I really enjoy these books where the mystery is at least as much associated with old-time baseball as most of the Dick Francis (and now, Felix Francis) mysteries had a tenuous association with horse racing. And, even though I read Hunting a Detroit Tiger out of order (I read Hanging Curve a few months before I read this one.), I’m glad that I did. In Hanging Curve, the social agenda of the author added to the suspense and mystery of the story. In Hunting a Detroit Tiger, the labor union/anti-reserve clause depiction felt as tacked on as some of the preaching exposition in the old Quincy, M.E. series on television. For those who aren’t as old as I am, the old television series ended up with a formula where the investigation of a death provided an excuse for the writer to present propaganda for her/his cause du jour. It was often clumsy and often elicited groans in my family. To be sure, author Troy Soos has enough integrity not to have protagonist Mickey Rawlings start subscribing to The Daily Worker or overtly joining the IWW (Industrial Workers of the World aka One Big Union or “Wobblies”), but Soos’ sympathies are readily apparent. They were in Hanging Curve, as well, but Hunting a Detroit Tiger seemed more heavy-handed to me.Don’t get me wrong. I’m a huge fan of the muckraking novelists of the early 20th century. Sinclair Lewis (mentioned casually on more than one occasion in this novel), Upton Sinclair, and Theodore Dreiser get somewhat preachy in their works, but Hunting a Detroit Tiger seemed to lose its focus in preaching the virtues of organized labor. Frankly, I admired Rawlings’ position in the book: “I generally didn’t take sides with the combatants in a conflict; I identified with those caught in the middle.” (p. 106) I wish the author had stayed a little closer to that sentiment. On the other hand, I learned a little detail that I hadn’t known about the black cat symbol. I didn’t realize that it was the symbol for sabotage during the WWI and post-WWI era. Those are the kinds of delightful historical tidbits that will keep me coming back for more in this series, regardless of the “preachiness.”The mystery in Hunting a Detroit Tiger begins with utility infielder Mickey Rawlings visiting a Wobblie rally in order to meet a former major leaguer who was encouraging all professional players to join the One Big Union. When Mickey goes backstage to meet him, the former major leaguer is dead. Strangely, Mickey is both framed for the killing and given a self-defense plea from law enforcement. Headlines trumpeting him as the war hero who killed a dangerous radical merely serve to get him in trouble with his team and a great deal of the story’s appeal has to do with being caught between the union leaders who are willing to do anything in the name of justice and the “defenders” of capitalism who are willing to do anything in the name of justice. One almost wants to appeal to the line from A Princess Bride and substitute “justice” for “inconceivable.” At any rate, it doesn’t appear to mean what either side think it means.For my personal taste, the mystery portion of the story wasn’t really all that exciting. There is a conspiracy element in the story that starts out fairly interesting, but the revelation isn’t very exciting. Hunting a Detroit Tiger isn’t, by any rationale, the best in this series, but it is still worth reading.
Mickey Rawlings a utility infielder for the Detroit Tigers has just returned from World War One in time to go back to baseball. Soon after arriving in Detroit though, Mickey is identified (wrongly) in the local papers as killing a labor leader in self defense. Mickey must clear his name while avoiding the Wobblies who are set on avenging the killing of one of their own.I enjoyed this novel. The setting is interesting as Soos mixes in historical figures like Ty Cobb and events like the labor unrest in 1919. The history is mixed in nicely with the mystery and baseball. A fun read.
Do You like book Hunting A Detroit Tiger (1998)?
This is the fourth installment in the Mickey Rawlings series of baseball novel. Rawlings, an up and coming baseball player living and playing in the early part of the 20th century, turns detective in the name of social justice.There was lots of not-baseball “stuff” in this mystery: labour unions and politics play large roles. I was interested in the history and the mystery but found that the book went on overlong and the plot became convoluted. I read this when I was quite sick with the flu, though, so I could be biased. Don’t let me put you off trying this series if it’s something you think you’d like.Read this if: you enjoy old-time baseball; or you’re interested in social politics of the early 20th century. 3½ stars
—Debbie
