Baseball Books

Book SynopsisTable of ContentsForeword, Torii Hunter, Introduction, Chapter I, Chapter II, Chapter III, Chapter IV, Chapter V, Chapter VI, Chapter VII, Chapter VIII, Chapter IX, Chapter X, Chapter XI, Conclusion, Afterword, Appendix, Index

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Book SynopsisIn parks and cafes, homes and stadium stands, Cubans talk baseball. This work contends that when they are analyzing and debating plays, teams, and athletes, Cubans are exchanging ideas not just about baseball but also about Cuba and cubanidad, or what it means to be Cuban. It explores the interconnections between baseball and Cuban identity.Trade Review“The Quality of Home Runs offers engaging and provocative perspectives on socialism, nationalism, masculinity, and the embodiment and poetics of sport in Cuba, all seen from the vantage point of the stadium stands and the streets of Havana. Thomas F. Carter’s emphasis on themes such as spectacle, social drama, struggle, and discipline of both players and fans, on and off the field, builds a persuasive analysis of changing notions of what it means to be Cuban.”—Thomas M. Wilson, Binghamton UniversityTable of ContentsPreface: Entering the Field vii Acknowledgments xv Introduction. The Theoretical "Stretching:" of Sport and the State 1 1. Baseball and the Language of Contention 17 2. Circling the Base Paths: Baseball, Migration, and the Cuban Nation 36 3. The Spectacle of and for Cuba 63 4. The State in Play: The Politics of Cuba's National Sport 89 5. Fans, Rivalries, and the Play of Cuba 111 6. Talking a Good Game 136 7. The Qualities of Cubanidad: Calidad and Lucha in Baseball 159 Conclusion: Touching 'Em All: Recalling and Recounting Home Runs 183 Notes 203 Works Cited 213 Index 231

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Book SynopsisDuring the 1880s, baseball's popularity swelled, basic rules such as balls and strikes were being refined and entire leagues came and went. Bowman illustrates the growing pains of the sport, casting baseball's early championships as a lens through which to view late 19th century America.Trade Review"Bowman's blending of narrative and anecdote is engaging, and his conclusions are thoughtful and intelligent. In telling the history of baseball's earliest experiment with postseason competition, he introduces the reader to many of the now-forgotten stars and journeymen of the 1880s."—Reed Browning, author of Cy Young: A Baseball Life "A valuable study of early championship baseball."—Elysian Fields Quarterly "Clearly written, spiced with entertaining anecdotes, and full of useful background material... grounded in solid research in the periodical literature of the era."—Business History ReviewTable of ContentsTable of Contents List of Illustrations Acknowledgments Introduction 1. The 1880s 2. Interleague Play 3. The Beginning 4. Chicago and St. Louis 5. The Browns and the Wolverines 6. The New York Giants 7. New York and Brooklyn 8. Brooklyn and Louisville Conclusion Appendix Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisExamines the history of MLB's presence and influence in the Dominican Republic, and the development of the booming industry and academies, and the dependence on Dominican player developers, known as buscones. This book addresses issues of identity fraud and the use of performance - enhancing drugs as hopefuls seek to play professionally.Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments Introduction 1 Thinking about the Global Commodity Chain 2 The Rise of the Academy System 3 A Nation of Buscones 4 Astín Jacobo and the “New Dominicans” 5 Demonizing Dominicans 6 “It Felt like the Marines All Over Again”: The Battle for Dominican Baseball Conclusion Notes Index

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Book SynopsisThe Burden of Over-representation artfully explores three curious racial moments in sport: Jackie Robinson's expletive at a Dodgers spring training game; the transformation of a formality into an event at the end of the 1995 rugby World Cup in South Africa; and a spectral moment at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Grant Farred examines the connotations at play in these moments through the lenses of race, politics, memory, inheritance and conciliation, deploying a surprising cast of figures in Western thought, ranging from Jacques Derrida and Friedrich Nietzsche to Judith Butler, William Shakespeare, and Jesus-the-Christ. Farred makes connection and creates meaning through the forces at play and the representational burdens of team, country and race. Farred considers Robinson's profane comments at black Dodgers fans, a post-match exchange of thank yous on the rugby pitch between white South African captain François Pienaar and Nelson Mandela, and being haunted by the ghost of Derrida on the oTrade Review“Grant Farred has long been our ‘prose laureate’ at the intersection of sports, philosophy, and politics. With The Burden of Over-representation, he outdoes himself: looking at critical, forgotten moments in our sports history with a lens utterly original and entirely his own.”—Dave Zirin, Sports Editor, The Nation magazine“In binding together his abiding passions—literary theory, sport, and Africa (and its diaspora)—and spurring them to illuminate one another, Grant Farred delivers his best work yet. Three extraordinary moments in sport in three parts of the globe are the texts on which he unleashes his incandescent mind, unmatched political acumen, and glorious way with words. The Burden of Over-representation is also an exceptional contribution to the study of racial significations in this mad species of ours.”—Wendy Brown, Class of 1936 First Chair, University of California, Berkeley

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Book SynopsisThe Burden of Over-representation artfully explores three curious racial moments in sport: Jackie Robinson's expletive at a Dodgers spring training game; the transformation of a formality into an event at the end of the 1995 rugby World Cup in South Africa; and a spectral moment at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Grant Farred examines the connotations at play in these moments through the lenses of race, politics, memory, inheritance and conciliation, deploying a surprising cast of figures in Western thought, ranging from Jacques Derrida and Friedrich Nietzsche to Judith Butler, William Shakespeare, and Jesus-the-Christ. Farred makes connection and creates meaning through the forces at play and the representational burdens of team, country and race. Farred considers Robinson's profane comments at black Dodgers fans, a post-match exchange of thank yous on the rugby pitch between white South African captain François Pienaar and Nelson Mandela, and being haunted by the ghost of Derrida on the oTrade Review“Grant Farred has long been our ‘prose laureate’ at the intersection of sports, philosophy, and politics. With The Burden of Over-representation, he outdoes himself: looking at critical, forgotten moments in our sports history with a lens utterly original and entirely his own.”—Dave Zirin, Sports Editor, The Nation magazine“In binding together his abiding passions—literary theory, sport, and Africa (and its diaspora)—and spurring them to illuminate one another, Grant Farred delivers his best work yet. Three extraordinary moments in sport in three parts of the globe are the texts on which he unleashes his incandescent mind, unmatched political acumen, and glorious way with words. The Burden of Over-representation is also an exceptional contribution to the study of racial significations in this mad species of ours.”—Wendy Brown, Class of 1936 First Chair, University of California, Berkeley

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Book SynopsisThe best all-around catcher in black baseball historyCumberland Posey, Owner of the Homestead GraysNational Baseball Hall of Fame catcher James Raleigh Biz Mackey's professional career spanned nearly three decades in the Negro Leagues and elsewhere. He distinguished himself as a defensive catcher who also had an impressive batting average and later worked as a manager of the Newark Eagles and the Baltimore Elite Giants. Using archival materials and interviews with former Negro League players, baseball historian Rich Westcott chronicles the catcher's life and remarkable career in Biz Mackey, a Giant behind the Plateas well as providing an in-depth look at Philadelphia Negro League history. Westcott traces Mackey's childhood in Texas as the son of sharecroppers to his success on the baseball diamond where he displayed extraordinary defensive skills and an exceptional ability to hit and to handle pitchers. Mackey spent one third of his career playing in Philadelphia, winning championshi

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Book SynopsisThe best all-around catcher in black baseball historyCumberland Posey, Owner of the Homestead GraysNational Baseball Hall of Fame catcher James Raleigh Biz Mackey's professional career spanned nearly three decades in the Negro Leagues and elsewhere. He distinguished himself as a defensive catcher who also had an impressive batting average and later worked as a manager of the Newark Eagles and the Baltimore Elite Giants. Using archival materials and interviews with former Negro League players, baseball historian Rich Westcott chronicles the catcher's life and remarkable career in Biz Mackey, a Giant behind the Plateas well as providing an in-depth look at Philadelphia Negro League history. Westcott traces Mackey's childhood in Texas as the son of sharecroppers to his success on the baseball diamond where he displayed extraordinary defensive skills and an exceptional ability to hit and to handle pitchers. Mackey spent one third of his career playing in Philadelphia, winning championshi

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Book Synopsis Coaches know the importance of drills. The cornerstone of most practices, they are essential in developing player skills and team execution. For younger players, however, the best drills go one step further. They engage the player, promote teamwork, and establish a lifelong love of the game. Youth Baseball Drills is a comprehensive collection of more than 100 of the very best team drills for young players and their coaches. Developed specifically for players aged 6 to 18, the drills teach and reinforce fundamental skills such as these: Hitting Bunting Fielding Catching fly balls Throwing Pitching Base running Easy to understand and easier to implement, each drill is accompanied by step-by-step instructions, equipment needs, field diagrams, and key coaching points. And the ready-to-use 30-, 60-, and 90-minute practice plans help coaches put them to use and create enjoyable and productive practices. With variations and progressions for difficulty, Youth Baseball Drills has something for every coach and every player. It is a must-have guide for anyone wanting to teach youngsters how to play, and enjoy, the game of baseball. Trade Review“Pete Caliendo breaks down the ABCs of coaching youth baseball and makes it simple and fun. Anyone coaching youth baseball should add this book to their personal collection.”Abraham Key-- President and CEO PONY Baseball and Softball “Pete Caliendo is an amazing store of knowledge in baseball technique. He knows his stuff!”Jim Colborn-- Former Major League Baseball All-Star Pitcher “Pete Caliendo possesses a wealth of baseball knowledge and has the ability to impart his expertise to coaches and players in all stages of their development.”Roland Hemond-- Special Assistant to the President and CEO Arizona Diamondbacks “Youth Baseball Drills offers what players need to know: how to execute the fine points in the game. Coach Caliendo’s book teaches how to play the game the right way.”Terry Ayers-- ABCA Hall of Fame “Peter Caliendo is one of the best teachers of the fundamentals of the game.”Jim Hall-- ABCA Hall of Fame “Field to front office, coaching to scouting, locally to nationally and internationally, Pete’s experience and passion improve the game and the people he works with."Tom House-- Former MLB pitcher, MLB pitching coach, and author of The Pitching Edge“Pete Caliendo has been involved in coaching both domestically and abroad for the better part of the last 20 years. Those experiences have given him a strong foundation for coaching basics, and this book brings that knowledge to the reader in a way that is easy to understand and apply. Youth Baseball Drills is a must-read for any entry-level coach.” Paul Seiler--Executive Director and CEO USA Baseball Table of Contents Chapter 1 Practice Organization Chapter 2 Warm-Up Drills Chapter 3 Throwing and Catching Drills Chapter 4 Fielding Drills Chapter 5 Hitting Drills Chapter 6 Bunting Drills Chapter 7 Pitching Drills Chapter 8 Base Running Drills Chapter 9 Run-Down Drills Chapter 10 Sliding Drills Chapter 11 Between-Inning Drills Chapter 12 Situational Drills Chapter 13 Player Evaluation Drills

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Book SynopsisExplores Jackie Robinson's compelling and complicated legacy Before the United States Supreme Court ruled against segregation in public schools, and before Rosa Parks refused to surrender her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama, Jackie Robinson walked onto the diamond on April 15, 1947, as first baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers, making history as the first African American to integrate Major League Baseball in the twentieth century. Today a national icon, Robinson was a complicated man who navigated an even more complicated world that both celebrated and despised him. Many are familiar with Robinson as a baseball hero. Few, however, know of the inner turmoil that came with his historic status. Featuring piercing essays from a range of distinguished sportswriters, cultural critics, and scholars, this book explores Robinson's perspectives and legacies on civil rights, sports, faith, youth, and nonviolence, while providing rare glimpses into the struggles and strength of one of the nation's mTrade Review"[Michael] Long and his contributors attempt to separate the man from the myth and show how his influence continues to extend ...These pieces embody all of what made Robinson special, assessing him through many different lenses...give[s] a towering cultural figure his due beyond the baselines."" * Kirkus Reviews (starred) *"This collection of essays explores baseball legend Jackie Robinson’s complicated legacy, his impact on society and the inner turmoil that came with his historic achievements." * USA Today *"[Michael] Long, along with 13 contributors, explore lesser-known aspects of the life of Jackie Robinson, who became the first Black American to play Major League Baseball when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...Even those who know nothing about Robinson will take something inspiring away from this excellent anthology." * Publishers Weekly *"Juxtaposing events in the sports world from the ‘40s to now, 42 Today recalls Robinson’s legacy and establishes how he paved a way for future civil rights activism, from Black Lives Matter to Colin Kaepernick." * TheRoot.com *"Whether you consider yourself a baseball scholar or not, 42 Today has something to teach you. With 13 essays as well as a foreword by Ken and Sarah Burns and David McMahon and an introduction by the editor, there is no shortage of information about the man’s life, some well known and some obscure. In addition to correcting the errors in what we know about Robinson, there is also detail of how Robinson and his legacy affected groups beyond the typically male-dominated realm of baseball fans." * CoveringtheCorner.com *"2021 marks the 75th anniversary of Branch Rickey signing Jackie Robinson to the Montreal Royals, which integrated organized baseball for the first time since the 19th century. Anniversaries of important historical events offer opportunities to reflect on their significance, and this collection of essays makes use of the occasion to explore Robinson's activism in civil rights, politics, and sports." * Choice *"The value of this collection is in its breadth and accessibility… an excellent addition to an undergraduate course on baseball, race, and American history." -- Sarah L. Trembanis (University of Delaware) * Journal of African American History *

