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by Bill Nowlin (Author)
This full book explores the family background of Baseball Hall of Famer Ted Williams -- considered by many to be the greatest hitter who ever lived. With the Anglo surname of Williams, most people had no idea that his maternal grandparents came to America from Mexico until Bill Nowlin followed up on one line in Williams' autobiography where Ted had written, "if I had had my mother's name, there is no doubt I would have run into problems in those days, the prejudices people had in Southern California." As Ben Bradlee Jr. wrote, "No reporter...dug into [Ted Williams'] Mexican heritage until Bill Nowlin explored some of the Venzor family lineage in an article for the Boston Globe Magazine published in June of 2002, a month before Ted died." -- Ben Bradlee, Jr., The Kid: The Immortal Life of Ted WilliamsThe year after Ted Williams died, Bill Nowlin helped organize celebrations of Williams' life at the San Diego Hall of Champions, the Boston Public Library, and the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. For the San Diego celebration, he invited members of Ted's extended family to attend and 33 of them assembled in Balboa Park outside the Hall of Champions. Interviews with family members, with confirmation from Ted himself, helped build some of the backstory of one of the greatest baseball players -- and of a truly remarkable American family.
by Mike Shannon (Author)
Batter up--here comes the most memorable collection of anecdotes about the national pastime ever assembled. Tales from the Dugout brings together never-before-told stories from baseball personalities such as Roger Maris, Ken Griffey Jr., Pete Rose, Phil Rizzuto, and Gaylord Perry in this illustrated, one-of-a-kind compendium.
Author Biography
Mike Shannon is the editor of Spitball: The Literary Baseball Magazine and the author of five baseball books, including Diamond Classics: Essays on 100 of the Best Baseball Books and Baseball: The Writer's Game.
by Lyle Spatz (Editor), Mark Langill (Foreword by), Maurice Bouchard (Editor)
Of all the teams in the annals of baseball, only a select few can lay claim to historic significance. One of those teams is the 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers, the first racially integrated Major League team of the twentieth century. The addition of Jackie Robinson to its roster changed not only baseball but also the nation. Yet Robinson was just one member of that memorable club, which included Carl Furillo, Gil Hodges, Pee Wee Reese, Pete Reiser, Duke Snider, Eddie Stanky, Arky Vaughan, and Dixie Walker. Also present was a quartet of baseball's most unforgettable characters: co-owners Branch Rickey and Walter O'Malley, suspended manager Leo Durocher, and radio announcer Red Barber.
This book is the first to offer biographies of everyone on that incomparable team as well as accounts of the moments and events that marked the Dodgers' 1947 season: Commissioner Happy Chandler suspending Durocher, Rickey luring his old friend Burt Shotton out of retirement to replace Durocher, and brilliant outfielder Reiser being sidelined after running into a fence. In spite of all this, the Dodgers went on to win the National League pennant over the heavily favored St. Louis Cardinals. And of course, there is the biggest story of the season, where history and biography coalesce: Jackie Robinson, who overcame widespread hostility to become Rookie of the Year--and to help the Dodgers set single-game attendance records in cities around the National League.
Author Biography
Lyle Spatz's many books include Dixie Walker: A Life in Baseball and (with coauthor Steve Steinberg) 1921: The Yankees, the Giants, and the Battle for Baseball Supremacy in New York, winner of the Seymour Medal (Nebraska, 2010).
by Drunk Doodles (Author)
A Baseball Coloring Book For Adults by Drunk Doodles. - Each swear word comes with a beautifully designed baseball action - Printed on one single sheet, so you won't have any bleed through ruining your picture. - These will calm you down, make you laugh, and make a good time where you can slow down. - We have included a FREE Kindle Matchbook with the purchase of the printed book. - Even better when you are drunk and trying to color. Are you looking for something fun to do that will help calm you down, relax, have a laugh. Then you will enjoy this swear word coloring book baseball edition. Their are several swear words and some fun words. Situational baseball swearing when you miss that pitch or get beamed by the ball. Trust me when that happens you want to swear up a storm. These funny adult themed swear coloring book will be fun for any occasion. Bachelor Parties Bachelorette Parties Color in your favorite swear word with anything you have around. Colored pencils, pens, markers, crayons. Have a few drinks or party and see who can stay in the lines. Fun For: - Parties - Weddings - Bachelor Parties - Bachelorette Parties - Birthdays - Baseball Get Togethers - Playoffs - World Series Game - Any Adult Baseball Fan. We Know these are some awesome drunk doodles, but we recommend keeping this away from children. This is an adult coloring book remember.
by Pat O'Neill (Author), Tom Coffman (Author)
In his day, perhaps no one in baseball was better known than Irish-born Timothy Paul "Ted" Sullivan. For 50 years, America's sportswriters sang his praises, genuflected to his genius and bought his blarney by the barrel. Damon Runyon dubbed him "The Celebrated Carpetbagger of Baseball."
Cunning, fast-talking, witty and sober, Sullivan was the game's first player agent, a groundbreaking scout who pulled future Hall of Famers from the bushes, an author, a playwright and a baseball evangelist who promoted the game across five continents. He coined the term "fan" and was among the first to suggest the designated hitter--because pitchers were "a lot of whippoorwill swingers." But he was also a convert to the Jim Crow attitudes of his day--black ballplayers were unimaginable to him.
Unearthing thousands of contemporaneous newspaper accounts, this first exhaustive biography of "Hustlin'" Ted Sullivan recounts the life and career of one of the greatest hucksters in the history of the game.
Author Biography
Pat O'Neill is a retired publicist and marketing executive and former editor of a Colorado weekly newspaper. He currently is president of the board of the Kansas City Irish Center. Tom Coffman has spent nearly 30 years as a media and government relations practitioner in the solid waste industry. He has worked as a reporter, editor and photographer for a weekly newspaper. He lives in Mission, Kansas.
by Jeffrey Roy Ford (Author)
Enter the thrilling world of little league baseball with Steadman Squirrel and his teammates as they face off in a heart-pounding game amidst spirited parents and vocal hecklers. When challenges mount, and victory seems out of reach, it falls upon Steadman and his teacher, Mr. Dorian Dog, to guide the team through adversity and champion the importance of unity and mutual support to secure success on and off the field. This engaging story is brought to life by Jeffrey Roy Ford, a renowned children's author passionate about teaching essential life lessons through captivating narratives.
Designed for children aged 3 to 12, this book imparts essential life lessons: self-confidence, resilience, kindness, and empathy. These are abstract concepts and practical skills that children can apply in their daily lives. It's a perfect read for elementary school students and preteens and a thoughtful gift choice for occasions like baby showers and graduations.
Embark on an inspiring journey through the diverse Steadman Squirrel series. From the original Steadman Squirrel to Steadman Squirrel and The School Dance, Steadman Squirrel Plays Basketball, Steadman Squirrel Forgets To Study, and Steadman Squirrel and The Substitute Teacher, each installment offers a unique adventure. These captivating stories weave valuable life lessons into engaging narratives, providing young readers with a rich tapestry of insights in a format that keeps them intrigued, ensuring a diverse and engaging reading experience for your children.
by Dawn Brotherton (Author), Siddhartha Vineet (Illustrator)
Twenty players. Two games. One challenge.
