History of sport Books
MP-VIR Uni of Virginia They Run with Surprising Swiftness
Book SynopsisSports have never been the sole preserve of men; women athletes have always been there. As this book shows, throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in Britain, women of all ages ran, fought, rode, played football, cricket, tennis, and other sports.Trade Review“A pioneering book based on original and painstaking scholarship. The sheer weight of the research and its meticulously written details will challenge preconceived popular and academic notions about the role and status of women in early modern British society. The book will not only be of interest to sports historians but will also provide fresh insights for scholars of women’s history and early modern history in general. Radford is a leading authority on this subject for this time period. This is a labour of love.” - Neil Carter, De Montfort University, Leicester, author of Cycling and the British: A Modern History
£26.06
New York University Press Outside the Lines African Americans and the
Book SynopsisIn American football, seven out of ten players are black, but few are fully aware of the struggle to achieve equal rights. This text examines how sports laid a foundation for social change by integrating black and white athletes in the National Football League.Trade Review"Informative . . . Ross has opened some important doors." * American Historical Review *"An important analysis for all who care about the African American experience in professional sports. Significant not only for the history it tells, but for the questions it raises about race relations in football as an industry and as a United States institution." -- Michael E. Lomax, President and CEO of UNCF"Charles Ross' stellar research clearly demonstrates that the African American struggle for merit and equality not only extends to the playing field but has, in fact, long defined the game of professional football. A must read for students of the game, from casual gridiron enthusiasts to scholars alike." -- C. Keith Harrison"Ross provides a concise account of the pioneers who integrated pro football in the early part of the century and those who helped reintegrate the game in the era of World War II. It is a heroic yet tragic story ably told. One hopes the book might convince the pro football establishment to honor some of these stalwart athletes and coaches by enshrining them in the Pro Football Hall of Fame." -- John M. Carroll,Lamar University, author of Fritz Pollard: Pioneer in Racial Advancement and Red Grange and the Rise of Modern Football"…offers an interesting recitation of the on-again-off-again participation of blacks in the early years of pro football." * The Baltimore Sun *
£22.79
University of Minnesota Press Town Ball The Glory Days of Minnesota Amateur
Book SynopsisTrade Review"Oh my, this is a delicious book. If you’re of a certain age, run out and get Town Ball by Armand Peterson and Tom Tomashek. The book is crammed with pictures and detail and is a worthwhile trip down memory lane."—Thisweek"Every state should be so fortunate as to have authors who are willing to create such a record that grows out of the game, is written by former players of the game, and for players of the game."—Sports Literature Association"This is a delicious book. Run out and get it."—Hometown Source"This is a fascinating book."—The Daily Journal"A time machine full of many surprises."—Farmington Newspaper"Any baseball fan is encouraged to get Town Ball. It is entertaining, informative reading."—Brownton Bulletin"If you are one who loves the history and lore of amateur baseball in Minnesota, this is a book that you will enjoy."—New Ulm Journal"The book is a dream come true for the boyhood friends who grew up wanting to be a part of town team ball."—Advocate Tribune"For fans of baseball in Minnesota, Town Ball is filled with offbeat tales and pictures of the top players from 1946 to 1961."—Austin Post-Bulletin"No wonder most of the fans who remember their community team consider those years, between World War II in 1945 and the arrival of the Twins in 1961, the best in Minnesota baseball."—City Pages, A-List Picks"A wonderful book, a time machine full of unexpected surprises."—Echoes from Lane Field"This book examines a fascinating period of Minnesota baseball. Peterson and Tomashek not only recount the rich heritage of baseball, they have dug up fascinating facts about teams, towns, friendly (and more vociferous) rivalries, and memorable characters. This is a wonderful book."—Frazee Forum"This excellent book would be a super-choice."—Albert Lea Tribune "Baseball enthusiasts and history buffs alike will enjoy the wide-ranging stories in the book and compelling portraits of players and fans—all who made Minnesota town ball so great in its heyday."—Fairfax Standard-Gazette"For anyone who loves baseball when trousers were bloused and socks showed above the stirrup, the photos will carry you back to those halcyon days. The book is worth the price for the photos alone. For Armand Peterson and Tom Tomaschek, who lived and played it the town they write about, this book was a labor of love."—NINE: A Journal of Baseball History and Culture"Oh my, this is a delicious book. If you’re of a certain age, run out and get Town Ball by Armand Peterson and Tom Tomashek. The book is crammed with pictures and detail and is a worthwhile trip down memory lane."