Baseball

by Kevin Jolivette (Author)

"Johnny Learns Baseball" is a rhyming children's book for sharing America's pastime. Follow along as Johnny learns the game from his Dad as they watch their home town team try to rally for a come-from-behind win!

by Charles River (Author)

*Includes pictures
*Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading
"I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me... All I ask is that you respect me as a human being." - Jackie Robinson
In his introduction to The Jackie Robinson Reader, sports historian Jules Tygiel succinctly observed, "Extraordinary lives often reveal ordinary truths. Jackie Robinson was born in 1919 and died in 1972. He crammed into these brief fifty-three years a legacy of accomplishment, acclaim, controversy, and influence matched by few Americans. He was, even before his historic baseball breakthrough, an athlete of legendary proportions. He won fame and adulation as the first African-American to play in the major leagues in the twentieth century, launching an athletic revolution that transformed American sports. He garnered baseball's highest honors: Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, and first-ballot election to the Hall of Fame. More significantly, Robinson became a symbol of racial integration and a prominent leader in the civil rights struggle of the 1950s and 1960s. Yet Jackie Robinson's half century among us illuminates not just the contours of an exceptional life, but much about the broader African-American experience of those years."
Tygiel is, of course, correct in his assessment of Robinson's life, and any biography of the baseball legend will share with its readers some of the amazing stories of his life, beginning with his difficult birth in Cairo, Georgia, following him across the country to California, and then north to Montreal and south to Florida. Along the way, readers learn of a man once consumed by rage who learned, through time and practice, as well as the influence of several important mentors, to rein in his anger and use it to change the world. Though born in a sharecropper's cabin, he corresponded with presidents. Growing up in the shadow of an Olympian older brother, he found his own place in the sun, and, more importantly, he ¬¬¬¬¬smoothed the journey to success for countless others. His name has gone down not in just one but in two pantheons of history, both on and off the baseball field as a noble fighter for equal rights.
Jackie Robinson: The Life and Legacy of the Star Who Broke Major League Baseball's Color Barrier profiles how Jackie became one of the most important athletes in history. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Jackie Robinson like never before.

by Burton A. Boxerman (Author), Benita W. Boxerman (Author)

Long before Hank Greenberg earned recognition as baseball's greatest Jewish player, Jews had developed a unique, and very close, relationship with the American pastime. In the late nineteenth century, as both the American Jewish population and baseball's popularity grew rapidly, baseball became an avenue by which Jewish immigrants could assimilate into American culture. Beyond the men (and, later, women) on the field, in the dugout, and at the front office, the Jewish community produced a huge base of fans and students of the game.

This important book examines the interrelated histories of baseball and American Jews to 1948--the year Israel was established, the first full season that both major leagues were integrated, and the summer that Hank Greenberg retired. Covered are the many players, from Pike to Greenberg, as well as the managers, owners, executives, writers, statisticians, manufacturers and others who helped forge a bond between baseball and an emerging Jewish culture in America. Key reasons for baseball's early appeal to Jews are examined, including cultural assimilation, rebellion against perceived Old World sensibilities, and intellectual and philosophical ties to existing Jewish traditions. The authors also clearly demonstrate how both Jews and baseball have benefited from their relationship.

Author Biography

The late Burton A. Boxerman taught history for 30 years and contributed to numerous historical journals. A longtime member of SABR, he lived in St. Louis, Missouri. The late Benita W. Boxerman was a writer and researcher. Retired from one of the largest public relations firms in the United States and a member of SABR, she lived in St. Louis, Missouri.

by John Cangelosi (Author), K. P. Wee (Author)

John Cangelosi: The Improbable Baseball Journey of the Undersized Kid from Nowhere to World Series Champion

A born and bred New Yorker, John Cangelosi's claim to fame was as a super-quick base stealer with a tremendous work ethic. He played on that 1997 Florida Marlins team that surprised everyone by wining the World Series. In this biography, he teams up with noted sports writer K. P. Wee to share his stories of growing up in Brooklyn and what it took to become an MLB player. This is an inside look at a real everyman of baseball, full of stories about stealing bases against legendary pitchers and catchers, and how it felt to celebrate the first championship in Marlins history.

"[Cangelosi] put forth the effort in the way he played, and he got back to the big leagues. You salute guys like that. And that's why with the younger players, you just tell them, 'Hey, look. You wanna try to get to the big leagues? Do what he does. Show up, and play hard every night."
--Terry Collins, former Buffalo Bisons manager and Houston Astros manager

"If you have that blue-collar work ethic and not give up on your dreams, anything can happen. That's what happened for me in those years in the 1990s."
--John Cangelosi

by Johnny Antonelli (Author), Scott Pitoniak (Author)

One of only 17 major-league players never to have spent a single day in the minors, Johnny Antonelli was a highly coveted phenom who signed a "bonus baby" contract with the Boston Braves for $52,000 a few days after graduating from Rochester's Jefferson High School in 1948. It wasn't until six years later, when he was traded to the New York Giants, that the stylish left-hander began realizing the potential the scouts had seen in him. In a seven-year stretch--from 1953-59--Antonelli was among baseball's best hurlers, compiling a 114-89 record, 22 shutouts and nine saves, while being named a National League All-Star five times. Following his baseball career, Antonelli became a successful entrepreneur in the tire business. Enjoy this inside look at the Golden Age of baseball.

by William A. Young (Author)

Baseball pioneer J. L. Wilkinson (1878-1964) was the owner and founder, in 1920, of the famed Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues. The only white owner in the Negro National League (NNL), Wilkinson earned a reputation for treating players with fairness and respect. He began his career in Iowa as a player, later organizing a traveling women's team in 1908 and the multiracial All-Nations club in 1912.

He led the Monarchs to two Negro Leagues World Series championships and numerous pennants in the NNL and the Negro American League. During the Depression he developed an ingenious portable lighting system for night games, credited with saving black baseball. He resurrected the career of legendary pitcher Satchel Paige in 1938 and in 1945 signed a rookie named Jackie Robinson to the Monarchs. Wilkinson was posthumously inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006, joining 14 Monarchs players.

Author Biography

William A. Young, SABR member, is an emeritus professor of religious studies at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, and the author of John Tortes "Chief" Meyers: A Baseball Biography (McFarland, 2012) and several books on the world's religions. He lives in Columbia, Missouri.

by Mark Armour (Author)

From the sandlots of San Francisco to the power centers of baseball, this book tells the story of Joe Cronin, one of twentieth-century baseball's major players, both on the field and off.
For most of his playing career, Cronin (1906-84) was the best shortstop in baseball. Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1956, he was a manager by the age of twenty-six and a general manager at forty-one. He was the youngest player-manager ever to play in the World Series, and he managed the Red Sox longer than any other man in history. As president of the American League, he oversaw two expansions, four franchise shifts, and the revolutionary and controversial introduction of the designated-hitter rule, which he wrote himself.
This book follows Cronin from his humble beginnings to his position as one of the most powerful figures in baseball. Mark Armour explores Cronin's time as a player as well as his role in some of the game's fiercest controversies, from the creation of the All-Star Game to the issue of integration. Bringing to life one of baseball's definitive characters, this book supplies a crucial and fascinating chapter in the history of America's pastime.

