Before Shohei Ohtani and Babe Ruth there was Robert Lee "Parisian Bob" Caruthers (1865-1911). A wunderkind pitcher and right fielder known throughout the country, he was the star on the mound for five league championships in 10 years, and one of two players in history—along with Ruth—to lead the Major Leagues in ERA+ (adjusted earned run average) and OPS+ (on-base plus slugging plus).
Coming from a wealthy family, Caruthers had something other players didn't—leverage. This resulted in several holdouts, including one which took him to Europe. This first full-length biography rediscovers one of baseball's most interesting characters and first two-way stars.