The Autobiography of an Average Golfer.

KEELER, O.B.

Item Number: 95768

New York: Greenberg, Publishing, Inc, 1925.

First edition of O.B. Keeler’s autobiography. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Dear Mr LeVino – In this queer game we all life, may the worst breaks you ever get be all the best of it – Your Friend, O.B. Keeler, 1941.” In near fine condition. Rare and desirable signed and inscribed. D&M 23000; D&J K3040.

O.B. Keeler first began playing golf as a boy during summers in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Despite his love of the game, he was never better than an average player and never once in his life broke 90. But he sure could write about it. Keeler traveled with Bobby Jones over 150,000 miles in 16 years. Bobby’s immortality was not placed upon him solely by his splendid swing. His name is possibly the most famous in the sport not in small part due to Pop Keeler. It was Pop who wrote about the miraculous victories and gut-wrenching shots with a Shakespearean dramatic flair and wit of an old-world newspaperman. H.G. Salsinger of the Detroit News said it best. “While Jones composed his epics, Keeler sang them to the world, and they seemed all the finer for the manner of singing.” He got his name etched amongst the greatest sports writers of all time and possibly the greatest of all golf journalists.