Baseball Books

Book SynopsisTrade Review"An entertaining tale of two cities with big league dreams and ambitions. Balancing civic identity and cohesion against unsustainable expenses and diverted funds is a circle most American cities have failed to square. While there are no 'solutions' to these challenges, Ehrlich analyzes the responses of Oakland and Kansas City in a balanced and informed way, offering lessons for other cities--and there are many of them--in similar positions."--Jerald Podair, author of City of Dreams: Dodger Stadium and the Birth of Modern Los Angeles"What a wonderful book for the sports fan or urban historian! Kansas City and Oakland were two second-class cities struggling for respect. This book tells the story of the competition between their big-league teams. Both baseball and football had exciting and high-profile rivalries, with expansion, free agency, the building of new stadiums, and strikes claiming attention in each town. The author also integrates the sports history with the dramas of the long 1960s--civil rights confrontations, labor troubles, cultural clashes over Vietnam, and urban problems. This is a great and informative read."--Bruce Kuklick, author of To Every Thing a Season: Shibe Park and Urban Philadelphia, 1909–1976

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Highly entertaining with useful appendices." --Spitball Magazine"Provides a wealth of detail about the origins of the Illinois game and the teams who played it from Chicago down south to Cairo and nearly every town in between." --St. Louis Post-Dispatch"A delightful collection of history and baseball anecdotes for both casual and serious baseball fans." --Illinois Times"Ballists, Dead Beats, and Muffins makes clear that there was a simplicity, innocence, and freshness to baseball in Illinois in these years, even as Sampson details the movement—probably inevitable—toward a more competitive and more professional level of play." --Third Coast Review"Effectively blends history and nostalgia, sparking an appreciation of the National pastime. . . . This 250-page gem by Robert D. Sampson is an exhaustive focus on baseball's early style and sweep when gentlemanly players, civic leaders, and hosts of spectators stressed the bliss more than the score." --Community Word“Detailed studies of baseball during these crucial years are rare, with ones that focus on a single state even more so. Bob Sampson’s Ballists, Dead Beats, and Muffins is thus both timely and valuable, confirming some long-accepted assumptions and forcing reexamination of others. Highly recommended!”--Peter Morris, author of Baseball Fever: Early Baseball in MichiganTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Prologue A Dying Ember First Inning Baseball Fever and Pioneers Second Inning Organizing Clubs, Funding, Travel, and the Game’s Rituals Third Inning Playing Fields, Gambling, and Injuries Fourth Inning The Game and Its Players Fifth Inning Sharing the Fun Sixth Inning Barriers of Race and Gender Seventh Inning Trouble in Baseball’s Eden Eighth Inning Representative Teams Ninth Inning The Thrill Departs Epilogue Ghosts Appendix A Illinois Baseball Teams, 1865-70 Appendix B Bloomington’s Fifth Ward School-Grounds Neighborhood Appendix C Illinois Baseball Players, 1865-70 Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisAfter the Major League Baseball players walk off the field, washout ball player Jake Standen gets a second chance to chase his dream. But Jake and his new teammates have just six weeks to learn how to play like never before.Trade Review"Baseball famously is the one sport played without a clock. Brett Baker's timeless and timeful novel Chasing the Big Leagues is steeped in pastoral passion of the national pastime. This book is in love with the amateur, in love with the pure love of the game that lies in the heart as the clock runs down over the far horizon of the furthest outfield and the sun is always nostalgically setting, turning the diamond into a bright enduring tarp of diamond-tipped and dusty words. This book is a gem, and Baker is the next new Natural."—Michael Martone, author of Michael Martone and The Moon Over Wapakoneta"Brett Baker's Chasing the Big Leagues is set during the now famous 1994–95 baseball strike and the protagonist is called up to play as a scab for the Toronto Blue Jays.Baker knows his baseball . . . the hitting, the fielding, the feel of the ball, what makes a team tick, the coaching.The book is filled with wonderful and arcane baseball details, and it's a good read, a page turner, but of course the setting is during one of the worst of times for baseball so there's a strong element of melancholy in it, too.I strongly recommend it."—John Keeble, author of Yellowfish and Broken Ground

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Book SynopsisCrammed full of rare images and little-known anecdotes, Hoosier Beginnings tells the story of Indiana University athletics from its founding in 1867 to the interwar period.

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Book SynopsisCrammed full of rare images and little-known anecdotes, Hoosier Beginnings tells the story of Indiana University athletics from its founding in 1867 to the interwar period.

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Book SynopsisThis practical and in-depth guide provides the latest material on the design, construction, and maintenance of baseball and softball fields. It covers a wide range of topics from stadium and field design, bleachers, fences, amenities for spectators (such as concession stands and restrooms), water drainage, soil selection, turf management, and more.Table of ContentsPreface. Acknowledgments. PART I. DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION. Chapter 1. Field Design. Chapter 2. Irrigation, Drainage, and Covers. Chapter 3. Soil. Chapter 4. Turfgrass Selection. Chapter 5. Construction and Reconstruction. PART II. RENOVATION AND MAINTENANCE. Chapter 6. Renovation. Chapter 7. Skinned Area (and Warning Track) Maintenance and Management Procedures. Chapter 8. Turfgrass Maintenance and Management Procedures. Chapter 9. Field Aesthetics. PARTT III. ANCILLARY INFORMATION. Chapter 10. Fences, Backstops, Dugouts, and Bullpens. Chapter 11. Rules and Regulations. About the Authors. Index.