When Tammy Marshall yells across the field at the local boys' baseball team about how easy their sport is, she isn't prepared for the epic tournament to follow. The teams had been bickering back and forth until finally, they decide to settle it like ballplayers. The date is set for the Lady Tigers to go up against the boys in one game of softball and one game of baseball. Winner takes glory and bragging rights forever. Emotions are running high for all the girls, especially Tammy. Is this their chance to prove the superiority of their skills once and for all? Or has Tammy set her team up for their worst defeat yet?
Tammy Tries Baseball captures the anxiety and ultimate joy of trying something new. If you like sports action, quick dialogue, and coming-of-age friendships, you'll love this latest installment of the Lady Tigers. In the compelling finale to Dawn Brotherton's first Lady Tigers series, it may be time for the team-and the reader-to win some and learn some.
Complete the journey for bringing Tammy Tries Baseball home now!
by Mark S. Halfon (Author)
2014 Baseball Caucus Readers' Choice Award winner from the Special Libraries Association
The Deadball Era (1901-1920) is a baseball fan's dream. Hope and despair, innocence and cynicism, and levity and hostility blended then to create an air of excitement, anticipation, and concern for all who entered the confines of a Major League ballpark. Cheating for the sake of victory earned respect, corrupt ballplayers fixed games with impunity, and violence plagued the sport. Spectators stormed the field to attack players and umpires, ballplayers charged the stands to pummel hecklers, and physical battles between opposing clubs occurred regularly in a phenomenon known as "rowdyism." At the same time, endearing practices infused baseball with lightheartedness, kindness, and laughter. Fans ran onto the field with baskets of flowers, loving cups, diamond jewelry, gold watches, and cash for their favorite players in the middle of games. Ballplayers volunteered for "benefit contests" to aid fellow big leaguers and the country in times of need. "Joke games" reduced sport to pure theater as outfielders intentionally dropped fly balls, infielders happily booted easy grounders, hurlers tossed soft pitches over the middle of the plate, and umpires ignored the rules. Winning meant nothing, amusement meant everything, and league officials looked the other way. Mark S. Halfon looks at life in the Major Leagues in the early 1900s, the careers of Hall of Famers like John McGraw, Ty Cobb, and Walter Johnson, and the events that defined the Deadball Era. He highlights the strategies, underhanded tactics, and bitter battles that make this storied era of the game so memorable, while providing detailed insights into the players and teams involved in bringing to a conclusion this remarkable period in baseball history.Author Biography
Mark S. Halfon is professor of philosophy at Nassau Community College in New York. He is the author of Can a Dead Man Strike Out? Offbeat Baseball Questions and Their Improbable Answers.
by Douglas P. Kalbaugh (Author)
This "Tee-Ball 101, Coaching Beginning Baseball" guide is not only for coaches, but for parents as well. This guide will help you learn how to coach young athletes starting out in America's pastime game. If your child is about to play Tee-Ball, or you want to Manage/Coach the team, you can gain a great deal of information from this book. After reading this guide you will feel confident and prepared. This guide will also cover information to prepare you for coaching the next division level above Tee-Ball also. As a parent having this information will keep you involved with your child during an exciting time in their life. He/She will always fondly remember these times with you as their coach or as their cheering team. Let's get started and "Play Ball!" This useful and fun guide offers the following topics plus a whole lot more: - Setting Up Your First Team Meeting - Teaching the Basic Fundamentals of Baseball to Young Players - Dealing with a Problem Parent - Setting Team Rules - Rotating Your Players Through Each Position - Developing Effective & FUN Practices - Teaching & Demonstrating Good Sportsmanship - Provide a Safe & Positive Environment - PLUS - Useful Tee-Ball Drills
Author Biography
Douglas P. Kalbaugh is a husband to a beautiful, loving wife, and a father to 3 incredible sons. Doug has coached youth sports, including baseball and soccer, for over 10 years. He was formerly a Patrol Police Officer for almost 15 years, but wrote this guide while he was a mechanical draftsman working for a medical company.
by Astra Cielo (Author)
Superstitions Of Card Players, Actors, Sailors, Fishermen, And Baseball Players is a fascinating book that explores the various superstitions that are commonly held by people in different professions. The author, Cielo Astra, delves into the world of card players, actors, sailors, fishermen, and baseball players to uncover the beliefs, rituals, and practices that they use to bring good luck and ward off bad luck.In this book, readers will learn about the different superstitions that card players hold, such as never playing with a deck of cards that has been used before or never playing on a Friday the 13th. They will also gain insight into the superstitions held by actors, such as never saying the name of the play Macbeth inside a theater or never wearing green on stage.The book also explores the superstitions held by sailors and fishermen, such as never setting sail on a Friday or never whistling on a boat. Finally, readers will learn about the superstitions held by baseball players, such as never stepping on the foul line or always wearing the same socks during a winning streak.Overall, Superstitions Of Card Players, Actors, Sailors, Fishermen, And Baseball Players is a captivating read that sheds light on the fascinating world of superstitions and the role they play in different professions. Whether you are a believer in superstitions or not, this book is sure to provide you with a wealth of interesting information and insights.THIS 24 PAGE ARTICLE WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE BOOK: Signs, Omens and Superstitions, by Astra Cielo. To purchase the entire book, please order ISBN 1564598993.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 Jeffrey Roy Ford (Author)
Enter the thrilling world of little league baseball with Steadman Squirrel and his teammates as they face off in a heart-pounding game amidst spirited parents and vocal hecklers. When challenges mount, and victory seems out of reach, it falls upon Steadman and his teacher, Mr. Dorian Dog, to guide the team through adversity and champion the importance of unity and mutual support to secure success on and off the field. This engaging story is brought to life by Jeffrey Roy Ford, a renowned children's author passionate about teaching essential life lessons through captivating narratives.
Designed for children aged 3 to 12, this book imparts essential life lessons: self-confidence, resilience, kindness, and empathy. These are abstract concepts and practical skills that children can apply in their daily lives. It's a perfect read for elementary school students and preteens and a thoughtful gift choice for occasions like baby showers and graduations.
Embark on an inspiring journey through the diverse Steadman Squirrel series. From the original Steadman Squirrel to Steadman Squirrel and The School Dance, Steadman Squirrel Plays Basketball, Steadman Squirrel Forgets To Study, and Steadman Squirrel and The Substitute Teacher, each installment offers a unique adventure. These captivating stories weave valuable life lessons into engaging narratives, providing young readers with a rich tapestry of insights in a format that keeps them intrigued, ensuring a diverse and engaging reading experience for your children.
by Kenneth M. Jennings (Author)
In this follow-up to Balls and Strikes: The Money Game in Professional Baseball (Praeger, 1990), Jennings examines the state of professional baseball's labor relations during a nearly 25 year period, focusing on the background and the outcome of the 1994 baseball strike. Jennings concludes by suggesting ways to improve future labor relations in the sport.
While the entire professional sports industry generates less revenue than sales of Fruit of the Loom underwear, a lengthy strike in professional baseball assures a national notoriety far beyond its economic impact. When the 1994 strike was underway, scores of members of Congress were involved in related investigations and legislation, while President Clinton invoked the public interest in his efforts to resolve the dispute.Author Biography
KENNETH M. JENNINGS is Richard deRaismes Kip Professor of Industrial Relations at the University of North Florida. He is a recognized authority on labor relations whose earlier publications include Labor Relations at the New York Daily News (1993), Balls and Strikes: The Money Game in Professional Baseball (1990), and Labor Management Cooperation (1986), all published by Praeger.
by Marshall G. Most (Author), Robert Rudd (Author)
Since the Progressive Era, baseball has been promoted as an institution encapsulating the best of American values and capable of bridging the chasms of twentieth century American culture--urban versus rural, industry versus agriculture, individual versus community, immigrant versus native, white versus color. Among the more enthusiastic of the game's proponents have been American filmmakers, and baseball films present perhaps the purest depiction of baseball's vision of an idealized America.
