Biography: sport Books
Rowman & Littlefield Sons of Baseball: Growing Up with a Major League
Book SynopsisA rare glimpse of professional ballplayers, not as pitchers, hitters, managers, and coaches, but as dads and grandads. Sons of major league baseball players grow up in a unique environment, not only because they are raised in part by professional athletes, but also because they are raised by the game itself. They come of age immersed in the distinct sounds and aromas of baseball. The locker rooms, the cinderblock-lined corridors beneath the stands, the dugouts, and the fields are the playgrounds of their youth. In Sons of Baseball, Mark Braff interviews 18 men who share their exclusive stories, ballpark memories, and the challenges and rewards of having fathers whose talents enabled them to reach the pinnacle of their profession. Each chapter is devoted to one son talking about his experiences, from the poignancy of one son’s disclosure that his dad has not been able to acknowledge his son’s sexuality as a gay man, to the humor of another son absconding with the groundskeepers’ cart in Cleveland. Including the sons of well-known players such as Cal Ripken, Yogi Berra, and Mariano Rivera as well as beloved lesser-known players, Sons of Baseball provides a unique, well-rounded perspective on the lives of professional ballplayers and their families. And with father-son photos from the families’ personal collections, this book is a rare, first-of-its kind compilation for all fans of the game. Table of ContentsForeword by Cal Ripken JrIntroduction Chapter 1. Jerry Hairston Sr. & Jr.—Following grandpa and dad into the family business Chapter 2. Roger & Kevin Maris—Still teaching lessons from dad Chapter 3. Larry Dobby Sr. & Jr.—From baseball to Billy Joel Chapter 4. John & Dusty Wathan—Cup ball and stories from Buck O’NeilChapter 5. Henry & David Rodriguez—Seeking dad’s acceptance: “All I wanted was a Barbie”Chapter 6. Mariano & Jafet Rivera—“Come on, Rivera, throw the cutter” Chapter 7. Vada Pinson Jr. & III—Yearning for a father’s loveChapter 8. Yogi & Larry Berra—Fielding fungoes from Mickey Mantle Chapter 9. Dave & Jeff McNally—A national television debut at age seven Chapter 10. Jack & Matt Aker—If it’s Tuesday, this must be LynchburgChapter 11. John W. Powell Sr & Jr—Stealing (and abandoning) the groundskeepers’ cartChapter 12. Gil Hodges Sr & Jr.—Embracing the legacyChapter 13. Tony Pena Sr & Jr.—Poking sleeping players with toothpicksChapter 14. Jim & Michael Bouton—Riding upside down to Yankee StadiumChapter 15. Leo Cardenas Sr & Jr.—“I should have made it” Chapter 16. Bobby & Robby Richardson—Getting past Frank Crosetti, baseball cop Chapter 17. Mike & Andy Hargrove—Fishing off Bo Jackson’s lapChapter 18. Ron & Brandon Guidry—Handfuls of Bazooka and other stadium funAcknowledgments A Note on SourcesAbout the Author
£18.04
Grand Central Publishing Swing and a Hit: Nine Innings of What Baseball
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£16.14
PublicAffairs The Book of James: The Power, Politics, and
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£24.00
Amazon Publishing Through the Banks of the Red Cedar: My Father and
Book SynopsisA warm and invigorating memoir about a daughter’s love for her father and her appreciation for how he and others changed the game of football forever. Gene Washington’s football career ended long before his daughter Maya was born. She never saw the legendary powerhouse as anything but her dad. She didn’t yet grasp the impact he’d had on the sport—and on America. To understand his historic role in the integration of college football, witness his influence on generations that followed, and fully appreciate his legacy, Maya had a lot of catching up to do. Maya retraces her father’s journey from the segregated south to Michigan State during the peak of the Civil Rights Movement and his journey as an NFL pioneer after the 1967 draft. She reflects on how her father’s childhood—and the racism he faced—shaped her upbringing and influenced his expectations of her. She also discovers how unbreakable the emotional bond between teammates can be. But above all, Maya and her father get to know each other. As their own bond deepens, so does Maya’s connection to the sport that changed the trajectory of her father’s life…and hers.Trade Review“An immensely moving tribute to her father, former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Gene Washington…Readers will be enthralled and heartened by this unique look at the way sports can influence society.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) “The book should appeal to college football enthusiasts, especially those interested in how racial issues impacted the sport during the 20th century.” —Kirkus Reviews
£12.62
£28.79
BookBaby The Winning Moment: Part 2
£17.84
University of Massachusetts Press Cy Young: A Baseball Life
Book SynopsisHe was the winner of 511 major league baseball games, nearly a hundred more than any other pitcher. He threw three no-bitters, including the first perfect game in the new American League. He was among the original twelve players inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame, and his name is now attached to the game's most prestigious pitching award. Yet for all his accomplishments, Cy Young remains to many baseball fans a legendary but little-known figure. This book re-creates the life of Denton True ""Cyclone"" Young and places his story in the context of a rapidly changing turn-of-the-century America.
