The Shortstop Was a Crook

One of baseball's first stars, William H. "Billy" Geer was also perhaps the most prolific forger in America. Reputedly the "smartest and most well-read man" in the game, Geer finessed his way into high society before engaging in a life of crime, using at least 35 aliases and committing forgeries in dozens of states. In addition, he served at least eight prison stints, each under a different name. Along the way, he was spotted in Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

This book traces Geer's meteoric rise to stardom as a shortstop in three major leagues and examines the dizzying exploits of his criminal career.