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Book Synopsis Growing up in a tiny shack in the Dominican Republic, Felipe Alou never dreamed he would be the first man born and raised in his country to play and manage in Major League Baseball—and also the first to play in the World Series. In this extraordinary autobiography, Alou tells of his real dream to become a doctor, and an improbable turn of events that led to the pro contract. Battling racism in the United States and political turmoil in his home country, Alou persevered, paving the way for his brothers and scores of other Dominicans, including his son Moisés. Alou played seventeen years in the Major Leagues, accumulating more than two thousand hits and two hundred home runs, and then managed for another fourteen years—four with the San Francisco Giants and ten with the Montreal Expos, where he became the winningest manager in franchise history. Alou’s pioneering journey is embedded in the history of baseball, the Dominican Republic,Trade Review"A worthwhile journey into baseball's history and the rich story of one remarkable baseball man. All of us who know Alou are aware that his tale is remarkable. This book brings his story alive: his path from an impoverished upbringing to track star to baseball player to become the first major-league player from the Dominican Republic. . . . Alou is a precious part of the history of the Giants and the game."—Ann Killion, San Francisco Chronicle"Famed outfielder Alou, who made history in 1958 as the first person to go from the Dominican Republic to playing with a major league team, delivers a fascinating memoir of his baseball career. . . . This is a powerful memoir of a remarkable player who made a lasting impact on America's pastime."—Publishers Weekly"An engrossing book, with baseball as the background and the lessons from a remarkable life going well beyond the game."—Jorge L. Ortiz, USA Today"It's not surprising that his new book, Alou: My Baseball Journey, is just as much a life journey as it is about baseball. . . . I can’t think of anyone I respect in the game any more than Felipe Alou."—Barry M. Bloom, Forbes"In reading his memoir Alou: My Baseball Journey . . . two things become abundantly clear: Felipe Alou refuses to be silent or be silenced; and the Dominican remains steadfast in his commitment to the belief that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect—from immigrant newcomers and the poor to black and Latino baseball players, as well as those beyond the playing field."—Adrian Burgos, La Vida Baseball"In his extraordinary autobiography, co-written with sportswriter Peter Kerasotis, Alou tells of the political and personal turmoil he faced as he paved the way for future Dominican ball players."—Dominican Today“Sometimes the people who don’t crave attention are the ones who deserve it the most. That’s Felipe Alou. He is one of the best and most caring teammates I ever had. I learned from him what leadership is all about and what it means to be a man. I admired him greatly, first as a fan, then as a teammate, and now, most important, as a friend. Felipe has lived a Hall of Fame life, and in Alou you’ll learn why.”—Joe Torre “It’s an honor to have Felipe Alou as my friend and especially to have him in my career and in my life as a mentor. He blazed a trail for Latin Americans that few men could’ve accomplished, and he did it with class and character. His story, and what he overcame and achieved, will embarrass and enlighten, sadden and inspire, anger and uplift. Felipe Alou is one of the best ambassadors for baseball and an even better ambassador for the human race.”—Reggie Jackson “If Alou was only about Felipe Alou’s legendary baseball career as a player and manager it would be an important read, but it’s much more. Alou not only captures an extraordinary life; it delivers compelling insights into life’s realities. As the first to go from the Dominican Republic to Major League Baseball—both as a player and a manager—Felipe Alou opened the way for his brothers Matty and Jesús, his fellow countrymen, and for scores of other Latin Americans. If you don’t know much about Felipe Alou, this book will convince you that he is as special as anyone who has ever worn a Major League uniform. For those of us who know and admire him, reading Alou makes us appreciate that he is even greater than we imagined.”—Tony La Russa “Felipe Alou played with Willie Mays and managed Barry Bonds. He played a Major League Game in the same outfield with his two brothers, and then saw his son become a Major League star in his own right. He was the first Dominican born and raised to make it to the Major Leagues, opening the door for scores of others. Felipe Alou has a rich and vivid story to tell, and here it is.”—Bob Costas Table of ContentsForeword Introduction Part 1. 1935–1956 1. A Name 2. A Childhood Part 2. 1956–1957 3. Coming to America 4. Just Give Me a Chance 5. Moving Up Part 3. 1958–1963 6. The Rookie 7. Roberto Clemente 8. Beginning of the End 9. Dawn of a Decade 10. Dark Days 11. Death of a Dictator 12. The Road to the World Series 13. 1962 World Series 14. The Alous Said Hello; the Giants Said Goodbye Part 4. 1964–1970s 15. Brave New World 16. Settling In 17. Trouble at Home 18. Hitting the Sweet Spot 19. Family Matters 20. Winding Down Part 5. 1975–Today 21. The Transition 22. The Road Back 23. Big Time Again in the Big Leagues 24. A New Beginning 25. 1994 26. The Demise of the Expos and Me 27. It Ain’t Over till You’re Done 28. Managing Philosophy 29. You Can Go Home Again Epilogue Afterword Acknowledgments Chronology

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Book SynopsisIf an umpire could steal the show in a Major League game, Al Clark might well have been the one to do it. Tough but fair, in his thirty years as a professional umpire he took on some of baseball's great umpire baiters, such as Earl Weaver, Billy Martin, and Dick Williams, while ejecting any number of the game's eliteonce tearing a hamstring in the process. He was the first Jewish umpire in American League history, and probably the first to eject his own father from the officials' dressing room. But whatever Clark was doingofficiating at Nolan Ryan's three hundredth win, Cal Ripken's record breaker, or the earthquake World Series of 1989, or braving a labor dispute, an anti-Semitic tirade by a Cy Young Award winner, or a legal imbroglioit makes for a good story. Called Out but Safe is Clark's outspoken and often hilarious account of his life in baseball from umpire school through the highlights to the inglorious end of his stellar career. Not just a Trade Review“Clark, having called well over 3,000 MLB games, offers a perspective that is engaging as well as steeped in personal experience. It will be of interest to any baseball fan.”—Brian Renvall, Library Journal “Enjoy some great baseball stories from a man who once had a front-row seat in our great game.”—Chris Wheeler, Phillies broadcaster “Al Clark never threw me out of a game, but Billy Martin wasn’t so fortunate. I not only witnessed his confrontations with Al but enjoyed remembering them in this book.”—Ron Blomberg, first designated hitter “Everything about Called Out But Safe is personal, and thank goodness for it.”—Don Laible, Utica Observer-Dispatch “Books from umpires are infrequent and refreshing. . . . It is baseball’s timeless field of vision that offers the vantage where Clark made a living for more than twenty-five years. From a reader’s perspective it’s a point of view worth sharing.”—The Plain Dealer (Cleveland) Table of ContentsForewordPrefaceAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. The Family Clark2. Getting Started3. The Art of Umpiring4. Dressing the Part5. My Office6. Names and Games7. Wives, Women, and Song8. The Yiddishe Umpire9. Billy, Earl, and a Few Dicks10. Bucky F. Dent11. Labor Pains12. Quaking in My Boots13. A Texas Connection14. Lights Out in Baltimore15. The Iron Man16. Credit Denied17. Jailhouse Rock18. Lasting ImpressionsEpilogueAppendix

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Book SynopsisThe 1936 Yankees, the 1963 Dodgers, the 1975 Reds, the 2010 Giants - why do some baseball teams win while others don't? In Pursuit of Pennants examines and analyses a number of compelling, winning baseball teams over the past hundred-plus years, focusing on their decision making and how they assembled their championship teams.Trade Review"Read this book for its treasure trove of baseball history and because it is a damn good read."—G. Louis Heath, ARETE"The book is exceptionally well-researched, -reasoned, and -argued, and also exceptionally well-written."—Rob Neyer, Just a bit Outside"In Pursuit of Pennants is by far the best treatment of the building of baseball teams. It belongs in easy reach on every baseball researcher’s desk or bookshelf, and it’s going to be there for a very long time."—Jan Finkel, Inside Game“Baseball fans across the board that dedicate the time to reading this book will enjoy it.”—Gregg's Baseball Bookcase“Armour and Levitt have given the reader an inside look into the different cultures and challenges facing professional sports executives. Their management styles might differ, but the objective never changes: ‘Be a consistent winner.’”—Pat Gillick“A rare combination of a must-have reference book and engaging storytelling by distinguished baseball historians Armour and Levitt.”—Vince Gennaro, president of the Society for American Baseball Research and author of Diamond Dollars: The Economics of Winning in Baseball “This is an interesting, well-written, and well-researched examination of a behind-the-scenes look at how certain winning clubs have been constructed by notable baseball executives and the philosophies employed.”—Tal Smith, longtime baseball executive“A great source of well-researched front office stories. . . . Armour and Levitt give an insider’s look at the teams’ efforts to innovate in this highly competitive industry.”—Sig Mejdal, director of Decision Sciences for the Houston Astros“If Moneyball is the tale of how a modern front office works, In Pursuit of Pennants is the prequel that ably sets the stage.”—Jonah Keri, author of the bestselling The Extra 2% and Up, Up, and AwayTable of Contents List of Illustrations List of Tables List of Charts Acknowledgments Introduction Part 1. Professional Management1. Owner-Operator 2. Field Manager 3. General Manager 4. Executive 5. Farm System 6. Organization Part 2. General Manager Ascendant7. Dodger Way 8. Dynasty 9. Integration 10. Commitment 11. Excellence Rewarded 12. Amateur Draft 13. The Machine Part 3. New Order14. Long Road Back 15. Expansion 16. Free Agency 17. The Zoo 18. Many Rivers Part 4. Businessmen19. Winning Now 20. Analytics 21. Post-Moneyball 22. Modern Game Appendix Notes Index

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“At last Gil Hodges is a Hall of Famer. Now that the leader of two of the most iconic baseball teams of all time, the 1955 Dodgers and 1969 Mets, is enshrined in Cooperstown, his fascinating life story deserves greater appreciation. Mort Zachter delivers a book worthy of the great player, manager and American.”—Tom Verducci, senior writer for Sports Illustrated “Zachter’s account of Hodges’s exploits is thorough and entertaining, and his case that his favorite player probably ought to be in the Hall of Fame is convincing.”—Bill Littlefield, NPR’s Only a Game "Mort Zachter captures the essence of Hodges in his biography."—Bob D'Angelo, Tampa Tribune"Fans who remember the Brooklyn Bums and the Miracle Mets will find this a must-read."—Jim Burns, Library Journal“The definitive and wonderfully told tale of a baseball icon. Mort Zachter has given Gil Hodges the biography he has long deserved.”—Michael Shapiro, professor of journalism at Columbia University and author of The Last Good Season: Brooklyn, the Dodgers and Their Final Pennant Race Together “Exhaustively researched.”—Christian Science Monitor “Whether focusing on Hodges the Hoosier, the marine on Okinawa, the home run–hitting slugger, or the Brooklynite on Bedford Avenue, Mort Zachter has given us Gil, right down to the nub of his Marlboro. His mincing steps to the mound are remembered along with the candles lit in church and the day Brooklyn’s heart skipped a beat with his. This one spikes high into your heart; the Hodges epic is a lesson in humanity for all seasons.”—Bob McGee, author of The Greatest Ballpark Ever: Ebbets Field and the Story of the Brooklyn Dodgers “Zachter brings the same grace and precision to the page that Hodges brought to first base at Ebbets Field and with methodical research, insight, and pure affection gives life to the man behind the astounding stats, proving once and for all that Hodges truly belongs in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Kudos to Mort Zachter for giving a beloved Brooklyn legend his due.”—Marty Markowitz, former Brooklyn Borough president "[An] excellent biography."—Jacqueline Cutler, Newark Star Ledger“Absolutely fantastic. It was truly a pleasure to read.”—Josh Lewin, New York Mets broadcaster Table of ContentsList of IllustrationsPrefacePrologue: His Reputation Preceded HimHOME—Princeton and Petersburg (1924–43)1. Coal Miner’s Son2. The Twig, the Branch, and the LipAWAY—The Pacific (1944–45); Newport News (1946)3. Okinawa4. Newport NewsHOME—Brooklyn (1947–57)5. Hanging On6. Breaking Through7. Four in One, One for Four8. Great Expectations9. A Bitter Uniqueness10. Say a Prayer11. The Day Next Year Arrived12. Where in America Would You See That?13. The Last SeasonAWAY—Los Angeles (1958–61)14. The Worst Place Ever15. World ChampionsHOME—Manhattan (1962)16. CaseyAWAY—Washington DC (1963–67)17. In the Cellar18. Off the Floor19. On the Doorstep of RespectabilityHOME—Queens (1968–72)20. The Mets Get Serious21. Contenders22. Miracle23. Struggles in the Spotlight24. Easter SundayEpilogue: A LifeAfterword: Hodges and the HallAcknowledgmentsNotesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisThe first examination of the management of the American League and its consequences for the twentieth century. Trade Review"McCue demonstrates that he is not only a skilled researcher but also a skilled storyteller with a prosecutorial knack for building a case. The tale he weaves in Stumbling around the Bases adds a unique perspective on the history of Major League Baseball in the '60s and '70s."—David M. Pegram, NINE: A Journal of Baseball History and Culture"Those seeking an explanation of why the National Football League began to surpass baseball in national popularity during the 1960s need to look no further than Stumbling Around the Bases."—Jerald Podair, Journal of Sport History"When it comes to baseball research, author Andy McCue is in a league of his own. What an absolute joy it is to read McCue's latest book. . . . If you're a baseball junkie, this is a book for you."—Don Laible, Bradenton Times"McCue packs in a great deal of information and insight, armed with his customary attention to detail and deep research. MLB may seem like one big happy family now, but it was not too long ago that there was intense competition."—Bob D'Angelo, Sports Bookie"Readers who enjoy books on the business side of the game and its politics will enjoy this one immensely. . . . It will be hard to find another book that tells of the infamy of the American League brass in the 1960's and 1970's."—Lance Smith, Guy Who Reviews Sports Books“As integration and expansion pushed baseball into the modern era, it’s a wonder the bumbling American League owners could even open their gates. With comprehensive research and a clean, crisp style, Andy McCue chronicles all the behind-the-scenes stumbling and scheming that was just as fascinating as the play on the field.”—Tyler Kepner, New York Times national baseball columnist and author of K: A History of Baseball in Ten PitchesTable of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction 1. The Uncooperative Partners 2. Starting Down the Road to Eclipse 3. Demographics 4. The Boys Club - Eight Men in a Room 5. The First Expansion 6. New Blood, Bad blood – Ten Men at a Table 7. Changing the Guard 8. The Young Turks 9. The Luckiest City Since Hiroshima 10. The Nadir 11. The New Guard – 12 Men at a Table 12. Expansion 3 13. Comeback and Irrelevance Bibliography