—Thisweek"Every state should be so fortunate as to have authors who are willing to create such a record that grows out of the game, is written by former players of the game, and for players of the game."—Sports Literature Association"This is a delicious book. Run out and get it."—Hometown Source"This is a fascinating book."—The Daily Journal"A time machine full of many surprises."—Farmington Newspaper"Any baseball fan is encouraged to get Town Ball. It is entertaining, informative reading."—Brownton Bulletin"If you are one who loves the history and lore of amateur baseball in Minnesota, this is a book that you will enjoy."—New Ulm Journal"The book is a dream come true for the boyhood friends who grew up wanting to be a part of town team ball."—Advocate Tribune"For fans of baseball in Minnesota, Town Ball is filled with offbeat tales and pictures of the top players from 1946 to 1961."—Austin Post-Bulletin"No wonder most of the fans who remember their community team consider those years, between World War II in 1945 and the arrival of the Twins in 1961, the best in Minnesota baseball."—City Pages, A-List Picks"A wonderful book, a time machine full of unexpected surprises."—Echoes from Lane Field"This book examines a fascinating period of Minnesota baseball. Peterson and Tomashek not only recount the rich heritage of baseball, they have dug up fascinating facts about teams, towns, friendly (and more vociferous) rivalries, and memorable characters. This is a wonderful book."—Frazee Forum"This excellent book would be a super-choice."—Albert Lea Tribune "Baseball enthusiasts and history buffs alike will enjoy the wide-ranging stories in the book and compelling portraits of players and fans—all who made Minnesota town ball so great in its heyday."—Fairfax Standard-Gazette"For anyone who loves baseball when trousers were bloused and socks showed above the stirrup, the photos will carry you back to those halcyon days. The book is worth the price for the photos alone. For Armand Peterson and Tom Tomaschek, who lived and played it the town they write about, this book was a labor of love."—NINE: A Journal of Baseball History and Culture"Oh my, this is a delicious book. If you’re of a certain age, run out and get Town Ball by Armand Peterson and Tom Tomashek. The book is crammed with pictures and detail and is a worthwhile trip down memory lane."—Thisweek"Every state should be so fortunate as to have authors who are willing to create such a record that grows out of the game, is written by former players of the game, and for players of the game."—Sports Literature Association"This is a delicious book. Run out and get it."—Hometown Source"This is a fascinating book."—The Daily Journal"A time machine full of many surprises."—Farmington Newspaper"Any baseball fan is encouraged to get Town Ball. It is entertaining, informative reading."—Brownton Bulletin"If you are one who loves the history and lore of amateur baseball in Minnesota, this is a book that you will enjoy."—New Ulm Journal"The book is a dream come true for the boyhood friends who grew up wanting to be a part of town team ball."—Advocate Tribune"For fans of baseball in Minnesota, Town Ball is filled with offbeat tales and pictures of the top players from 1946 to 1961."—Austin Post-Bulletin"No wonder most of the fans who remember their community team consider those years, between World War II in 1945 and the arrival of the Twins in 1961, the best in Minnesota baseball."—City Pages, A-List Picks"A wonderful book, a time machine full of unexpected surprises."—Echoes from Lane Field"This book examines a fascinating period of Minnesota baseball. Peterson and Tomashek not only recount the rich heritage of baseball, they have dug up fascinating facts about teams, towns, friendly (and more vociferous) rivalries, and memorable characters. This is a wonderful book."—Frazee Forum"This excellent book would be a super-choice."—Albert Lea Tribune "Baseball enthusiasts and history buffs alike will enjoy the wide-ranging stories in the book and compelling portraits of players and fans—all who made Minnesota town ball so great in its heyday."—Fairfax Standard-Gazette"For anyone who loves baseball when trousers were bloused and socks showed above the stirrup, the photos will carry you back to those halcyon days. The book is worth the price for the photos alone. For Armand Peterson and Tom Tomaschek, who lived and played it the town they write about, this book was a labor of love."—NINE: A Journal of Baseball History and Culture
£21.59
University of Minnesota Press The Vikings Reader
Book SynopsisTable of ContentsPreface 1. The Dutchman and 36 Stiffs: The Birth of the Vikings 2. 40 for 60: Bud Grant Builds a Powerhouse 3. Super Losers: Championship Seasons and Big Game Disappointments 4. The Magic Bounces Away: The Difficult 1980s 5. A New Sheriff in Town: Dennis Green Restores Winning Ways 6. Purple Pride: An Offense for the Ages 7. All Day Long: New Owner and New Stars Publication History
£18.99
University of Georgia Press How Bout Them Dawgs The Inside Story of Georgia
Book SynopsisTells the behind-the-scenes story of the University of Georgia’s 2021 college football national championship season from the perspective of the man in charge: Kirby Smart.