This critical study treats baseball cinema as a film genre and explores the functions of baseball ideology as it is represented in that genre. It focuses on how Hollywood's presentation of baseball has served not only to promote dominant values, but also to bridge cultural conflicts. Commentary on 85 films deals with issues of race, community, gambling, players, women, and owners.
Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.
Author Biography
Marshall G. Most is professor emeritus of communication & media studies at Boise State University in Boise, Idaho. Robert Rudd, now retired, worked in the Department of Communication at Boise State University. He lives in Eugene, Oregon.
by Jerry Poling (Author), N. N. Glatzer (Contribution by)
June 12, 1952--only a local sportswriter showed up at the Eau Claire airport to greet a newly signed eighteen-year-old shortstop from Alabama toting a cardboard suitcase. "I was scared as hell," said Henry Aaron, recalling his arrival as the new recruit on the city's Class C minor league baseball team.
Forty-two years later, as Aaron approached the stadium where the Eau Claire Bears once played, an estimated five thousand people surrounded a newly raised bronze statue of a young "Hank" Aaron at bat. "I had goosebumps," he said later. "A lot of things happened to me in my twenty-three years as a ballplayer, but nothing touched me more than that day in Eau Claire." For the people of Eau Claire, Aaron's summer two years before his Major League debut with the Milwaukee Braves symbolizes a magical time, when baseball fans in a small city in northern Wisconsin could live a part of the dream.
Author Biography
Jerry Poling is the news-wire editor and a columnist for the Eau Claire Leader Telegram. He is the author of Downfield: Untold Stories of the Green Bay Packers.
by Allan Barker Ed D. (Author)
SwingQuest is designed to help the parents of young ball players understand the basic principles of hitting, throwing, and other skills
needed to make our National Pastime an enjoyable experience in the lives of their children. The ideas and concepts explored and exhibited in
this book are designed to help young players learn the basic skills needed to grow into a more competitive player. Everything in this book is a
fundamentally sound principle [skill] which will enable future coaches to enhance each of the skills the young player has developed.
"SwingQuest is about more than baseball lessons, it is about life lessons. Having had the personal experience of being coached by Coach
Barker, I can vouch for the effectiveness of methods clearly described and taught throughout this book. Whether you are a player or a coach,
SwingQuest is a must.
In addition, I encourage parents to buy this book to teach their child the concept of fun with sound fundamentals. Well done Coach Barker!"
- Mark Sherwood, Naturopathic Doctor,
wellness expert, TV personality, and Multiple
best-selling author of Quest for Wellness and Fork Your Diet.
by Tabitha Soren (Photographer)
In 2002, Tabitha Soren first began photographing a group of minor league draft picks for the Oakland A's--young men coming into the major league farm system straight from high school or college. Since then, she has followed the players through their baseball lives, an alternate reality of long bus rides, on-field injuries, friendships and marriages entered and exited, constant motion, and very hard work, often for very little return. Some of the subjects, like Nick Swisher and Joe Blanton, have gone on to become well-known, respected players at the highest level of the game. Some left baseball to pursue other lines of work, such as selling insurance and coal mining. Others have struggled with poverty and even homelessness.
Fifteen years after that first shoot, Fantasy Life portrays a selection of these stories, gathering together a richly textured series of photographs taken on the field and behind the scenes at games, along with commentaries by each of the players and memorabilia from their lives--from kindergarten-age baseball cards to x-rays of player injuries. Dave Eggers contributes five linked short stories that compellingly condense the roller-coaster ride of the minor-league everyman, from youthful pursuit of stardom through the slog of endless hardscrabble games, to that moment of realization that success may not be just around the corner after all. Additionally, a number of the featured players add their own real-life experiences of trying to make it to "The Show." Together, these elements evoke the enduring spirit of this quintessential American fantasy of making it in the major leagues.by Tim Wendel (Author)
The extraordinary story of the 1968 baseball season--when the game was played to perfection even as the country was being pulled apart at the seams.
From the beginning, '68 was a season rocked by national tragedy and sweeping change. Opening Day was postponed and later played in the shadow of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s funeral. That summer, as the pennant races were heating up, the assassination of Robert Kennedy was later followed by rioting at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. But even as tensions boiled over and violence spilled into the streets, something remarkable was happening in major league ballparks across the country. Pitchers were dominating like never before, and with records falling and shut-outs mounting, many began hailing '68 as "The Year of the Pitcher."
In Summer of '68, Tim Wendel takes us on a wild ride through a season that saw such legends as Bob Gibson, Denny McLain, Don Drysdale, and Luis Tiant set new standards for excellence on the mound, each chasing perfection against the backdrop of one of the most divisive and turbulent years in American history. For some players, baseball would become an insular retreat from the turmoil encircling them that season, but for a select few, including Gibson and the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals, the conflicts of '68 would spur their performances to incredible heights and set the stage for their own run at history.
Meanwhile in Detroit--which had burned just the summer before during one of the worst riots in American history--'68 instead found the city rallying together behind a colorful Tigers team led by McLain, Mickey Lolich, Willie Horton, and Al Kaline. The Tigers would finish atop the American League, setting themselves on a highly anticipated collision course with Gibson's Cardinals. And with both teams' seasons culminating in a thrilling World Series for the ages--one team playing to establish a dynasty, the other fighting to help pull a city from the ashes--what ultimately lay at stake was something even larger: baseball's place in a rapidly changing America that would never be the same.
In vivid, novelistic detail, Summer of '68 tells the story of this unforgettable season--the last before rule changes and expansion would alter baseball forever--when the country was captivated by the national pastime at the moment it needed the game most.
Author Biography
Tim Wendel was a founding editor of USA Today's Baseball Weekly and is the award-winning and highly acclaimed author of eleven books, including Summer of .68. He has served as exhibit adviser to the Baseball Hall of Fame and has been a writer-in-residence at Johns Hopkins University. He lives near Washington, DC.
by James Hawking (Author)
John Ward-pitcher turned shortstop, author, lawyer and president of the first union for professional athletes-was married to the glamorous Helen Dauvray, a child star who re-invented herself on the Paris stage and as a leading lady and a wealthy producer on Broadway. On Albert Spalding's World Tour, Ward captained a team that played by the pyramids and across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower. Coming home for the 1889 season as conquering heros, the players started their rebellion against the autocratic owners led by Spalding. This unique historical novel moves deftly between the field and the stands at actual games, turns to Ward's tangled personal life and describes the events that led to the formation of the Players League. Each chapter contains a factual biographical sketch of a featured baseball figure, such as the racist Cap Anson, the verbose Orator O'Rourke, or the incomparable King Kelly. Sections called "Then and Now" make tongue-in-cheek comparisons between the 19th Century game and baseball today, not always in favor of the latter. This novel will be unforgettable for any fan of baseball, theater, love or American history in the late 19th Century.
by Lucyniusz Red (Author)
Tennis Baseball and Soccer Coloring Book
for kids
I'm really glad to see you here. This is description of my colouring book.
So, what can I tell you about my product?
- Book includes test color page and page, where owner can sign.