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Book Synopsis2021 SABR Baseball Research Award 2021 Independent Publisher Book Awards, Silver Medal Winner Baseball has been called America's true melting pot, a game that unites us as a people. Issei Baseball is the story of the pioneers of Japanese American baseball, Harry Saisho, Ken Kitsuse, Tom Uyeda, Tozan Masko, Kiichi Suzuki, and othersyoung men who came to the United States to start a new life but found bigotry and discrimination. In 1905 they formed a baseball club in Los Angeles and began playing local amateur teams. Inspired by the Waseda University baseball team's 1905 visit to the West Coast, they became the first Japanese professional baseball club on either side of the Pacific and barnstormed across the American Midwest in 1906 and 1911. Tens of thousands came to see how the minions of the Mikado played the national pastime. As they played, the Japanese earned the respect of their opponents and fans, breaking down racial stereotypes. Baseball became a bridge between the two cultuTrade Review"Robert K. Fitts’s Issei Baseball meticulously tells the important story about the Japanese’s essential role in the history of baseball in a way that not only will inform its readers, but will also ensure that Issei’s story is never forgotten."—R. Zachary Sanzone, NINE: A Journal of Baseball History and Culture"If you’re a baseball fan missing our national game right now or just someone who wants to learn more about the Issei immigrants and the battles they fought to get the JA community where it is today, I highly recommend Issei Baseball."—Bruce Rutledge, North American Post"Robert Fitts has made another important contribution to Japanese American history and to the role of baseball in that story, as well as to the history of the United States."—Richard Crepeau, New York Journal of Books"Fitts provides a historical account that illustrates the work happening within the Japanese American community to organize, promote, and cover Issei baseball."—Katherine Walden, Western Historical Quarterly"Issei Baseball is an excellent history of a lesser-known saga involving Japan, America, and the pastime they shared."—Andrew Milner, Inside Game"While baseball has a long history in Japan, the sport has just as rich of a pedigree in Japanese American communities. Issei Baseball is an encyclopedic look into a game that brought pride to a wider group of people."—JQ Magazine"For anyone who loves baseball or Japanese culture or, preferably, both . . . this is a fantastic book that covers a less regarded aspect of the origins of the game in Japan."—Ryne Clos, Spectrum Culture“A book rich in detail, Robert K. Fitts’s Issei Baseball adds a valuable piece to the story of the Japanese people in America and is a noteworthy contribution to the legacy of the Issei and the game they loved.”—Samuel O. Regalado, author of Nikkei Baseball: Japanese American Players from Immigration and Internment to the Major Leagues“Long before Ichiro Suzuki and Shohei Ohtani, Japanese Issei were trying to prove they were the best immigrant baseball players in America. During the Jim Crow era of Major League Baseball, a handshake and a victory on the field were their just reward. Rob Fitts majestically re-creates the mood of the era and sheds light on a glorious period of this epic American odyssey.”—Kerry Yo Nakagawa, author, filmmaker, and historian “Rob Fitts is not only an esteemed baseball historian; he’s also one of the top writers in the game today. He excels at painting pictures with words and taking the reader on a journey back in time with his prose. Issei Baseball is an enjoyable read for true baseball fans.”—Bill Staples Jr., coauthor of Gentle Black Giants: A History of Negro Leaguers in JapanTable of ContentsList of Illustrations List of Tables Recurring Japanese Characters Introduction 1. Saisho the Dreamer 2. The National Pastime in Japan 3. The New World 4. Issei Baseball 5. Waseda Arrives 6. Waseda Tour Continues 7. Guy Green’s 1906 Japanese Base Ball Club 8. The 1906 Barnstorming Tour 9. The Mikado’s Japanese Base Ball Team 10. Nanka and the Japanese Base Ball Association 11. “Japanese Invasion” 12. Ballplayers and Diplomats 13. Barnstorming across America 14. End of a Dream 15. Japanese American Baseball Comes of Age 16. Incarceration Acknowledgments Appendix A: Schedules and Game Results Appendix B: Known Issei Baseball Clubs, 1904–10 Appendix C: Partial Rosters of Selected Issei Teams Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe 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. Summer Baseball Nation chronicles a season in America's summer collegiate baseball leagues. 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 stTrade Review"A charming book about a charming element of American life."—David M. Shribman, Wall Street Journal"This book is highly recommended to readers as an enjoyable and informative baseball history."—Anna R. Newton, NINE: A Journal of Baseball History and Culture"This is an informative examination of an overlooked form of grassroots baseball that, for some players, can be an important step to the major leagues."—Wes Lukowsky, Booklist"Reading this makes one realize that there is so much more to the game than just the big money and big statistics. This book is baseball at the grass roots and it is so much fun to read that it comes highly recommended for any baseball fan."—Guy Who Reviews Sports Books“Will Geoghegan’s beautifully written and richly detailed Summer Baseball Nation reminds one of why baseball—in its purest and most innocent form—is still the greatest of all sports.”—Erik Sherman, New York Times best-selling coauthor of After the Miracle: The Lasting Brotherhood of the ’69 Mets“If you’ve ever felt like pulling off the road to witness the last stop before WAR and OPS and WHIP stats overpower grassroots baseball, this is the book for you. Feel the breeze of a Cape Cod summer and the sound of wood bats hitting baseballs. Love this book.”—Marty Appel, New York Yankees historian and author of Pinstripe Empire and Casey StengelTable of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments 1. Cape Cod 2. Newport 3. Fairbanks 4. Santa Barbara 5. Cape Cod 6. Kenosha 7. Washington DC 8. Hampton 9. Cape Cod 10. Extra Innings

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Book SynopsisGrowing up in a tiny shack in the Dominican Republic, Felipe Alou never dreamed he would be the first man born and raised in his country to play and manage in Major League Baseballand also the first to play in the World Series. In this extraordinary autobiography, Alou tells of his real dream to become a doctor, and an improbable turn of events that led to the pro contract. Battling racism in the United States and political turmoil in his home country, Alou persevered, paving the way for his brothers and scores of other Dominicans, including his son Moisés. Alou played seventeen years in the Major Leagues, accumulating more than two thousand hits and two hundred home runs, and then managed for another fourteen yearsfour with the San Francisco Giants and ten with the Montreal Expos, where he became the winningest manager in franchise history. Alou's pioneering journey is embedded in the history of baseball, the Dominican Republic, and a remarkable family.Trade Review"A worthwhile journey into baseball's history and the rich story of one remarkable baseball man. All of us who know Alou are aware that his tale is remarkable. This book brings his story alive: his path from an impoverished upbringing to track star to baseball player to become the first major-league player from the Dominican Republic. . . . Alou is a precious part of the history of the Giants and the game."—Ann Killion, San Francisco Chronicle"Famed outfielder Alou, who made history in 1958 as the first person to go from the Dominican Republic to playing with a major league team, delivers a fascinating memoir of his baseball career. . . . This is a powerful memoir of a remarkable player who made a lasting impact on America's pastime."—Publishers Weekly"An engrossing book, with baseball as the background and the lessons from a remarkable life going well beyond the game."—Jorge L. Ortiz, USA Today"It's not surprising that his new book, Alou: My Baseball Journey, is just as much a life journey as it is about baseball. . . . I can’t think of anyone I respect in the game any more than Felipe Alou."—Barry M. Bloom, Forbes"In reading his memoir Alou: My Baseball Journey . . . two things become abundantly clear: Felipe Alou refuses to be silent or be silenced; and the Dominican remains steadfast in his commitment to the belief that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect—from immigrant newcomers and the poor to black and Latino baseball players, as well as those beyond the playing field."—Adrian Burgos, La Vida Baseball"In his extraordinary autobiography, co-written with sportswriter Peter Kerasotis, Alou tells of the political and personal turmoil he faced as he paved the way for future Dominican ball players."—Dominican Today“Sometimes the people who don’t crave attention are the ones who deserve it the most. That’s Felipe Alou. He is one of the best and most caring teammates I ever had. I learned from him what leadership is all about and what it means to be a man. I admired him greatly, first as a fan, then as a teammate, and now, most important, as a friend. Felipe has lived a Hall of Fame life, and in Alou you’ll learn why.”—Joe Torre “It’s an honor to have Felipe Alou as my friend and especially to have him in my career and in my life as a mentor. He blazed a trail for Latin Americans that few men could’ve accomplished, and he did it with class and character. His story, and what he overcame and achieved, will embarrass and enlighten, sadden and inspire, anger and uplift. Felipe Alou is one of the best ambassadors for baseball and an even better ambassador for the human race.”—Reggie Jackson “If Alou was only about Felipe Alou’s legendary baseball career as a player and manager it would be an important read, but it’s much more. Alou not only captures an extraordinary life; it delivers compelling insights into life’s realities. As the first to go from the Dominican Republic to Major League Baseball—both as a player and a manager—Felipe Alou opened the way for his brothers Matty and Jesús, his fellow countrymen, and for scores of other Latin Americans. If you don’t know much about Felipe Alou, this book will convince you that he is as special as anyone who has ever worn a Major League uniform. For those of us who know and admire him, reading Alou makes us appreciate that he is even greater than we imagined.”—Tony La Russa “Felipe Alou played with Willie Mays and managed Barry Bonds. He played a Major League Game in the same outfield with his two brothers, and then saw his son become a Major League star in his own right. He was the first Dominican born and raised to make it to the Major Leagues, opening the door for scores of others. Felipe Alou has a rich and vivid story to tell, and here it is.”—Bob Costas Table of ContentsForeword Introduction Part 1. 1935–1956 1. A Name 2. A Childhood Part 2. 1956–1957 3. Coming to America 4. Just Give Me a Chance 5. Moving Up Part 3. 1958–1963 6. The Rookie 7. Roberto Clemente 8. Beginning of the End 9. Dawn of a Decade 10. Dark Days 11. Death of a Dictator 12. The Road to the World Series 13. 1962 World Series 14. The Alous Said Hello; the Giants Said Goodbye Part 4. 1964–1970s 15. Brave New World 16. Settling In 17. Trouble at Home 18. Hitting the Sweet Spot 19. Family Matters 20. Winding Down Part 5. 1975–Today 21. The Transition 22. The Road Back 23. Big Time Again in the Big Leagues 24. A New Beginning 25. 1994 26. The Demise of the Expos and Me 27. It Ain’t Over till You’re Done 28. Managing Philosophy 29. You Can Go Home Again Epilogue Afterword Acknowledgments Chronology