£32.95
Ohio University Press No Money No Beer No Pennants
Book SynopsisA lively history of the ups and downs of a legendary team and its iconic players as they persevered through internal unrest and the turmoil of the Great Depression, pursuing a pennant that didn’t come until 1948.Trade Review“Avid baseball fans, especially Cleveland fans, will enjoy No Money, No Beer, No Pennants.… A fine addition to any baseball fan’s bookshelf.” * Canadian Journal of History *“Though, as the title indicates, there aren’t too many happy events recorded in the book, it remains fascinating for the many stories and details Longert has pulled from his research.” * Akron Beacon-Journal *“Tribe fans will read it with great enthusiasm and baseball historians will reference it often, as Scott Longert brings much new, important information to the table. I particularly appreciated the backstories of the players and the conflicts that the team faced: old stadium versus new, radio broadcasts versus not, and day games versus night.”“Much has been written about the great Indians players of the 1930s, but not so much on the team itself, and the building of the stadium is a great backdrop. Longert knows his stuff and goes to the right sources, and excels at capturing life in baseball at a particularly critical time for Clevelanders as well as the country.”“In so many baseball books, the authors report on too many details of too many games. Longert is more selective, sometimes only recounting key moments of pivotal games. I was sorry when this book ended.” * Book Reviews by Charles *
£31.50
Ohio University Press No Money No Beer No Pennants
Book SynopsisA lively history of the ups and downs of a legendary team and its iconic players as they persevered through internal unrest and the turmoil of the Great Depression, pursuing a pennant that didn't come until 1948.Trade Review“Avid baseball fans, especially Cleveland fans, will enjoy No Money, No Beer, No Pennants.… A fine addition to any baseball fan’s bookshelf.” * Canadian Journal of History *“Though, as the title indicates, there aren’t too many happy events recorded in the book, it remains fascinating for the many stories and details Longert has pulled from his research.” * Akron Beacon-Journal *“Tribe fans will read it with great enthusiasm and baseball historians will reference it often, as Scott Longert brings much new, important information to the table. I particularly appreciated the backstories of the players and the conflicts that the team faced: old stadium versus new, radio broadcasts versus not, and day games versus night.”“Much has been written about the great Indians players of the 1930s, but not so much on the team itself, and the building of the stadium is a great backdrop. Longert knows his stuff and goes to the right sources, and excels at capturing life in baseball at a particularly critical time for Clevelanders as well as the country.”“In so many baseball books, the authors report on too many details of too many games. Longert is more selective, sometimes only recounting key moments of pivotal games. I was sorry when this book ended.” * Book Reviews by Charles *
£17.99
Ohio University Press Bad Boys Bad Times
Book SynopsisIn 1937, the Great Depression was still lingering, but at baseball parks across the country there was a sense of optimism. Major League attendance was on a sharp rise. Tickets to an Indians game at League Park on Lexington and East 66th were $1.60 for box seats, $1.35 for reserve seats, and $.55 for the bleachers.Trade Review“Scott Longert continues his deep dive into the history of the Cleveland Indians, picking up where No Money, No Beer, No Pennants left off. This particular era—which included the signing and development of Bob Feller as the greatest pitcher in team history—has never received the dedicated treatment that Longert gives it here. This book includes much for fans of the Indians, of baseball, and of Cleveland history to love.”"He might not have started out this way, but Scott Longert has quietly become a pre-eminent baseball historian. He is slowly chronicling the Cleveland Indians' rich past through excellent scholarship, bringing to life former eras and the players who helped shape the franchise.“ * The Plain Dealer *Praise for No Money, No Beer, No Pennants “Tribe fans will read it with great enthusiasm and baseball historians will reference it often, as Scott Longert brings much new, important information to the table.”Praise for No Money, No Beer, No Pennants “Much has been written about the great Indians players of the 1930s, but not so much on the team itself…. Longert knows his stuff and goes to the right sources, and excels at capturing life in baseball at a particularly critical time for Clevelanders as well as the country.”
