The Society for American Baseball Research awarded Johnny Smith, the Julius C. "Bud" Shaw Professor of Sports History with the Larry Ritter Book Award for War Fever: Boston, Baseball, and America in the Shadow of the Great War. Smith shares the award with his War Fever co-author, Randy  Roberts.

The award recognizes books that demonstrate "original research or analysis, a fresh perspective, compelling thesis, impressive insight, accuracy, and clear, graceful prose." 

War Fever, which the award committee called "meticulously researched and riveting," is a portrait of three men in Boston in 1918 — a symphony conductor, a Harvard law student, and baseball star Babe Ruth—whose lives were changed by the Spanish Flu and World War I. 

"Randy Roberts and I are truly honored to be recognized by the Society for American Baseball Research," said Smith. "Winning the Larry Ritter Book Award means a great deal because it comes from an organization of researchers and writers who truly know baseball history. We are grateful that the award committee found War Fever worthy of this generous award."