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Book SynopsisHighlights the intersection between American society and America's pastime during the 1960s, when the hallmarks of the sport - fairness, competition, and mythology - came under scrutiny. One Nation Under Baseball brings to life the seminal figures of the era, portraying their roles during a decade of flux and uncertainty.Trade Review"One Nation Under Baseball . . . looks at how the turmoil of the 1960s sowed the seeds for today's game. A recurrent theme is ballplayers' fight for higher wages, and when the labor lawyer Marvin Miller was hired in 1966 to lead the players' union, it was all over but the court filing: The Curt Flood case taking on baseball's reserve clause would eventually lead to free agency. This excellent read also covers race relations and other social issues, as well as the decade's most memorable teams, players and events."—Daniel M. Gold, New York Times"Careful, pointed writing shows us that professional sports should not be viewed in isolation from the society in which they function."—Kirkus“One great story after another. Mickey Mantle. Muhammad Ali. Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale. Martin Luther King. The moon landing. Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please!”—Jim Bouton, author of Ball Four "A riveting account."—Allen Barra, Dallas News"A brilliant history, both of baseball and our nation."—Bob Mayberry, Spitball: The Literary Baseball Magazine"A compelling account of how many of the major cultural challenges and social upheavals during the 1960s interacted with Major League Baseball."—Joseph L. Price, ARETE“An important inside historical account of baseball’s awakening amid the social change in America in the ’60s. Florio and Shapiro cover it all in riveting and incisive fashion, from the press box to the baseball boardrooms, the clubhouse, and the courthouse.”—Bill Madden, Hall of Fame baseball writer "Florio and Shapiro have captured the essence of the decade offering some compelling stories of the events and people."—Richard Crepeau, New York Journal of Books"This well-researched and -referenced book is a very enjoyable read. Everybody who is interested in knowing and understanding the history of baseball and race relations in America must read it."—Washington Book ReviewTable of ContentsForeword A Note to the Reader Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Epilogue Acknowledgments Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA rich history of baseball’s hidden language told through stories and anecdotes about the game’s most recognizable names, revised and expanded through the 2018 season. Trade Review“A charming celebration of the role of cheating in our national game.”—David L. Ulin, Los Angeles Times “A pleasure. . . . Dickson writes extremely well and appreciates the nuances of baseball controversy. . . . This fine and original book should be in any literate fan’s library.”—Luke Salisbury, Boston Globe “If you absorb even a fraction of the information in his [Dickson’s] tales of baseball’s silent strategy and how teams have used it to win games through the decades, your next trip to the ballpark will be considerably richer.”—Business Week “Dickson’s impressively researched, well-written page-turner isn’t just for baseball fans. The anecdotes he recounts are fascinating, and the trivia is obscure enough that even a baseball fanatic will be enlightened.”—Washingtonian “Anyone who has ever played or coached youth baseball or paid close attention to the third-base coach at a big-league game will appreciate the author’s guided tour through the history of diamond sign language. Dickson is a fine storyteller, and his latest book is a welcome addition to the rich canon of baseball literature.”—Kevin Canfield, Booklist “A swell diversion, full of little stories such as Bill Veeck’s using telescopes to steal signs (and perhaps the pennant). We don’t think you get enough of that nowadays. Dickson traces the secret art from its humble beginnings during the Civil War (where they were an extension of battlefield signals) on up to last year's playoffs, when St. Louis snuffed out the Johnson/Schilling tandem, perhaps because of tipped pitches. While it doesn’t decode the cryptics on the field today, The Hidden Language of Baseball offers up a little dessert buffet of anecdotes that should keep the fathers of America feeling tender and warm in their easy chairs.”—Mudville Magazine: The Voice of Baseball“Hard-core fans will relish this lively and informative inside look at signs and sign stealing. It gives a history and discusses the myths of the signs.”—Sporting News “In this quick but sweeping examination, baseball historian Dickson explores the intricacies of baseball’s ‘hidden language,’ the rapid-fire signs that are delivered in a manner that can escape even well-tutored fans. . . . Belongs in all baseball collections.”—R.C. Cottrell, Library Journal “An old-fashioned whiz-bang. . . . Dickson’s most rewarding book yet.”—James H. Bready, Baltimore Sun “Dickson’s book contains enough inside information to dazzle even Tim McCarver and Al Leiter.”—Legal TimesTable of ContentsPreface to the Second Edition Prologue Introduction: Secrecy, Deception, and the National Pastime 1. From Signal Flags and Torches on the Battlefield to the Early Game 2. The Devious Devices of the Buzzer and Binocular Era 3. Psychological Warfare 4. The Magicians and Mimes of the Live Ball Era 5. A Golden Age for Cheaters, Stealers, and Scoreboard Spies 6. 1962—the Year of the Revisionist Finger-Pointers 7. Big Tippers 8. Epitaph for a Miracle 9. Devious Digital Devices—from the TV Camera to the Apple Watch Conclusion: How to Really Watch a Baseball Game Extra Innings: A Glossary of Signs, Signals, and Tip-Offs Acknowledgments Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisBaseball's Endangered Species is a comprehensive look at professional baseball scouting from the postwar era to the present day.Trade Review"Three cheers for SABR member Lowenfish. Even before opening this book, just by the volume's cover I knew it would be a comprehensive and enjoyable study of scouts."—SABR Southern New England Newsletter“Scouts are like the blues musicians of baseball, whose stories reveal the heart of the game. Lee Lowenfish has dug deeply to bring these tales back to life.”—Dusty Baker, manager of the Houston Astros“Shining through this book is a pure love of baseball—not only in the scouts’ devotion to finding talent but in the author’s ardent research and affectionate writing. The gift that Lee Lowenfish gives to his readers is really an act of homage to the game itself.”—Kevin Kerrane, author of Dollar Sign on the Muscle: The World of Baseball Scouting“From the Ferocious Gentleman, Branch Rickey, the greatest scout in baseball history, to the Four Corners Scout and his three oil changes every calendar year, who better than Lee Lowenfish to write about those who have always been at the heart of our game, unfailingly dedicated yet mostly unseen. Thanks to his passion for baseball and understanding of its history, Lee happily tells their stories.”—Joe Maddon, former Major League Baseball manager“Serious fans and students of the game will appreciate this account of the history and current fortunes of the art of scouting baseball talent. Well told by a deeply knowledgeable writer in a conversational style reminiscent of the late Roger Angell.”—Jean Hastings Ardell, coauthor of Making My Pitch: A Woman’s Baseball Odyssey“Lee Lowenfish has always been thorough and insightful in his writing, and his latest book is no exception. There may not be any scouts in the Hall of Fame—but being included in this book is an accolade for them as individuals and for their profession.”—Marty Appel, Yankees historian and author of Munson: The Life and Death of a Yankee Captain“A most informative and entertaining book. . . . Lowenfish tells the [stories of greater- and lesser-known scouts] with equal appreciation of what they mean to the game. His ability to detail the personal side of the scouts and the players they pursue—and why they pursue them—is a pleasure to read. It is a master class by a master author.”—Lyle Spatz, coauthor of 1921: The Yankees, the Giants, and the Battle for Baseball Supremacy in New York"This book is filed with great stories, great history, and so much more. Everyone who reads this book will learn things about the game that they never knew before."—Paul Semendinger, Start Spreading the News blogTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Prologue Part 1. The Cardinals-Yankees Rivalry That Dominates Baseball, 1919–1964 1. Charley Barrett and the Rise of Branch Rickey’s Farm System 2. Paul Krichell and the Rise of the Yankees’ Dynasties Part 2. Tales from Baseball Expansion Era 3. Red Murff Joins the Scouting Brotherhood with Mets and Expos 4. Art Stewart and the Rise of the Kansas City Royals Expansion Franchise Part 3. Two Veteran Scouts Bookend Three Baseball Monogamists 5. Gary Nickels’s Half Century of Scouting Adventures 6. Paul Snyder, the Braves’ Branch Rickey 7. Gene Bennett’s Love Affair with the Cincinnati Reds 8. Billy Blitzer Finally Wins His Chicago Cubs’ Ring 9. Bill Enos’s Roundabout Journey to Massachusetts Scouting Immortality Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisFinalist for the 2022 SABR Seymour Medal Grover Cleveland Alexander was one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, with 373 career victories during twenty seasons in the Major Leagues. Elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1938, the right-hander remains a compelling—and tragic—figure. “Pete” Alexander’s military service during World War I was the demarcation line between his great seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies and his years of struggle and turmoil with the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals after the Great War. Indeed, Alexander’s service during World War I has all but been forgotten, even though it dramatically changed his life—and his game. Alexander served in the 342nd Field Artillery Regiment, which included big leaguers and star athletes among its officers and men. Naturally, the regiment fielded an outstanding baseball team, but it also faced hard service during the final weeks ofTrade Review"Leeke's book is well worth reading for anyone seeking to learn about Alexander's war experience."—Dave Bohmer, NINE: A Journal of Baseball History and Culture"This is a fascinating book that delves into a consequential but often overlooked time in Alexander's life."—Dave Lande, Inside Game"Using letters written by Alexander and his army cohorts and other primary and secondary sources, Leeke does a deft job of taking us through the pre- and post-war lives and war careers of a handful of gifted athletes. It is a tale of patriotism, human limitations, and partial redemption told by a skilled storyteller."—Dave Page, Journal of America's Military Past"In drilling down on one group of field artillery and one star player who was part of it, the effort reads like a sequel to the author's From the Dugouts to the Trenches: Baseball during the Great War (2017), which takes a broader view of the relationship between the game and the conflict. Sports history and military history, of course, are different entities with different intents and strategies, but Leeke weaves them together seamlessly in this new effort, further contextualizing one of the game's great players and the meaning of World War I to those back home in Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri."—Thomas Aiello, Missouri Historical Review"Leeke's writing is straightforward and clear, and his narrative is entertaining. The Best Team Over There is a fine work of sports and military history."—Bob D’Angelo, Sports Bookie"Highly recommended to anyone interested in baseball and the Great War."—Peter L. Belmonte, Roads to the Great War“Jim Leeke hits it out of the park again with the tale of Grover Cleveland Alexander, a Great War ballplayer who tasted the highs of fame, lows of the trenches, and—tragically—just too much booze.”—Dean Karayanis, radio host of the History Author Show in New York City“Coming off his award-winning From the Dugouts to the Trenches, Jim Leeke follows up with the extraordinary story of the Great War, Grover Cleveland Alexander, and ballplayers who became artillerymen. It’s a perfect mix of military history and baseball that will completely absorb you.”—Jan Finkel, 2012 recipient of SABR’s Bob Davids Award“No one writes about the connections between baseball and World War I with more authority and accuracy than Jim Leeke. Now he places Grover Cleveland Alexander under his microscope, following Old Pete from call to service through training to the front lines of a horrific war. The result is a story that will swell you with pride and reduce you to tears.”—Rick Huhn, author of The Chalmers Race: Ty Cobb, Napoleon Lajoie, and the Controversial 1910 Batting Title That Became a National ObsessionTable of ContentsPrologue 1. Alexander the Great 2. Laddies from Missouri 3. Gridiron 4. Chicago 5. Fast Nine 6. Through a Door 7. Camp Funston 8. Camp Mills 9. Justicia 10. Camp de Souge 11. Pauillac 12. St. Mihiel 13. Euvezin 14. Armistice 15. The March 16. Occupied Germany 17. Safe at Home 18. Postwar 19. The Long, Long Trail Acknowledgments Appendix A: Selected Athletes of the 342nd Field Artillery Appendix B: Composition of the 164th Field Artillery Brigade Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisNamed a BestBaseball Book of 2020 by Sports Collectors Digest Bouton examines the remarkable life of a player and an author who forever changed the way we view not only sports books but professional sports as a whole.Trade Review“Once you start reading, you will not be able to stop. A compelling look at one of the most influential and controversial figures in baseball history. A new generation needs to know the story of Jim Bouton: a man who never wearied of gleefully and hilariously skewering the establishment but who also had the old-school drive to will his dreams into reality. Above all, a lifetime love of baseball shines through in every chapter—a true reflection of Bouton himself.”—Brian Kenny, host for MLB Network and author of Ahead of the Curve: Inside the Baseball Revolution"Baseball fans will laugh alongside and, ultimately, feel touched by this look at an iconoclastic, often quixotic man who, despite the charges that his landmark book had hurt the game, loved baseball to the very end."—Library Journal, starred review"An astute writer on the game, [Nathanson] is as at his best on the Bouton-Shecter collaboration—late nights at the Lion’s Head Bar in Greenwich Village; Shecter making sense of Bouton’s scrawls on stationery, envelopes and toilet paper; the pair noodling over the manuscript stripped down to their underwear in Shecter’s airless Chelsea apartment. . . . Nathanson is good, too, with Bouton wisecracks."—Maxwell Carter, Wall Street Journal"When Mitchell Nathanson, a professor of sports law at Villanova, approached Bouton about writing his biography, the pitcher gave his blessing, on one condition: that Nathanson write about him with the honesty he’d tried to bring to the game of baseball. . . . Nathanson moves crisply through the deep back story, though he knows a good detail when he sees one."—John Swansburg, New York Times Book Review"Nathanson goes beyond tracing Bouton’s life, focusing instead on explicating the roots of Ball Four. In so doing, the book becomes an inside-publishing exposé, showing how the publication and selling of Ball Four changed our expectations of what a sports book could be. . . . In addition, the book provides fascinating details about Bouton's post–Ball Four life, including his fling at acting and his turn as an entrepreneur, developing the successful bubble-gum product Big League Chew. A welcome look at one of baseball's signature mavericks."—Mark Levine, Booklist"Nathanson's chronicle of baseball's renowned counter-culture renegade as author of Ball Four in 1970 is a masterful exploration of Jim Bouton's impact not only to major-league baseball but also within the larger societal spheres of the overall sports industry and American culture in general."—Charlie Bevis, Bevis Baseball Research"Bouton: The Life of a Baseball Original is one of the best baseball biographies in recent memory. Nathanson is a fantastic storyteller, capable of juxtaposing Bouton's recollections with those of his contemporaries and situating these stories within their historical context. While researching the book, he spent a significant amount of time with Bouton in the final years of his life (Bouton died in 2019), which contributes to the depth with which he renders his subject."—Clayton Trutor, Reason"Bouton is a book that deserves space next to Ball Four on the bookshelf. Nathanson has done a thorough job of presenting the life of a complex man who changed the game of baseball, not by what he did on the field, but what he observed on the field, in the clubhouse and on the road."—Bob D'Angelo, Sports Bookie"A well-researched and fascinating read that tells how the free thinking Bouton always marched to the beat of his own drummer."—John Werner, Waco Tribune-Herald"Nathanson's source list is deep and insightful and his writing is crisp. And his access to Bouton's Ball Four notes provides answers to some lingering questions."—Dennis Star, Peoria Journal StarTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Prologue: Publication Day Part One: The Bulldog 1. Warm-up Bouton 2. Take a Hike, Son 3. Joliet 4. You Should Write a Book 5. A Long Way from Amarillo 6. Fucking Shecter 7. All ’Bout Bouton 8. A Threat, Not a Fine 9. The Bulldog and the Chipmunks 10. Rebel without a Fastball 11. The Youth of America Is for Kids 12. The End of the Line Part Two: The Author 13. Beginnings 14. From Tell-Some to Tell-All 15. Take Your Pants Off, Bouton 16. Fuck You, Shakespeare 17. Protectors of the Holy Flame 18. Against the Unwritten Rules of Baseball 19. Not Enough Sex 20. The Leni Riefenstahl of the National Football League 21. Taking It Personally 22. Bad Stuff ’bout the Mets Part Three: The Iconoclast 23. Not Selling Refrigerators 24. The Most Famous Vasectomy in New York 25. Are We Rolling? 26. One Smart-Ass and Four Lawyers 27. You’re a Long Time Dead 28. The Battered Bastard of Baseball 29. Gilligan’s Island in Baseball Suits 30. Too Old, Too Everything 31. Magic 32. Dreaming in Baseball 33. Mask of the Bulldog 34. Hey, New York—Bouton’s Back! 35. Lightning in a Pouch 36. The Solo Artist 37. Laurie 38. Existential Bad Faith 39. A Mile in Bowie’s Shoes 40. Cashing Out 41. The Butter-Yellow Box Epilogue: The Cool of the Evening Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisCobra is the autobiography of Dave Parker, one of baseball's greatest and most controversial players in the late 1970s and early 1980s, during the peak of Black participation in Major League Baseball.Trade Review"Cobra is one of the most gripping and revealing baseball memoirs I've ever read. With vivid stories, richly textured characters and unvarnished insights on the good and the bad, Dave Parker and Dave Jordan take the reader on a captivating journey through one of the most compelling careers in baseball history."—Tyler Kepner, New York Times“Dave Parker gets his due in Cobra. One of the greatest to ever play the game of baseball. We get to see what made the first Million Dollar Man. He is a giant among men, larger than life.”—Chuck D, founding member of Public Enemy“Dave Parker played hard and he lived hard. Cobra brings us on a unique, fantastic journey back to that time of bold, brash, and styling ballplayers. He reveals in relentless detail who he really was and, in so doing, who we all really were.”—Dave Winfield“Dave Parker’s autobiography takes us back to the time when ballplayers still smoked cigarettes, when stadiums were multiuse mammoth bowls, when AstroTurf wrecked knees with abandon, and when Blacks had their largest presence on the field in the game’s history. Honest, informative, funny, sad, even at times touching, Parker’s book fills a major void about what a great Black ballplayer’s life was like in the 1970s and 1980s. I highly recommend it.”—Gerald Early, professor of English and chair of the African and African American Studies Department at Washington University in St. Louis“Dave Parker made a lasting mark on the imagination of an entire generation of baseball fans, standing out with his unforgettable combination of swagger, style, and skill. Cobra is a memoir that’s truly worthy of his legend, filled with Parker’s insightful, hilarious, and long-overdue perspectives on the game he played, the era he played it in, and the guys he played it with. I’ve been waiting forty years to read this book, and let me tell you—it was well worth the wait.”—Dan Epstein, author of Big Hair and Plastic Grass“This is a book that transcends baseball. Dave Parker has finally told his story, and it resonates with the strength and soul that have always made him one of the most compelling, and complicated, figures in baseball history. Cobra is a triumph.”—Ricky Cobb (@Super70sSports)“While reading Cobra you will see a portrait of a man with amazing talent, a huge heart, and the will to be great. You will also see a man who seems to have it all but is still searching for peace of mind and love. There are highlights and low moments, excess and loss, brilliance and poor decisions, brotherhood and disagreements, joy and pain.”—Preston Wilson, former MLB All-Star outfielder“Impossibly charismatic, remarkably candid, and as cool as his nickname Cobra, Dave Parker is on the short list of the most compelling ballplayers of his generation. It’s fitting, then, that in his new and overdue memoir in collaboration with Dave Jordan, Parker tells his story in a way reminiscent of his pair of legendary throws in the 1979 All-Star Game: it’s mesmerizing, powerful, and right on the money.”—Chad Finn, sportswriter for the Boston Globe"This is a highly readable and, more importantly, well contextualized work. It provides a chronological recounting of Parker's life, but it also presents insight into what was happening in and around a major league clubhouse during the 1970s and into the next decade."—Jorge Iber, NINE: A Journal of Baseball History and Culture"Parker's voice is lively, and he has a keen eye for details that bring his teammates to life. Just below the surface of Parker's story is the racism he experienced as a Black baseball player. . . . A straightforward but no less engaging baseball autobiography from an underappreciated legend. A delight for baseball fans of all stripes."—Colin Chappell, Library JournalTable of ContentsPreface Prologue: Pittsburgh, September 11, 1985 1. My Beautiful Balloon 2. Buckeye Battle Cry 3. My Cherie Amour 4. Everybody Is a Star 5. Are You Experienced? 6. Gotta Get Over the Hump 7. Brother, Brother, Brother 8. Mr. Bojangles 9. Here I Am 10. Black Water 11. Higher Ground 12. Me and Baby Brother 13. The Sound of Philadelphia 14. Show Me the Way 15. Starchild Here!!! 16. Take Me to the Next Phase (Part 1) 17. Take Me to the Next Phase (Part 2) 18. The Ohio Players 19. One Nation under a Groove 20. Family 21. This Is Your Life 22. Fame 23. Funkytown 24. If You Ever Wondered 25. Trouble Man 26. You Dropped a Bomb on Me 27. The Time Has Come Today Epilogue: Everyday People Acknowledgments

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Book SynopsisPart baseball nostalgia and part road trip travelogue, The Wax Pack follows Brad Balukjian as he tracks down players from a single pack of baseball cards from 1986 that had remained sealed for almost thirty years.Trade Review“A wonderful journey that opens into an exploration of sports, nostalgia, American culture, and memory, The Wax Pack will surprise and engage you. It’s a delight to read and a tribute to the power of curiosity.”—Susan Orlean, author of The Orchid Thief and The Library Book“What if a pack of baseball cards could come to life? It sounds like a Spielberg movie plot, except it happened. It happened because Brad Balukjian made it happen, in real life, with the most eclectic cast of baseball characters ever assembled. And the result is one of the most fun, honest, funny, human, and uniquely creative baseball books of the year. I’ll admit it. I loved The Wax Pack!”—Jayson Stark, senior baseball writer for The Athletic “The Wax Pack is one of the most interesting and pleasing baseball-themed books I have read in quite some time. An original idea, brought to fruition with graceful prose, a sense of humor, empathy, and insight.”—Bob Costas"Baseball cards were a wonderful and memorable part of my childhood. Balukjian brought a random pack of cards to life. Such a unique way to tell a fascinating story."—Tim Kurkjian“Poignant and powerful. . . . Balukjian covers more than ten thousand miles to track down the stories of fourteen men from a single pack of 1986 Topps baseball cards, learning a lot about their lives—and his own. Hop in the backseat and join him for the journey.”—Tyler Kepner, national baseball writer for the New York Times and best-selling author of K: A History of Baseball in Ten Pitches“As pleasing as the pink slab of bubble gum that, long ago, came with baseball cards inside five cent packets, this slender volume gives fresh flavor to the familiar phrase ‘inside baseball.’”—George F. Will“What a weird, quirky, fun read. There have been 50,000 books written on Major League Baseball, but Brad Balukjian’s The Wax Pack is a uniquely romantic love letter to a game, a time period, and its random soldiers. Well done.”—Jeff Pearlman, author of Football for a Buck“The Wax Pack is the perfect synthesis of what makes baseball (and baseball cards) compelling, combining the thrill of discovery, the reassurance of shared memory, and poignant metaphors for life. Balukjian’s cross-country, cardboard-based bildungsroman reminds us that baseball’s best stories are sometimes told by and about players who’ve long since left the league.”—Ben Lindbergh, best-selling author of The MVP Machine and The Only Rule Is It Has to Work“Brad Balukjian’s book is for all those little kids with cardboard heroes who turned into big kids and started wondering, ‘Hey, what if there’s more to life than just the cardboard?’ Turns out, there is.”—Rob Neyer, author of Power Ball: Anatomy of a Modern Baseball Game“A journey of self-discovery by way of a pack of 1986 baseball cards. In Brad’s emotional quest, he not only finds answers but shares a snapshot of ballplayers who, like him, are trying to make it through life’s many twists and turns.”—Shane Rawley, former MLB pitcherTable of ContentsAuthor’s Note Prologue 1. Warming Up 2. Happy Meals 3. Yeager Bombs 4. Camp Templeton 5. Houston, We Have a Problem 6. Ready Is Ready 7. Carman’s Cradle 8. The Battery 9. Chasing Carlton 10. Leader of the Pack 11. Vincent van Gone 12. Is It September Yet? 13. Nobody Home 14. Gone Fishing 15. Catching Carlton 16. Captain Comeback 17. Straight Outta Compton Epilogue Acknowledgments Notes