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Book SynopsisBaseball has been Japan's most popular sport for over a century.The Sportsworld of the Hanshin Tigers analyzes Japanese baseball ethnographically by focusing on a single professional team, the Hanshin Tigers.For over fifty years, the Tigers have been the one of the country's most watched and talked-about professional baseball teams, second only to their powerful rivals, the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants.Despite a largely losing record, perennial frustration, and infighting among players, the Tigers remain overwhelming sentimental favorites in many parts of the country. This book analyzes the Hanshin Tiger phenomenon, and offers an account of why it has long been so compelling and instructive. Author William Kelly argues that the Tigers representwhat he calls a sportsworld a collective product of the actions of players, coaching staff, management, media, and millions of passionate fans. The team has come to symbolize a powerful counter-narrative to idealized notions of Japanese workplace relations. The Tigers are savored as a melodramatic representation of real corporate life, rife with rivalries andoffice politics familiar to every Japanese worker. And playing in a historic stadium on the edge of Osaka, they carry the hopes and frustrations of Japan's second city against the all-powerful capital.Trade Review"The volume is a must-read for those with even a passing interest in Japanese baseball." * Monumenta Nipponica *"[T]his book will be essential to readers who seek to learn more about . . . baseball and sport in Japan." * Contemporary Japan *"The Sportsworld of the Hanshin Tigers is strongly recommended to students, scholars, and general readers interested in baseball and/or Japanese culture and history." * Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Acknowledgments A Note on Terms and Japanese Language 1. Introducing Hanshin Tigers Baseball 2. The Rhythms of Tigers Baseball: Stadiums and Seasons 3. On the Field: Players, from Rookies to Veterans 4. In the Dugout: Manager and Coaches 5. In the Offices: Front Office and Parent Corporation 6. In the Stands: Fans, Followers, and Fair-Weather Spectators 7. In the Press Box: Sports Dailies and Mainstream Media 8. Baseball as Education and Entertainment 9. Workplace Melodramas and Second-City Complex 10. A Sportsworld Transforming: The Hanshin Tigers at Present Endnotes Appendix: A Note on the Research and Writing Glossary of Key Japanese Terms References Index

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"The volume is a must-read for those with even a passing interest in Japanese baseball." * Monumenta Nipponica *"[T]his book will be essential to readers who seek to learn more about . . . baseball and sport in Japan." * Contemporary Japan *"The Sportsworld of the Hanshin Tigers is strongly recommended to students, scholars, and general readers interested in baseball and/or Japanese culture and history." * Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Acknowledgments A Note on Terms and Japanese Language 1. Introducing Hanshin Tigers Baseball 2. The Rhythms of Tigers Baseball: Stadiums and Seasons 3. On the Field: Players, from Rookies to Veterans 4. In the Dugout: Manager and Coaches 5. In the Offices: Front Office and Parent Corporation 6. In the Stands: Fans, Followers, and Fair-Weather Spectators 7. In the Press Box: Sports Dailies and Mainstream Media 8. Baseball as Education and Entertainment 9. Workplace Melodramas and Second-City Complex 10. A Sportsworld Transforming: The Hanshin Tigers at Present Endnotes Appendix: A Note on the Research and Writing Glossary of Key Japanese Terms References Index

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Book SynopsisDuring the Civil War, Americans from homefront to battlefront played baseball as never before. This work gives us a commentary of the growth and transformation of baseball. It shows that the game was a vital part of the lives of many a soldier and civilian - and that baseball's popularity had everything to do with surging American nationalism.Trade Review"Kirsch examines the emerging organizational sophistication of urban and collegiate baseball on the home front, and he sketches out the social and racial contours of what was already often seen as the national game... A careful scholar, he savors using evidence to demolish myth."--Choice "The book is a pleasure to read, and deserves numerous votes for the current literary All-Star Game."--David Wee, American Historical Review "George P. Kirsch has written an interesting, readable book about the sport's growth during the Civil War that teaches readers how the game evolved into the national pastime."--Jeff Diamant, Newark Star-Ledger "Although baseball shares the public stage with other sports nowadays, it is still the professional sport most prominent in American historical consciousness. George B. Kirsch's book offers an intriguing look at the very early years of baseball, which were intertwined with the crucible of the Civil War... Overall, this is a solid examination of the subject and will be of interest to sports and baseball historians, in particular, but also those scholars and general readers interested in the social history of the Civil War."--John Sickels, Civil War HistoryTable of ContentsPREFACE ix CHAPTER ONE: The Rise of Baseball 1 CHAPTER TWO: Battlefront 28 CHAPTER THREE: Home Front 48 CHAPTER FOUR: Players and Clubs 66 CHAPTER FIVE: Championship Competition and Commercialization 93 CHAPTER SIX: The War's Legacy 113 EPILOGUE 131 BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY 137 INDEX 141