Author Biography

Mark Armour is the editor The Great Eight: The 1975 Cincinnati Reds (Nebraska, 2014) and a coeditor of Pitching, Defense, and Three-Run Homers: The 1970 Baltimore Orioles (Nebraska, 2012).

by Dennis Snelling (Author)

For more than a century Johnny Evers has been conjoined with Chicago Cubs teammates Frank Chance and Joe Tinker, thanks to eight lines of verse by a New York columnist. Caricatured as a scrawny, sour man who couldn't hit and who owed his fame to that poem, in truth he was the heartbeat of one of the greatest teams of the 20th century and the fiercest competitor this side of Ty Cobb.

Evers was at the center of one of baseball's greatest controversies, a chance event that sealed his stardom and stole a pennant from John McGraw and the New York Giants in 1908. Six years later, following reversals and tragedies that resulted in a nervous breakdown, he made a comeback with the Boston Braves and led that team to the most improbable of championships.

Spanning the time from his birth in Troy, New York, to his death less than a year after his election to the Hall of Fame, this is the biography of a man who literally wrote the book about playing second base.

Author Biography

Dennis Snelling is a member of the Society for American Baseball Research and the Pacific Coast League Historical Society. He lives in Rocklin, California. (Visit www.dennissnelling.com.)

by Kerry Yo Nakagawa (Author), Tom Seaver (Foreword by), Noriyuki Pat Morita (Preface by)

Four generations of Japanese Americans broke down racial and cultural barriers in California by playing baseball. Behind the barbed wire of concentration camps during World War II, baseball became a tonic of spiritual renewal for disenfranchised Japanese Americans who played America's pastime while illegally imprisoned. Later, it helped heal resettlement wounds in Los Angeles, San Francisco, the Central Valley and elsewhere. Today, the names of Japanese American ballplayers still resonate as their legacy continues. Mike Lum was the first Japanese American player in the Major Leagues in 1967, Lenn Sakata the first in the World Series in 1983 and Don Wakamatsu the first manager in 2008. Join Kerry Yo Nakagawa in this update of his 2001 classic as he chronicles sporting achievements that doubled as cultural benchmarks.

by Daniel E. Johnson (Author)

This book--the first in the English language to contain an exhaustive collection of Japanese baseball data--presents basic statistical information and listings for every Japanese professional baseball season from 1936 through 1997. The first part contains yearly breakdowns of team standings; qualifiers for batting and earned run championships; leaders in home runs, runs batted in, wins and strikeouts; all-star game results; Japan Series results; Best Nine selections; Gold Glove selections; and award winners. Sections on career records and single-season records are provided in the second part of this work. Appendices list no-hit, no-run games, Japanese Hall of Famers, and records of foreign tours of Japan by professional teams.

Author Biography

Daniel E. Johnson is an award-winning writer and editor living in Penngrove, California. He has contributed to several books about Japanese baseball and writes on a wide variety of topics.

by Dionne D. Nichols (Author), Blueberry Illustrations (Illustrator)

This children's books tells of a young boy's journey from playing T-ball to coaching baseball.



by Lew Freedman (Author)

During his 15-season Major League career, slugger Johnny Mize was among the preeminent power hitters in baseball, a star for the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Giants, and a clutch player for the New York Yankees when they won five straight World Series in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Raised in rural Georgia, Mize caught the tail end of the Cardinals' Gas House Gang era and had his career interrupted by World War II before achieving greatness at the plate. An MVP, perennial All-Star and four-time National League home-run champion, he made a science of batting and wrote a book on it (How to Hit, 1953). This first full-length biography traces the arc of Mize's career through his prime years in the limelight to his retirement, when renewed interest in his legacy saw him inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Author Biography

Lew Freedman is a long-time, prize-winning journalist for such newspapers as the Philadelphia Inquirer, Chicago Tribune, Anchorage Daily News, Seymour, Indiana's The Tribune and Wyoming's Cody Enterprise. Specializing in sports and the outdoors, he has written more than 100 books. He lives in Columbus, Indiana.

by Donn Rogosin (Author), Monte Irvin (Foreword by), Donn Rogosin (Introduction by)

This fascinating book is a milestone in baseball scholarship.--Ken Burns

This remarkable narrative is filled with the memories of many surviving Negro League players. What emerges is a glorious chapter in African American history and an often overlooked aspect of our American past. This edition features a new introduction by the author.

Jackie Robinson was a Negro Leaguer before he became a Major Leaguer. So too were Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Monte Irvin, Roy Campanella, Willie Mays, and Willie Wells before entering the Baseball Hall of Fame. Invisible Men is the story of their lives in baseball.

Author Biography

Donn Rogosin has produced and written documentaries for public television including the definitive film about the Negro Leagues, There Was Always Sun Shining Someplace, and East Wind, West Wind: Pearl Buck, the Woman Who Embraced the World. He has been a commentator for NPR's Morning Edition and is a past chairman of the New York State Humanities Council. He holds a PhD in American studies from the University of Texas. Monte Irvin played eight years in the Negro Leagues and eight years in the Major Leagues. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1973.

by Buckley (Author), Sean Doolittle (Foreword by)

With every hit, ball, strike, and home run numbers are being calculated on the baseball field. Get ready to learn all the ways digits and math factor into the game, from the countless statistics used to measure an individual player's game to the exact timing used to steal a base. Read about all the greatest players from baseball history and get fun facts, like what the most retired jersey number is. Discover what countries dominate in the Little League World Series and check out cool graphics that show the frequency of hits to every part of the field. Jam-packed with sports trivia, awesome photos, and fun activities at the end of every chapter, this number-focused look at the game is the ultimate grand slam.

Author Biography

JAMES BUCKLEY, JR. is the author of more than 100 books for young readers on basketball, baseball, football, soccer, and more. A former editor at Sports Illustrated and NFL Publishing, he is also the author of the top-selling annual Scholastic Year in Sports. In the non-sports world, he has written a dozen titles in the New York Times best-selling Who Was...? biography series. He lives in Santa Barbara, California, where he runs the Shoreline Publishing Group, a leading producer of nonfiction for kids.

by John M. Kovach (Author), Karen Paul Stone (Designed by)

On March 26, 1931, the baseball world was stunned as a 18-year female pitcher named Virne Beatrice "Jackie" Mitchell of Chattanooga, TN, signed a minor league contract with the hometown Lookouts. Several days later, Mitchell took to the mound for an April 2 preseason game against the New York Yankees, striking out both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. With her exploits reported the next day in newspapers across the United States, Jackie Mitchell became a household name

Mitchell's story is detailed in a new book by women's baseball historian John Kovach. Jackie Mitchell: The Girl Who Loved Baseball. It is the most complete look at the life and career of Mitchell. The book is published by Waldenhouse Publishers of Signal Mountain, Tennessee.

As a young girl, Jackie and her family lived in Memphis, Tennessee. The family lived in close proximity to then minor league Memphis Chicks pitcher (and future Baseball Hall of Famer) Arthur Charles "Dazzy" Vance. It was Vance who reportedly taught a young Jackie to throw a baseball.

While previous books about Mitchell center around her appearance against the Yankees, readers will learn a number of new things about Mitchell, both on and off the baseball field. Some of those things include:

- Jackie playing for her first organized team, the Engelettes in 1930

- Jackie pitching for or against teams from eight different minor leagues

- The only female pitcher to hold two major league teams scoreless

- A first-ever, year-by-year record of Jackie's pitching career

- Jackie's challenge to Babe Didrikson to pitch against her

According to popular culture, the possibility that she would be soon a starting member of the Lookouts pitching staff was dashed when Baseball Commissioner, Kennesaw Mountain Landis reportedly banned females from playing professional baseball after her appearance. There is no written evidence of Landis ban according to Kovach. Following the game in Chattanooga, many of the teams she would play for would state that her contrast was "on loan" to their club from the Lookouts.