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Book SynopsisKat D. Williams traces Isabel “Lefty” Alvarez’s life from her childhood in Cuba to her reinvention of herself as a professional American baseball player, illuminating the importance of sport as a source of stability in a life defined by challenges. Trade Review"The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) operated from 1943 through 1954, giving over six hundred female athletes the opportunity to play professional baseball. Isabel "Lefty" Alvarez was one of those women, and Marshall University Professor Kat D. Williams tells her remarkable story, revealing the courageous struggle Lefty overcame to make it in America."—Rob Sheinkopf, NINE: A Journal of Baseball History and Culture"A very good read. It is not only about a baseball player in the AAGPBL, but also about a young Latino woman who makes good in America."—Lance Smith, Guy Who Reviews Sports Books"One cannot help but root for the dark-haired, left-handed 15-year-old pitcher, who came to the United States with hardly any education and no command of the language. . . . Lefty Alvarez is truly in a league of her own."—Bob D'Angelo, Sports Bookie“The history of baseball in Cuba is well documented, with the exception of the island’s women who played the game. Kat Williams’s nuanced examination of how baseball informed, indeed transformed, the life and prospects of Isabel “Lefty” Alvarez fills that gap. Set against an ample background on Cuban political, social, and sports history, Williams demonstrates what a love for baseball can mean to a young woman.”—Jean Hastings Ardell, author of Breaking into Baseball: Women and the National PastimeTable of ContentsList of Illustrations Preface Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1. El Cerro Chapter 2. Refashioning Lefty Chapter 3. The Passion of the Island Chapter 4. Coming to America Chapter 5. Life after the League Chapter 6. A League of Her Own Epilogue Appendix I. Lefty Alvarez Baseball Statistics Appendix II. Women’s Baseball Time Line Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe biography of Masanori Murakami, the first Japanese player in the Major Leagues and a pioneering figure for future players from Asia.Trade Review“Fitts, coupled with Murakami’s voice and experiences, tells the proud tale of a young man who was whisked into the spotlight and became a shining example of the equality that could be reached between the Japanese and Americans on the baseball diamond. Reading Mashi brings us all a few steps closer to what it was like to be there on this landmark journey.”—San Francisco Examiner "This is a an excellent baseball story, a story of cultural adaptation and conflict, and above all the story of one man’s opportunity and the obstacles he overcame to make the most of that opportunity."—Duncan Jamieson, Journal of Sport Literature"Mashi is a nice look at a man and career that deserved to be more than footnotes in baseball history."—Bob D'Angelo, Tampa Tribune“Mashi Murakami’s impact can still be felt in baseball stadiums on both sides of the Pacific. He is a pioneer in every sense of the word—a true ambassador for the game of baseball.”—Allan H. “Bud” Selig, the ninth commissioner of baseball“Rob Fitts has fabulously transported us back to Mashi’s family roots, childhood passion for the grand game, and his trajectory to become the first Major Leaguer from Japan. It is a discovery and rediscovery of culture, baseball dynamics/politics, and the man who transcended the sport as a gigantic touchstone ‘pioneer’ for future players from Asia.”—Kerry Yo Nakagawa, author of Through a Diamond: 100 Years of Japanese American Baseball“Sometimes historical analysis can’t compete with a good personal story, as Robert K. Fitts—a baseball expert and former archaeologist—proves with his newest book, Mashi.”—Japan Times "Robert Fitts has written a book that needed writing."—Joel S. Franks, Journal of Sport History“Robert K. Fitts, an award-winning sportswriter with a good grasp of Japan’s baseball culture, clearly explicates the factors at play in this exotic baseball narrative—one that has become increasingly relevant as MLB extends its recruitment strategies internationally.”—Robert Birnbaum, Daily Beast "Mashi will take you along on his eventful ride from Yamanashi Prefecture to San Francisco."—Rashaad Jorden, JETwit.com"Robert Fitts has undertaken a great task with this book."—Gregg's Baseball BookcaseTable of Contents AcknowledgmentsChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 6Chapter 7Chapter 8Chapter 9Chapter 10Chapter 11Chapter 12Chapter 13Chapter 14Chapter 15Chapter 16Chapter 17Chapter 18AfterwordAppendixNote on Sources Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisIn the decade after the Civil War, baseball became segregated because its leaders wanted to grow its presence and appeal to Southerners and to professionalize the sport. As a result, Black players were excluded until 1947.Trade Review"A boon to scholars of both the early development of baseball and race relations after the Civil War."—Library Journal"When Baseball Went White is an intriguing, insightful, and provocative book that opens exciting possibilities for future researchers."—David Welky, Journal of Sport History"Lively and engaging."—Dain Tepoel, Sport in American History“Ryan Swanson's carefully researched and wonderfully nuanced study of baseball’s declining race relations during Reconstruction sheds considerable light on this oft-neglected topic. A must-read.”—Peter Morris, author of A Game of Inches and Level Playing Fields“Deeply researched and well written, Ryan A. Swanson’s When Baseball Went White carefully examines ‘the mechanics of segregation’ that racially cleansed organized baseball during Reconstruction and in the process helped the game become our ‘national pastime,’ at the expense of civil rights and racial justice. Swanson reveals, in fine detail, how a sport that would become a truly meaningful cultural practice and institution nevertheless became something less than it might have been.”—Daniel A. Nathan, president of the North American Society for Sport History and author of Saying It’s So: A Cultural History of the Black Sox ScandalTable of ContentsList of IllustrationsIntroductionProminent Players and ClubsPart 1. The War’s Over, 1865–671. Washington DC: A Game to Be Governed2. Richmond: Make It a Southern Game3. Philadelphia: Baseball’s BoomtownPart 2. Sorting Out New Divisions, 1867–694. Philadelphia: Setting Precedent5. Washington DC: Nationalizing Separation6. Richmond: Calibrating a ResponsePart 3. New Realities Entrenched, the 1870s7. Philadelphia: Permanent Solutions8. Richmond: The Final Tally9. Washington DC: Professional SeparationEpilogueAcknowledgmentsNotesBibliographyIndex