£32.52
Bold Type Books My Turn: A Life of Total Football
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£16.99
Triumph Books Miracle in the Making: The Adam Taliaferro Story
Book SynopsisAdam Taliaferro had it all: smarts, an easy-going personality, and incomparable athletic ability. None of that seemed to matter, however, on that fateful September day when his father was given startling news: Do not expect your son to walk. Ever. Since that numbing day, Taliaferro, the Penn State freshman cornerback who was paralysed after he tackled an Ohio State running back, has defied the odds. Before he had spinal-fusion surgery, he made a vow to his mother: Mom, I'm not going out like this. Three months later, he walked out of a Philadelphia hospital on crutches, determined to complete his amazing recovery, making the name Adam Taliaferro synonymous with courage and perseverance.
£14.20
Triumph Books Ernie Harwell: My 60 Years in Baseball
Book SynopsisFor many fans, their lifetime of experience with the Detroit Tigers ensured them that when their team roared, it would be Ernie Harwell's smooth southern voice that would be heard above the din. After 42 years as the "Voice of the Detroit Tigers," the 2002 retirement of Harwell signaled the end of an era. This profile on the famed broadcaster provides the lesser-known details on the background of a Detroit institution. Known for his voice and talent for calling games, fans will be able to know the man himself and what brought him to—and kept him in—the Motor City. The only play-by-play broadcaster to cover games across seven decades, Harwell saw (and accumulated accompanying stories about) everyone from Babe Ruth to Ichiro Suzuki, many of which are shared in this entertaining biography.
£16.10
Weider Publications, Llc Bobby Jones And the Quest for the Grand Slam
Book SynopsisTo commemorate the 75th anniversary of Bobby Jones' miraculous feat of being the only golfer to capture the Grand Slam comes the most detailed and complete examinations ever on that magical 1930 season. Offering fans and historians every perspective of that Grand Slam season, Lewis delves into the key figures who helped mold Jones' game and mystique, as well as the locations of the rounds and the lasting impression the 'gentleman golfer' left on the game he loved so much.
£20.38
Hatherleigh Press,U.S. Against The Odds: The Adventures of a Man in His
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£12.34
NewSouth, Incorporated From Brooklyn to the Olympics: The Hall of Fame
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£20.66
Pelican Publishing Co Randy Romero's Remarkable Ride
Book SynopsisFormer horse jockey Randy Romero, winner of the Breeders' Cup, is a Louisiana sports legend still well loved in racing circles today. In 1985 he was at the top of his game, ranked number two in the country. This gripping biography covers the triumphs and tragedies in his exciting career, until his retirement in 1999.