As a female athlete in the 1930s, Mitchell played both baseball and basketball. Through her basketball playing, Mitchell encountered the legendary Mildred "Babe" Didrikson, playing on her "All American's Basketball Team" as well as the "Stars of The World", managed by Grover Cleveland Alexander.

Kovach creates a unique chapter from interviews with Jackie between 1931-33. Readers will again hear Jackie in her own words tell what it was like to face Ruth and Gehrig; her love of baseball as well as what it was like to play with the bearded House of David team.

The book also touches upon the post-athletic life of Mitchell until her death in 1987. Readers will learn about the deaths of her mother, father and younger sister as well as her brief marriage to Eugene A Gilbert.

by John M. Kovach (Author), Karen Paul Stone (Designed by)

On March 26, 1931, the baseball world was stunned as a 18-year female pitcher named Virne Beatrice "Jackie" Mitchell of Chattanooga, TN, signed a minor league contract with the hometown Lookouts. Several days later, Mitchell took to the mound for an April 2 preseason game against the New York Yankees, striking out both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. With her exploits reported the next day in newspapers across the United States, Jackie Mitchell became a household name

Mitchell's story is detailed in a new book by women's baseball historian John Kovach. Jackie Mitchell: The Girl Who Loved Baseball. It is the most complete look at the life and career of Mitchell.

As a young girl, Jackie and her family lived in Memphis, Tennessee. The family lived in close proximity to then minor league Memphis Chicks pitcher (and future Baseball Hall of Famer) Arthur Charles "Dazzy" Vance. It was Vance who reportedly taught a young Jackie to throw a baseball.

While previous books about Mitchell center around her appearance against the Yankees, readers will learn a number of new things about Mitchell, both on and off the baseball field. Some of those things include:

- Jackie playing for her first organized team, the Engelettes in 1930

- Jackie pitching for or against teams from eight different minor leagues

- The only female pitcher to hold two major league teams scoreless

- A first-ever, year-by-year record of Jackie's pitching career

- Jackie's challenge to Babe Didrikson to pitch against her

According to popular culture, the possibility that she would be soon a starting member of the Lookouts pitching staff was dashed when Baseball Commissioner, Kennesaw Mountain Landis reportedly banned females from playing professional baseball after her appearance. There is no written evidence of Landis ban according to Kovach. Following the game in Chattanooga, many of the teams she would play for would state that her contrast was "on loan" to their club from the Lookouts.

As a female athlete in the 1930s, Mitchell played both baseball and basketball. Through her basketball playing, Mitchell encountered the legendary Mildred "Babe" Didrikson, playing on her "All American's Basketball Team" as well as the "Stars of The World", managed by Grover Cleveland Alexander.

Kovach creates a unique chapter from interviews with Jackie between 1931-33. Readers will again hear Jackie in her own words tell what it was like to face Ruth and Gehrig; her love of baseball as well as what it was like to play with the bearded House of David team.

The book also touches upon the post-athletic life of Mitchell until her death in 1987. Readers will learn about the deaths of her mother, father and younger sister as well as her brief marriage to Eugene A Gilbert.

by William C. Kashatus (Author)

As star players for the 1955 World Champion Brooklyn Dodgers, and prior to that as the first black players to be candidates to break professional baseball's color barrier, Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella would seem to be natural allies. But the two men were divided by a rivalry going far beyond the personality differences and petty jealousies of competitive teammates. Behind the bitterness were deep and differing beliefs about the fight for civil rights.

Robinson, the more aggressive and intense of the two, thought Jim Crow should be attacked head-on; Campanella, more passive and easygoing, believed that ability, not militancy, was the key to racial equality. Drawing on interviews with former players such as Monte Irvin, Hank Aaron, Carl Erskine, and Don Zimmer, Jackie and Campy offers a closer look at these two players and their place in a historical movement torn between active defiance and passive resistance. William C. Kashatus deepens our understanding of these two baseball icons and civil rights pioneers and provides a clearer picture of their time and our own.

Author Biography

William C. Kashatus is the author of many books, including September Swoon: Richie Allen, the '64 Phillies and Racial Integration.

by Don Doxsie (Author)

This biography traces the hard life and colorful career of "Iron Man" McGinnity from his childhood working the coalfields of Illinois to his death in 1929. McGinnity may have been the most durable hurler in the history of the sport, often pitching both games of a doubleheader. He averaged more wins per season in his 10-year major league career than any pitcher in history, and continued to pitch for two more decades in the minor leagues before retiring at 54.

Author Biography

Don Doxsie lives in Marion, Iowa, and is retired after nearly 50 years as an award-winning sports journalist in Iowa and Illinois. He has written eight books, including biographies of Iron Man McGinnity and Elmer Layden, a collection of profiles of the top baseball players from Iowa, and a peek into the early days of the NBA.

by Scott Simon (Author)

"An extraordinary book . . . invitingly written and brisk." -Chicago Tribune

Back Jacket

An extraordinary book . . . invitingly written and brisk.
--"Chicago Tribune"

"Perhaps no one has ever told the tale [of Robinson's arrival in the major leagues] so well as [Simon] does in this extended essay."
--"The Washington Post Book World"

"Scott Simon tells a compelling story of risk and sacrifice, profound ugliness and profound grace, defiance and almost unimaginable courage. This is a meticulously researched, insightful, beautifully written book, one that should be read, reread, and remembered."
--Laura Hillenbrand, author of the "New York Times" bestseller "Seabiscuit"

The integration of baseball in 1947 had undeniable significance for the civil rights movement and American history. Thanks to Jackie Robinson, a barrier that had once been believed to be permanent was shattered--paving the way for scores of African Americans who wanted nothing more than to be granted the same rights as any other human being.

In this book, renowned broadcaster Scott Simon reveals how Robinson's heroism brought the country face-to-face with the question of racial equality. From his days in the army to his ascent to the major leagues, Robinson battled bigotry at every turn. Simon deftly traces the journey of the rookie who became Rookie of the Year, recalling the taunts and threats, the stolen bases and the slides to home plate, the trials and triumphs. Robinson's number, 42, has been retired by every club in major league baseball--in homage to the man who had to hang his first Brooklyn Dodgers uniform on a hook rather than in a locker.

