Book Signing by David Jerome author of “Bill Virdon, A Life in Baseball”

David Jerome, author of “Bill Virdon, A Life in Baseball,” will be signing copies of the book and reading from it, if time permits. The event is free to attend. The book will be available for purchase during the event.

Jerome describes Bill Virdon as “one of the most underrated players in baseball history.” Among his many accomplishments, Virdon was Rookie of the Year with the 1955 St. Louis Cardinals, played centerfield for 10 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and went on to successfully manage four Major League teams.

Virdon moved to West Plains with his family when he was 12 years old, graduating from West Plains High School in 1949. At the age of eighteen, he was signed by the New York Yankees. He later joined the St. Louis Cardinals where he became the National League’s Rookie of the Year. At the age of 31, Virdon won the Golden Glove Award. He was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1956 and was a key player in the Pirates’ 1960 World Series Championship.

David Jerome is a retired U.S. Army officer and former college professor. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Arkansas. He was able to work on the project directly with Virdon before his death in November 2021.