£22.09
Tyndale House Publishers Pete Maravich
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£12.99
Temple University Press,U.S. The Mogul: Eddie Gottlieb, Philadelphia Sports
Book SynopsisThe first full-length study of Eddie Gottlieb, a pioneering player, coach, owner, and entrepreneur in basketball and baseballTrade Review"The Mogul is a full and colorful portrayal of the legendary Eddie Gottlieb, the primary force behind the acceptance and growth of professional basketball from its meager beginnings. The intimate behind-the-scenes descriptions of the early years of pro hoops are thoroughly researched and skillfully woven into the story by Rich Westcott." —Jack Ramsay, Former former NBA coach and ESPN basketball analystTable of Contents1. From Russia to South Philly; 2. A Jewish Man's Game; 3. Kings of the Court; 4. They Were the Days; 5. A Born Promoter; 6. Black Baseball Thrives; 7. Owner of the Stars; 8. Trying to Buy the Phillies; 9. A New League, A New Team; 10. First Champions of the BAA; 11. New Owner of the Warriors; 12. Integration Arrives; 13. One Year at the Top; 14. Dipper Comes Home; 15. Going to San Francisco; 16. The 76ers Arrive; 17. The Final Years
£39.90
Thomas Nelson Publishers Robert Griffin III: Athlete, Leader, Believer
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£15.99
Arcadia Publishing Babe the Kid
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£18.69
Arcadia Publishing (SC) Rhode Island Baseball The Early Years
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£18.69
Gray & Company Publishers Joe Tait: It's Been a Real Ball: Stories from a
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£16.16
Gray & Company Publishers Day of the Dawg: A Football Memoir
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£13.46
Gray & Company Publishers Mike Hargrove and the Cleveland Indians: A
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£15.26
Triumph Books Vintage Bo
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£16.69
Triumph Books Ernie Banks: Mr. Cub and the Summer of '69
Book SynopsisRespected by his baseball peers and beloved by Chicago fans and teammates, Ernie Banks did everything there was to do in the game he loved. Everything, that is, except play in a World Series. How and why that experience eluded him during one season of particular promise—1969—is a key storyline of this fresh look at one of baseball's legendary players. The life of Banks, who had picked cotton outside Dallas as a youth, ascended from a barnstorming semipro team to the major leagues after Kansas City Monarchs manager Buck O'Neil placed him with the Cubs, is detailed in this biography of Mr. Cub. During his time in Chicago, Banks won two MVPs and received an education far better than the one he received in the segregated schools he'd attended, gaining important life skills while playing the game he was born to play.
£19.76
Triumph Books One Step at a Time: A Young Marine's Story of
Book SynopsisJosh Bleill tells people he had “one bad day” while on combat patrol in Fallujah, Iraq, on October 15, 2006. That day, an IED struck his Humvee, tearing through the vehicle and killing two of his fellow marines while severely injuring Bleill and his best friend. He awoke five days later with to learn of the catastrophic loss of his two friends and both of his legs. Recovering physically presented a great challenge, but the mental recovery was the toughest battle. For three and a half months he never left the hospital because he didn't want people to see his injured body. In One Step at a Time, Bleill shares the story of his own personal redemption and the many life-changing moments he encountered, from his enlistment to active duty in Fallujah, through two years of intensive rehabilitation, and ultimately to his job as the community spokesman for the Indianapolis Colts. Readers will be inspired by his undying enthusiasm, infectious joy, and sense of humor as he shares his message of going forward, one step at a time.
£17.95
Triumph Books Shane Victorino: The Flyin' Hawaiian
Book SynopsisLong before Shane Victorino gained fame as a Gold Glove center fielder, All-Star, and World Series champion with the Philadelphia Phillies, he was a precocious child on the island of Maui, frustrating teachers with his inability to sit still and tagging along with older boys to neighborhood ball fields. For Victorino, diagnosed at an early age with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, sports became an ideal outlet for his boundless energy. As the first Maui native ever to appear in a World Series, Victorino played an integral role in giving his team, and the city of Philadelphia, a memory for the ages. In Shane Victorino: The Flyin' Hawaiian, readers will find the compelling story of a young man whose persistence and determination helped him overcome obstacles and emerge victorious at the highest level of his profession.