Author Biography

Scott Simon, the host of NPR's "Weekend Edition Saturday with Scott Simon," has won every major award in broadcasting for his personal essays, war reporting, and commentary. He is also the author of "Home and Away: Memoir of a Fan and Pretty Birds," a novel about two teenagers during the siege of Sarajevo.

by Charles River (Author)

*Includes pictures
*Includes excerpts of contemporary accounts
*Includes a bibliography for further reading
"I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me... All I ask is that you respect me as a human being." - Jackie Robinson
In his introduction to The Jackie Robinson Reader, sports historian Jules Tygiel succinctly observed, "Extraordinary lives often reveal ordinary truths. Jackie Robinson was born in 1919 and died in 1972. He crammed into these brief fifty-three years a legacy of accomplishment, acclaim, controversy, and influence matched by few Americans. He was, even before his historic baseball breakthrough, an athlete of legendary proportions. He won fame and adulation as the first African-American to play in the major leagues in the twentieth century, launching an athletic revolution that transformed American sports. He garnered baseball's highest honors: Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, and first-ballot election to the Hall of Fame. More significantly, Robinson became a symbol of racial integration and a prominent leader in the civil rights struggle of the 1950s and 1960s. Yet Jackie Robinson's half century among us illuminates not just the contours of an exceptional life, but much about the broader African-American experience of those years."
Tygiel is, of course, correct in his assessment of Robinson's life, and any biography of the baseball legend will share with its readers some of the amazing stories of his life, beginning with his difficult birth in Cairo, Georgia, following him across the country to California, and then north to Montreal and south to Florida. Along the way, readers learn of a man once consumed by rage who learned, through time and practice, as well as the influence of several important mentors, to rein in his anger and use it to change the world. Though born in a sharecropper's cabin, he corresponded with presidents. Growing up in the shadow of an Olympian older brother, he found his own place in the sun, and, more importantly, he ¬¬¬¬¬smoothed the journey to success for countless others. His name has gone down not in just one but in two pantheons of history, both on and off the baseball field as a noble fighter for equal rights.
Given his legacy, many Americans today believe Jackie Robinson was the first black man to play in Major League Baseball, but that answer is wrong. As far back as the late 19th century, there had been professional baseball leagues that were every bit as segregated as any other aspect of society, but before that, there were, for a brief shining moment, there were teams of black and white men playing with and against each other.
One of the first black men to play on such a team was Moses Fleetwood Walker, and he was the first who openly identified as black. In an essay entitled "African-Americans in Toledo Sports," one author observed, "Moses Fleetwood Walker's promising but all too short professional baseball career mirrors the experience of most of the great African American ballplayers before the Negro Leagues began play in the early twentieth century. Walker was a gifted defensive catcher and adequate offensive player, but his career would be cut short by racism...Walker, well educated for a man of any race in the late 19th century, respond to this racism first with ambivalence, later with anger, and finally with prose. Walker's seminal work, Our Home Colony put him directly in line with the thoughts and words of future leader Marcus Garvey in his call for a separation of the races and a return of African Americans to Africa."
To this day, over 130 years after he played, Walker's life and his contributions to baseball history remain mostly forgotten, obscuring how a fascinating athlete with many talents experienced racism without letting it break him.

by Robert F. Garratt (Author)

Named a Best Baseball Book of 2023 by Sports Collectors Digest

Author Biography

Robert F. Garratt is an emeritus professor of English and humanities at the University of Puget Sound. He is the author of Home Team: The Turbulent History of the San Francisco Giants (Nebraska, 2017).

by Scott Simon (Author)

"No athlete performed at a higher level through greater stress than Jackie Robinson." -Scott Simon

Front Jacket

The first African American major league ballplayer of the twentieth century was a hard-nosed, high-spirited athlete who became one of the most admired personalities in the country. Jackie Robinson personified courage from the minute he stepped into the major leagues, adorned proudly in his Dodger blue. Nevertheless, he was a man who bore a daily, bloody trial of vicious attacks, race-baiting taunts, and death threats, risking both his safety and his sanity in order to simply play the game. The strain would end his life far too soon-but he gave his life for something great, as all heroes do.

In Jackie Robinson and the Integration of Baseball, renowned broadcaster Scott Simon brings his passion for baseball and civil rights to this crucial moment in history. He deftly captures the drama of Robinson's first year in baseball, tracing his journey from rookie to Rookie of the Year, the award that now bears Robinson's name.

At the close of World War II, no nation was freer or stronger than the United States-and yet few major nations so openly subjugated so many of their own citizens. Simon recounts how Robinson struggled with racism both in the army and on the baseball diamond, finally landing a place in the Negro Leagues as a shortstop. Just at the time when the country was beginning to question the morality of racial segregation, Robinson was battling bigotry every step of the way-from his entry into the minor leagues; to Opening Day, April 15, 1947, when he helped the Brooklyn Dodgers win; to his first World Series.

But for the man who "just wanted to be treated like any other player," the goal of integrating the major leagues was worth every moment of agony and anguish. Simon reveals how Robinson's skills and daring turned adversaries into admirers. For every piece of hate mail, for every epithet called across the field, there were prayers, greeting cards, and letters of encouragement from Southerners and Brooklynites, rabbis and ministers. And thanks to that seminal year, Robinson paved the way for scores of black players to finally join organized baseball. This important story of a man of remarkable conviction is by turns inspiring, emotional, and uplifting.

Back Jacket

No athlete performed at a higher level through greater stress than Jackie Robinson.
-Scott Simon

The integration of baseball in 1947 had undeniable significance for the civil rights movement and American history. Thanks to Jackie Robinson, a barrier that had once been believed to be permanent was shattered-paving the way for scores of African Americans who wanted nothing more than to be granted the same rights as any other human being.

In Jackie Robinson and the Integration of Baseball, renowned broadcaster Scott Simon reveals how Robinson's heroism, firmly planted in the memory of Americans, brought the country face-to-face with the question of racial equality. From his days in the army to his ascent to the major leagues, Robinson battled bigotry at every turn. Simon deftly traces the journey of the rookie who became Rookie of the Year, recalling the taunts and threats, the stolen bases and the slides to home plate, the trials and triumphs. Robinson's number, 42, is now retired on every club in major league baseball-in homage to the man who had to hang his first Brooklyn Dodgers uniform on a hook rather than in a locker.

TURNING POINTS features preeminent writers offering fresh, personal perspectives on the defining events of our time.

Author Biography

SCOTT SIMON, the host of NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday with Scott Simon, has won every major award in broadcasting for his personal essays, war reporting, and commentary. He is also the author of Home and Away: Memoir of a Fan.

by Burton A. Boxerman (Author), Benita W. Boxerman (Author)

This history follows up on the well-received first volume and traces the arc of Jews in baseball after Hank Greenberg retired in 1948. During this postwar period, Jews saw greater acceptance into the American mainstream as organized anti-Semitism was largely displaced by greater affluence, education, and a more geographically dispersed Jewish community. Jews continued to flourish in baseball--new stars like Al Rosen, Sandy Koufax and Shawn Green debuted, and off the field the era brought more Jewish owners, executives, sportswriters, broadcasters, and even a commissioner. This book further demonstrates how and why Jews and baseball have continued to grow together.

Author Biography

The late Burton A. Boxerman taught history for 30 years and contributed to numerous historical journals. A longtime member of SABR, he lived in St. Louis, Missouri. The late Benita W. Boxerman was a writer and researcher. Retired from one of the largest public relations firms in the United States and a member of SABR, she lived in St. Louis, Missouri.

by Cal Jr. Ripken (Author), James Dale (Author)

New York Times Bestseller!

Iron Man Cal Ripken Jr.--the 19-time All-Star, World-Series winning legend, American League MVP, and record holder who played 2,632 consecutive games--outlines eight rules for the game of baseball and life, drawn from the lessons he has learned on and off the field.

Cal Ripken Jr. is a baseball legend. But legends aren't born, they're made. For twenty-one seasons, Ripken took the field day in and day out, through cold, heat, rain, and sometimes snow, playing in more than 3,000 games for the Baltimore Orioles. In 1983, the revered shortstop helped lead his team to victory in the World Series. On September 6, 1995, Ripken did the seemingly impossible, he surpassed Lou Gehrig's unbreakable fifty-six-year-old Iron Man record, setting a new mark of 2,131 consecutive games--then played another 501 consecutive games. Throughout his career, Ripken was admired for his consistency, hard work, and loyalty. There were successes and failures, but above all was an old-fashioned sense of doing what's right, every single day.

