Kennedy, Paul – Billy Conn. The Pittsburgh Kid

Description

Kennedy, Paul ‘Billy Conn. The Pittsburgh Kid’ 2007 1st ed. 224-pages. SIGNED AND DATED on title page by author: “Paul F. Kennedy 4/4/07.” VG in VG mylar protected jacket.

Billy Conn: The Pittsburgh Kid is a comprehensive 238-page biography written by Pittsburgh native Paul F. Kennedy and published in 2007 by AUTHORHOUSE.

Book Overview:
The book chronicles the meteoric rise and colorful life of Billy Conn, an Irish-American boxing icon who won the world light-heavyweight title at just 21 years old. It covers his early “baptism of fire” under manager Johnny Ray, his legendary dominance in the middleweight and light-heavyweight divisions, and his dramatic jump to the heavyweight division to face the great Joe Louis in their 1941 all-time classic match.

Kennedy utilized exclusive access to the Conn family archives to frame a story that transcends sports. The hardcover edition balances Conn’s gritty, Depression-era ring achievements with his glamorous, sometimes chaotic personal life. Notable highlights inside the book include:
• His whirlwind romance and elopement with Mary Louise Smith, which famously sparked a massive fistfight between Conn and his new father-in-law at a family christening party.
• His brief stint as a Hollywood movie star playing himself in the 1941 film The Pittsburgh Kid.
• His close personal friendships with massive mid-century celebrities like Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, and Robert Taylor.
• Visual Content: The book features a dedicated section of 10 pages of black-and-white historical photographs at the back.

While widely circulated in paperback, the hardcover edition features blue cloth-covered boards and was issued with a matching dust jacket.