- It has 40 pages with 19 graphics to color and empty space. It is necessary to leave this free space, so you can use e.g. marker pens.
- This little book is printed on high quality white paper.
I will be really grateful for the feedback, so I can increase the quality of my books in the future.
Try out now!by Andy Strasberg (Author)
Drawn from the memories of a lifelong baseball fanatic turned insider, Strasberg's Baseball Klediment Tales showcases rare artifacts, cherished collectibles and forgotten remnants of the game-each paired with the story of how it was found and why it mattered. In addition to captivating readers with wit, irony and classic storytelling-at times sharply reflective, yet aspirational and relatable-this work is enriched with photos and QR codes linking to a curated collection of treasured baseball audio and video clips that Andy Strasberg has gathered over the years. As an added bonus, this book includes QR codes linking to fans sharing their favorite baseball klediment tales of baseball legends such as Jackie Robinson, Ernie Banks, Joe Garagiola, Paul Molitor, Ernie Harwell, Vin Scully and Mickey Mantle.
by Amy Whorf McGuiggan (Author), Mike Veeck (Foreword by)
For anyone who has ever sung "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the seventh-inning stretch and wondered why we sing it when we are already at the ball game, this entertaining book supplies the answers. And why did this song become the sport's anthem rather than one of hundreds of other baseball songs, such as George M. Cohan's "Take Your Girl to the Ball Game," written the same month? This story, told here in full for the first time, evokes the bright hope of turn-of-the-century America, the backstage drama of vaudeville, and the beguiling charm of baseball itself.
Amy Whorf McGuiggan supplies the fascinating details behind the song's beginnings in 1908, when Jack Norworth, a vaudeville headliner and Tin Pan Alley songwriter who had never even been to a game, was inspired by a subway advertisement to create the song that, though a hit in its day, did not become a time-honored tradition until broadcaster Harry Caray and team owner and marketing genius Bill Veeck Jr. reintroduced it during the 1970s. Here is America's game and the American century seen through the prism of one impossibly catchy tune and illustrated throughout with vintage photographs, advertising images, and sheet music culled from America's premier collections.
Author Biography
Amy Whorf McGuiggan is a freelance writer and the author of My Provincetown and Christmas in New England. She lives in Hingham, Massachusetts. Mike Veeck is president and co-owner of six Minor League baseball teams and the author of Fun Is Good: How to Create Joy & Passion in Your Workplace & Career.
by Clay Coppedge (Author)
From pioneering superstars like Tris Speaker and Rogers Hornsby and Negro League standouts Smokey Joe Williams and Willie Well to present-day luminaries like Nolan Ryan, Texas has played a crucial role in the evolution of the national pastime. The Lone Star love of baseball stretches back to the Civil War. What began as friendly town games led to the formation of the Texas League in 1888, though it would be almost eight decades before the arrival of the Colt .45s, Texas's first major-league team, and another forty-three years until the Astros played in the World Series. From scrappers on the red dirt diamonds to the big-league stars of the Astros and Rangers, veteran sportswriter Clay Coppedge traces the state's long love affair with the sport in this first-ever comprehensive look at Texas baseball.
by R. Lee Procter (Author)
In 1937, the dictator of the Dominican Republic, Rafael Trujillo sent his representative, Dr. Enrique Aybar to America to enlist the greatest Negro League players-Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson and Cool Papa Bell-to represent his country in a national baseball tournament. The players quickly found themselves celebrated in a country with no race prejudice. What they couldn't know is that they were pawns in a deadly, winner-take-all political game for the soul of the country.
To survive, Satch, Josh and Cool Papa have to discover the real reasons they've been lured to the Dominican. The deeper they dive into the mystery, the more terrifying their adventure becomes. Their host-Rafael Trujillo-reveals himself as a murderous psychopath who will do anything to stay in power, including murdering them.
The tale is told by the 12 year old bat boy who watched it all, and was changed forever by what he saw.
The lost world of the Negro Leagues and its great heroes comes alive in a tale that would be beyond the imagination... if it weren't true.
by Kent A. Philpott (Author)
Follow the week-by-week progress (or not) of making a baseball team and season work inside San Quentin, one of the most infamous state prisons in the country. See inside the thinking, emotions, and stresses that accompany each inmate's involvement in what is often the most important part of their entire incarceration. Understand why inmates will say and do almost anything to get a chance to play ball and how frustration and disappointment derails them. Find out what "payback" is, how power and authority work, why the sports teams are the only integrated groups, and how baseball entails the search for meaning.
There are reasons that there were no other baseball programs in the world like the one in San Quentin. The treatment of the baseball program by the media normally focuses on the lives of the inmate players, and rightly so. But Kent Philpott's treatment of the subject reflects the difficulty of making the program function from the coach's perspective.
Kent has provided a very realistic portrait of prison life through the prism of the baseball program with his day-to-day account of the 2010 baseball season. His is a tale of the difficulty of creating a successful prison program, not just because of the inherent problems of managing 25-30 men who happened to have anti-social behavior in their past and present lives but also dealing with a sometimes-hostile set of prison administrators.
To expose the public to the humanity of people in prison is also a wonderful thing, and Kent Philpott not only spent many years in San Quentin helping to allow inmates to get through the day, but he was helping to expose the humanity of people in prison to the outside public. Three Strikes, You're Out! will educate many people outside about the realities and virtues of people inside to the ultimate benefit of both.
by William H. Brewster (Author)
That Lively Railroad Town tells the intertwined stories of minor and major league baseball at the turn of the twentieth century. In central New York, a small town used its championship semi-pro team to ease the stigma of a salacious local murder case, while its former second baseman led a boycott of major league player contracts to break the National League's monopoly and set the game up to flourish. This sequel to The Workingman's Game weaves these stories against a backdrop of economic, racial, ethnic and labor strife, and an assassination that shocked the world.
by Brian Mulligan (Author)
One of the oldest and most celebrated franchises in baseball history, the Cincinnati Reds have left an indelible mark on the national pastime. Perhaps the most compelling but overlooked period in Reds history is the 1940 championship season, during which the team won 100 games and earned the world title while overcoming an in-season tragedy faced by no other team in baseball history. Four attempted suicides, three of which were successful, by individuals connected to the team dealt a tragic and unprecedented setback to what was ultimately a successful season.
This book addresses both the 1940 Cincinnati Reds as a collective group and, to a greater degree, the individual players who comprised that championship squad. The book begins with the story of Willard Hershberger, the 1940 reserve catcher for the Reds and the only player ever to commit suicide during a major league season. Later chapters tell the stories of Bill McKechnie and Warren Giles, the managers who together led the Reds to victory over the Detroit Tigers in 1940, and the stories of the players on the pennant-winning team: Frank McCormick, Lonnie Frey, Billy Myers, Billy Werber, Eddie Joost, Paul Derringer, William "Bucky" Walters, Johnny Vander Meer, Gene Thompson, Jim Turner, Joseph Beggs, Jimmy Ripple, and Ernie Lombardi. The crucial games, important performances, and personal tragedies of the 1940 season, culminating in the drama of a seven-game World Series, are chronicled in this book.
Author Biography
SABR member Brian Mulligan, a writer and public relations executive, lives in Long Island, New York. His work has been published in Elysian Fields Quarterly.
by Tim Hagerty (Author)
A wild bull on the field, a fly ball caught by a train conductor, a pitcher taking the mound barefoot--Minor League Baseball has been played across the country in cities large and small for more than a century, and there are thousands of entertaining and improbable stories to tell from it.