Since retiring in 2001, Ripken has enjoyed a successful career as a baseball analyst, entrepreneur, and author. Now, in Just Show Up, he reflects on his life and career to offer lessons for the next generation and those to come. Ripken speaks eloquently about the timeless values he has lived by: Life is a streak, play the long game; Success and money are not the same; Play fair, win fair. And he shares stories of his legendary father, Baltimore Oriole coach and manager Cal Ripken Sr., what it took to keep the streak alive, and what it meant to bring the World Series to Baltimore.

Cal Ripken's message is simple yet poignant; wisdom essential to anyone trying to forge a successful life in times that are often chaotic. Blending insights from sports, business, and a life well-lived, Just Show Up is the story of an American legend and the principles he has lived by--standards our time needs.

Back Jacket

The man who went to work for 2,632 straight games, "Iron Man" Cal Ripken Jr.--nineteen-time All-Star and World Series-winning legend--draws on lessons he learned on and off the field, and shares his values and principles for the game of life.

On September 6, 1995, Cal Ripken Jr. played his 2,131st consecutive game in Major League Baseball, breaking Lou Gehrig's Iron Man streak (he would go on to play another 501 consecutive games) and capping a career that included helping to deliver the 1983 World Series victory to his beloved Baltimore. Ripken is a baseball legend, and the son of revered coach Cal Ripken Sr.--but legends aren't born; they're made. Ripken Jr.'s keynotes were his consistency, hard work, and loyalty--in more than twenty years as a major leaguer, he only ever played for the Orioles. There were successes and failures, but beyond it all was the old-fashioned sense of doing what was right, every single day.

Since his retirement, Ripken has parlayed his fame into a successful post-baseball career as a television analyst, youth baseball entrepreneur, and author. In Just Show Up, he uses all these experiences to create a vision for a better life. His core values remain age-old: "Have a mentor, and be one, too"; "Success and money are not the same"; and "Play fair--win fair." Sprinkled throughout are firsthand accounts of his legendary father; fellow superstar baseball players and the games they played; what it was like to keep the streak alive; what it meant to bring the World Series to Baltimore; and simple yet poignant takeaways for anyone trying to forge a successful life in these often chaotic times.

Drawing on sports, business, and a life well lived, Just Show Up is an insider account of a baseball legacy and our national pastime lore, filled on every page with the grounding, invaluable wisdom our time needs.

by Robert K. Fitts (Author)

2021 SABR Baseball Research Award
2021 Independent Publisher Book Awards, Silver Medal Winner

Author Biography

Robert K. Fitts is the author of Mashi: The Unfulfilled Baseball Dreams of Masanori Murakami, the First Japanese Major Leaguer (Nebraska, 2015), Wally Yonamine: The Man Who Changed Baseball (Nebraska, 2008), and Banzai Babe Ruth: Baseball, Espionage, and Assassination during the 1934 Tour of Japan (Nebraska, 2012), winner of the Society of American Baseball Research's Seymour Medal.

by Jose Canseco (Author)

The #1 New York Times Bestseller

In Juiced, Jose Canseco, one of the most electrifying and controversial athletes ever to step onto the baseball diamond, shares the untold story of his rise to fame and fall from grace, including a never-before-seen look behind the curtains into the history, dangers, truths, and lies about baseball's dark secret: steroids.

When Jose Canseco burst into the Major Leagues in the 1980s, he changed the sport--in more ways than one. No player before him possessed his mixture of speed and power, which allowed him to become the first man in history to belt 40+ home runs and swipe 40+ bases in the same season. He won the Rookie of the Year, the MVP award, and a World Series ring.

He was a dynamo on the field, and a magnet for trouble off it. From his frequent run-ins with police, to his wild and often highly public love life, Canseco broke the mold of the big-time athlete and ushered in a new era of super-athletes with outrageous salaries and rock-star lifestyles. But behind the gaudy stats and the glitz and glamour of his public life, Canseco cultivated a dark secret, one that would alter the game of baseball and the way we view our heroes forever. Canseco made himself a guinea pig of the blossoming performance-enhancing drugs movement that was only just beginning to take hold in Major League Baseball. Anabolic steroids, human growth hormones--Canseco mixed, matched, and experimented to such a degree that he became known throughout the league as "The Chemist." He passed his knowledge on to trainers and fellow players, and before long performance-enhancing drugs were running rampant throughout the league.

Today, this issue has crept out of the closet and burst into the headlines as players balloon to herculean proportions and hundred-year-old records are not just broken, but demolished. In this shocking autobiography, Canseco sheds light on a life of dizzying highs and debilitating lows--and also provides the answers to questions about steroids and the Major Leagues that millions of sports fans are only now beginning to ask.

Back Jacket

When Jose Canseco burst into the Major Leagues in the 1980s, he changed the sport -- in more ways than one. No player before him possessed his mixture of speed and power, which allowed him to become the first man in history to belt more than forty home runs and swipe more than forty bases in the same season. He won Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, and a World Series ring.

Canseco shattered the mold of the out-of-shape baseball player and ushered in a new era of superathletes who looked like bodybuilders, made outrageous salaries, and enjoyed rock-star lifestyles. And the ticket for this ride? Steroids. Behind the gaudy stats and the glamour of his public life, Canseco cultivated a secret just about everyone in MLB knew about, one that would alter the game of baseball and the way we view our heroes forever. Canseco made himself a guinea pig of the performance-enhancing drugs that were only just beginning to infiltrate the American underground. Anabolic steroids, human growth hormones -- Canseco mixed, matched, and experimented to such a degree that he became known throughout the league as "The Chemist." He passed his knowledge on to trainers and fellow players, and before long, performance-enhancing drugs were running rampant throughout Major League Baseball. Sluggers scooping up pitches at their ankles and blasting them out of the park, pitchers cranking fastballs inning after inning -- Canseco showed the players how to customize their doses to sculpt the bodies they wanted, and baseball as we know it was the result.

Today, this issue has crept out of the closet and burst into the headlines as players balloon to herculean proportions and hundred-year-old records are not only broken, but also demolished. In this shocking memoir, Canseco sheds light on a life of dizzying highs and debilitating lows, provides the answers to questions about steroids that millions of fans are only now beginning to ask -- and suggests that, far from being a passing trend, the steroid revolution is only a taste of things to come.