£31.50
Ohio University Press Bad Boys Bad Times
Book SynopsisIn 1937, the Great Depression was still lingering, but at baseball parks across the country there was a sense of optimism. Major League attendance was on a sharp rise. Tickets to an Indians game at League Park on Lexington and East 66th were $1.60 for box seats, $1.35 for reserve seats, and $.55 for the bleachers.Trade Review“Scott Longert continues his deep dive into the history of the Cleveland Indians, picking up where No Money, No Beer, No Pennants left off. This particular era—which included the signing and development of Bob Feller as the greatest pitcher in team history—has never received the dedicated treatment that Longert gives it here. This book includes much for fans of the Indians, of baseball, and of Cleveland history to love.”"He might not have started out this way, but Scott Longert has quietly become a pre-eminent baseball historian. He is slowly chronicling the Cleveland Indians' rich past through excellent scholarship, bringing to life former eras and the players who helped shape the franchise.“ * The Plain Dealer *Praise for No Money, No Beer, No Pennants “Tribe fans will read it with great enthusiasm and baseball historians will reference it often, as Scott Longert brings much new, important information to the table.”Praise for No Money, No Beer, No Pennants “Much has been written about the great Indians players of the 1930s, but not so much on the team itself…. Longert knows his stuff and goes to the right sources, and excels at capturing life in baseball at a particularly critical time for Clevelanders as well as the country.”
£17.99
Ohio University Press Victory on Two Fronts The Cleveland Indians and
Book SynopsisLike other teams, the Cleveland Indians suffered as World War II drained rosters and distracted fans. But in 1945, star pitcher Bob Feller returned from naval service and was soon joined by the American League’s first Black players: Larry Doby and Satchel Paige. This book shows how, in 1948, they led the Indians to a World Series championship.Trade Review"Once again Scott H. Longert shows why he is a leading historian and storyteller of baseball in Cleveland. In Longert’s unique style, Victory on Two Fronts tells the story of how the intersection of World War II America, integration, and Cleveland’s baseball team shaped society and the national pastime. Just like Indians outfielder Pat Seerey…Longert [is] the ‘people’s choice’ when it comes to chronicling the hundred-plus years of baseball in Cleveland.”
£31.50
Ohio University Press Victory on Two Fronts
Book SynopsisLike other teams, the Cleveland Indians suffered as World War II drained rosters and distracted fans. But in 1945, star pitcher Bob Feller returned from naval service and was soon joined by the American League’s first Black players: Larry Doby and Satchel Paige. This book shows how, in 1948, they led the Indians to a World Series championship.Trade Review"Once again Scott H. Longert shows why he is a leading historian and storyteller of baseball in Cleveland. In Longert’s unique style, Victory on Two Fronts tells the story of how the intersection of World War II America, integration, and Cleveland’s baseball team shaped society and the national pastime. Just like Indians outfielder Pat Seerey…Longert [is] the ‘people’s choice’ when it comes to chronicling the hundred-plus years of baseball in Cleveland.”
£17.99
Johns Hopkins University Press Arthur Ashe
Book SynopsisDrawing on coverage of Ashe's athletic career and social activism in domestic and international publications, archives including the Ashe Papers, and a variety of published memoirs and interviews, Hall has created an intimate, nuanced portrait of a great athlete who stood at the crossroads of sports and equal justice.Trade ReviewHall's elegant and well-paced narrative teases out the contradictions of one of tennis's most enigmatic characters. Times Literary Supplement Eric Allen Hall's biography of Ashe is assiduous in giving context, ever-traceable in its sources, to the tennis player's life: his childhood in segregated Richmond is recounted with a summary of how de jure segregation ruled the lives of American children; his coming of age as an athlete and ROTC member includes sketches of the Civil Rights Era on campus and in Vietnam; his ascendance to a globe-touring professional with public demonstrations against apartheid in South Africa includes glosses on the competitive structure of world tennis and the Cold War arrangement of power between the segregated nations of America and South Africa. Rain Taxi Review of Books A strong book on an outstanding topic, it serves as a reminder that Ashe's tragic death has to some extent eclipsed his life's work on behalf of racial equality. Wall Street Journal A portrait of Arthur Ashe that shows the fullness of his character-his broad interests, his impressive talents, and his missteps. New Books in Sports A remarkable book that will serve as a model for future works in this genre. Virginia Magazine of History and Biography Arthur Ashe is a scrupulous and lively book that should achieve the difficult task of satisfying both academics and non-specialists. Anyone interested in how the mixture of sport and politics has become cultural common sense will benefit tremendously from reading it. The Allrounder Hall's meticulous research of extensive archival materials