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Book Synopsis2022 SABR Baseball Research Award Finalist for the 2022 SABR Seymour Medal The careers of pitchers Jack Quinn and Howard Ehmke began in the Deadball Era and peaked in the 1920s. They were teammates for many years, with both the cellar-dwelling Boston Red Sox and later with the world champion Philadelphia Athletics, managed by Connie Mack. As far back as 1912, when he was just twenty-nine, Quinn was told he was too old to play and on the downward side of his career. Because of his determination, work ethic, outlook on life, and physical conditioning, however, he continued to excel. In his midthirties, then his late thirties, and even into his forties, he overcame the naysayers. At age forty-six he became the oldest pitcher to start a World Series game. When Quinn finally retired in 1933 at fifty, the “Methuselah of the Mound” owned numerous longevity records, some of which he holds to this day. Ehmke, meanwhile, battled arm trouble aTrade Review"As one would expect from authors as experienced and decorated as Spatz and Steinberg, Comeback Pitchers is a well-researched, well-documented, well-illustrated, and well-written account of the up-and-down baseball lives of two accomplished moundsmen, Howard Ehmke and Jack Quinn, whose careers spanned the last years of the Dead Ball Era and the first decade of the Lively Ball Era. Though largely forgotten today, Spatz and Steinberg seek to restore the reputations of Quinn and Ehmke by offering ample evidence of the character and talent which helped each earn the admiration of not only their baseball peers but also contemporary fans and press."—Frank G. Houdek, NINE: A Journal of Baseball History and Culture"A fascinating look at two pitchers who made their mark, particularly during the free-swinging 1920s. Spatz and Steinberg lift both pitchers out of the haze and obscurity and show them for what they were—very good pitchers in an era that focused on hitters."—Bob D'Angelo, Sports Bookie“I might read a book about Jack Quinn himself; I might read a book about Howard Ehmke alone. But a book about both men who beat million-to-one odds and set longstanding records? Written by our leading chroniclers of 1920s-era baseball? Sport, there’s just no might about it.”—Rob Neyer, baseball author and analyst“Steinberg and Spatz—meticulous researchers who spin a riveting yarn while getting their facts right—have pitched a perfect double-header with this dual biography of two of baseball’s least known but most fascinating characters. We will never again see the likes of John Picus Quinn and Howard Ehmke in the game.”—Norman L. Macht, author of the three-volume biography of Connie Mack“I had the good fortune of playing Major League Baseball and having my name attached to Jack Quinn. I became aware of Jack’s story in the latter part of my career when I broke his record of the oldest to start and win a Major League game. The more I learned about him, the more connected I felt. We were both continuously told what we couldn’t do. Jack’s impressive fortitude paved the way for me and others. Read this book about a great man and great pitcher.”—Jamie Moyer, oldest pitcher to win a Major League game, breaking Jack Quinn’s recordTable of ContentsList of Illustrations Foreword by Pat Williams Preface Acknowledgments Prologue 1. Jack Quinn, Man of Mystery 2. From Town Ball to the Big Leagues 3. “I’ve Never Seen a Greater Pitcher Anywhere!” 4. Quinn Gets Sent Down and Brought Back Up 5. Howard Ehmke Hailed as Another Walter Johnson 6. Ehmke’s Tumultuous Season Comes to an End 7. A Wasted Year for Howard Ehmke 8. Another Pitcher Joins the Outlaws 9. Breaking Records in Syracuse 10. “A Fellow to Be Reckoned With” 11. Ehmke and the Tigers Take a Step Backward 12. Quinn Goes to the Pacific Coast League 13. “The Dynamite That Finally Shattered Their Friendship” 14. Navy Service and a Return to Detroit 15. “The Greatest Comeback in Baseball” 16. “Not Content to Accept Fate’s Decree” 17. Yankees Win a Championship but Quinn’s Future in Doubt 18. “A Fellow of Gentle Soul” 19. Playing for Ty Cobb 20. Ehmke Endures a Season of Criticism 21. From the Pennant in New York to the Cellar in Boston 22. Veteran Aces on the League’s Worst Team 23. Ehmke and Cobb Get Physical, and the Red Sox Get New Owners 24. “The Toughest Break a Pitcher Ever Had” 25. A New Beginning for Boston 26. Back to Reality for the Red Sox 27. A Team Going Nowhere 28. From the Cellar in Boston to a Pennant Race in Philadelphia 29. Another Baseball Obituary for Quinn and a Near Tragedy for Ehmke 30. Quinn Gets Off to a Strong Start, Ehmke to a Poor One 31. Ehmke and Quinn Reunited 32. Ehmke Again a Teammate of Cobb 33. Favorites Fall Short, Far Short 34. Chasing the “Greatest Team Ever” 35. A Torrid Pennant Race 36. A Fast Start for the A’s 37. A Pennant for the A’s at Last 38. “The Pitcher Who Was Left Behind May Soon Be the Hero” 39. Ehmke Sets World Series Record in “Surprise” Start 40. “I Am Sorry to Have to Let Ehmke Go” 41. Defending Champions 42. A New League, a New Role 43. An Extraordinary Career Comes to an End 44. A Full and Happy Retirement 45. A Sad and Bitter End Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisHere is the life story of Horace Stoneham, who inherited the New York Giants Major League Baseball franchise in 1936 and owned and operated the organization until 1976. Trade Review"Steve Treder makes an important contribution to the field of baseball history with Forty Years a Giant. Readers will soak up the fascinating story of Horace Stoneham, who, at long last, receives the attention he so richly deserves."—Jason Cannon, NINE: A Journal of Baseball History and Culture“No one better understands the Giants of the mid-twentieth century than Steve Treder, so I knew this was a perfect pairing of author and subject. I was not disappointed. This is an absorbing look at one of baseball’s most fascinating teams.”—Mark Armour, author of Joe Cronin: A Life in Baseball“Masterful. . . . This richly contextualized book rescues Stoneham from the sidelines of New York City’s baseball world and places him alongside Walter O’Malley in the story of the sport’s success in California, where he belongs. It is a delight.”—Roberta Newman, author of Here’s the Pitch: The Amazing, True, New, and Improved Story of Baseball and Advertising“Horace Stoneham [was] a true baseball pioneer. . . . Giants fans especially will enjoy both Treder’s thorough narrative of the Stoneham years in New York and in San Francisco—the players, the games, the seasons—and his extensive and balanced portrait of the man most responsible for that history.”—Robert F. Garratt, author of Home Team: The Turbulent History of the San Francisco Giants“Horace Stoneham may be one of the most underappreciated baseball executives of the twentieth century. Thanks to Steve Treder we now have a book that recognizes his significance and reflects the Giants’ prominence in many of the fascinating and consequential moments of more than five decades of baseball history.”—Daniel R. Levitt, author of Ed Barrow: The Bulldog Who Built the Yankees’ First Dynasty“Sometimes you just don’t know what you were missing until you’ve got it. More than players, more than coaches, more than anyone else really, it’s always been the owners who determine the fates of baseball franchises. Which makes it all the more surprising that Steve Treder’s outstanding book is the first comprehensive biography of Horace Stoneham, who owned one of baseball’s titanic teams through forty years of revolutionary change.”—Rob Neyer, author of Casey Award–winning Power Ball: Anatomy of a Modern Baseball Game"Treder's biography of long-time New York/San Francisco Giants owner Horace Stoneham is a thorough exploration of his 40-year tenure in baseball ownership between 1936 and 1976."—Charlie Bevis, Bevis Baseball ResearchTable of ContentsIntroduction Prologue: Sunday, September 21, 1975 1. Horrie, I Bought You a Ball Club 2. Roaring into the Twenties 3. Hard Truths 4. Brooklyn Is Still in the League 5. War, Peace, and Nice Guys 6. We Knew Segregation Was Wrong 7. Horace Stoneham Has Finally Got a Winner 8. We Have No Chance to Survive Here 9. Open Your Golden Gate 10. It’s Bye-Bye Baby 11. No Cigar 12. Certainly the Move Will Hurt Us 13. Resilience 14. I Never Thought I Would Trade Willie 15. You Can’t Get Discouraged Epilogue Acknowledgments Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe biography of Oscar Charleston, a Negro Leagues legend and one of baseball's greatest and most unjustifiably overlooked players.Trade Review“A valuable and superb book.”—Joe Posnanski, The Athletic"In this thorough account, Beer has created a definitive work on Charleston's life and accomplishments. The result is a fascinating story and an important piece of sports history."—Gus Palas, Library Journal, starred review"In telling Oscar Charleston’s story, Jeremy Beer has done a remarkable job in finding sufficient evidence in the historical record—box scores, newspaper accounts, interviews, oral histories—to support his thesis that Charleston deserves to be recognized as one of the game’s greatest players. Thanks to Beer’s fine biography, Oscar Charleston will not be forgotten."—Thomas Wolf, NINE: A Journal of Baseball History and Culture"If Beer set out to write the authoritative biography of Oscar Charleston, he accomplished his goal seamlessly. The book is much more than a biography, it is an exhaustively researched tome about not only Oscar Charleston, but about the rise and fall of Negro Leagues baseball in the twentieth century."—Paul Langendorfer, Inside Game“Beer’s evenhanded narrative makes a convincing case for Charleston as the greatest baseball player who never played in the majors. This is a solid hit for baseball historians and fans alike.”—Publishers Weekly“[Jeremy Beer] has managed to construct a portrait of Charleston that clearly establishes him as a great baseball figure and a pioneer whose career paved the way for many who followed him. . . . An invaluable contribution to baseball history.”—Wes Lukowsky, Booklist "Oscar Charleston fills a void in baseball history, providing context and nuance to a great player who was enigmatic in life—and in death."—Bob D'Angelo, Sports Bookie blog"Interwoven with modern statistics calculated from the available box scores and other sources of information, one cannot help to wonder how Charleston would have fared in the major leagues had he been allowed to play. . . . Beer paints a picture of a man who should be considered one of the greatest players ever to pick up a bat and glove. Readers who want to get an informed introduction to Oscar Charleston should pick up this book."—Lance Smith, Guy Who Reviews Sports Books"I miss nothing like I miss baseball, and author Jeremy Beer has delivered a treasure to fill the hours between vintage games on the MLB Network."—Frank Murtaugh, Memphis Flyer"One of Beer’s most extraordinary accomplishments is giving a chronological narrative through the labyrinthine career of Charleston, from military ball in the Philippines, through a score of Negro League teams, winter ball dates in Palm Beach and in Cuba, and various barnstorming ventures, and then on into the managerial ranks and the grooming of younger stars—including Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson—up through to his final gig, managing an Indianapolis Clowns team that had just lost their young shortstop, Henry Aaron, to the big leagues. Beer manages to keep the narrative cogent, with Charleston’s achievements, captured through newspaper accounts and eyewitnesses, stirring the imagination at every turn."—Michael Stevens, Front Porch RepublicTable of ContentsPreface Introduction: Craftsman Chapter 1. Batboy, 1896–1912 Chapter 2. Hothead, 1912–1915 Chapter 3. Riser, 1916–1918 Chapter 4. Star, 1919–1922 Chapter 5. Manager, 1922–1926 Chapter 6. Leader, 1926–1931 Chapter 7. Champion, 1932–1938 Chapter 8. Scout, 1939–1947 Chapter 9. Legend, 1948– Epilogue Acknowledgments Appendix: Statistical Record Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisLefty and Tim explores the close-knit relationship between pitcher Steve Carlton and catcher Tim McCarver, forged in 1965, when they were batterymates with the St. Louis Cardinals, and culminating in 1980, when the Phillies won their first World Series title. Trade Review“Steve Carlton needed Tim McCarver to reach for the stars. In all my years covering baseball, I’ve never seen a pitcher-catcher relationship quite like theirs. McCarver did more than merely help Carlton rediscover his slider and recapture his greatness. He found a place inside Carlton’s circle of trust that reshaped both of their careers. Kashatus does a beautiful job of delving into what made their bond so special, on and off the field.”—Jayson Stark, baseball writer for the Athletic and the Philadelphia Inquirer, 1979–2000, and 2019 J. G. Taylor Spink Award winner“Bill Kashatus takes an inside look at a historic baseball brotherhood, revealing in riveting detail how Tim McCarver helped push a pitcher he claimed had an ‘irascible contempt for being human’ to superhuman heights no pitcher may ever reach again.”—Tyler Kepner, author of K: A History of Baseball in Ten Pitches“It was amazing to play behind Carlton and McCarver. Steve was a fast worker and Tim knew the hitters so well that the Phillies could count on winning every time they started a game. Lefty and Tim tells the story of that winning combination.”—Mike Schmidt, Phillies Hall of Fame third baseman, 1972–89“Steve Carlton was a special project for me when he came to the Phillies in 1972. He could be strong-willed and stubborn, and we had many battles. But he also became the best pitcher I ever coached. Lefty and Tim reveals how Carlton became a Hall of Famer. It is one of the best books I’ve ever read.”—Ray Rippelmeyer, Phillies pitching coach, 1970–78Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Foreword by Larry Christenson Acknowledgments Introduction 1. Always a Catcher 2. Odd Couple 3. Learning Curve 4. Moneyball 5. Reunited 6. Drinking Coffee with a Fork 7. Sphinx of the Schuylkill 8. McCarver’s Pitch 9. Lefty 10. Closer Than Sixty Feet, Six Inches 11. Mastery and Mystery 12. Cooperstown Bound Appendix A: Baseball’s Best Battery Appendix B: Steve Carlton’s Career Pitching Statistics Appendix C: Tim McCarver’s Career Batting Statistics Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA biography of Charles Webb Murphy, the ebullient and mercurial owner of the Chicago Cubs from 1905 through 1914.Trade Review"Besides writing a very readable book, Cannon has done the kind of research that a good biography requires."—James E. Overmyer, NINE: A Journal of Baseball History and Culture"Everything a great biography should be: impeccably researched, fair, eminently readable, and ultimately as satisfyingly instructive as having personally known the subject oneself."—Spitball Magazine"Charlie Murphy is an excellent addition to the existing body of work in book-length baseball biography. Cannon masterfully moves beyond his subject's on-field baseball achievements, often the singular focus of a baseball biography, by providing a well-balanced mix of Murphy's off-field contribution to the baseball industry, his cultural influence, and an exploration of his character."—Charlie Bevis, Journal of Sport History"This is a remarkable book full of baseball information for all fans to enjoy. The book is easy to read and should be on the bookshelf of every baseball fan, baseball historian and especially those with Chicago Cubs fandom."—Tom Knuppel, Knup Sports"As for the complete story of Murphy, from his beginnings to his ownership of the Cubs and the fractured relationships at the time of his ouster, Cannon does a very good job of bringing him to life to the reader and illustrating an accurate picture of the business side of the game at that time."—Lance Smith, Guy Who Reviews Sports Books“Over the first couple of decades of the twentieth century, Cubs owner and general manager Charles Murphy was as significant as any executive in baseball and one of its most interesting characters. Jason Cannon perceptively unwraps the man who oversaw Cubs championship seasons and was a principal actor in some of the era’s most notable controversies and boardroom battles.”—Daniel R. Levitt, coauthor of In Pursuit of Pennants: Baseball Operations from Deadball to “Moneyball”“Impeccably researched and masterfully written, Charlie Murphy tells the story of one of baseball’s most well-known, forgotten owners. Only after you’ve read it do you realize how much you didn’t know of Murphy and his impact on the game.”—Willie Steele, editor of NINE: A Journal of Baseball History and Culture“Part exuberant showman and part irreverent iconoclast, Charles W. Murphy eventually aroused the ire of players, fans, and even the baseball establishment with his controversial decisions, which eventually led to his undoing. Jason Cannon deftly uses hundreds of articles, documents, interviews, and other original sources to look past Murphy’s reputation as an egotistical blowhard and reassess both his personal life and professional career. In so doing, the author reveals a detailed narrative of the Progressive Era and a compelling, richly nuanced portrait of one of baseball’s most colorful characters.”—Jack Bales, author of Before They Were the CubsTable of ContentsContents Introduction: “He Was a Showman” 1. Wilmington 2. On to Cincinnati 3. “A Real Wonder-Story” 4. “He Is One of Us” 5. Champions 6. Supremacy Again 7. The War of 1908–9 8. A Pair of Presidents 9. The Final Pennant 10. “Murphy Alone Is My Enemy” 11. “All Is Fair in Love and War” 12. “The Malicious Mistake of Mr. Murphy” 13. Show Business 14. Narratives Epilogue Acknowledgments Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe tale of Jerry Reuss's twenty-two year career as a pitcher in the Major Leagues.Trade Review"Reuss is a gifted storyteller, and he ably communicates his love for the game in an easy, conversational style that makes for pleasurable reading. His book will appeal to any reader interested in 1970s and 1980s baseball, as well as many other fans."—Library Journal"As he did throughout a career that touched an amazing four decades (1969-1990), Reuss delivers plenty of strikes on the page."—John L. Smith, Las Vegas Review-Journal“In Bring In the Right-Hander! Jerry Reuss delivers a revealing and remarkable performance.”—Fred Claire, former Los Angeles Dodger executive vice president and general manager and author of Fred Claire: My 30 Years in Dodger Blue"If you've ever wondered about what goes on behind the scenes in major league baseball, particularly in the clubhouse, this is a must-read book."—Ron Cervenka, thinkbluela.com"Bring In the Right-Hander is a revealing look at Reuss's career, from his start with the Cardinals all the way through his final days as a Pirate."—Cardinal Conclave"If you are a fan of Reuss or any of the teams he played for, take the time to read this book."—Gregg's Baseball Bookcase“Jerry Reuss had one of the great deliveries in baseball. And he has pitched a strike again with an insightful look at a career that transcended the ‘Golden Era’ of the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s. I couldn’t put it down!”—Steve Garvey, 1974 National League Most Valuable Player and ten-time All-Star Table of ContentsPrologueAcknowledgments1. The Early Years2. Turning Pro3. Life in the Minor Leagues4. Twenty-Four Hours from Tulsa5. Meet Me in St. Louis6. Houston, I'm Comin' to See Ya7. Makin' My Way to the Steel City8. California, Here I Come!9. Life after the World Series . . . Big Laughs, Great Times, and Transitions10. Hits, Misses, and Whistle-StopsEpilogueNotes

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Book SynopsisPart baseball nostalgia and part road trip travelogue, The Wax Pack follows Brad Balukjian as he tracks down players from a single pack of baseball cards from 1986 that had remained sealed for almost thirty years. Trade Review“A wonderful journey that opens into an exploration of sports, nostalgia, American culture, and memory, The Wax Pack will surprise and engage you. It’s a delight to read and a tribute to the power of curiosity.”—Susan Orlean, author of The Orchid Thief and The Library Book“What if a pack of baseball cards could come to life? It sounds like a Spielberg movie plot, except it happened. It happened because Brad Balukjian made it happen, in real life, with the most eclectic cast of baseball characters ever assembled. And the result is one of the most fun, honest, funny, human, and uniquely creative baseball books of the year. I’ll admit it. I loved The Wax Pack!”—Jayson Stark, senior baseball writer for The Athletic “The Wax Pack is one of the most interesting and pleasing baseball-themed books I have read in quite some time. An original idea, brought to fruition with graceful prose, a sense of humor, empathy, and insight.”—Bob Costas"Baseball cards were a wonderful and memorable part of my childhood. Balukjian brought a random pack of cards to life. Such a unique way to tell a fascinating story."—Tim Kurkjian“Poignant and powerful. . . . Balukjian covers more than ten thousand miles to track down the stories of fourteen men from a single pack of 1986 Topps baseball cards, learning a lot about their lives—and his own. Hop in the backseat and join him for the journey.”—Tyler Kepner, national baseball writer for the New York Times and best-selling author of K: A History of Baseball in Ten Pitches“As pleasing as the pink slab of bubble gum that, long ago, came with baseball cards inside five cent packets, this slender volume gives fresh flavor to the familiar phrase ‘inside baseball.’”—George F. Will“What a weird, quirky, fun read. There have been 50,000 books written on Major League Baseball, but Brad Balukjian’s The Wax Pack is a uniquely romantic love letter to a game, a time period, and its random soldiers. Well done.”—Jeff Pearlman, author of Football for a Buck“The Wax Pack is the perfect synthesis of what makes baseball (and baseball cards) compelling, combining the thrill of discovery, the reassurance of shared memory, and poignant metaphors for life. Balukjian’s cross-country, cardboard-based bildungsroman reminds us that baseball’s best stories are sometimes told by and about players who’ve long since left the league.”—Ben Lindbergh, best-selling author of The MVP Machine and The Only Rule Is It Has to Work“Brad Balukjian’s book is for all those little kids with cardboard heroes who turned into big kids and started wondering, ‘Hey, what if there’s more to life than just the cardboard?’ Turns out, there is.”—Rob Neyer, author of Power Ball: Anatomy of a Modern Baseball Game“A journey of self-discovery by way of a pack of 1986 baseball cards. In Brad’s emotional quest, he not only finds answers but shares a snapshot of ballplayers who, like him, are trying to make it through life’s many twists and turns.”—Shane Rawley, former MLB pitcherTable of ContentsAuthor’s Note Prologue 1. Warming Up 2. Happy Meals 3. Yeager Bombs 4. Camp Templeton 5. Houston, We Have a Problem 6. Ready Is Ready 7. Carman’s Cradle 8. The Battery 9. Chasing Carlton 10. Leader of the Pack 11. Vincent van Gone 12. Is It September Yet? 13. Nobody Home 14. Gone Fishing 15. Catching Carlton 16. Captain Comeback 17. Straight Outta Compton Epilogue Acknowledgments Notes