Who's juiced? According to Canseco's authoritative account, more than you think. And baseball will never be the same.

by Doug Kurkul (Author)

Enjoy a fascinating trip back in time when baseball was the undisputed National Pastime and nearly every spring or summer day was seemingly a beautiful day for baseball. An inside look at the sport - on and off the field - and the men who played the game during a monumental decade.

by Joe Morgan (Author), David Falkner (Author)

Back Jacket

Back-to-back Most Valuable Player and World Series winner Joe Morgan entered the Hall of Fame in 1990 on the first ballot, a "good little player" who achieved greatness by hard work, dedication, and baseball intelligence. In this entertaining book, be tells the story of his extraordinary life in baseball and offers provocative insights into the game's past, present, and future. The box score? The most complete player of his time has given us the complete baseball book, from the grit of the infield dirt on his spikes as he turned a double play against a charging Frank Robinson to no-holds-barred banter in the locker room with Johnny Bench, Tony Perez, and Pete Rose, from the frustration of seeing good teams destroyed by racism and incompetence to the triumph of winning it all with the most talented, and the smartest, team in baseball, Cincinnati's Big Red Machine. In vivid anecdotes, Joe Morgan recounts starting out in the minor leagues in the still-segregated South, the only black player on the Durham Bulls; earning a trip to the majors with the expansion Colt 45s (soon to become the Houston Astros), a rag tag collection of over-the-hill veterans and inexperienced youngsters with its own band of outlaws, "The Dalton Gang"; honing his game with the help of all-time-great Nellie Fox; competing against the likes of Willie Mays, Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, Tom Seaver, Reggie Jackson, Willie McCovey, and Willie Stargell; winning back to back MVP awards and World Series; dramatic seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, and Oakland A's; and being welcomed into the Hall of Fame by his childhood idol, Ted Williams. At the heart of the book is the tale of how four big, combative egos - Johnny Bench, Tony Perez, Pete Rose, and Morgan himself - learned to win together under Sparky Anderson's leadership, transforming the Cincinnati Reds into the Big Red Machine, the most successful team of the 1970s. Joe Morgan shows us how the Reds dominated games with sheer baseball smarts as well as awesome physical skill, and he gives us up-close views of his teammates, including Sparky Anderson's gift for molding individuals into a team dedicated to winning, Johnny Bench's flair for the dramatic play, Tony Perez's unquenchable will-to-win in the clutch, and Pete Rose's tumultuous experiences on and off the field. It's all here, from the day Dave Concepcion took a ride in the locker room dryer to George Foster's reply to an accusation of cheating: "I don't cork my bat. I cork my arm." Bringing his unparalleled feel for winning baseball right up to the present, Morgan also gives us hard-hitting commentary on the current state of the game, discussing why today's teams play brain dead, what keeps Rickey Henderson and other stars from being as great as they think they are, why good teams self-destruct so easily, why the new commissioner will find it hard to act "in the best interests of baseball," and how baseball ought to deal with such issues as expansion, free agency, and minority hiring. His controversial prescription for baseball's future - the appointment of a baseball ambassador empowered to negotiate with both players and owners for the good of the game - will spark lively debate all through the season and beyond. The final tally: here is a baseball read with the spark that made Joe Morgan the winningest player of his time.

by Barbara Gregorich (Author)

Jack and Larry is a wondrous book about Larry, a baseball mascot who never wore a costume, and about Jack Graney, a Canadian baseball player who gained fame with the Cleveland Naps (later, Indians). Readers who love dogs will love Larry, the bull terrier who put on a tremendous pregame show for all American League teams.

Baseball fans will celebrate with Jack Graney, the leadoff batter who reached base a phenomenal number of times. Readers will suffer with him, too, and with the entire team as it strives to climb out of the basement and grab the elusive pennant. This story about overcoming tough times makes readers laugh out loud at the ups and weep softly at the downs. And when the Cleveland team finally wins the pennant- jubilant cheer!

This uplifting story of a man, a dog, a baseball team, and the race for the pennant will touch the hearts of readers both you and old, and everywhere between. For ages 10-100.

Author Biography

Barbara Gregorich is the award-winning author of Women at Play: The Story of Women in Baseball, as well as of the baseball novel, She's on First. Throughout her writing career she has written for both adults and children, but never before in the same book. Jack and Larry is a story for all ages. A member of the Author's Guild, the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, the Mystery Writers of America, and the Society for American Baseball Research, Gregorich lives in Chicago. Her website is www.barbaragregorich.com

by Gregory Stephenson (Author)

Representations of baseball in Jack Kerouac's letters, journals, fiction, poetry & essays. Perspectives on the spiritual dimensions of the sport, drawn from articles and books by scholars in the field.

by David Rudd Cycleback (Author)

Written for the sports hobby by the prominent authentication and forgery detection expert David Rudd Cycleback, Judging the Authenticity of Early Baseball Cards is the standard authentication guide for Pre-1930 baseball cards. Essential reading for starting collectors to seasoned dealers, the brief guide offers everything from common sense tips for avoiding fakes to advanced techniques used to judge the age of cardstock and printing.

by John B. Wiseman (Editor)

This collection of essays by experts on baseball history focuses on the national pastime as a marker of our times and our cultural ideals. Topics include the rise of baseball in the nineteenth century, the influence of iconic players from Honus Wagner to Jackie Robinson, the fates of great teams well known (the Yankees and Orioles) and undeservedly obscure (the Elite Giants), and the advances of Latinos and blacks on the field and in the broader culture.

Author Biography

John B. Wiseman is professor emeritus of history at Frostburg State University. He taught American history for forty years and has written several books and numerous articles on film history. He is working on bringing a minor league baseball team back to Cumberland, Maryland, where he lives.

by Kerry Yo Nakagawa (Author)

Four generations of Japanese Americans broke down racial and cultural barriers in California by playing baseball. Behind the barbed wire of concentration camps during World War II, baseball became a tonic of spiritual renewal for disenfranchised Japanese Americans who played America's pastime while illegally imprisoned. Later, it helped heal resettlement wounds in Los Angeles, San Francisco, the Central Valley and elsewhere. Today, the names of Japanese American ballplayers still resonate as their legacy continues. Mike Lum was the first Japanese American player in the Major Leagues in 1967, Lenn Sakata the first in the World Series in 1983 and Don Wakamatsu the first manager in 2008. Join Kerry Yo Nakagawa in this update of his 2001 classic as he chronicles sporting achievements that doubled as cultural benchmarks.

Author Biography

While coaching his son's little league team in Fresno, California, Kerry Yo Nakagawa was inspired to preserve the legacy of Japanese American baseball and culture for future generations, and that evolved into a full-time non-profit project, the Nisei Baseball Research Project (NBRP), and the previous version of this updated book. The NBRP exhibit Diamonds in the Rough has been shown in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, and the Japan Baseball Hall of Fame in Tokyo. In twenty major league seasons, Fresno, California native Tom Seaver won 311 games, struck out 3, 640 batters and compiled an earned run average of 2.86. He won the Rookie of the Year Award in 1967 and three Cy Young Awards (1969, 1973 and 1975), all with the New York Mets. He was 25, 7 for the '69 World Series-winning Amazin' Mets. He also pitched for the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox, and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992. An actor of Japanese American ancestry born in 1932 in Isleton, California, Pat Morita's formative years were spent in a World War II, era internment camp. He was the first American of Asian descent to be nominated for an acting Academy Award, for his performance as Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid (1984). He was a regular on the television series Sanford and Son, Happy Days, Ohara and other shows. He wrote the preface for the original 2001 edition of this book. Morita passed away in 2005.

by Howard M. Wasserman (Author)

The Infield Fly Rule is the most misunderstood rule in baseball and perhaps in all of sports. That also makes it the most infamous. Drawing on interviews with experts, legal arguments and a study of every infield fly play in eight Major League seasons, this book tells the complete story of the rule. The author covers the rule's history from the 19th century to the modern game, its underlying logic and supporting arguments, recent criticisms and calls for repeal, the controversies and confusion it creates, and its effect on how the game is played.