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Book SynopsisHere is a comprehensive, practical resource that makes building a successful baseball program considerably easier for both the new and the experienced coach. Included are proven techniques and ready-to-use materials for virtually every aspect of the coach s job, from recruiting to training talent for each position.Table of ContentsAbout This Resource VII Section 1 Getting Started 1 Setting Goals 1 Establishing Standards 3 Maintaining Positive Relationships 5 Communications 7 First Steps for a New Coach 12 A Note to Walk-On Coaches 13 Evaluating Your Performance 15 Fund Raising 17 How to Do It 18 Other Ways to Raise Money 18 Other Considerations in Fund Raising 22 Section 2 Recruiting and Tryouts 25 Announcing the Tryouts 25 Developing as Many Athletes as Possible 29 The Plan for Tryouts 29 Keeping Large Rosters 30 Player Development 31 The Coaching Staff 32 Avoiding Legal Problems 32 Section 3 Game Control from Start to Finish 35 Winning 35 Controlling the Situation 35 Practice 37 Individual Practice Goals 37 Schedules and Goals 37 Game Day 39 Scouting 44 The Game 44 Offensive Signals 49 Sample Signal System 49 Getting the Players Involved in Offense 52 When to Work on Signs 53 Game Notes 53 Charting the Pitcher's Progress and Performance 58 Defensive Signals 82 Calling the Pitches from the Dugout 82 Defensive Alignment 83 Postgame 84 Section 4 Pitching 85 Overview of the Five Most Important Pitching Skills 85 Downhill Plane--The Goal in Mechanics 87 The Pitching Sequence 87 The Pitch 92 Right Hander's Stretch Move 94 Left Hander's Stretch Move 97 Control 97 Section 5 The Pitches 99 Fastball 99 Movement and Velocity 100 Change-Up 101 Curve Ball 103 Other Breaking Pitches 106 The Pitching Plan 108 Identifying Hitters and Attacking Their Weaknesses 111 Warming Up 115 Fielding Techniques for the Pitcher 122 Controlling a Known Fielding Situation 126 Holding Runners on Base and Identifying Running Situations 126 Basic Holding Situations 127 Left-Handed Pitchers Holding Runners on First 130 Arm Soreness 133 Post-Pitching Arm Exercises 135 Section 6 Catching 143 Signal Stance 143 Giving Signals 144 Going from Signal to Receiving Stance 145 Receiving Stance 146 Receiving Techniques 151 Remedies for Dropping Pitches 157 Throwing 158 Step-Catch-Throw Technique 160 Throwing Runners Out at Second 162 Throwing Runners Out at Third 164 Situational Throwing 165 Catcher's Picks 167 Blocking Balls in the Dirt 168 Tag Plays at Home Plate 169 Catching Extras--Receiving Throws 172 Catching Extras--Hit Balls 174 Catcher's Game Performance 175 Section 7 General Infield Play 179 Positioning 179 Fielding the Hit 183 Thinking in the Field 185 Drills to Develop Ground Ball Skills 186 The Little Things in Infield Play 189 Defending the Hit and Run 190 Some Thoughts for the Third Baseman 192 Some Thoughts for the First Baseman 192 The Double Play 194 Drills for Double Play Techniques 198 Section 8 Outfield Play 199 Thinking Before the Pitch 199 Reacting to the Ball 201 Communication 203 Playing the Hit 204 Throwing Fundamentals 205 Additional Tips 208 Throwing Drills 208 Section 9 Defensive Strategy and Positioning 213 Positioning 213 Defensive Focus 214 Defensive Positioning 215 Making Adjustments 217 Individual Skills 218 Other Factors 218 Section 10 Team Defense 219 Cutoffs and Relays 219 Outfielder's Role 236 Short Man 238 Bunt Defense 242 First and Third Defense 254 Pop-Up Priority 262 Section 11 Hitting 267 The Stance 267 Positioning in the Batter's Box 269 The Eyes 270 Hitter Momentum 271 Stride 271 The Swing 273 The Hitting Game Plan 276 Two-Strike Hitting 277 Situation Hitting 278 Five Hitting Zones for the Advanced Hitter 278 Taking Pitches 279 Batting Practice 280 Hitting Drills 281 Hitting Drills with the Aid of Equipment 286 Live Batting Practice 288 Section 12 The Short Came 291 Sacrifice Bunt 291 Base Hit Bunt 295 Base Hit Bunt to Third Base 296 Base Hit Bunt to Second Base 298 Base Hit Bunt to First Base 299 Base Hit Bunt to Shortstop 300 Fake Bunt, Fake Hit and Bunt 300 Section 13 Base Running 301 Pregame and During-Game Homework 302 Batter/Runner Technique 303 Leads at First Base 305 Returning to First Base 307 Using the Stopwatch 308 Secondary Leads 309 Fake Break 310 Stealing Second Base 310 Stealing Against a Right-Handed Pitcher 311 Primary Leads vs. Left-Handed Pitchers 312 Stealing Against Left-Handed Pitchers 313 Delay Steal 316 The Shade--An Aid to Stealing Second 316 Extra Innings at First Base 316 Leads at Second Base 317 Three Methods of Stealing Third Base 319 Leads at Third Base 321 Stealing Home 321 Forcing a Balk 322 Ball in the Dirt at Third 322 Sliding 323 Other Tips for Base Running 323 Section 14 Offensive Strategy and Techniques 325 Plan for Today's Game 325 The Hitter's Plan 327 Big Inning Offense 327 Batting Order 330 Controlling the Tempo 331 Offensive Techniques 332 Hit and Run 332 First and Third Short Game Techniques 335 Stealing a Run--First and Third Offense 338 Section 15 Scholarships and professional baseball 343 Approaching a Career in Baseball 343 Evaluating a Pathway 345 Getting Help with the Decision 347 Appendices Appendix A Baseball Terms 349 Appendix B Score Card (sample: front and back) 350