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Book SynopsisNamed a Best Baseball Book of 2020 by Sports Collectors Digest Bouton examines the remarkable life of a player and an author who forever changed the way we view not only sports books but professional sports as a whole.Trade Review“Once you start reading, you will not be able to stop. A compelling look at one of the most influential and controversial figures in baseball history. A new generation needs to know the story of Jim Bouton: a man who never wearied of gleefully and hilariously skewering the establishment but who also had the old-school drive to will his dreams into reality. Above all, a lifetime love of baseball shines through in every chapter—a true reflection of Bouton himself.”—Brian Kenny, host for MLB Network and author of Ahead of the Curve: Inside the Baseball Revolution"Baseball fans will laugh alongside and, ultimately, feel touched by this look at an iconoclastic, often quixotic man who, despite the charges that his landmark book had hurt the game, loved baseball to the very end."—Library Journal, starred review"An astute writer on the game, [Nathanson] is as at his best on the Bouton-Shecter collaboration—late nights at the Lion’s Head Bar in Greenwich Village; Shecter making sense of Bouton’s scrawls on stationery, envelopes and toilet paper; the pair noodling over the manuscript stripped down to their underwear in Shecter’s airless Chelsea apartment. . . . Nathanson is good, too, with Bouton wisecracks."—Maxwell Carter, Wall Street Journal"When Mitchell Nathanson, a professor of sports law at Villanova, approached Bouton about writing his biography, the pitcher gave his blessing, on one condition: that Nathanson write about him with the honesty he’d tried to bring to the game of baseball. . . . Nathanson moves crisply through the deep back story, though he knows a good detail when he sees one."—John Swansburg, New York Times Book Review"Nathanson goes beyond tracing Bouton’s life, focusing instead on explicating the roots of Ball Four. In so doing, the book becomes an inside-publishing exposé, showing how the publication and selling of Ball Four changed our expectations of what a sports book could be. . . . In addition, the book provides fascinating details about Bouton's post–Ball Four life, including his fling at acting and his turn as an entrepreneur, developing the successful bubble-gum product Big League Chew. A welcome look at one of baseball's signature mavericks."—Mark Levine, Booklist"Nathanson's chronicle of baseball's renowned counter-culture renegade as author of Ball Four in 1970 is a masterful exploration of Jim Bouton's impact not only to major-league baseball but also within the larger societal spheres of the overall sports industry and American culture in general."—Charlie Bevis, Bevis Baseball Research"Bouton: The Life of a Baseball Original is one of the best baseball biographies in recent memory. Nathanson is a fantastic storyteller, capable of juxtaposing Bouton's recollections with those of his contemporaries and situating these stories within their historical context. While researching the book, he spent a significant amount of time with Bouton in the final years of his life (Bouton died in 2019), which contributes to the depth with which he renders his subject."—Clayton Trutor, Reason"Bouton is a book that deserves space next to Ball Four on the bookshelf. Nathanson has done a thorough job of presenting the life of a complex man who changed the game of baseball, not by what he did on the field, but what he observed on the field, in the clubhouse and on the road."—Bob D'Angelo, Sports Bookie"A well-researched and fascinating read that tells how the free thinking Bouton always marched to the beat of his own drummer."—John Werner, Waco Tribune-Herald"Nathanson's source list is deep and insightful and his writing is crisp. And his access to Bouton's Ball Four notes provides answers to some lingering questions."—Dennis Star, Peoria Journal StarTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Prologue: Publication Day Part One: The Bulldog 1. Warm-up Bouton 2. Take a Hike, Son 3. Joliet 4. You Should Write a Book 5. A Long Way from Amarillo 6. Fucking Shecter 7. All ’Bout Bouton 8. A Threat, Not a Fine 9. The Bulldog and the Chipmunks 10. Rebel without a Fastball 11. The Youth of America Is for Kids 12. The End of the Line Part Two: The Author 13. Beginnings 14. From Tell-Some to Tell-All 15. Take Your Pants Off, Bouton 16. Fuck You, Shakespeare 17. Protectors of the Holy Flame 18. Against the Unwritten Rules of Baseball 19. Not Enough Sex 20. The Leni Riefenstahl of the National Football League 21. Taking It Personally 22. Bad Stuff ’bout the Mets Part Three: The Iconoclast 23. Not Selling Refrigerators 24. The Most Famous Vasectomy in New York 25. Are We Rolling? 26. One Smart-Ass and Four Lawyers 27. You’re a Long Time Dead 28. The Battered Bastard of Baseball 29. Gilligan’s Island in Baseball Suits 30. Too Old, Too Everything 31. Magic 32. Dreaming in Baseball 33. Mask of the Bulldog 34. Hey, New York—Bouton’s Back! 35. Lightning in a Pouch 36. The Solo Artist 37. Laurie 38. Existential Bad Faith 39. A Mile in Bowie’s Shoes 40. Cashing Out 41. The Butter-Yellow Box Epilogue: The Cool of the Evening Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisNamed a Best Baseball Book of 2023 by Sports Collectors Digest It’s 1984. Minor League Baseball mogul Larry Schmittou needs a new home for his Southern League Nashville Sounds franchise. Walt Jocketty, an Oakland A’s executive, searches for a new town for his Double-A club. Fate brings them together in Huntsville, Alabama, a city in need of an outlet to unite its residents. Thus the Huntsville Stars are born. One Season in Rocket City brings to life the baseball renaissance that shook up Huntsville, a city many doubted would support professional baseball. Named after Huntsville’s celebrated space industry, the Stars electrified the town with baseball fever to become one of the biggest attractions in Minor League Baseball that first season. Composed of Oakland’s top prospects, who later fueled the A’s championship run in the late 1980s, the Stars were the hottest ticket in town. Visiting teams called Huntsville the &ldqTrade Review"If you thought that below the Mason-Dixon line, the only sport Southerners would line up to see was football, think again."—SABR Southern New England Newsletter"A most decidedly worthwhile read for anyone interested in how the 1990s A's became the team they were—and in how the minor leagues figure into the general landscape of American baseball."—Deb Seymour, ballnine.com“An engaging and colorful moment, unique in Minor League Baseball history. Dale Tafoya recounts how larger-than-life characters and future big-league stars from the A’s system descended on Huntsville, bringing that city a dream season in the club’s inaugural year. This is a story that will inspire any baseball fan.”—Billy Beane, senior advisor to the managing partner for the Oakland Athletics“I love Minor League Baseball: it is filled with fun, magic, and untold stories. Dale Tafoya provides a fascinating look at a famous Minor League team, the Huntsville Stars, an Oakland A’s affiliate that won the Southern League championship in its inaugural season. It is clever, cool, and captivating; I learned something on every page. All A’s for Dale.’’—Tim Kurkjian, writer and analyst for ESPN“A wonderful look back on a very special team that tells the story of the players, life in the Minor Leagues, and an amazing era of baseball that is slowly fading away. Those Stars were a tough team filled with future Major Leaguers. I know firsthand, as my Charlotte team played them in a most memorable Southern League championship game. Dale Tafoya expertly captures the essence of that place and time, and if you love baseball, this book is a must-read.”—John Hart, former MLB executive and MLB Network analystTable of ContentsForeword by Sandy Alderson Prologue: Musical Chairs 1. Music City’s Field of Dreams 2. The Phenom 3. Albany Takeover 4. Rocket City 5. New Kids on the Block 6. Huntsville Stars 7. The Huntsville Kid 8. Falling Stars 9. Huntsville Lumber 10. Southern Comfort 11. Boys of Summer 12. Champions Epilogue: Season for the Ages In Memory Acknowledgments Notes on Research and Sources Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA three-time World Series winner and an early inductee into the Hall of Fame, lauded by Babe Ruth as the finest defensive outfielder he ever saw and described as perfection on the field by the great Grantland Rice, Tris Speaker enjoys the peculiar distinction of being one of the least-known legends of baseball history. Tris Speaker: The Rough-and-Tumble Life of a Baseball Legend is the first book to tell the full story of Speaker's turbulent life and to document in sharp detail the grit and glory of his pivotal role in baseball's dead-ball era.Playing for the Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians in the early part of the twentieth century, Tris Spoke Speaker put up numbers that amaze us even today: his record for career doubles792may never be approached, let alone broken. Tris Speaker explores the colorful life behind the statistics, introducing readers to a complex and contradictory Texan whose cowboy mentality never left him as he brawled his way through two decades in the big leaTrade Review“Gay, who spent four years researching Speaker’s life, has crafted a rugged, no-holds-barred look at a player who encompassed all the complex magic of early twentieth century baseball. Speaker’s story exemplifies why baseball holds such an important place in the American imagination. It is our story—a story of sin and expiation, of loyalty and love, of courage and dignity. This should be required reading for any serious baseball fan.”—Sport Literature Association“There are many passages where Gay captures the spirit of the Gray Eagle as he describes a moment of Speaker in action. These are effective because they are done selectively; this book is anything but prone to monotonous game by game summaries.”—The Inside Game“[A] richly detailed biography, the first on Speaker to succeed in situating him within an epoch of great promise and of great shame. . . . The ultimate value of this biography resides in its portrayal of personal redemption. . . . This warts-and-all account is true to a rugged individualist and offers insights to a general public often dismayed by the lack of values found in the sports world.”—Library Journal“Carefully researched and documented, engagingly written, and very illuminating. . . . Gay has filled a serious gap in baseball history and his effort compares favorably with Charles Alexander’s acclaimed biographies of John McGraw and Ty Cobb.”—Booklist“Tristam ‘Spoke’ Speaker sits, statistically, alongside baseball’s greatest sluggers and fielders, but his story and name have largely been forgotten. . . . Gay has insured the righting of history with this biography. A worthwhile read for any sports fan.”—Publishers Weekly“An eye-opening look at baseball’s now seemingly prehistoric ‘dead ball’ era, which also was rife with gambling scandals, grudges, amoral team owners and spring training in Hot Springs, Ark., where training regimens included mandatory hikes through the woods.”—Ed Bark, Dallas Morning News“Fans of the Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians will likely enjoy this book. . . . Timothy Gay’s thoughtful biography lays bare the ugly fact that many players were often involved in sketchy gambling arrangements. . . . Speaker is now largely forgotten, and this well-told story bridges the gap between baseball before World War I and its more modern form.”—Mark E. Hayes, The Miami Herald“Timothy Gay has accomplished something special with this book, recovering a great player and a hallowed time from the deep well of nostalgia and bringing them back to life, not as we wished them to be, but as they really were.”—David Maraniss, author of When Pride Still Mattered: The Life of Vince Lombardi“Tris Speaker was the prototype for Willie Mays as the best center fielder and most complete ballplayer of the dead ball era. He was also a complex and cerebral figure who straddled two centuries while growing up on horseback in Texas and helping establish the cult of the American sports superstar. Timothy Gay has crafted an enjoyable and important book about one of the most dominant yet underrated players in baseball history.”—Richard A. Johnson, coauthor, Red Sox Century and The Dodgers: 120 Years of Dodger Baseball“Tim Gay has written a terrific book about a fascinating ball player—a .344+ lifetime hitter who still holds the major league record for unassisted double plays by a centerfielder. Every sports fan ought to read it.”—David Owen, author of My Usual GameTable of ContentsList of Illustrations Introduction 1. October 1912 2. Texas Frontier Child 3. Texas Leaguer 4. Boston, 1908 5. Early Years in Boston 6. Championship Season 7. Last Years in Boston 8. Early Years in Cleveland 9.World Champion Manager 10. Scandal 11. Banished Hero 12. Twilight Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisMark Halfon looks at life in the Major Leagues in the early 1900s, when the game was defined by low scoring and an emphasis on pitching and defense, and when players like Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, and Walter Johnson. For almost two decades, this era produced some of the best players who ever played the game.Trade Review"Halfon transports his readers back to that time, giving them an inside look at the minds of the baseball legends of that day. Tales From The Deadball Era is highly recommended for baseball history buffs."—The Writer's Journey"For anyone interested in baseball's past, Halfon's Tales from the Deadball Era provides an introduction not only to the sport itself but to American culture as well."—Matthew Teutsch, ARETE"If you're looking for a fun summer read I highly recommend Halfon's Tales From the Deadball Era."—Mike Lynch, Seamheads"Most fans will enjoy reading this book and spending the time traveling back to these decades long ago."—Gregg Kersey, Gregg's Baseball Bookcase“Tales from the Deadball Era etches early twentieth-century baseball far different from today’s. Fixed games, patrons on the diamond, and players belting hecklers were all in a day’s work. So, too, were cash and flowers given regulars, ‘joke’ and charity games, and a batter willingly getting hit—anything for a run. In this delightful book about Ty Cobb’s and John McGraw’s era, Mark Halfon recalls an age when baseball has seldom been more alive.”—Curt Smith, author of Pull Up a Chair: The Vin Scully Story“It strikes baseball enthusiasts today that a homer or strikeout approach to tallying runs prevails. Not during the Deadball Era. Mark Halfon shows us—with a historian’s eye and unfailing love of the game—how [the scarcity of baseballs in pre-1920] was the mother of invention.”—Ken Shouler, author of The Real 100 Best Players of All Time and Why“Mark Halfon captures a raucous era in baseball history, when the sport was characterized by cheating, gambling, and violence—on the part of both players and their fans—and he recounts intriguing tales of baseball’s mythical figures.”—Ronna S. Feit, PhD, State University of New YorkTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction Part 1: Deadball Era Highlights1. Big League Cheating2. Baseball at the Turn of the Century3. A Pitchers’ Paradise4. Inside Baseball5. Rowdyism Part 2: Deadball Era Standouts6. Little Napoleon7. The Georgia Peach8. The Big Train9. A Game for the Ages Part 3: Beyond the Deadball Era10. Baseball at the Crossroads11. The Black Sox Scandals12. The Black Sox Myth Postscript Photo galleryNotesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisLeo Durocher offers fascinating and fresh insights into the racial integration of baseball, Durocher’s unprecedented suspension from the game, the two clubhouse revolts staged against him in Brooklyn and Chicago, and his vibrant life off the field.Trade Review“An unflinching portrait of a brilliant bastard. Mr. Dickson gives the devil his due and leaves no doubt why so many people could respect Durocher’s baseball genius and still hate his guts.”—Wall Street Journal“[Paul Dickson] does a great job of capturing the two sides of Durocher, the brilliant manager and the man who hung out with Frank Sinatra and liked to gamble. It’s an excellent book and the chapters focusing on Durocher’s handling of Jackie Robinson and his overall tenure with the Dodgers are must-read for Dodgers fans.”—Los Angeles Times“The book is worth reading twice just to see what you may have missed the first time. . . . Enjoy it and be grateful we have Paul [Dickson] among us.”—Tom Hoffarth, Los Angeles Daily News“An entertaining book about a truly unique character.”—Chicago Tribune“The biography by a veteran sportswriter makes a case for the cocky and combative star shortstop and legendary manager as both charming and insufferable, which sounds about right for the guy who both championed Jackie Robinson’s arrival in Brooklyn and insulted him as fat and slow.”—Bill Littlefield, Boston Globe“[A] well researched, smoothly written biography of a complex man.”—Kirkus Reviews“Paul Dickson, baseball historian and biographer[,] packs Durocher’s story with enough great stories and colorful anecdotes to fill ten normal books.”—Dallas Morning News“[A] well researched, page-turning book.”—Bob D’Angelo, Books and Blogs“Dickson takes one mighty biographical swing at Leo Durocher, a colorful baseball player and manager. Durocher was a loudmouthed brawler, ladies’ man, fine coach, and coiner of the expression: ‘nice guys finish last.’”—Dayton Daily News“The racial integration of the game, which Durocher long advocated, is the book’s crucial secondary story, and it is deftly handled.”—BooklistTable of Contents1. Pregame 2. Enfant Terrible 3. Damned Yankee 4. The Red Menace 5. Gashouse Tough 6. The Artful Dodger 7. Mutiny in Flatbush 8. Game Changer 9. Exiled 10. Over the River 11. Miracle Man 12. Hollywood Dodger 13. The Contentious Cub 14. Endgame 15. The Rocky Road to Cooperstown Acknowledgments Bibliography Notes Index