Join professional baseball broadcaster Tim Hagerty for a journey through the zaniest Minor League stories in Tales from the Dugout. Given its long history, it is no surprise that the game has encountered some bizarre things over the years. This humorous and outlandish collection of stories is sourced from newspaper archives and the Baseball Hall of Fame Library in Cooperstown, New York, and includes a foreword by former MLB All-Star Billy Butler. Whether you're a baseball fanatic or just a fan of sports history, this book captures the spirit of the game.
This compendium of minor league shenanigans includes:
- HOLE IN ONE: In 1942, a Milwaukee Brewers batter hit a low line drive that bounced down the right field line. He rounded the bases while confused Louisville Colonels fielders searched for the ball. They eventually found it inside a gopher hole.
- MONKEYING AROUND: A chimp's escape turned a Southern Association game into pandemonium on July 17, 1909. "Henry the Chimpanzee," the New Orleans Pelicans' official mascot, busted from his cage and chased players around the field. The chimp then went after fans, who ran from him screaming. The game was delayed a few minutes while Henry was restrained.
- HEADLESS CRUSHER: A police department in Ohio got a call about a missing head. The Lake Erie Crushers' mascot's head was stolen in 2011, forcing the mascot to miss a few home games. After learning through media reports that police were investigating, the thief returned the head by inconspicuously placing it under the ballpark's tarp.
Author Biography
Tim Hagerty has broadcasted professional baseball games for 18 years. He has written hundreds of freelance national baseball articles for Baseball Digest, MLB.com, Sporting News, The Hardball Times, and other publications.
by Kevin Cook (Author)
The dramatic story of a legendary 1979 slugfest between the Chicago Cubs and the Philadelphia Phillies, full of runs, hits, and subplots, on the cusp of a new era in baseball history
It was a Thursday at Chicago's Wrigley Field, mostly sunny with the wind blowing out. Nobody expected an afternoon game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs on May 17, 1979, to be much more than a lazy early-season contest matching two teams heading in opposite directions--the first-place Phillies and the Cubs, those lovable losers--until they combined for thirteen runs in the first inning. "The craziest game ever," one player called it. "And then the second inning started." Ten Innings at Wrigley is Kevin Cook's vivid account of a game that could only have happened at this ballpark, in this era, with this colorful cast of heroes and heels: Hall of Famers Mike Schmidt and Bruce Sutter, surly slugger Dave Kingman, hustler Pete Rose, unlucky Bill Buckner, scarred Vietnam vet Garry Maddox, troubled relief pitcher Donnie Moore, clubhouse jester Tug McGraw, and two managers pulling out what was left of their hair. It was the highest-scoring ballgame in a century, and much more than that. Cook reveals the human stories behind a contest the New York Times called "the wildest in modern history" and shows how money, muscles, and modern statistics were about to change baseball forever.Author Biography
Kevin Cook is the author of Electric October and several other books on sports and the people who play them, including Tommy's Honor and The Dad Report. He is a former senior editor at Sports Illustrated who has written for The New York Times, Men's Journal, GQ, Playboy, Smithsonian, and many other publications. He has appeared on CNN, ESPN, and Fox TV. An Indiana native, he now lives in Northampton, Massachusetts.
by Ken Breen (Author), James L. Jr. Gates (Foreword by)
Summer of Palms takes the reader back to a time when communities placed a high priority on having a professional baseball club for the publicity and entertainment it brought to a city. This comprehensive research work frames the story of the 1926 Fort Myers Palms minor league baseball team within the story of John Wall Hendry, a young, energetic, Fort Myers real estate dealer who was intensely passionate about baseball. Leveraging the wealth he accumulated during the Florida land boom, Hendry secured a professional baseball franchise for the City of Fort Myers. In 1926, the Palms won more games than any team in the Florida State League! When poor attendance at their home games at Terry Park led to financial difficulties the team tried everything from merchant day promotions to hosting boxing matches to make ends meet. Faced with the real possibility of losing the franchise, the Lions club intervened, raising money to keep the team in Fort Myers.
Citing primary sources of the day, Summer of Palms includes comprehensive player and team statistics compiled from the box scores of each game and includes information about members of the Fort Myers Palms baseball club before and after the 1926 season.by Dan Fathow (Author), George Steinbrenner (Performed by)
Whether you love him or hate him, George Steinbrenner has had a bigger impact on baseball than any other team owner in history. Under Steinbrenner's autocratic reign, the New York Yankees have won 7 World Series Championships and 11 Pennants on 3,364 Wins. Before his passing, "The Boss" definitely restored the Yankees to being the most dominant, dynastic team in baseball. However, this return to greatness is one which has often raised the ire of detractors, brought forth outcries of a bloated payroll, and gave birth to criticisms of Steinbrenner's questionable business practices. What better way to chronicle this truly unique baseball life, than through the words of the men who worked with Steinbrenner, through the first-hand statements of those who feuded with him, and even through the many, unforgettable, often impassioned, and sometimes brash quotes of Steinbrenner himself over his many years as the head honcho of this New York baseball institution? This book captures the life of this legendary team owner without the bias of a biographer or sports reporter. The opinions in this volume come directly from those involved in the championships, the public fights, and the monumental deals. Ever want to know what past-enemies Billy Martin, Yogi Berra, and Dave Winfield thought of their feuds with Steinbrenner? Want to know what Don Mattingly had to say following Steinbrenner's passing? Topics discussed range from Big Stein's suspension and subsequent "lifetime ban" from baseball; to his famous Seinfeld "appearances," to Steinbrenner candidly commenting on his own flaws; to the appreciation of those he's helped over the years; to Steinbrenner's views on business, life philosophy, and charity; to criticisms of those he's scorned, to the numerous comments on his legacy from managers (Joe Torre, Lou Piniella, Joe Girardi), politicians (Bill Clinton, Rudy Giuliani), and current and former players (Derek Jeter, Wade Boggs, Darryl Strawberry, & many more). For an unbiased take on his life, Steinbrenner's stats as an owner are also crunched to give a factual perspective of his reign. Steinbrenner's quotes cover such wide and interesting topics as Watergate, Pete Rose, Locker-Room Double Standards, Reggie Jackson, Alex Rodriguez, Yankee Tradition, Buying Championships, The Pine Tar Incident, General George S. Patton, His Alleged Fist-Fight with 2 Dodger Fans, and On How He'd Like to Be Remembered.
by Will Geoghegan (Author)
Summer Baseball Nation chronicles a season in America's summer collegiate baseball leagues.
The college baseball season doesn't end when the school year is finished. Many of the top NCAA Division I, II, and III baseball players continue to play in one of the game's most unique environments, the summer wood bat leagues. They swap aluminum bats for wood and play from June through August in more than forty states. The poetry of America's pastime persists as soon-to-be stars such as Gordon Beckham, Buster Posey, and Aaron Judge crash in spare bedrooms and play for free on city and college ball fields.
From the Cape to Alaska and a lot of places in between, Will Geoghegan tells the stories of a summer: eighteen of the best college players in the country playing Wiffle ball on Cape Cod, the Midnight Sun Game in Alaska, a California legend picking up another win, home runs flying into Lake Michigan, and the namesake of an old Minor League club packing the same charming ballpark. At every stop, players chase dreams while players and fans alike savor the moment.