£19.76
Triumph Books Sparky Anderson: The Life of a Baseball Legend
Book SynopsisWith his familiar shock of white hair an craggy, prematurely aged face and twinkling eyes, Hall of Fame manager Sparky Anderson was a one of a kind personality beloved by generations of fans not just in the two cities he led to World Series championships, but throughout the baseball world. When he retired in 1995 he was third on the list of all-time winningest managers, have accumulated 2,194 victories in managing the Cincinnato Reds to two championships in nine years and adding another with the Detroit Tigers whom he managed for seventeen seasons.
£13.25
Triumph Books Pride of the Lions: The Biography of Joe Paterno
Book SynopsisJoe Paterno has scaled the heights of his profession, winning more than 400 games, a pair of national championships and nationwide respect for the program he built and sustained. In his mid-eighties now, he has vowed to continue with coaching, excited by the prospect of another promising team, and another autumn in Happy Valley. In this exciting new biography of a coaching icon, Frank Fitzpatrick, author of The Lion in Autumn, chronicles the life and career of the winningest coach in Division 1 football history.
£19.76
Triumph Books (IL) J.R.: My Life as the Most Outspoken, Fearless,
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£22.06
Triumph Books They Call Me Oil Can: Baseball, Drugs, and Life
Book SynopsisSpeaking candidly to veteran sportswriter Mike Shalin for the first time about his often tumultuous career in Major League Baseball, Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd recounts a life that began in the Deep South of Mississippi, and the events that led him toward great heights atop the pitcher’s mound at Fenway Park. As part of a stellar rotation alongside Bruce Hurst and a young Roger Clemens, Boyd served a dazzling array of pitches to opposing batters, most notably during the Boston Red Sox ill-fated 1986 World Series run against the New York Mets; and while he was at once brilliant and focused on the mound, off the field—as he affectingly reveals here—Boyd was unraveled by the personal battles he waged with substance abuse and destructive mood swings. As one of the few African American starting pitchers in the history of baseball, Boyd offers a candid, insightful, and often funny portrait of an athlete with boundless passion for the game, his teammates, and the Boston Red Sox.Trade Review"A must-read for all baseball fans, never mind Red Sox fans." -- Providence Journal"Interesting, amusing, puzzling and at times unsettling... [a] blunt, honest and sometimes painful work." --The Tampa Tribune
£20.66
Triumph Books (IL) Unmasked: Bernie Parent and the Broad Street
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£24.26
Triumph Books (IL) The Mouth That Roared: My Six Outspoken Decades
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£22.91
Triumph Books A Pirate for Life
Book SynopsisExploring a pitching career that began with a complete-game victory over Hall of Famer Don Drysdale in 1964 and ended when he could no longer control his pitches, this book details the life of Pittsburgh Pirates great, Steve Blass. This insider's view of the humorous and bizarre journey of a World Series champion pitcher turned color commentator will delight Pirates and baseball fans alike. Recounting his first years in the Major Leagues and his battle with the baffling condition that would ultimately bear his own name, Steve Blass tells the story of his life on and off the field with a poignant, dazzling wit and shares the life of a baseball player who had the prime of his career cut short.
£13.95
Triumph Books (IL) Gordie Howe's Son: A Hall of Fame Life in the
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£23.36
£16.10
Triumph Books Shane Victorino: The Flyin' Hawaiian
Book SynopsisLong before Shane Victorino gained fame as a Gold Glove outfielder, All-Star, and fan favorite at Fenway Park, he was a precocious child on the island of Maui, frustrating teachers with his inability to sit still and tagging along with older boys to neighborhood ball fields. For Victorino, diagnosed at an early age with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), sports became an ideal outlet for his boundless energy. As the first Maui native ever to appear in a World Series in 2009, Victorino played an integral role in the Philadelphia Phillies’ victory. Readers will be compelled by the story of a young man whose persistence and determination helped him overcome obstacles and emerge victorious at the highest level of his profession. This updated edition follows Victorino’s path to Boston, where the electric outfielder has led the Red Sox back to the top of the standings.