Author Biography

Howard M. Wasserman is a professor of law at Florida International University College of Law. He writes about sports rules, the role of free expression in sports for fans and athletes, and federal civil rights litigation. He lives in Miami, Florida.

by Bob Luke (Author)

The struggle to integrate the Baltimore Orioles mirrored the fight for civil rights in Baltimore. The Orioles debuted in 1954, the same year the Supreme Court struck down public school segregation. As Baltimore experienced demonstrations, white flight and a 1968 riot, team integration came slowly. Black players--mostly outfielders--made cameo appearances as black fans stayed away in droves. The breakthrough came in 1966, with the arrival of a more enlightened owner, and African American superstar Frank Robinson. As more black players filled the roster, the Orioles dominated the American League from 1969 through much of the 1970s and into the early 1980s.

Attempts to integrate the team's executive suite were less successful. While black players generally did not participate in civil rights actions, several under Robinson's leadership pushed for front office jobs for former black players. Drawing on primary sources and interviews with former executives, players and sportswriters, this book tells the story of the integration of the Orioles. The author describes how tensions between community leaders and team officials aborted negotiations to both increase black attendance and put an African American in the club's executive ranks.

Author Biography

Bob Luke is the author of six books about baseball and race in America. He lives in Garrett Park, Maryland.

by Bill Plaschke (Author)

Tommy Lasorda was one of baseball's larger than life figures. A former pitcher who was overshadowed by Sandy Koufax, Lasorda went on to a Hall of Fame career as a manager with one of baseball's most storied franchises. His teams won two World Series, four National League pennants, and eight division titles. He was twice named National League manager of the year and he also led the United States baseball team to the gold medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics.

by Geoff Miller (Author)

A must read for all baseball players, coaches, and fans...

Mental skills coach Geoff Miller has spent years helping professional baseball players improve their mental toughness-both on and off the field. Now, he's making these invaluable lessons available to everyone who loves the game of baseball. From high school to the Major Leagues, all baseball players struggle with competition, pressure, and their own personal challenges. This book, through inspiring stories about professional baseball players in various stages of their careers, as well as hands-on tips and questionnaires, will help players evaluate and improve the mental skills that are necessary for that competitive edge.

In Intangibles, you'll find stories, instruction, and practical applications that teach players and coaches how to put forth their best mental games-portrayed through the eyes of those who have experienced those learning moments firsthand in their quests to become Major Leaguers. From a local park's baseball diamond to dusty minor league dugout benches to the musty concrete tunnels under Major League stadiums, Intangibles meets players where they are, offering specific ways to improve performance and outlook.

Whether you hope to be a big league player someday, or whether you simply want to play your best game, this book is essential for all athletes who want to learn how to overcome fear, build confidence, and develop a mental framework for success.

by George Gmelch (Author), J. J. Weiner (Author)

In the Ballpark is a collection of interviews with twenty-one people who work in all parts of Major and Minor League Baseball: usher and broadcaster, beer vendor and sportswriter, clubhouse attendant and field manager, ticket seller and owner, scout and general manager, mascot and player. Organized by setting--the stands, the field, the press box, and the front office--the accounts yield a wealth of insight into little-known aspects of the game. The new concluding chapter provides updates on the subjects since they were interviewed ten years ago as well as updates on how their jobs and the game itself has changed since In the Ballpark was first published.

Author Biography

George Gmelch, a former first baseman in the Detroit Tigers farm system, is Roger Thayer Stone Professor of Anthropology at Union College in Schenectady, New York. He is the author of nine books, including Inside Pitch: Life in Professional Baseball, also available in a Bison Books edition, and Baseball without Borders: The International Pastime (Nebraska 2006). J. J. Weiner worked in the front office of the Birmingham Barons and collaborated on this book as an anthropology student.

by George Gmelch (Author)

From the spark of ambition to play baseball professionally to the necessity of reinventing life after baseball, the anthropologist and former Minor Leaguer George Gmelch describes the lives of the men who work at America's national game.

Twenty-four years after his own final road trip as a minor leaguer, Gmelch went back on the road with ballplayers, this time with a pen and pad to record the details of life around the diamond. Drawing on more than one hundred interviews with Major and Minor League players, coaches, and managers, Gmelch explores players' experiences throughout their careers: being scouted, becoming a rookie, moving through or staying in the Minors, preparing mentally and physically to play day after day, coping with slumps and successes, and facing retirement. He examines the ballplayers' routines and rituals, describes their joys and frustrations, and investigates the roles of wives, fans, and groupies in their lives. Based on his own experience as a player in the 1960s, Gmelch charts the life cycle of the modern professional ballplayer and makes perceptive comparisons to a previous generation of players.

Author Biography

George Gmelch is a former first baseman in the Detroit Tigers farm system and a professor of anthropology at Union College in Schenectady, New York. He is the author of nine books, including Baseball without Borders: The International Pastime (Nebraska 2006) and In the Ballpark: The Working Lives of Baseball People (with J. J. Weiner), available in a Bison Books edition.

by Andrew Zimbalist (Author)

In the Best Interests of Baseball? is a thoughtful, balanced look at the impact of the ninth commissioner of baseball, Bud Selig, on the sport as well as an examination of the commissioner's position in a historical context. The more controversial topics Andrew Zimbalist probes include the conflicts of interest arising from Selig's original role as owner/commissioner; Selig's response to the persistent steroids scandal; the commissioner's role in promoting and marketing the sport; player relations and the collective-bargaining agreement; managing explosive conflicts among the owners; the game's economic challenges; major changes made on Selig's watch; and Selig's growing compensation.

Underlying this very public evaluation is a far more challenging question: given the legal, economic, and political architecture of Major League Baseball, can any commissioner act in the best interest of the game? Based on dozens of interviews with Selig, former president and chief operating officer of Major League Baseball Bob DuPuy, and scores of baseball insiders and interested outsiders, as well as on mountains of historic baseball documents, In the Best Interests of Baseball? challenges everything you thought you knew about the game, the Major Leagues, the players, the owners, and, most of all, the man at the helm.

This edition includes a new preface and epilogue by the author discussing the developments in the baseball industry since 2005 and anticipating what lies ahead for the national pastime.

Author Biography

Andrew Zimbalist is the Robert A. Woods Professor of Economics at Smith College. An award-winning writer, media commentator, and consultant in the sports industry, he is the author of numerous books, including Circling the Bases: Essays on the Challenges and Prospects of the Sports Industry and May the Best Team Win: Baseball Economics and Public Policy.

by Gloria Price Stimpson (Author), Maria E. Stimpson (Author)

Before there was Little League Baseball... Before Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color line... There was... Marvin Daniel Price. A little boy from Chicago who would make history as baseball's youngest pro. I Am A Baseball Player captures the energy and indomitable spirit of a young boy in the 1940s who would become a modern day role model by living up to the daily mantra of his youth... "I Am A Baseball Player!"