Author Biography
Will Geoghegan is an award-winning sportswriter in Rhode Island who covers the Newport Gulls and Ocean State Waves of the New England Collegiate Baseball League. Since 2007 he has written about the Cape League at rightfieldfog.com.
by William Humber (Author), Wendy Shoen (Author), John Simone (Author)
Tex Simone: The Man Who Saved Baseball in Syracuse tells the unforgettable story of a local legend whose love for baseball brought the community together. From humble beginnings, Tex Simone's life journey led him to become a cornerstone of the Syracuse Chiefs, tirelessly working to ensure the team's success through financial crises and fires, and fostering relationships that kept baseball alive in Syracuse. With personal stories from family members, teammates, and fans, this book is a heartfelt tribute to a man whose dedication turned challenges into triumphs, leaving a lasting impact on the world of baseball.
by Mark S. Halfon (Author)
2014 SLA Baseball Caucus Readers' Choice Award winner from the Special Libraries Association
The Deadball Era (1901-1920) is a baseball fan's dream. Hope and despair, innocence and cynicism, and levity and hostility blended then to create an air of excitement, anticipation, and concern for all who entered the confines of a major league ballpark. Cheating for the sake of victory earned respect, corrupt ballplayers fixed games with impunity, and violence plagued the sport. Spectators stormed the field to attack players and umpires, ballplayers charged the stands to pummel hecklers, and physical battles between opposing clubs occurred regularly in a phenomenon known as "rowdyism."At the same time, endearing practices infused baseball with lightheartedness, kindness, and laughter. Fans ran onto the field with baskets of flowers, loving cups, diamond jewelry, gold watches, and cash for their favorite players in the middle of games. Ballplayers volunteered for "benefit contests" to aid fellow big leaguers and the country in times of need. "Joke games" reduced sport to pure theater as outfielders intentionally dropped fly balls, infielders happily booted easy grounders, hurlers tossed soft pitches over the middle of the plate, and umpires ignored the rules. Winning meant nothing, amusement meant everything, and league officials looked the other way.
Mark Halfon looks at life in the major leagues in the early 1900s, the careers of John McGraw, Ty Cobb, and Walter Johnson, and the events that brought about the end of the Deadball Era. He highlights the strategies, underhanded tactics, and bitter battles that defined this storied time in baseball history, while providing detailed insights into the players and teams involved in bringing to a conclusion this remarkable period in baseball history.
Author Biography
Mark S. Halfon is professor of philosophy at Nassau Community College in New York. He has published work in various scholarly journals and written two books on moral philosophy. He is the author of Can a Dead Man Strike Out? Offbeat Baseball Questions and Their Improbable Answers.
by Chris Lamb (Author)
Finalist for the 2023 Anthology Book Award from North American Society for Sport History
Shortlisted for the 2024 Indiana Authors Award
Author Biography
Chris Lamb is chair of the Department of Journalism and Public Relations at Indiana University-Indianapolis. He is the editor, author, or coauthor of twelve books, including Conspiracy of Silence: Sportswriters and the Long Campaign to Desegregate Baseball (Nebraska, 2021), Sports Journalism: A History of Glory, Fame, and Technology (Nebraska, 2020), and From Jack Johnson to LeBron James: Sports, Media, and the Color Line (Nebraska, 2016).
by Ronald a. Mayer (Author)
Here is the fascinating account, rich in nostalgia, of the greatest minor league team in the history of baseball. Ronald Mayer recounts the wonderful early years of the Newark Bears when millionaire beer baron Jacob Ruppert, owner of the New York Yankees, purchased the team from the newspaper publisher Paul Block in 1931. Mayer traces the Bears' exciting first five seasons under Ruppert and the building of a farm system that eventually produced the great Yankee dynasty. These colorful early seasons were sprinkled with some of the great names of the American pastime: Ed Barrow, Paul Kritchell, Al Mamaux, Red Rolfe, Babe Ruth, Shag Shaughnessey, Bob Shawkey, and George Weiss.
The Bears' finest hour, however, came in 1937 with a team that many experts consider the greatest in the history of the minor leagues. This book captures all the thrilling moments of that memorable season--action-packed Spring training at Sebring, Florida, the day-to-day excitement of the pennant race, the vivid play-by-play action of the semifinal playoff against the Syracuse Chiefs, the final playoof against the Baltimore Orioles, and finally, the spellbinding, unforgettable Little World Series against the powerful Columbus Red Birds. This book is packed with photos and colorful profiles of Babe Dahlgren, Atley Donald, Joe Gordon, Charley Keller, George McQuinn, manager Oscar Vitt, and the rest of the great Newark players. It's all here, in the most comprehensive and thoroughly researched book every published about the Newark Bears.Back Jacket
Originally published in 1980, this book recounts the wonderful early years of the Newark Bears after millionaire beer baron Jacob Ruppert, owner of the New York Yankees, purchased the team from the newspaper publisher Paul Block in 1931. Mayer traces the Bears' exciting first five seasons under Ruppert and the building of a farm system that eventually produced the great Yankee dynasty. These colorful early seasons were sprinkled with some of the great names of the American pastime: Ed Barrow, Paul Kritchell, Al Mamaux, Red Rolfe, Babe Ruth, Shag Shaughnessey, Bob Shawkey, and George Weiss. The Bears' finest hour, however, came in 1937 with a team that many experts consider the greatest in the history of the minor leagues. This book captures all the thrilling moments of that memorable season - action-packed spring training at Sebring, Florida, the day-to-day excitement of the pennant race, the vivid play-by-play action of the semifinal playoff against the Syracuse Chiefs, the final playoff against the Baltimore Orioles, and finally, the spellbinding, unforgettable Little World Series against the powerful Columbus Red Birds. This book is packed with photos and colorful profiles of Babe Dahlgren, Atley Donald, Joe Gordon, Charley Keller, George McQuinn, manager Oscar Vitt, and the rest of the great Newark players.
Author Biography
Ronald A. Mayer is a baseball enthusiast and member of the Society for American Baseball Research. He is also the author of Perfect! Biographies and Lifetime Statistices of 14 Pitchers of "Perfect" Baseball Games and Christy Mathewson: A Game-by-Game Profile of a Legendary Pitcher.
by Joseph a. Reaves (Author)
In Taking in a Game, Joseph A. Reaves examines the development of baseball in Korea, the Philippines, Mainland China, and Taiwan, as well as the more widely known story of baseball in Japan. In this entertaining and informed account, Reaves covers everything from baseball in Qing Dynasty China in the nineteenth century to the 2000 Sydney Olympics bronze-medal match between Japan and Korea. Reaves guides the reader through a history of Asian baseball, the cultures that surround it, and the future of what has become a great Asian game.