£13.25
Triumph Books Mariano Rivera: Saving Grace
Book SynopsisAfter 19 seasons in the major leagues, all with a single team—a feat few athletes in today’s modern sport can match—Mariano Rivera closes out his career with the New York Yankees at the conclusion of the 2013 season. New York’s much-loved closer retires as baseball’s all-time leader in saves, ERA, and appearances, and he holds the Yankees’ single-season saves record as well. Few could have predicted when the Yankees brought Rivera up to the majors in 1995 that he would one day hold the record for most career games pitched with a single team. Rivera did much more than lead by example; he powered his team to five World Series championships: 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2009. Celebrate Mo’s amazing career with this full-color pictorial keepsake packed with unique images and exemplary writing from New York’s award-winning newspaper, the New York Post.
£13.25
Triumph Books Paterno Legacy: Enduring Lessons from the Life
Book SynopsisThis biography of Joe Paterno by his son Jay is an honest and touching look at the life and legacy of a beloved coaching legend. Jay Paterno paints a full picture of his father’s life and career as well as documenting that almost none of the horrific crimes that came to light in 2012 took place at PennState. Jay Paterno clear-headedly confronts the events that happened with cool facts and with passion, demonstrating that this was just one more case of an innocent man convicted by the media for a crime in which he had no part. Noting that the scandal itself was but a short moment in Joe Paterno’s life and legacy, the book focuses on Paterno’s greatness as a father and grandfather, his actions as a miraculous coach to his players, and his skillful dealings with his assistant coaches. A memorial to one of the greatest coaches in college football history, the book also reveals insightful anecdotes from his son and coaching pupil.
£21.56
Triumph Books Johnny U and Me: The Man Behind the Golden Arm
Book SynopsisJohnny Unitas is widely considered the finest quarterback ever to play the game. Much has been written about his life, but for the first time, Unitas’s son, John, writes about his father and reveals information about his family and father’s career that has never before been brought to light. For anyone who holds an interest in either Unitas’s life or NFL history, John Unitas Jr.’s revealing and touching biography honoring the life and times of his father is a must-read. It sheds light on the character and convictions of the man who has lived on in NFL history, both on and off the field, offering clues to what made him the man and the player he was.
£20.66
Rodale Incorporated 14 Minutes: A Running Legend's Life and Death and
Book SynopsisIn 2007, after collapsing on a practice field at the Nike campus, champion marathoner Alberto Salazar's heart stopped beating for 14 minutes. Over the crucial moments that followed, rescuers administered CPR to feed oxygen to his brain and EMTs shocked his heart eight times with defibrillator paddles. He was clinically dead. But miraculously, Salazar was back at the Nike campus coaching his runners just nine days later.Salazar had faced death before, but he survived that and numerous other harrowing episodes thanks to his raw physical talent, maniacal training habits, and sheer will, as well as—he strongly believes—divine grace.In 14 Minutes, Salazar chronicles in spellbinding detail how a shy, skinny Cuban-American kid from the suburbs of Boston was transformed into the greatest marathon runner of his era. For the first time, he reveals his tempestuous relationship with his father, a former ally of Fidel Castro; his early running life in high school with the Greater Boston Track Club; his unhealthy obsession to train through pain; the dramatic wins in New York, Boston, and South Africa; and how surviving 14 minutes of death taught him to live again.Trade Review“14 Minutes is an inspirational account of a man who has fought with the Grim Reaper and won. Since he put on his first pair of running shoes, Alberto Salazar has been defying the odds. Through his memoir, people have the privilege to get to know this truly great man and walk away with a renewed appreciation for life.” —Lance Armstrong, cancer survivor and 7-time Tour de France champion“A World Record holder who prided himself on his focus, inner