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Book SynopsisThe story behind the mainstream press’s efforts to preserve baseball’s color line and the efforts of Black and communist newspapers to end it. Trade Review“Everyone—casual fans, journalists, and even the most knowledgeable baseball expert—will find something of interest in this significant contribution to our understanding of civil rights and baseball.”—John Paul Hill, NINE: A Journal of Baseball History and Cultures "Lamb . . . brings all his scholarly tools to the project. . . . The author has documented a story of immense cultural importance."—Kirkus Starred Review"[Conspiracy of Silence] is a valuable resource for students of baseball history and for readers concerned with the history of race relations and the media in this country."—Robert Bruce Slater, Library Journal"Conspiracy of Silence represents a significant contribution to the study of baseball, race, and the press."—Trey Strecker, Journal of Sport History"Conspiracy of Silence offers overwhelming evidence of the effectiveness of the black press in advancing integration in this country."—Dorothy Seymour Mills, New York Journal"Lamb's thorough journalistic exposé chronicles the drama and history behind the game, while tracing how the desegregation of baseball parallels the story of the civil rights movement in the United States."—Kathleen Gerard, Shelf Awareness"Lamb's research shows the struggle that took place in the media had a lot to do with the tug-o-war of ideals and practicality of all the issues involved in the decision. It's as good a book on the subject as we've ever come across."—Tom Hoffarth, Farther Off The Wall "Though it covers some familiar ground, this solidly researched study introduces new faces to the picture to broaden the context. The clear, bold writing makes the book a joy to read."—L. A. Heaphy, Choice"This is important, overdue work."—Gene Sapakoff, Post and Courier"Everyone—casual fans, journalists, and even the most knowledgeable baseball expert—will find something of interest in this significant contribution to our understanding of civil rights and baseball."—John Paul Hill, NINETable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsPart 1 1. White Sportswriters and Minstrel ShowsPart 2 2. The Color Line Is Drawn 3. Invisible Men 4. “Agitators” and “Social-Minded Drum Beaters” (written with Kelly Rusinack) Part 3 5. “L’affaire Jake Powell” 6. Major League Managers and Ballplayers Call for End of Color Line Part 4 7. The Double V Campaign 8. “The Great White Father” Speaks 9. Black Editors Make Their Case for Desegregation 10. “Get Those Niggers Off the Field” Part 5 11. Robinson Becomes the Chosen OnePart 6 12. “I Never Want to Take Another Trip Like This One”Notes Bibliography 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 SynopsisA biography of Branch Rickey, the man who signed Jackie Robinson, and invented baseball's farm system.Trade Review"Lowenfish's take is detailed and nuanced, balancing the issue of integration with the economic and competitive imperatives of running a professional baseball team... Where Lowenfish is at his best is in explicating the complex and often contradictory impulses that drove his subject, as well as his almost evangelical sense of self... All this leaves us with a question-or a set of questions-about who Rickey really was. To Lowenfish's credit, he doesn't look for simple answers; despite his own abiding admiration, he never sugarcoats or presents Rickey in anything other than a three-dimensional light... Without him, baseball would not exist as we know it. America would be a different place as well. In these pages Lowenfish traces the evolution of that America through the filter of a remarkable life."-David L. Ulin, LA Times Book Review Los Angeles Times Book Review "Branch Rickey: Baseball's Ferocious Gentleman, by Lee Lowenfish, provides a thorough account of the life, character, and exploits of this teetotaler Ohio farm boy, the grandson of a horse trader, and a true 'conservative revolutionary.'"-Katherine A. Powers, Boston Globe Boston Globe "[O]ur heartiest recommendation: Branch Rickey - Baseball's Ferocious Gentleman by Lee Lowenfish. A fitting and admirable tribute to the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's breaking of the color line. Lowenfish, a respected baseball scholar, reportedly spent 10 years researching and writing this book that, at 600 pages, is chock full of revelations and great anecdotes on Rickey's life."-Bill Madden, NY Daily News New York Daily News "It's an impressive achievement in historical reporting on a unique character and will serve scholars for decades to come."-Neil Best, Newsday Newsday "If you read one baseball book this summer, make it Branch Rickey: Baseball's Ferocious Gentleman by Lee Lowenfish. The author did a remarkable amount of research in bringing to life this incredible baseball man... Lee Lowenfish is to be congratulated for this monumental work... [O]ne of the best baseball books I've read."-Tom Knight, Brooklyn Spectator Brooklyn SpectatorTable of ContentsIntroductionList of IllustrationsAcknowledgmentsList of AbbreviationsProloguePART I. THE MAKING OF A BASEBALL BRAIN, 1899-19181. Diamond in the Rough2. From Catcher to Coach3. Branch Rickey and the St. Louis Browns4. "War Overshadows Everything"PART II. THE ST. LOUIS PRIME OF BRANCH RICKEY, 1919-19425. Necessity Is the Mother of Invention6. Years of Contention and Frustration7. That Championship Season8. The Near-dynastic Years and a Place in Who's Who9. Another Championship Season and Then Decline10. Prelude to the Gashouse Gang11. The Triumph of the Gashouse Gang12. Years of Frustration13. More Years of Loss, and Farewells to Dizzy Dean and Charley Barrett14. Going Out on TopPART III. THE BIRTH OF THE MAHATMA, 1943-195015. A Branch Grows in Brooklyn16. The Secret Path to the "Young Man from the West"17. An Historic Meeting in Brooklyn18. Prelude to a Pennant19. When All Hell Almost Broke Loose20. When Most of Heaven Rejoiced21. A Year of Disappointment, Odd Choices, and an Adieu to Leo22. A Branch Bends in Brooklyn23. A Branch Is Chopped in BrooklynPART IV. "MY GREATEST THRILL IN BASEBALL HASN'T HAPPENED YET," 1951-196524. A Branch Doesn't Grow Fast Enough in Pittsburgh25. Mr. Rickey Prepares to Do the Continental26. The Continental Dance Card Goes Blank27. Meet Me in St. Louis, Final ChorusNotesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisFrom the sandlots of San Francisco to the power centers of baseball, this book tells the story of Joe Cronin, one of twentieth-century baseball's major players, both on the field and off. This book follows Cronin from his humble beginnings to his position as one of the most powerful figures in baseball.Trade Review"This is a rich account of one of the 20th century's great player-managers, his rise from modest beginnings all the way to Cooperstown, and presidency of the American League."—Margaret Heilbrun and Gilles Renaud, Library Journal"Mark Armour has produced a grand and deep biography of one of the sport's central figures. I approached it with very high expectations, and came away fully satisfied."—Steve Treder, Hardball Times"Well written and well worth owning."—frommersports.blogspot.com"Cronin emerges as a larger-than-life figure, and Armour's biography is a fitting tribute."—D. R. Danbom, Time Out for Entertainment"This readable, well-documented biography of Cronin, who became an elder statesman of the national pastime, is candid, honest, and reverential."—S. Gittleman, Choice"In writing this biography, Mark Armour has done a great service not only to those interested in Joe Cronin, but also to future researchers interested in any of the multitude of facets of baseball that Joe Cronin impacted."—Richard Puerzer, NINETable of ContentsList of IllustrationsAcknowledgmentsPrologue1. San Francisco2. Pittsburgh and Other Places3. Washington4. Player-Manager5. Rich Kid6. Comeback7. Winding Down8. War9. Bench Manager10. General Manager11. Opportunity Lost12. Youth Movement13. Power and Glory14. Mr. President15. New Order16. Unrest17. At RestNotesIndex

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Book SynopsisNot only was it probably the most cutthroat pennant race in baseball history; it was also a struggle to define how baseball would be played. This book re-creates the rowdy, season-long 1897 battle between the Baltimore Orioles and the Boston Beaneaters. Bill Felber brings to life the most intensely watched team sporting event in the US’s history to that time.Trade Review“Felber . . . excels at demonstrating the dissimilarities between these two evenly matched opponents. . . . [He] gives a spirited retelling of the season, giving life to greedy owners, rabid fans, drunken ballplayers and terrorized umpires, all the while bringing to life an era of baseball when home runs were a rarity, players fielded with no gloves and starting pitchers threw almost 400 innings a season.”—Publishers Weekly“Bill Felber has woven a picturesque tale of how baseball was played more than 100 years ago in the rowdy days of the 1890s. The story, although concentrating on the 1897 pennant race between Baltimore and Boston, vividly describes the atmosphere of the game on and off the field, and in doing so creates a rollicking good tale to boot.”—Pete Palmer, coeditor of ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia, 4th edition“This book is a hoot from start to the cliff-hanging conclusion.”—John Linsenmeyer, Greenwich Time (CT) “A fine source of stories about the days when . . . Boston fans celebrated victories by tossing into the air beans that they had carried to the games in their pockets for that purpose, and when an umpire could be arrested twice in one season without losing his job.”—Bill Littlefield, WBUR-FM Radio, NPR’s “Only a Game”Table of ContentsList of IllustrationsForeword by Senator Edward M. KennedySources and AcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. Baseball's Original Evil Empire2. The Royal Rooters3. Spring Thunderbolts4. Parade of Champions5. Suspected Criminals6. Streaks of June7. Sunday Misdemeanors8. The Rise and Fall of Louis Sockalexis9. Day Job for Garroters10. Don't They Keep Warm?11. Fall in BaltimoreAfterwordAppendixNotes