Beautifully written and warmly illustrated, this previously untold story of an unsung sports hero is an inspiration and a gift to anyone with a desire to make an impossible dream, possible.

by McGraw John Joseph (Author)

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

by Gregory Rubano (Author)

Napoleon who? Often called the Emperor of the Diamond, he was baseball's first superstar. Cy Young called him "the Babe Ruth of our time." When he endorsed a popular cigar, it was said that half of the nation's youth were sick the next day. Three cities claimed him as their hero, even as thousands upon thousands nationwide streamed through the turnstiles to see his mesmerizing talents on display. And yet, the Emperor's reign was too short, usurped by a brilliant streaking meteor named Ty Cobb. But Napoleon Lajoie had risen from the street and the mills. He would not go down without a battle. Many years later, Ty Cobb came to visit. Each man was but a few years away from death, but under the swaying palms of a warm Florida afternoon, the two gladiators of the game needed to talk. In the Shadow of Ty Cobb is the story of America's fanatical love affair with baseball. It is the story of baseball heroes who played the game as it will never be played again. From his impoverished French-Canadian childhood in the mills of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, to his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame, he remains one of baseball's greatest Horatio Alger figures, a man who kept true to his roots and found light even in the shadows.

by Arthur Mann (Author), Malcolm Thompson (Illustrator), Ford C. Frick (Foreword by)

""How To Play Winning Baseball"" by Arthur Mann is a comprehensive guide for anyone looking to improve their skills in the game of baseball. The book covers all aspects of the game, from the basics of throwing and catching to more advanced techniques such as hitting, pitching, and fielding. The author provides detailed instructions and tips on how to develop the proper form and technique for each skill, as well as strategies for improving overall performance on the field. The book also includes drills and exercises to help players practice and refine their skills.In addition to technical skills, the book also covers the mental aspects of the game, such as how to stay focused and motivated during games, and how to handle pressure situations. The author draws on his own experience as a player and coach to provide valuable insights and advice.Overall, ""How To Play Winning Baseball"" is a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their skills and knowledge of the game of baseball, whether they are a beginner or an experienced player.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

by Theresa M. del Vecchio (Author), Winenedra Adi (Illustrator)

Spring is a very exciting season! The once dull world becomes full of beautiful colors, the air feels fresh and clean, and families have the chance to go outside and explore. This book promotes mindfulness and an appreciation for the small things in life. A great read aloud in the classroom or bedtime story to welcome in the spring season.

by John Thorn (Introduction by), Bob Bailey (Editor), Mark Fimoff (Editor)

A project of SABR's Nineteenth Century Committee, INVENTING BASEBALL brings to life the greatest games to be played in the game's early years, starting with a game in 1833. From the "prisoner of war" game that took place among captive Union soldiers during the Civil War (immortalized in a famous lithograph), to the first intercollegiate game (Amherst versus Williams), to the first professional no-hitter, the games in this volume span 1833-1900 and detail the athletic exploits of such players as Cap Anson, Moses "Fleetwood" Walker, Charlie Comiskey, Mike "King" Kelly, and John Montgomery Ward. Lavishly illustrated with almost 200 photos and images from the era.


42 SABR members contributed chapters to the effort, including Bill Felber, Bill Nowlin, Bob Bailey, Bob Tiemann, Casey Tibbitts, Charles Faber, Cliff Blau, Craig Waff, David Arcidiacano, Dick McBane, Donald Jensen, Edward Achorn, Frank Vaccaro, Greg Rhodes, Irv Goldfarb, James Rygelski, Jean-Pierre Caillault, Jeff Samoray, Jerry Casway, Jerry Grillo, Jim Overmyer, Jimmy Keenan, Joanne Hulbert, John Bauer, John Husman, John Thorn, John Zinn, Jon Barnes, Kathy Torres, Lyle Spatz, Mark Pestana, Mike Harrington, Parker Bena, Patricia Millen, Paul Browne, Peter Mancuso, Phil Dixon, Rich Bogovich, Richard Hershberger, Terry Gottschall, W. Lloyd Johnson, and William Lamb. Special thanks to Skip McAfee.

Author Biography

SABR's Nineteenth Century Committee, established in 1983, fosters research on all facets of baseball before 1901. Completed committee projects include full team and player statistics for the 1871-1875 National Association and two volumes of short biographies published by SABR, Nineteenth Century Stars (first edition 1989, reissued in 2012) and Baseball's First Stars (first edition 1996).

by Jim Crosby (Author)

How do we know that God loves baseball? Because everywhere you look there are baseball fields and stadiums. Obviously when God made dry ground and separated it from the waters He had in mind the building of baseball diamonds. "In the Big Inning God Created Baseball" matches stories of the stars of baseball with those of Biblical heroes found in scriptures. The book points out how baseball and the Bible compliment each other in many ways. The reader will see how daily living can be better and more enjoyable by following the rules of the game. "In the Big Inning God Created Baseball" is entertaining as well as informative. By using quotes from famous baseball stars of the past and present the message contained is made more enjoyable. Yogi Berra said, "If people don't want to come to the ball park, how are you gonna stop them?" To enjoy baseball you don't have to go to the ballpark, just pick up this book and start reading. Intricate details are explained in the book like how to catch a knuckleball, one of baseball's most unpredictable pitches. Bob Uecker says the way to do that is to "wait until the ball stops rolling and pick it up." Rain delays are a part of baseball but none lasted as long as the one Noah experienced in the Bible. 40 days and nights of rain is a mighty big delay. You'll want to read about what happened on one particular Easter Egg hunt at Major League game held by the players for their kids. The significance of Easter is evident in the scripture lessons in this book as well. Sometimes life throws you a curve ball, but by reading "In the Big Inning God Created Baseball" you will hit it out of the park."

Author Biography

Jim Crosby is a lifetime baseball fan and devoted reader of scripture. He broadcast Florida State University baseball games on radio for 23 years, after covering the Seminoles for two years as an evening sports anchor on the local ABC television station. He has written over 500 devotions that can be read on his website www.writeman.com. He has published over 700 sports articles and three books prior. These include: "Devotions for the Armchair Quarterback," "You Can't Become a Football Overnight," and "Monday Morning Devotions." Jim is the District Lay Leader for the Northwest District of the Florida Methodist Conference. He lives in Tallahassee, FL with his wife Susette who has own interior design firm. They have five grown children and two grandchildren. They are charter members of Good Samaritan United Methodist Church.

by Bill Klumpp (Author)

Are you a sports fan? Do you want to increase your returns in the stock market? In this easy to read book, Bill Klumpp illustrates with baseball and football analogies how to use option tactics to play offense AND defense in the stock market. He explores selling covered calls and cash covered puts, vertical and calendar spreads, collars, the iron condor, capturing a dividend with a call option, and other trades. Many of the illustrations utilize trades that Bill actually made. A must read for options traders who relate to sports. After learning these lessons you will be better equipped to play the game!

by Steve Boga (Author)

How to Umpire Baseball and Softball is an insider's guide to the basic skills necessary to excel as an umpire. It is the product of Boga's countless discussions with partners, hours of field time, and much reflection. The book is designed to help both individual umpires and those charged with training umpires at all levels of baseball and softball.

Author Biography

Steve Boga was a longtime umpire and umpire instructor. He has officiated thousands of games in college and professional baseball, and softball, and taught thousands of student-umpires how to be perfect on day one and improve thereafter. He is now a writer, editor and teacher, who lives in northern California.

by Taylor Blake Ward (Author), Tim Mead (Foreword by), Bob Jr. Fontaine (Author)

Bob Fontaine Jr. spent 48 plus years as a baseball scout, traveling the world to find the next superstars of the sport. From drafting a one-handed pitcher to building the foundation of a World Series roster, Fontaine's success of looking for projection on amateur players in near unmatched within the baseball scouting business. Scouting is not an exact science, and with the success also comes failure. Beginning his career with a team that showed no prosperity, Bob helped build an organization from the ground up. This became a common theme, as he would leave one team for another, and restart on the groundwork of building a championship roster, bringing new challenges each time around.