allows him to uncover the complexities of Ashe's relationship with his own athleticism and race... This kind of collection is almost unique in sports history and Hall's capable use of it lends Arthur Ashe a depth of private detail unprecedented among athletic biographies, scholarly or otherwise... Meticulous, honest, and straightforward, the book itself might act as a tool by which other cultural critics, building on Hall's research, can bring refreshed and renewed attention to this intersection between sport and political activism, racial or otherwise. H Net Hall's book expertly builds on... previous representations [of Arthur Ashe], and features an impressive analysis of primary data--including Ashe's personal diary--in an overall effort to offer the most critical and comprehensive historical account of his life to date. He succeeds in remarkable fashion... European Journal for Sport and Society An invaluable resource... It's a solidly researched book. Inside Tennis Makes clear how difficult it was to stage the kind of civil rights politics and protests found across the board in American sports in the late 1960s in the traditionally patrician showground of tennis. Hall's accessible history restores much of the necessary context and conclusion to ensure that Ashe is understood on his own terms. Journal of American History This book is more than a biography; it is a window into the wider world that existed when Ashe was alive. Hall's research is meticulous, his contextualization of a life is impressive, and he writes his story clearly and deftly. Choice ...This biography will appeal to a genral audience. Hall closely examined the relevant primary and seconday sourses. The Journal of African American HistoryTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. Richmond2. UCLA3. An Emerging Activist4. Bright Lights and Civil Rights5. Tennis Wars6. Defeat and Victory in South Africa7. Transitions8. The Comeback9. Triumph and TragedyConclusionNotesEssay on SourcesIndex
£23.85
Temple University Press,U.S. The Philly Fans Code
Book SynopsisAn original and quirky take on Philadelphia legends and the meaning of tough athleteTrade Review"A veritable cheesesteak between covers, Mike Tanier's The Philly Fan's Code is a book no self-respecting Philadelphia sports fan can be without."—Gregg Easterbrook, ESPN"Honest, incisive, funny, and compulsively readable, The Philly Fan's Code is the perfect book for Philly sports fans. Mike Tanier offers a fresh take on age-old debates about the legacies of the city's most memorable and controversial athletes, inviting readers to reconsider the reputation and history of Philadelphia fans." —Tom McAllister, author of Bury Me in My Jersey: A Memoir of My Father, Football, and PhillyTable of ContentsIntroduction1. The Answer in Theory, but Not in Practice 2. The Bully Who Made Us Believe 3. The Slugger Who Won Our Hearts, Eventually 4. The Man, and the Man Crush 5. The Showman We Could Not Boo. Or Could We? 6. The Babe Ruth of Backspin 7. The Haunted, Eternal Samurai 8. The Defense of the Minister 9. The Role Model for the Non-Role Models 10. He Called Us the F-Word 11. He Brooded Back at Us 12. The Idiot Man, Hallelujah 13. Better Than the Greatest, If Only Briefly 14. The Reluctant Enforcer 15. The Once and Future Captain 16. The Pan-Dimensional Catcher 17. He Left Us So He Could Stay with Us 18. The Baby Brother We Could Not Pick On. Yet. 19. The Haters’ Favorite 20. The Ultimate Something or OtherIntermission: Coaches and Executives21. The Forever Flyer 22. The Man from Lovetron 23. He Taught Us to Win, and Laid Off the Action 24. The Origin of the Booed Species 25. The Other Fighter 26. The Man Who Spoiled Memories 27. The Slaphappy Workhorse 28. The Legend We Could Love 29. He Gave His Life for Philly Toughness 30. The Agony of the Feet 31. He Nailed the Good Ol’ Boy Act 32. He No Longer Takes That Fifth Day Off 33. The Spirit of ’64, the Year That Wasn’t 34. The Quarterback We Grew Up With 35. Point Guard for a Nation 36. Ameba, Enigma, Goaltender 37. The Thinking Man’s Slob 38, 39. The Lost Brothers 40. The Forgotten Hall of Famer 41. All He Had Was Four Little Words 42. He Was Too Tall to Disappear 43. The Wildest Thing We’d Ever Seen 44. The (Briefly) Perfect Reliever 45. The Man Who Got the Credit 46. The Defenseman in the Shadows 47. Backache, Headache, Heartache 48. The Greatest Mistake 49. The Bat Who Wouldn’t Leave 50. The Face of the FutureAcknowledgments
£12.34
Temple University Press,U.S. Dominican Baseball
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
£18.99
Temple University Press,U.S. Work Fight or Play Ball