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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 SynopsisProvides a balanced, nuanced, and carefully documented look at radio and baseball over the past one hundred years, focusing on the interaction between team owners, local and national media, and government and business interests, with extensive coverage of the television and Internet ages, when baseball on the radio had to make critical adjustments to stay viable.Trade Review"Crack of the Bat will give you insight into the nostalgic power of baseball on the radio, and make you realize what you missed."—Hunter M. Hampton, Sport in American History"[Crack of the Bat is] a valuable resource for sport and media scholars alike that should encourage more work on sports radio's woefully under examined history."—Travis Vogan, Historical Journal of Film, Radio, and Television"Informed by the literature on the subject and the beneficiary of deep research in archival sources and oral histories, this book is based on sound scholarship, engages the general reader's interest, and will enlighten scholars in their study of the symbiotic relationship between radio and baseball."—John E. Miller, Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society"Well researched, and equally well written and footnoted, Crack of the Bat is not only a welcome addition to electronic media research but would make an excellent addition to a history of sports in the media classroom."—Roger Heinrich, American Journalism"Crack of the Bat deserves to be on the reading list for courses in broadcast history and mass communication history."—Dave Ogden, Journalism & Mass Communication Educator“Once upon a time you had to go to a ballpark to experience a ball game. Today most of us enjoy baseball across several media, and almost always alone. A game on radio—or via television or Internet or news account—is not as good as being part of the crowd at the ballpark, but what is? This book. James Walker traces the history of baseball on the radio with unmatched love and erudition.”—John Thorn, official historian of Major League Baseball and author of Baseball in the Garden of EdenTable of ContentsForeword Acknowledgments Introduction: A Game in Words and Sound Part I. The Formative Years, 1920–36 1. Early World Series Coverage 2. The Local Game Begins 3. Inventing a New Craft 4. The Baseball-Radio War 5. The World Series Triggers a National Obsession 6. Advertisers Expand Baseball Coverage Part II. The Age of Acceptance, 1937–60 7. Re-Creating Baseball 8. Baseball Reluctantly Embraces Radio 9. An Explosion in National Coverage Part III. The Television Years, 1961–Present 10. Radio in the Age of Television 11. The Modern Baseball Announcer 12. Baseball Broadcasts in the Digital Era Epilogue Appendix: Number of Team Radio Stations by Year, 1936–2001 Notes Index

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Book SynopsisThis book, based on extensive interviews and Alexander's journals, is filled with memorable characters, pithy lessons, snapshots of American life, and a big picture of America's pastime from one of its great off-the-field players.Trade Review“Baseball’s Last Great Scout was a great pleasure for me to read. Hugh Alexander was one of the most interesting and unique men I ever met. As far as baseball: his best quality was enthusiasm for the game along with confidence and desire to make his teams better. He was a great help to me and everyone else he worked with over the years.”—Jim Frey, former Major League Baseball coach and manager“‘Uncle Hughie’ was truly an icon, a legend, and, as the book shows, a super scout. I’ve always felt the scouting profession in baseball has been underappreciated because so few fans really understand the trials and tribulations of the people who are the lifeblood of any organization. Dan’s book delves into one of the real old-time scout’s daily efforts to find the next Major League Baseball player. Hughie’s efforts played out in every change in scouting from true free agency to several changes in the draft rules. And because of his efforts and shrewdness in adapting to these changes, he helped all his teams get better. A fun read about a true character that I know you’ll enjoy.”—Dallas Green, senior advisor to the general manager of the Philadelphia Phillies"Dan Austin's appreciation of Alexander provides baseball fans with a sense of how scouts discovered and cultivated players before the advent of the Major League Scouting Bureau."—Bill Littlefield, Only a GameTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. A Stick of Dynamite2. Enter Cy Slapnicka3. On the Road Again and Again4. Striking Gold in His Own Backyard5. You Gotta Have a Plan6. Scouting in Wartime7. After the War, the Show Goes On8. Watch, but Don't Pick9. Miles Behind, Miles Ahead, but No U-turns10. First Brooklyn, Then Dodging His Way to the West Coast11. A Mythical Combination12. A Three-Traffic-Light Town and Loads of Talent13. Hondo Hits Them High and Deep14. Getting a Twofer15. He Made Me Keep Coming Back16. From No Prospect to Future Hall of Famer17. Where There's a Tryout Camp, There's Hope18. Make Way for Tomorrow19. Building a New Dream20. Let's Get Real about Rebuilding This Club21. Trading Who, and Trading When22. You Can Lose If You Don't Know the Rules23. Finally a Winner24. Looking at Another Scoreboard25. History Repeats Itself26. Overcoming Pitfalls in Seeking Certainty

