The Gilt Edge of Ambition: A Sportsman’s Gamble for Power and Baseball was featured in the September 2026 edition of SHS Monthly, the Sacramento Historical Society’s newsletter.
Under the heading “A Story Worth Catching,” the Society introduced readers to the world of Gilded Age Sacramento and the remarkable career of Edward Kripp, the gambler, promoter, and baseball manager at the center of the book.
The two-page feature highlighted Kripp’s role in building Buffalo Park, his club’s extraordinary run of championships, and the extensive primary-source research behind the story.
It also included an endorsement from Sacramento baseball historian and author Marshall Garvey, who praised the book’s distinctive approach:
“Gilded Age Sacramento is less like a setting and more like a living, breathing character… this one stands out for its innovative approach that I doubt anyone else would have pulled off.”
The feature is particularly meaningful because Kripp’s story extends well beyond baseball. His career intersected with Sacramento’s gambling establishments, entertainment venues, politics, and changing civic identity during a period of tremendous growth.
My thanks to the Sacramento Historical Society for helping bring this little-known chapter of California history to a wider audience.