Book SynopsisIn 1918, Bethlehem Steel started the world's greatest industrial baseball league. Appealing to Major League Baseball players looking to avoid service in the Great War, teams employed ringers like Babe Ruth, Rogers Hornsby, and Shoeless Joe Jackson in what became scornfully known as safe shelter leagues. In Work, Fight, or Play Ball, William Ecenbarger fondly recounts this little-known story of how dozens of athletes faced professional conflicts and a difficult choice in light of public perceptions and war propaganda. Some players used the steel mill and shipyard leagues to avoid wartime military duty, irking Major League owners, who saw their rosters dwindling. Bethlehem Steel President Charles Schwab (no relation to the financier) saw the league as a means to stave off employee and union organizing. Most fans loudly criticized the ballplayers, but nevertheless showed up to watch the action on the diamond. Ecenbarger traces the 1918 Steel League's season and compares the fates ofTrade Review“As a military historian and a huge baseball fan, I found William Ecenbarger’s Work, Fight, or Play Ball to be both compelling history and an extremely fun read. Ecenbarger’s work tells the important story of the nexus of sports, war, and big business in delineating how industrial leagues became a safe haven for baseball players who sought to avoid the western front. Work, Fight, or Play Ball also allows readers to sit in the bleachers and watch as ballplayers from Babe Ruth to Shoeless Joe took their at-bats for an important yet under researched portion of baseball’s historical world.”—Andrew Wiest, University Distinguished Historian at the Dale Center for the Study of War and Society at the University of Southern Mississippi, and author of The Illustrated History of World War I“What effect did World War I have on Major League Baseball and its players? In Work, Fight, or Play Ball, Bill Ecenbarger provides the answer in glowing detail. This absolutely fascinating and extremely informative book contains masterful research on what players such as Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Christy Mathewson, and Rogers Hornsby did during the war, how the major leagues survived, and the special leagues that formed to compete with them.”—Rich Westcott, author of Biz Mackey, a Giant behind the Plate and twenty-six other books
£18.99
University of Texas Press Texas Sports
Book SynopsisWith a stirring story for every day of the year, this book celebrates the athletes and teams in more than twenty-five sports that have made Texas a dynamo in the world of sports across more than a century.Trade Review"This handy publication, which discusses both amateur and professional sports, covers more than one hundred years of history, 1893-2016…valuable as a convenient reference and as a source for intriguing anecdotes." * Central Texas Studies *Table of Contents Introduction January February March April May June July August September October November December Sources Acknowledgments Index
£15.19
University of Texas Press The Sports Revolution
Book SynopsisThe story of Texas's impact on American sports culture during the civil rights and second-wave feminist movements, this book offers a new understanding of sports and society in the state and the nation as a whole.Trade Review[Guridy] has a keen eye for turning and tipping points, and his lucid narrative serves his thesis well. Sports buffs will find Guridy’s explorations rewarding. * Kirkus *[An] illuminating survey...This is a fascinating and meticulously researched gem for sports buffs. * Publishers Weekly *A remarkable look at how the intersection of resistance movements and Texas athletics changed the USA forever. * The Nation's "Edge of Sports" *Guridy makes a case that the Texas sports revolution of the sixties and seventies was every bit as history-making as Jackie Robinson’s impact on baseball and post–World War II America, or the impact on both sports and popular culture of such contemporary athletes as Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Serena Williams...While any work of history is also meant to say something about the present moment, this book feels especially timely. * Texas Monthly *A fascinating look at the game-changers and trendsetters, on and off the field, who not only made Texas great but helped build the American sports landscape...History is never boring. Sports history is even better. And as you might imagine, Texas sports history is bigger and better. Guridy’s effort is worthy of applause. * Houston Chronicle *[The Sports Revolution] is a book that looks at the different impacts sports can have: 'on a region’s political economy; on the country’s popular culture; on the ways manhood, womanhood, whiteness, blackness, and social belonging were understood and reimagined.' These threads are all engagingly and intelligently brought together throughout...At the end of each chapter, readers are kept wanting more, which speaks to how engagingly these stories are told. Yet never does Guridy exchange insight for breeziness...The Sports Revolution is...a prompt for readers to more fully consider what it means to fight for justice both on and on the court, and how to more thoughtfully engage in those battles today. * FanSided *Using the exuberant terminology of the times combined with his active writing style, Guridy holds his readers’ attentions with descriptions of key games and players, as well as negotiations and financiers...As Guridy reveals, Texas, and Texans like Lamar Hunt, Tom Landry, Don Meredith, Tom Vandergriff, and Nancy Richey, did have important roles in the evolution of sports during the mid-to-late twentieth century...[The Sports Revolution is a] well-written, thought-provoking examination of the topic...Fans of Texas athletics and other sports will find the book an informative source. * Southwestern Historical Quarterly *[A] wonderful book...