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Book SynopsisIf an umpire could steal the show in a Major League game, the author 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, while ejecting any number of the game's elite - once tearing a hamstring in the process. This book tells his story.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 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 SynopsisJ. Frank Cashen looks back over his twenty-five-year career in baseball. Best known as the general manager of the New York Mets during their remaking and rise to glory in the 1980s, Cashen fills the pages with lively stories from his baseball tenure during the last half of the twentieth century.Trade Review“The most versatile man I know; sports, music, writing, the law, he could do it all.”—Tim McCarver“When it came to baseball, Cashen had the magic touch.”—Nelson Doubleday Jr., former president of Doubleday and former owner of the New York Mets“Frank Cashen, through shrewd trades and organizational development, put together two of the most complete pitching staffs in baseball history. Through the use of both the numbers and his great appreciation of the eyes and ears of the game (the scouts), Mr. Cashen assembled iconic franchises. Orioles and Mets fans applaud.”—Ron Darling, New York Mets pitcher in the 1980s“Frank Cashen liked being a sportswriter, liked being a lawyer, liked running a brewery, but loved being a baseball general manager. He took his intellect, people skills, great judgment, and passion and became one of the best baseball GMs ever.”—Jim Palmer, broadcaster and Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame pitcher“Cashen is a hero to the little people in baseball. He believed in scouting and the Minor Leagues and persuaded the big league owners to provide a retirement plan for the forgotten people of baseball.”—Harry Minor, long-time New York Mets scout"[Winning in Both Leagues] delivers a refreshingly compact and unpretentious change of pace."—Henry D. Fetter, Wall Street Journal"Whether you've heard the stories before, or whether some of the information is totally new, Cashen's is a good read."—Pete Kerzel, Mid Atlantic Sports NetworkTable of ContentsForeword by Billy BeanePrefaceAcknowledgments1. Beating Boston2. Call from the Boss3. Baltimore Beginnings4. Shocking Developments5. Parting Gift6. Four Straight7. After the Sweep8. Earl of Baltimore9. Low Point to High Flyers10. Negotiating Contracts11. My First Passion12. From Studs to Suds13. Commish’s Call14. Baseball Trails15. Casting My Fate16. Changing the Mets' Image17. Yellow Pad Parlance18. Trade Secrets19. Competing in the Apple20. Building a Winner21. Breaking .50022. Dominating Season23. Infamous Plane Trip24. Series Showdown25. Futures Trading26. Broadcasting Brilliance27. New Friends, New Places28. Traveling Tales29. Mets Changes30. New Choices31. Extra Innings

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Book SynopsisAn archival account of baseball and America.Trade Review“David Anderson’s book is a winner in its own right. Not only does it enlighten us about a season that might really have been ‘the best and most exciting’ of all time, it gives us the feeling that we’re standing hatless among the overflow crowds of nearly a century ago, rooting for Matty, Rube, the Big Train, the Flying Dutchman, the Georgia Peach, and all the other flannel-clad immortals of days gone by. . . . Anderson has fashioned as close to a masterpiece of baseball research and analysis as any first-class author has produced in a long time.”—David Shiner, HaroldSeymour.com"A fascinating archival account of what baseball and America were like nearly a century ago."—New York Times Book Review“Those not acquainted with the dramatics of the 1908 campaign might find Anderson's hyperbolic title a bit extreme until they read of the many astonishing events that took place that year. To wit: three NL teams finishing within a half game of each other (forcing the first-ever playoff game) and an AL race decided by .004 percentage points. Toss in the exploits of legendary figures Christy Mathewson, Honus Wagner and other future Hall-of-Famers and the book's description more resembles an exercise in prosaic restraint.”—USA Today Baseball Weekly“Baseball enthusiasts will enjoy this.”—Library Journal“As his title suggests, there was more to this memorable season than an infamous blunder.”—Sports Illustrated

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Book SynopsisThe average pitcher has about a.000645 chance of throwing a no-hitter. In the spring of 1938, Cincinnati Reds rookie pitcher Johnny Vander Meer pitched two, back to back. The feat has never been duplicated. Double No-Hit offers an inning-by-inning account of that historic second consecutive no-hitter, accomplished during the first night game in New York City.Trade Review“Johnny Vander Meer’s extraordinary feat of pitching back-to-back no-hitters is truly one of baseball’s unique records. The story of how he went about pitching no-hitters four days apart deserves to be told for future generations of baseball fans. The phenomenal accomplishment is a record that is unlikely to be tied or broken.”—Nolan Ryan, Hall of Fame pitcher and CEO and president of the Texas Rangers“There was out-of-the-blue, lottery-winner magic in Vander Meer’s accomplishment, two no-hitters in a row, something never done before or since, probably never to be repeated. Pose! Smile! Pop! That magic has been captured here in fine detail and preserved between the covers of Double No-Hit by James Johnson. A terrific job.”—Leigh Montville, author of Ted Williams: The Biography of an American Hero“The history of baseball is abundant with remarkable, even mythical, stories of achievement. And meticulous research will unearth these heroic feats for modern-day readers. I encourage you to read and marvel at Jim Johnson’s biographical journey with one such baseball hero who, almost seventy-five years ago, stunned the baseball world with an achievement never yet equaled and, dare say, will never be eclipsed.”—Jerry Kindall, former infielder with the Cubs, the Indians, and the Twins, and three-time NCAA baseball coach of the year“Johnny Vander Meer’s life is defined by one of baseball’s most astonishing achievements: two amazing games pitched by a twenty-two-year-old rookie in 1938. That feat has made him the envy of all pitchers, even the greatest stars, in the subsequent generations. With thorough research and an easy, comprehensive narrative, James W. Johnson describes the no-hitters and the ups and downs of Vandy’s long but unique and enigmatic career.”—Dave Baldwin, former pitcher with the Washington Senators, the Milwaukee Brewers, and the Chicago White Sox"The combination of Johnson's well written no-hitter recaps along with an engaging look at pre-War baseball made the book enjoyable."—Ken Massey, Red Reporter"Every acolyte of balldom will be grateful for Johnson's research, which allows him to re-create the world of baseball in the late 1930s and 1940s."—J.C. Martin, Arizona Daily StarTable of ContentsIntroductionPrologue1. Nighttime Pageantry2. First Inning3. Bottom of the First4. A Second Chance5. Second Inning6. Third Inning7. Fourth Inning8. Fifth Inning9. A Dream Come True10. Sixth Inning11. Seventh Inning12. Eighth Inning13. Ninth Inning14. After the Game15. Postgame16. The Rest of the Season17. A New Season18. Vandy Bounces Back19. The War and Beyond20. A New OpportunityEpilogueAcknowledgmentsAppendixNotesBibliography

