Where’s the Jurges book?

July 6, 2011

If Bernard Malamud’s The Natural was supposedly based on the shooting of Eddie Waitkus, where’s a similar volume on Billy Jurges?

On this date in 1932 — 17 years before the Waitkus incident —  Jurges, a 24-year-old playing for the Cubs, was shot by a “deranged” fan who threatened suicide and but for his lunging for the gun, might have succeeded. (The link is a PDF of an Associated Press item in The New York Times reporting on the incident.)

Jurges — a three-time All-Star — recovered an enjoyed a 17-year career with the Cubs and Giants.

The name of the young woman was Violet Popovich; “Violent” seems more appropriate.

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