Author Biography
Joseph A. Reaves is a former journalist who covered Asia for the Chicago Tribune, Reader's Digest, and UPI. He is the author of Warsaw to Wrigley: A Foreign Correspondent's Tale of Coming Home from Communism to the Cubs.
by Linton Robinson (Author)
If anybody wondered why star journalist Mundo Carrasco would stop investigating Mazatlan's drug lords and politicos in order to run the shady new puppet mayor's press relations, then they had never been to bed with the scorching, amoral, monumental Mijares. Mazatlan's huge, blaring Carnival became the greatest time Mundo had lived since his days as a local baseball hero: access to the real power and closeted skeletons, a political future of his own, and...mostly...the perfect flesh of Mijares. Then the mayor beats up his wife, the city government starts to unravel into scandal and panic, and they start killing people--with Mundo right up there on their list. Tumbling through the tumult of Carnival, mob violence, narco suites and wretched bulldozed hovels, musical mayhem, his own corruption, and three women who want to reclaim his soul for his own good and their own purposes, Mundo is either sorting himself out or getting totally mixed up...if he comes out of it with his damaged scruples and bruised hide intact. Linton Robinson is a veteran award-winning journalist and author of several popular books on Mexican culture. His work is very much affected by the decades he has lived in various parts of Mexico and Central America. "Sweet Spot" is a valentine to the eight years he lived on a hill right above the throbbing heart of Mazatlan's carnival celebration, wrote for local newspapers, and hung out with the local musicians, athletes, and criminals. Editorials Politics are murder for basepath journalist during Mazatlan's riotous Carnival. Mexican Gorky Park...with baseball and table dancers! Mazatlan politics turn Carnival into carnage for basepath journalist Mundo Carrasco. A beautiful, amoral revolutionary sucks batting champ/journalist Mundo Carrasco into a web of political murder during the peak of Mazatlan's Carnival. Batting champ Mundo Carrasco becomes Mazatlan's top journalist but loses his beautiful, amoral love to revolutionary murder during Carnival.
by Adrienne Cherie Ashford (Author)
Here is the story as it has never been told before. You will not only read about how Emmett Ashford became a Major League umpire; you will read about the man off of the field. You will read about his family. You will read about his life as a boy. You will read about his life in school. You will even see some of his real homework pages. You will learn about other jobs he had. You will learn how he always wanted to do his best. This story is told by his daughter, Adrienne. This story is about a winner. Everybody loves a winner!
by Dan Ewald (Author)
In the tradition of Tuesdays With Morrie, Dan Ewald pens a memoir of his friendship with legendary Tigers manager Sparky Anderson, the man who taught him not only the nuances of baseball, but the importance of life's unwritten rules.
Few sports figures, regardless of their position, have generated as much good will as Sparky Anderson, the legendary manager for the Cincinnati Reds and the Detroit Tigers. Sparky met author Dan Ewald, in 1979, and thus was born a lifelong friendship not likely ever to be seen again in baseball. Along the way, Dan never took for granted the front row seat he had to watch one of history's most memorable managers' absolute mastery of baseball's nuances and intricacies. But the most important things Sparky taught Dan were the "unwritten rules" of life, which he practiced meticulously. To Sparky, a real professional was as great away from the diamond as he was on it. His goal was for his players to be the best husbands, fathers, and community leaders they could be--he believed that was the mark of a winner, not the box score. Sparky had a gift for taking something as inane as the infield fly rule and turning it into a lecture on how to lead a more meaningful life. In 2010, the old friends had planned a get-together before the end of the year. But Sparky's health was taking a turn for the worse, so Dan arranged a three-day visit as quickly as he could. During their last days together, the friends recalled the memories of a lifetime as each prepared silently for their final good-bye. When that weekend came to a close, Dan had grown to appreciate Sparky more than he ever thought he could. In Sparky and Me, Dan imparts to readers his best friend's spirit through his unforgettable life lessons and stories only the two of them shared. "Like a wizard, Sparky Anderson was white-haired and wise, and sitting with him was like visiting with an oracle. Dan Ewald, who spent more time with Sparky than any of us, beautifully captures the magic of Sparky's wit, humor, and humanity in these pages. All baseball fans should read it." -- Mitch Albom, New York Times bestselling author of Tuesdays with Morrie and Have a Little Faith "No one understood Sparky better than Dan Ewald. Managing people in a scope far broader than a pennant race is a rare quality, and Sparky understood people, their insecurities, their motivations. This is a great read, a great understanding of the humanity of playing baseball." -Peter Gammons, MLB Network "For decades, it seemed like everyone in baseball knew Sparky Anderson, and almost all of us considered him a friend. But few knew him as Dan Ewald did. Here, Dan provides a unique look at an endearing man who led a significant life both in and out of the game." -Bob CostasAuthor Biography
DAN EWALD is a sports writer who worked as the public relations director for the Detroit Tigers for eighteen years. During that time, he became close friends with Sparky Anderson, whose career he managed for thirty-two years and with whom he authored several books.
by Fjabi World (Author)
Sports coloring book -Football, Baseball, Soccer, Basketball, Tennis, Cycling, Boxing, Bodybuilding
Sports coloring book for boys, girls, and kids who love sports. .
The best gift for your children boys and girls . !
This sport coloring book DETAILS:- More AND More sport illustrations
- Large 8. 5x 11 inch pages
- Thick white paper
- High-resolution printing
by Gerald C. Wood (Author)
WINNER OF THE 2014 SEYMOUR MEDAL sponsored by the Society for American Baseball Research and finalist for 2014 SABR Larry Ritter Award
Though his pitching career lasted only a few seasons, Howard Ellsworth "Smoky Joe" Wood was one of the most dominating figures in baseball history--a man many consider the best baseball player who is not in the Hall of Fame. About his fastball, Hall of Fame pitcher Walter Johnson once said: "Listen, mister, no man alive can throw harder than Smoky Joe Wood."
Smoky Joe Wood chronicles the singular life befitting such a baseball legend. Wood got his start impersonating a female on the National Bloomer Girls team. A natural athlete, he pitched for the Boston Red Sox at eighteen, won twenty-one games and threw a no-hitter at twenty-one, and had a 34-5 record plus three wins in the 1912 World Series, for a 1.91 ERA, when he was just twenty-two. Then in 1913 Wood suffered devastating injuries to his right hand and shoulder that forced him to pitch in pain for two more years. After sitting out the 1916 season, he came back as a converted outfielder and played another five years for the Cleveland Indians before retiring to coach the Yale University baseball team.
With details culled from interviews and family archives, this biography, the first of this rugged player of the Deadball Era, brings to life one of the genuine characters of baseball history.
Author Biography
Gerald C. Wood is Distinguished Professor of English Emeritus at Carson-Newman University and coeditor of Northsiders: Essays on the History and Culture of the Chicago Cubs.
by Solomon White (Author), Gary Ashwill (Introduction by)
Sol White was a standout player and manager in the early years of professional African American baseball. In 1907, he wrote and published the first and only account of the stars, teams, and great feats of the era. For more than 60 years the Sol White Guide remained the only work devoted to black baseball history. Without White's vision, much of the information and images in the book would be lost forever. From the 57 rare photographs, to the game accounts and box scores, to the early 20th century diamond lingo, Sol White's Official Base Ball Guide is an irreplaceable time capsule of a critical yet nearly forgotten chapter in baseball history. The Summer Game Books edition includes an introduction by historian Gary Ashwill, tracing the origins and development of the African American game, recounting White's life both on and off the field, and documenting the tremendous impact the Guide has had on baseball scholarship. The richly annotated text provides fascinating details and sidebars to the narrative, and includes a 14-page Who's Who section filled with career highlights and colorful stories about all the major figures in the book. Few individuals belong in the company of Jackie Robinson for the impact they had on the advancement of African Americans in baseball. "King Solomon" White is one who does, and Sol White's Official Base Ball Guide is his greatest contribution.