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Book SynopsisThe Yankees and New York baseball entered a golden age between 1949 and 1964, a period during which the city was represented in all but one World Series. While the Yankees dominated, however, the years were not so golden for the rest of baseball. In The Postwar Yankees David George Surdam deconstructs this idyllic period.Trade Review"The Postwar Yankees: Baseball's Golden Age Revisited is a good starting point for anyone interested in the business of baseball."—John Paul Hill, NINETable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction: What Golden Age?1. Those Damn Yankees: Dominance and Submission in the American League2. Player Movement and Building the Yankees: Leaving Soon from a (Small) City near You3. The Game on the Ledger: Doldrums amid Prosperity4. Changing Demographics, Suburbia, and Leisure Patterns: Why Did Baseball Attendance Fall?5. Television and Baseball: The New Technology, Friend or Foe?6. Where Is Robin Hood When You Need Him? Revenue Sharing in the American League7. Isn't Anybody Going to Help That Game? Baseball Attempts to Rejuvenate Its Popularity8. The Major League Cartel: Keeping Out the Interlopers9. The Sixteen-Headed Hydra: The Cartel Faces the Enmity Within10. The Yankees' Dynasty: Did Success Spoil the Team and Its Fans?Epilogue: What If the Golden Age Ended and Nobody Cared?Appendix of TablesNotesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisDuring his six and a half decades in baseball, Eddie Robinson knew, played with or against, or worked for or with many of baseball’s greats. The lively autobiography highlights a career that touched all aspects of the game from player to coach to front-office executive and scout.Trade Review“A fun read, chock full of funny stories.”—New York Daily News"Fans regardless of the team allegiance will enjoy this book."—Gregg's Baseball Bookcase“Eddie Robinson was a fine ballplayer. He had a remarkably long, fascinating, and colorful career as a baseball scout and front-office man for many big league teams. I know of no book that gives as much insight into the front-office machinations in baseball organizations. [Eddie Robinson’s] autobiography will interest people inside baseball who remember Eddie, and many others will enjoy reading about the experiences of men who’ve been in the game.”—Charles C. Alexander, author of Ty Cobb "Of those sixty-five years in baseball, I've known Eddie for fifty-five of them--as a dear friend, business partner, and as a terrific baseball player. Major league baseball needs more people like Eddie."—Brooks C. Robinson, Hall of Fame third baseman for the Baltimore Orioles“Eddie Robinson was the most underrated and best clutch hitter I ever played against.”—Ted Williams, Hall of Fame outfielder for the Boston Red Sox“What can you say about Eddie? Good baseball man and a pretty good left-handed hitter in his day. He was one of our first basemen in the ’50s and fit in real good.”—Yogi Berra, Hall of Fame catcher for the New York YankeesTable of ContentsForeword by Tom GrieveAuthor's PrefaceIntroduction by Bobby Brown Chapter 1 - Paris, Texas, RootsChapter 2 - Breaking into Pro BallChapter 3 - Making ProgressChapter 4 - A Taste of the Big Time and a World War II DetourChapter 5 - International League MVPChapter 6 - Big League RookieChapter 7 - A Magical Year in ClevelandChapter 8 - An All-State Year in WashingtonChapter 9 - With the Pale HoseChapter 10 - A Year in Purgatory, er, PhiladelphiaChapter 11 - From the Outhouse to the PenthouseChapter 12 - Fun and Games with the YankeesChapter 13 - Playing Out the StringChapter 14 - Coaching with Paul Richards and the OriolesChapter 15 - The Move to Houston and the Start of the Expansion Colt .45sChapter 16 - On to Kansas City and Charlie FinleyChapter 17 - Back to the National League with the Atlanta BravesChapter 18 - Fun and Games with Ted TurnerChapter 19 - Home to TexasChapter 20 - The Eddie Chiles EraChapter 21 - Working for GeorgeChapter 22 - Team Consultant--The Last Stage RetrospectiveAfterwordAcknowledgmentsIndex

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Book SynopsisThough his pitching career lasted only a few seasons, Howard Ellsworth “Smoky Joe” Wood was one of the most dominating figures in baseball history - a man many consider the best baseball player who is not in the Hall of Fame. Smoky Joe Wood chronicles the singular life befitting such a baseball legend.Trade Review"Wood was a great ballplayer and an even more fascinating man. Excellent reading."-Wes Lukowsky, Booklist -- Wes Lukowsky Booklist "Gerald C. Wood (no relation), author of this first full-scale biography of 'Smoky Joe' Wood, delivers an impeccably researched and poignant account of a great athlete and even greater man."-Mark Hodermarsky, Cleveland.com -- Mark Hodermarsky Cleveland.com "A stunning account of the life of the best baseball player not in the Hall of Fame."-John Vorperian, Southern New England Chapter, Society for American Baseball Research -- John Vorperian Southern New England Chapter, Society for American Baseball Research "[Smoky Joe Wood is] a thorough and lively account of the career of Joe Wood."-W. T. Lindley, CHOICE -- W. T. Lindley CHOICE "As readers will discover in Gerald Wood's insightful and thorough portrait of the Red Sox hurler, Indians outfielder, Yale coach, and baseball ambassador, the appreciation for Smoky Joe Wood should come not from individual achievements but from the sum of all the parts of the man's life."-Ron Kates, NINE -- Ron Kates NINETable of ContentsList of Illustrations 000Acknowledgments 000Introduction: Bart at 90 Marvel Road 0001. John F. and Howard E. 0002. Bloomer Girl and Minor Leaguer 0003. Rookie and More 0004. The 1912 Regular Season 0005. The 1912 World Series 0006. Playing with Pain 0007. Indian Outfielder and Utility Man 0008. Glory Revisited 0009. The Yale Years 00010. Final Innings 00011. Legend and Legacy 000Epilogue: Fenway Park, August 17, 2008 000Notes 000Bibliography 000Index 000

