . . . Once Upon a Team paints a vivid picture of baseball in America a century before free agency, giant ballparks, first-class hotels and travel, giant salaries, and guaranteed contracts.”
—Douglas B. Lyons, author of New York Yankees Home Run Almanac

"In Once Upon a Team, Springer so aptly humanizes the hardscrabble cast of characters of the 1884 Wilmington Quicksteps that one can't help mourn the team's tragic journey from Eastern League powerhouse to Union Association doormat. The book beatifully weaves solid baseball history research into compelling yarns of cutthroat business decisions, excessive drinking, and shifting loyalties."
—Dirk Lammers, author of Baseball's No-Hit Wonders

"Jon Springer has brought to life the sepia-toned baseball era of the late 1800s in full living color in this entertaining history of the Wilmington Quicksteps. Baseball fans will find much to ponder and discuss, and even non-baseball fans will enjoy this lively history of Delaware at a time when immigrants and the sons of immigrants made baseball their great American passion."
—David Healey, author of Great Storms of the Chesapeake