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Book SynopsisIn Mallparks, Michael T. Friedman observes that as cathedrals represented power relations in medieval towns and skyscrapers epitomized those within industrial cities, sports stadiums exemplify urban American consumption at the turn of the twenty-first century. Grounded in Henri Lefebvre and George Ritzer''s spatial theories in their analyses of consumption spaces, Mallparks examines how the designers of this generation of baseball stadiums follow the principles of theme park and shopping mall design to create highly effective and efficient consumption sites. In his exploration of these contemporary cathedrals of sport and consumption, Friedman discusses the history of stadium design, the amenities and aesthetics of stadium spaces, and the intentions and conceptions of architects, team officials, and civic leaders. He grounds his analysis in case studies of Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore; Fenway Park in Boston; Dodger Stadium in LosTrade ReviewFriedman (Univ. of Maryland, College Park) offers a valuable analysis of the relationship between major league baseball parks and spectators over the past 110 years, focusing on the "mallparks" that emerged in the late 20th century. * Choice *Table of ContentsCathedrals OF Consumption 1. Leading Off 2. Producing Consumption Space The Spatial Practices of Baseball Stadiums 3. Grounds, Ballparks, and Superstadiums 4. The Spatial Practices of the Mallpark Conceiving Mallparks 5. Camden Yards: Forever Changing Baseball 6. Fenway Park and Dodger Stadium: The Camdenization of a Ballpark and a Superstadium 7. Nationals Park: A Mallpark of Magnificent Intentions 8. Target Field: Different in the Same Way The Future of Baseball Stadium Design 9. Truist Park: Supercharging the Mallpark 10. Making Baseball Great Again

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Book SynopsisIf not for the botched Bay of Pigs invasion, Minnesota might never have known one of its most popular baseball players, Twins three-time batting champion and eight-time All-Star Tony Oliva. In April 1961, the twenty-two-year-old Cuban prospect failed to impress the Twins in a tryout, but the sudden rupture in U.S.–Cuba relations made a return visa all but impossible. The story of how Oliva’s unexpected stay led to a second chance and success with the Twins—as well as decades of personal and cultural isolation—is told for the first time in this full-scale biography of the man the fans affectionately call “Tony O.”With unprecedented access to the very private Oliva, baseball writer Thom Henninger captures what life was like for the Cuban newcomer as he adjusted to major league play and American culture—and at the same time managed to earn Rookie of the Year honors and win the American League batting title in his first two seasons, all while playing with a knuckle injury. Packed with never-before-published photographs, the book follows Oliva through the 1965 season, all the way to the World Series, and then, with repaired knuckle and knee, into one of the most dramatic pennant races in baseball history in 1967. Through the voices of Oliva, his family, and his teammates—including the Cuban players who shared his cultural challenges and the future Hall of Famers he mentored, Rod Carew and Kirby Puckett—the personal and professional highs and lows of the years come alive: the Gold Glove Award in 1966, a third batting title in 1971, the devastating injury that curtailed his career, and, through it all, the struggle to build a family and recover the large and close-knit one he had left behind in Cuba. Nearly forty years after Oliva’s retirement, the debate continues over whether his injury-shortened career was Hall of Fame caliber—a question that gets a measured and resounding answer here. Trade Review"Thom Henninger did a marvelous job telling Tony’s story. It will remind readers what a special person he is and how he had to deal with so much adversity to find his way to the major leagues. I am so proud to have been his teammate and be his friend. All of us who played with Tony know he is a Hall of Famer and was the best hitter of his era."—Jim Kaat"The value of this book resides in the portrait Henninger paints of the man himself: a ceaselessly positive and selfless person who adapted admirably to his adopted country while never forgetting the needs of family members left behind in Castro-ravaged Cuba."—Spitball Magazine"An entertaining read."—Sports Book Guy"This is a story that was worth telling and one that is in many ways well told."—Sport Literature Association"Henninger nicely summarizes the crucial moments without getting bogged down in baseball-book minutiae."—SB Nation"Tony Oliva: The Life and Times of a Minnesota Twins Legend is an enjoyable book, one that Twins fans and baseball history fans will relish."—The Writer’s JourneyTable of ContentsContentsForeword Patrick ReussePreface1. Young Pedro 2. Life after Cuba Closes3. The Minor Leagues4. A Fast Start to a Big League Career5. Injured Rookie Wins Unprecedented Batting Crown6. Oliva Leads Pennant Push7. Life’s Highs and Lows8. The Great Pennant Race of 19679. Marriage and Family in the Year of the Pitcher10. Baseball’s Summer of Change11. Twins Repeat with a New Bill in Charge12. Family Reunions and the Career-Changing Knee Injury13. The Extremes of 197214. The Final Years as a Player15. Tony O: The ManEpilogue: The Hall of Fame QuestionAcknowledgmentsIndex

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Book SynopsisThe story of the astounding Whiz Kids told by Hall-of-Famer Robin RobertsTrade Review"The Whiz Kids' accomplishment is one of those that endures, and this book tells their story well. It is, in fact, a three-base hit: one part Roberts' recollections, one part reminiscences by his teammates and others, and one part Rogers' narrative. Together they create a very pleasing whole." --Steve Gietschier, The Sporting News "Roberts and Rogers have turned what might have been just a dull diary into a fascinating account...It is Roberts who tells the Whiz Kids' story here, aided by Rogers' exhaustive research. The pitcher's detailed recall of people and games provides an insider's view, and Rogers' interviews of all the available personnel add immesurably to the story." --Allen Lewis, The Philadelphia Inquirer "Reading Roberts' and Rogers' book was a pure delight for me. It was like finding an album of long-forgotten letters and photographs in a dusty attic and being transported backward in time to a stage of my youth when all things seemed possible and men-children in red pinstripes were truly larger than life." --Tom Kelly, Sun-Sentinel "When your read the [Whiz Kids'] book, you could be sitting in the dugout next to the great right-hander, just swapping stories...so if you're one of those who get sort of a glazed look when they hear names like Rich Ashburn, Ralph "Putsy" Caballero, Emory "Bubba" Church, Granville "Granny" Hamner, and Willie "Puddinhead" Jones, then pick up The Whiz Kids and follow them through the season to the 1950 pennant and a matchup against the Yankees." --Steve Otto, Tampa Tribune "Paul Rogers' exhaustive research and the storehouse of memories shared by Robin Roberts and his teammates preserve this Cinderella story to be savored by all Phillies fans." --Dallas Morning NewsTable of ContentsA Special Tribute by James A. Michener Foreword by Pat Williams Introduction 1. The Whiz Kids Win a Pennant 2. A Dismal Team History 3. The Carpenters Take Over 4. 1947: Jackie Robinson, Treading Water, and Building for the Future 5. Cy and Me 6. Phenoms, the Hat, and the Babe Ruth of Cuba 7. Professor Sawyer Assumes Control 8. Near Tragedy 9. The First Division 10. Spring Training 1950: The Whiz Kids Give Notice 11. A Tense Pennant Race 12. August: The Whiz Kids Take Command 13. September Adversity 14. The Final Weekend Epilogue: The World Series and Beyond Appendix A: What Happened to the Whiz Kids Appendix B: Box Score of Pennant-Winning Game, October 1, 1950 Appendix C: Individual Statistics for the 1950 Phillies Appendix D: The 1950 national League Race Month by Month Appendix E: Game-by-Game Summary of the 1950 Phillies' Season Afterword Select Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisProfessional baseball players have always been well paid. In 1869, Harry Wright paid his Cincinnati Red Stockings about seven times what an average working-man earned. Today, on average, players earn more than fifty times the average worker's salary. In fact, on December 12, 1998, pitcher Kevin Brown agreed to a seven-year, $105,000,000 contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the first nine-figure contract in baseball history. Brown will be earning over $400,000 per game; more than 17,000 fans have to show up at Dodger Stadium every night just to pay his salary. Why are baseball players paid so much money? In this insightful book, legal scholar and salary arbitrator Roger Abrams tells the story of how a few thousand very talented young men obtain their extraordinary riches. Juggling personal experience and business economics, game theory and baseball history, he explains how agents negotiate compensation, how salary arbitration works, and how the free agency \u0022auction\u0022 operates. In addition, he looks at the context in which these systems operate: the players' collective bargaining agreement, the distribution of quality players among the clubs, even the costs of other forms of entertainment with which baseball competes. Throughout, Dean Abrams illustrates his explanations with stories and quotations -- even an occasional statistic, though following the dictum of star pitcher, club owner, and sporting goods tycoon Albert Spalding, he has kept the book as free of these as possible. He explains supply and demand by the cost of a bar of soap for Christy Mathewson's shower. He illustrates salary negotiation with an imaginary case based on Roy Hobbs, star of The National. He leads the reader through the breath-taking successes of agent Scott Boras to explain the intricacies of free agent negotiating. Although studies have shown that increases in admissions prices precede rather than follow the rise in player salaries, fans are understandably bemused by skyrocketing salaries. Dean Abrams does not shy away from the question of whether it is \u0022fair\u0022 for an athlete to earn more than $10,000,000 a year. He looks at issues of player (and team) loyalty and player attitudes, both today and historically, and at what increased salaries have meant for the national pastime, financially and in the eyes of its fans. The Money Pitch concludes that \u0022the money pitch is a story of good fortune, good timing, and great leadership, all resulting from playing a child's game -- a story that is uniquely American.\u0022Trade Review"Game Theory and Strategic Negotiation are hot topics among some academic, but a bit much for normal people. Roger Abrams' latest book is a great way for any red-blooded American (i.e., a baseball fan) to understand the basics of these theories, and to gain a more sophisticated insight into the business of baseball. It is a masterful combination of theory, data, and war stories." -Stephen F. Ross, Professor of Law, University of Illinois "The Money Pitch tells [its] audience a host of enjoyable as well as insightful stories about the history of baseball's Ty Cobb and others...[Its] primary focus is the current law and economics of this game, and the impact that the free agency and salary arbitration secured by the players union has had on player salaries, team payrolls, and competitive balance in baseball. Fascinating, insightful, impressive, and informative." -Paul Weiler, Henry J. Friendly Professor of Law, Harvard Law School "This is a clear-headed, forthright, learned book-an insider's study of the business of baseball, from a revealing angle. His range, roughly is from The Natural to Getting to Yes to Barbarians at the Gate. To his own knowledge, gained from years as a salary arbitrator, Mr. Abrams adds insights form antitrust analysis, game theory, and the history of professional sport (from A. G. Spalding and Honus Wagner to Orlando 'El Duque' Hernandez and recent Yankee rosters). Seldom are statistics used this well." -Allen Boyer, lawyer and writer, New York City "[The Money Pitch] is well written and interesting... Abrams uses illustrative material very well. The book has a wealth of information, and even readers who know a good deal about baseball as a sport and business will learn new things. For example, Abrams's descriptions of his own experiences as an arbitrator provides a good vantage point on the arbitration process. And he employs economic concepts effectively to help in understanding the salary-setting processes discussed in the book." -Lawrence Baum, Law & Politics Book Review "[A] stimulating and informative book. Most people interested in the subject, regardless of their knowledge, will profit from reading it. Abrams makes salary determination in baseball more understandable, and for this he is to be commended." -James W. Eaton, Nine "Abrams provides an insider's guide to the economies of the game and the fairness issue of an athlete earning $10 million a year. He illustrates how the system works, how agents negotiate, and how the free agency market operates...This is a good read for people looking for answers to free agency and salary arbitration." -Larry R. Little, Library JournalTable of ContentsCONTENTS Preface Introduction 1. A. G. Spalding and the Development of Baseball Professionalism 2. Baseball's Salary System 3. The Baseball Marketplace: Economics and Game Theory 4. The Ballplayers, the Owners, the Agents, and the Union 5. Roy Hobbs and the New York Knights: A Salary Negotiation 6. Ty Cobb and Negotiation Hardball 7. Salary Arbitration in Operation 8. The Free Agency Auction 9. Player Attitude and Disloyalty 10. Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisAn essential experience of being a baseball fan is the hopeful anticipation of seeing the hometown nine make a run at winning the World Series. In Paths to Glory, Mark L. Armour and Daniel R. Levitt review how teams build themselves up into winners.

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Book SynopsisIn this historical/philosophical reflection, Lee Congdon writes of the ways in which baseball spurs memory. This is particularly important at a time when many Americans suffer from a form of amnesia that renders them defenseless in the face of concerted efforts to seize possession of the past. “Who controls the past controls the future,” George Orwell wrote in Nineteen Eighty-Four, “who controls the present controls the past.” Baseball can, and does, stand in the way of those whose ambition it is to gain and maintain power by pretending that memory cannot be trusted; what was once thought to be “the past” was merely a fiction that served the interests of a ruling class. This, Congdon argues, is asself-serving as it is untrue. Memory can play tricks on us, but, supported as it often is by confirming evidence, it alone can tell us who we are – and more. When we remember important moments and players from the game’s past, we soon discover that they are inextricably intertwined with particular eras in our common history: Babe Ruth and the Jazz Age, Joe DiMaggio and the country at war, Willie Mays and the 1950s. In often revelatory ways, those eras come alive again, and as a result we gain greater self-understanding, as individuals and as a people. Although he draws upon the entire history of baseball, Congdon focuses primarily on the decade of the 1950s because he believes it to have been the game’s golden age – and a far better time in the nation’s history than Americans have been taught to think. Baseball’s continual invitation to communal remembrance can, he concludes, help us to avoid the fate reserved for those who forget. Table of ContentsPrefaceIntroductionWinningLosingThe FiftiesMemory SkepticsBibliographyAcknowledgmentsIndex

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Book SynopsisThe home run is indeed baseball's ultimate weapon. It can change a game in a heartbeat, making a tight game into a blowout or a seemingly easy win into a nail-biter. Homers are majestic, powerful, and awe inspiring. And sluggers are the sport's biggest stars, from the days of Babe Ruth through Barry Bonds.

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Book SynopsisLatinos dominate baseball today, leading off the lineups of the best teams, making contenders strong up the middle, or helping to anchor pitching staffs. Vladimir Guerrero, Omar Vizquel, and Mariano Rivera are well-known professional baseball stars. But many Latinos had less flashy beginnings.Speak English! The Rise of Latinos in Baseball chronicles how much and how little has changed since the first Latino played in the big leagues in the nineteenth century. By the middle of the next century, the Alous, Vic Power, and Rico Carty worked to earn their place in the game amid taunts and ridicule. Today, even established players and stars may be told to speak English in clubhouses eliciting cringes or shrugs from individuals who are seemingly still hurting.Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig offers a foreword full of nostalgia and pride. The afterword by Omar Minaya describes his experience playing ball in Queens and being the first Hispanic general manager in baseball. Speak English! selects the stories of 45 players to illustrate the collective history of Latinos in baseball and is illustrated with photographic portraits of many of them. Today, more than a quarter of all major leaguers are Latino, and most began as outsiders. Globalisation unearthed baseball in San Pedro de Macoris, Caguas, and Maracay. American teams looked abroad for talent and cheap wages, carving baseball diamonds out of sugarcane fields. Players in their teens left their families. Those from Cuba knew they were possibly leaving for the rest of their lives, just for the chance to play in a country still struggling with diversity in the 1950s and 1960s. Yet many Latino players still speak as if not much has changed. Far from perfect, their no-rules journey to professional contracts has increased the risk of taking improper shortcuts. Several players were implicated recently in the use of steroids and performance-enhancing drugs. Others admitted to shaving years off their ages, allowing them to compete with an advantage against younger players. The great Latino story is also one of glory, as some of the best players in major league history tell of their hard voyage to baseball s mainland. The tale is likewise one of realists, and readers will not find anything in these stories that does not exist in other walks of life. The story is not clean, but it is compelling. Like baseball, there’s enough to love in it to keep coming back to it as generations learn from the ups and downs of the Latino role in baseball and its rightful place in history.

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