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Book SynopsisExplores the development of Taiwanese baseball and the influence of baseball on Taiwan's cultural identity in its colonial years and beyond as a clear departure from narratives of assimilation and resistance.Trade Review"Empire of Infields provides a deeply nuanced analysis of the complicated historical interactions of sport and colonialism in Taiwan."—J. S. Franks, Choice"Harney's Empire of Infields joins Sayuri Guthrie-Shimizu's Trans-Pacific Field of Dreams: How Baseball Linked the United States and Japan in Peace and War (2012) as an important work describing the evolution of baseball as an international sport. And while soccer, golf, basketball, or tennis may have a more truly global reach, he demonstrates well how baseball came to establish its secure niche in the world."—Paul Dunscomb, H-Asia"Harney's Empire of Infields is a book for those interested in who the Taiwanese are, by going back to the root and the route of the game of baseball. It goes beyond simple assimilation/resistance dichotomy via sport in terms of nation building, and it is well-written and the research masterfully handled."—Tzu-hsuan Chen, Asian Journal of Sport History & Culture“In this well-reported, wonderfully conceived book, John Harney has mapped not just the history of Taiwanese baseball but the role the game has played in the evolution of a contested Taiwanese national identity. This is a kaleidoscopic analysis of the entanglement of Japanese colonialism, Taiwanese identity, and nationalism, politics, and globalization.”—George Gmelch, author of Baseball beyond Our Borders: An International Pastime“John Harney has utilized a host of primary sources to produce a nuanced and detailed reinterpretation of Taiwanese identity via the historical role of baseball. He offers an alternative analysis to the usual assimilation and resistance frameworks in other works as he negotiates the contested and ambiguous identity of a nation in limbo. A must-read for scholars of East Asian studies and sport historians.”—Gerald R. Gems, past president of the North American Society for Sport HistoryTable of ContentsNote on Transliteration and Choice of Team Names Acknowledgments Introduction: National Games 1. A Japanese Sport in the Colony 2. Waseda Baseball and Japan’s Place in the World 3. Barnstormers or Emissaries of Empire? 4. The Road to Kōshien 5. Kanō 6. Chiang’s China and Taiwanese Baseball 7. Echoes of Empire 8. Hongye Conclusion: Baseball’s Long Goodbye Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisExamines the development of baseball in Korea, the Philippines, Mainland China, and Taiwan, as well as the story of baseball in Japan. This book covers topics ranging from baseball in Qing Dynasty China in the nineteenth century to the 2000 Sydney Olympics bronze-medal match between Japan and Korea.Trade Review"Joseph Reaves's Taking in a Game: A History of Baseball in Asia expands our knowledge of Asian baseball beyond Japan, about which much has been written, to countries such as Korea, China, Taiwan and the Philippines. Reaves, an American journalist who has reported from Asia for many years, discovers baseball being played in many unlikely places, such as in the Communist stronghold of Yenan during the Sino-Japanese War of the 1930s."—Sacramento Bee"Joseph A. Reaves explores an aspect of the sport that is literally foreign to most fans. This book expands its scope well beyond the dominating influence of Japan to include the reach of baseball in Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, and even China. . . . This study explaining the differences between Far Eastern ball and our own game arrives at an auspicious moment when more Pacific Rim players than ever are impacting the way baseball is played in the USA."—USA Today Baseball Weekly"American soldiers were baseball's Johnny Appleseeds, but Reaves shows that the Japanese tended the orchard of the game in Korea, the Philippines and Taiwan. . . . Reaves makes the case that before World War II, baseball for the Japanese was often about competing with the United States. After the war, the game helped bring the two countries together."—The Washington Post"This book presents a brief but somewhat encyclopedic examination of baseball in Asia, with a particular focus on China, Japan, the Philippines, Korea, and Taiwan. One riveting tales involves right-hander Eiju Sawamura, who pitched against Babe Ruth and a visiting American all-stars in Japan in 1934."—Library Journal"An important, groundbreaking work of research. Highly readable, yet thoroughly documented. No one else has put together this much information on baseball in Asia in one volume. It will be the sourcebook on the subject for years to come. Hats off to author Reaves for a much needed, unique contribution to the literature of the game."—Robert Whiting, author of You Gotta Have Wa"This book will be the definitive book on Asian baseball and how Japan has taken America's game and made it their own. . . . This is a rare book—one that is interesting, readable and also breaks a lot of new ground and enlightens a whole new audience to a game that we know and love yet is totally foreign to us."—Jonathan Leshanksi, Athomeplate.com“Taking in a Game is an essential history that provides context as the so-called ‘American game’ continues to evolve into a worldwide phenomenon.”—Michael Wilt, Korean Quarterly"A former Chicago Tribune sports writer, Reaves transformed his thesis project at the University of Hong Kong into this award-winning commentary. . . . Reaves's well-referenced treatment of the game is highly recommended for students majoring in sports studies or the history of sport, and for readers who just have a passion for the game."—Choice

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Book SynopsisA social history of baseball on Chicago’s South Side in the early decades of the twentieth century, drawing on the writings of novelist James T. Farrell, along with historical sources related to baseball’s rich history in this era. Trade Review"In James T. Farrell and Baseball: Dreams and Realism on Chicago’s South Side, sociologist Charles DeMotte paints a rich, eloquent, and colorful portrait of the author’s life, the world he grew up in, and how they pertain to his writings on America’s Pastime. DeMotte has done his work well. Besides combing Farrell’s work, the author’s extensive sources range widely from the Dorothy and Harold Seymour papers, to the James T. Farrell papers at the University of Pennsylvania, to the Chicago History Museum and the Newberry Library."—Bob Komoroski, Inside Game “Charles DeMotte captures the colorful and vibrant world of James T. Farrell’s boyhood neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago—a teeming environment populated by youth of every race and ethnicity who dreamed the American dream and intermingled on the city’s baseball fields. DeMotte shows how Farrell’s affection for the game and his observation of the various subcultures in this milieu contributed to his life’s work. The book is an engaging and thoroughly enlightening biography and work of social history.”—Thomas Wolf, coauthor of Midnight Assassin: A Murder in America’s Heartland “Admirers of James T. Farrell who love baseball as he did will welcome this Farrell-tinted study of the evolution of organized baseball on Chicago’s South Side in the early twentieth century, the place and time that the novelist made his own in Studs Lonigan and other works. Baseball fans new to Farrell will appreciate his kindred spirit and Mr. DeMotte’s account of the sport’s growth in the era of Ty Cobb and the Black Sox scandal, a time when young Farrell, too, was growing up.”—Robert K. Landers, author of An Honest Writer: The Life and Times of James T. FarrellTable of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments Introduction 1. Growing Up on the South Side 2. Farrell, Baseball, and the Making of a Literary Mind 3. Danny O’Neill’s Baseball Dreams 4. Chicago’s Summer Pastime 5. The College Game, Baseball Diplomacy, and the Summer Controversy 6. Rube Foster and Chicago’s Black South Side Teams 7. Comiskey and Chicago’s White South Side Team 8. The Business of Baseball 9. The Fix, the Scandal, and the Response 10. Looking Backward Epilogue Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisBaseball’s past has been lauded, romanticized, and idealized, and much has been written about both the sport and its history. This is the first volume to explore the understudied side of baseball - how its heritage is understood, interpreted, commodified, and performed for various purposes today.

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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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