drive, and admitted obsession with detail almost loses a race he never thought he'd enter: the one against time. How and why did Alberto survive for 14 minutes with no pulse? His quest to intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually answer these questions gave me a wonderful glimpse inside the mind of this elite marathoner.” —Frank Shorter, Olympic gold medalist, marathon, 1972 “Alberto Salazar has lived a remarkable life—two lives, actually—and this engrossing book does justice to them both, knitting miraculous victories with mysterious declines, and the blind ferocity of competition with the clarity of death. It is a story about running, but it is also about faith, grit, and the importance of chasing something larger than ourselves.” —David Willey, editor-in-chief, Runner’s World“I've known Alberto Salazar since he was a high school runner, but 14 Minutes opened my eyes to who he really is, what he values most, and why he aimed so high. I always felt Alberto had ‘heart' and this book proves it. It's a terrific read!” —Bill Rodgers, Boston and New York City Marathon champion“A dramatic account of the risks and rewards of top-level long-distance running.” —Kirkus Reviews
£18.99
Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale 14 Minutes: A Running Legend's Life and Death and
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£12.34
Experiment Going the Other Way: An Intimate Memoir of Life
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£12.99
Edge of Sports Little Wonder: The Fabulous Story of Lottie Dod,
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£22.06
Arcadia Publishing Kansas University Basketball Legends
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£16.99
Arcadia Publishing Baltimore Baseball Barbecue with Boog Powell
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£18.69
Triumph Books Strangers in the Bronx: DiMaggio, Mantle, and the
Book SynopsisRare is the athlete who captures the imagination of a generation. In Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle, sports culture had two such figures. Undoubtedly, DiMaggio and Mantle are two of the most revered names in baseball literature. However, there is one particular moment that has been overlooked by baseball historians and writers: the 1951 pennant-winning New York Yankees team—DiMaggio's last year and Mantle's rookie season. For that one year, the paths of these two baseball icons converged, the naissance of Mantle's career poignantly juxtaposed with the slow descent of DiMaggio's final season. Strangers in the Bronx is more than a chronicle of a World Series–winning team, it is also a study of heroes: the decline of an all-too mortal American icon and the emergence of the newest sensation in sport.
£20.66
Triumph Books Parcells: The Unauthorized Biography
Book SynopsisIn this revealing biography, the exhaustive research of acclaimed sports historian Carlo DeVito sheds new light on football coaching legend Bill Parcells, exposing the two-time Super Bowl–winning coach's moxie and lifelong dedication to football. The book digs deep into Parcells' past to unlock the secrets of what made him who he is today, following him from his childhood, through 15 years of college coaching, to his first big chance in the pros and the year that almost broke him. With more than 3,000 interviews, newspaper and magazine articles, and scores of primary resources, DeVito's book brings Parcells to life as readers have never seen him before.
£13.25
Triumph Books Derek Jeter: Excellence and Elegance
Book SynopsisAfter 20 major league seasons—all with the New York Yankees—Derek Jeter is hanging up his spikes at the conclusion of the 2014 campaign. The Yankees’ captain since 2003, the shortstop is considered the greatest Yankee of his generation. Jeter’s Yankees teams won five World Series, including three in a row in 1998, 1999, and 2000. The all-time postseason leader in hits, doubles, and triples, Jeter earned the nickname “Captain Clutch” for his game-changing performances during the Yankees’ championship era. Through stories and powerful images from the pages of the New York Times, Derek Jeter: Excellence and Elegance celebrates the career of this New York icon from Jeter’s debut in 1995 through his final game in 2014. This full-color pictorial keepsake also features an introduction by Tyler Kepner, the Times’ award-winning baseball reporter.
£13.25