[Guridy's] book is always insightful and interesting. But his examination of the intersection of race and economics in the emergence of the NBA's San Antonio Spurs is particularly strong, as is a chapter examining the emergence of the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders as a national phenomenon. In a world where sports is again undergoing a transformation, The Sports Revolution offers a valuable lens through which to view both the dramatic changes of the 1970s and those so prominent in today's society. * New Books in Sports *A needed, readable, and analytical perspective on sport in Texas mainly during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s...Alongside insightful evaluations of the big movers and shakers of Texas sport during the era, such as Lamar Hunt, Roy Hofheinz, and Darrell Royal, Guridy integrates the troubling experiences of race and gender from the racial integration of the Southwest Conference at Southern Methodist University in the 1960s to the famed 'Battle of the Sexes' tennis match in 1973 between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs in Houston. Specialists and non-specialists in sport history should find this book rewarding. * CHOICE *Guridy, utilizing a nice combination of secondary and primary source material, provides a very interesting and insightful analysis of sports in Texas and, by extension, in American culture more generally...[The Sports Revolution] is a nicely written, compelling, and thoughtful book that provides an awareness of and appreciation for the changing nature of sports in Texas specifically and American culture more broadly. I expect it to have a long shelf life and to be of interest to those who want to learn more specifics about the interconnection between sports and society. * Journal of Southern History *From the inclusion of black and women athletes to the unlikely partnerships between Texas’s elite businesspeople with college and professional sporting figures, The Sports Revolution presents sport as a distinctive venue in the formation of Texas as a catalyst for change, following Jim Crow segregation...The Sports Revolution allows scholars and students from various disciplines, such as communication and urban studies, the opportunity to understand Texas’s place in the center of the sports world following Jim Crow segregation, by illustrating how Texas was an impetus for social change amid the everchanging landscape of sports. By highlighting the increased profitability of sports, and new technologies in sports, Guridy expertly connects Texas with communication and social change and depicts Texas as revolutionary in the transformation of culture and sport throughout the United States. * Journal of Popular Culture *Written accessibly, Guridy’s book is rich with the personal stories of key figures in Texas sports. His use of sport magazines and local newspapers enables him to bring to the surface not only the scores of games but also how local citizens in Texas perceived the sports revolution that was occurring at the same time as the mid-twentieth-century social revolution. This is a welcome addition to the literature of sports history, Texas history, and civil rights history. * Journal of American History *[The Sports Revolution] offers fans the genesis of big-time sports and how events in Texas fundamentally altered sports for the better. Guridy’s book adds value to the historiography of sports history through the lens of civil rights, feminism, and the sexual revolution. Women’s studies scholars and Texas historians would benefit greatly by adding this book to their list. * Journal of Sport History *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1. Sports in the Shadow of Segregation Chapter 2. Spaceships Land in the Texas Prairie Chapter 3. The Outlaws Chapter 4. We’ve Come a Long Way to Houston Chapter 5. Labor and Lawlessness in Rangerland Chapter 6. Sexual Revolution on the Sidelines Chapter 7. The Greek, the Iceman, and the Bums Chapter 8. Slammin’ and Jammin’ in Houston Conclusion: The Revolution Undone Acknowledgments Notes Index
£22.79
University of Texas Press Egypts Football Revolution
Book SynopsisBoth a symbol of the Mubarak government's power and a component in its construction of national identity, football served as fertile ground for Egyptians to confront the regime's overthrow during the 2011 revolution. With the help of the state, appreciation for football in Egypt peaked in the late 2000s. Yet after Mubarak fell, fans questioned their previous support, calling for a reformed football for a new, postrevolutionary nation. In Egypt's Football Revolution, Carl Rommel examines the politics of football as a space for ordinary Egyptians and state forces to negotiate a masculine Egyptian chauvinism. Basing his discussion on several years of fieldwork with fans, players, journalists, and coaches, he investigates the increasing attention paid to football during the Mubarak era; its demise with the 2011 uprisings and 2012 Port Said massacre, which left seventy-two fans dead; and its recent rehabilitation. Cairo's highly organized and dedicated Ultras fans became a key revolutionary force through their antiregime activism, challenging earlier styles of fandom and making visible entrenched ties between sport and politics. As the appeal of football burst, alternative conceptions of masculinity, emotion, and politics came to the fore to demand or prevent revolution and reform.Trade Review[Egypt's Football Revolution] is an interesting addition which undoubtedly will enrich the growing literature and multidisciplinary studies on sport, football