Author Biography
Gary Ashwill writes the baseball history blog "Agate Type: Adventures in Baseball Archeology" (agateype.typepad.com). He has won the John Coates Next Generation Award from the Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference, and compiles the SABR Baseball Research Award-winning Seamheads Negro Leagues Database (www.seamheads/NegroLgs.index.php)
by Dan Epstein (Author)
Dan Epstein scored a cult hit with Big Hair and Plastic Grass: A Funky Ride Through Baseball and America in the Swinging '70s. Now he returns with Stars and Strikes, a riotous look at the most pivotal season of the decade.
America, 1976: colorful, complex, and combustible. It was a year of Bicentennial celebrations and presidential primaries, of Olympic glory and busing riots, of "killer bees" hysteria and Pong fever. For both the nation and the national pastime, the year was revolutionary, indeed. On the diamond, Thurman Munson led the New York Yankees to their first World Series in a dozen years, but it was Joe Morgan and Cincinnati's "Big Red Machine" who cemented a dynasty with their second consecutive World Championship. Sluggers Mike Schmidt and Dave Kingman dominated the headlines, while rookie sensation Mark "The Bird" Fidrych started the All-Star Game opposite Randy "Junkman" Jones. The season was defined by the outrageous antics of team owners Bill Veeck, Ted Turner, George Steinbrenner, and Charlie Finley, as well as by several memorable bench-clearing brawls, and a batting title race that became just as contentious as the presidential race.
Author Biography
DAN EPSTEIN is an award-winning journalist, pop culture historian, and avid baseball fan who has written for Rolling Stone, SPIN, Men's Journal, the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, MOJO, Guitar World, Revolver, LA Weekly and dozens of other publications. He is the author of the acclaimed Big Hair and Plastic Grass: A Funky Ride Through Baseball and America in the Swinging '70s. He currently resides in Los Angeles.
by Gary E. Barr (Author)
Effective coaching requires planning varied formats that keep players mentally and physically engaged throughout the practice. For example, challenging and cooperative games support exciting training sessions, improve focus, and encourage player-coach and player-player rapport.
While we provide vital offensive and defensive tips for most competitions, this book is not a fundamentals book. Instead, its primary purpose is to demonstrate how to use team skill-building contests under game-like pressure to get your baseball and fastpitch softball players game-ready more quickly than straight drills alone. Focus and learning amplify when you gamify. The baseball and fastpitch softball games are a constant competition, not only against opponents but also against oneself. As coaches, we want our players to get comfortable with both types of competition and enjoy it. The best way to be comfortable in competitive situations is to create a competitive culture in your practices. Providing game-like structures, combining skill-building with competition is the objective of this book. These are not simple drills found all over the internet. Instead, the 65 unique competitions are precisely detailed. Fast-moving and designed to maximize quality repetitions (swings, ground balls, fly balls, throws to bases, etc.) in an allotted amount of time. This handy coaching tool contains functional and innovative games that reinforce your fundamental instruction. The rules of each competition, clearly laid step-by-step, promote habit building for individual skills and team communication in situations players face during every game. Each game includes the purpose, equipment needed, time required, ages the drill is suitable, and well-thought-out rules. Chapters include competitions for throwing, infield, outfield, pitching, catching, hitting, bunting, baserunning, and offense vs. defense. Appropriate for youth, Middle School, High School, and College. Written by Coach Gary Barr, author of Building the High-Level Swing Series, the hitting competitions alone are valuable for their suggestions on utilizing targeting, constraints, and learning how to perform well under game-like pressure. Skill Building Competitions is a coaching lifesaver - providing great games that improve critical skills and players love. Flip open a chapter depending on the desired focus of the drill, read the rules, and you are ready to incorporate the competition in today's practice plan.by Pretty Ritzy (Author)
A gift for kids to get interested in Sports. Pages are uncluttered with bold illustrations to allow young children to get creative without being overwhelmed by busy pages.
by Steve Gelfius (Author)
Have you ever watched young ball players field A baseball and then hesitate? One of the coaches yells "2nd", a team mate yells "go home" and where ever the player throws, there is no positive result for his team. Those developing baseball players from the ages of six to twelve need to have more "smarts" about the game. "If the ball is hit to me - what do I do with it" is the most fundamental area of the game following physical skills. Developing this skill can make the difference between a mediocre and a good baseball player. It can give them the edge, it can mean being a starter or a sub, it's the little things that make the big difference. This book gives infielders and outfielders the basic solutions to every base running situation. It gives situations that make them think to develop that instinctive sense of what to do with the ball. This book can be used in the field by coaches, in the backyard by dads, between players on the way to the game to build confidence. It is a basic tool for every player.
by Dan Green (Author)
Are you considering playing collegiate baseball, but not sure what to expect or how to make the most of this opportunity? How can you best represent yourself, your family, and your hometown on the diamond?
Author Dan Green wants to give you a leg up on other players going out for college baseball teams. Don't start your collegiate baseball career in the dark. Not all lessons need to be learned the hard way! This book provides insight and tips on how to prepare for baseball at the next level physically, mentally, and emotionally. As a recent collegiate baseball player, Green offers advice to help ensure that your experience is one filled with great memories and stories to last a lifetime. This quick-read gives high school players a sneak peek into the world of college baseball.
About the Author
Dan Green was a four-year pitcher at Springfield College in Massachusetts. He graduated from Springfield College in 2016 with Cum Laude honors, as a Health Education and Physical Education dual major. Green currently teaches and coaches baseball at Pequannock Township High School in New Jersey and continues to inspire, motivate, and prepare high school players to compete at the next level.
by Hank Davis (Author), Hank Davis (Afterword by)
In 1993 successful psychologist and journalist Hank Davis undertook an epic journey exploring the atmosphere and culture of both minor league baseball and the small towns that embrace it. Davis shows us the warmth, quirkiness, and desperate energy of minor league ball, from encounters with future stars to those who would never make it to the "show"; from the kids selling Cracker Jacks outside the park to the aging coaches who persevere out of sheer love for the game. As Davis says, "the minor leagues are full of stories," and he tells some of the best of them here. A new afterword by the author dis-cusses where the minor league players are now.
Author Biography
Hank Davis is a professor of psychology at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada.
by Jana Goldbloom Brody (Author)
Sit Behind the Nets! is written by an outspoken grieving daughter, after her mother was hit by a foul ball at Dodger Stadium and died of head trauma. Alerting the media Brody speaks out encouraging changes for fan safety in Major League Baseball. Major and Minor League Baseball's recent mandated net extension policy is an outcome of using her voice for good. Improving fan safety awareness is the goal of this memoir with a message. Combining published articles, quotes, and personal perspectives the story unfolds over three years.
by Buddy Bell (Author), Neal Vahle (Author)
A fascinating and informative look at what goes on in the psyche of professional baseball players as they play the game, Smart Baseball is a unique chance for baseball fans to see what it takes for ballplayers to succeed at the Major League level.
What goes on in a baseball player's mind is critical to the outcome of the game. Since most major leaguers are in peak physical condition, the difference between success and failure on the field often depends on a player's mental approach.
Author Biography
Buddy Bell played baseball for eighteen years in the major leagues with the Cleveland Indians, the Texas Rangers, and the Cincinnati Reds, and was a five-time American League All-Star. After his playing days, he managed the Detroit Tigers and the Colorado Rockies. He also held positions on the Indians and Reds coaching staff. Buddy's father, Gus Bell, was a National League All-Star with the Reds for fifteen years. Buddy's sons, David, Mike, and Rick are all involved in professional baseball.
Neal Vahle holds a Ph.D. in American history from Georgetown University and has written extensively in that field.
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