in particular, in North African and Middle Eastern Societies. It is a must read for both academics and students in social sciences, and those interested in anthropology. The author’s lived experiences in Egypt and extensive ethnographic insights through the lenses of football offer a rich narrative about the political and social dynamics of Egypt. * Idrotts Forum *[Egypt's Football Revolution's] analysis of revolution, football emotion and masculinity enlightens the reader about what happened in the North African country during the last twenty years, and how Egyptian male football Ultras and the Egyptian government felt about it...Rommel’s knowledge of the subject is deep and broad. He has spent long hours viewing the game at stadiums and interacting with young Egyptians, and his participant observation of the Ultra fans in particular reveals their oral histories’ emotionality and value. This makes the work a reminder to historians who might otherwise emphasise archival texts and documents, of the deep feelings that motivate individuals, and allow for their manipulation by others. * Sport in History *An intriguing anthropological study...Egypt's Football Revolution is an important addition to the recent wave of sports publications on the Middle East and the ever-growing literature that uses sport as a fruitful lens through which to examine social and cultural issues. Sport historians, in particular, will be interested by the study's claim that the emotions generated by sport are a product of politics...the book is a welcome addition to scholarship on sport and society. The diverse themes and thought-provoking thesis make the study a fruitful object for future debates, and it is a must for scholars and graduate students of sport in the middle east. * Journal of Sport History *Through detailed analysis of media, sports fans and revolutionary change, the reader follows the trajectory of the ‘national game’ from its peak of popular attraction to its fall into obscurity. With a focus on affect and emotions, this tale of football in Egypt is also one that tells of how the masculine national subject is supposed to feel, act and react to events that bring people, places, old and new media together like no other...The focus on individual interlocutors, events, and large-scale processes in an interwoven manner adds richness to the texture of this excellent piece that ought to spark interest among sports fans and academics alike. * Anthropology Book Forum *Rommel’s book is masterful at showing the mutual nourishment of and transformations between footballing passions and political passions...The greatest merit of the book is that its particular Egyptian context engages with a question that is broadly consequential and has preoccupied some of the most seminal thinkers: how the political emerges...Rommel’s work is a great pleasure to read, and it is a significant contribution to sport anthropology as one of the few full-fledged ethnographies of football. * Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute *[A] meticulously researched book...What brings more depth and nuance to Rommel’s work is his choice of conceptual frameworks wherein emotion, masculinity and politics are in a creative, uneasy and tensed dialogue with each other all at once. * Soccer & Society *Table of Contents List of Illustrations Acknowledgments Note on Transliterations Introduction: Emotions, Politics, and Egypt’s Changing National Game Part I. Bubble Chapter 1. Normal Nationals and Vulgar Winners Chapter 2. Fanatical Politics and Resurging Respectability Part II. Ultras Chapter 3. A Revolutionary Emotional Style Chapter 4. A Respectable Revolution Measures Its Violence Chapter 5. The Insurmountable Double Bind of Siyasa Part III. Aftermath Chapter 6. When the Game Feels Like Politics, It Doesn’t Feel Like Much at All Chapter 7. No National Significance, No Political Concerns Conclusion: An Emotional Revolt Trapped in Politics Postscript: Magnificent Mohamed Salah and the Ill-Fated 2018 World Cup Notes References Index
£40.50
University of Texas Press Pitching Democracy
Book SynopsisHow Dominicans contribute to Major League Baseball and what they receive in return. From Juan Marichal and Pedro Martínez to Albert Pujols and Juan Soto, Dominicans have long been among Major League Baseball’s best. How did this small Caribbean nation become a hothouse of baseball talent? To many fans, the answer is both obvious and disconcerting: pro teams use their riches to develop talent abroad, creating opportunities for superhuman athletes and corrupt officials, while the rest of the population sees little benefit. Yet this interpretation of history is incomplete. April Yoder traces how baseball has empowered Dominicans in their struggles for democracy and social justice. While the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo saw the sport as a means of cementing its power at home and abroad, the Dominican people fashioned an emancipated civic sphere by seeing their potential for democratic success in their compatriots’ baseball success. Later,Trade ReviewEnriched by Yoder’s passion for the sport and extensive knowledge of Cold War Latin American politics, this is a detailed study of the links between sport and social change. * Publishers Weekly *Table of Contents Acknowledgments Introduction. Baseball, Democracy, and Latin America in the Cold War Chapter 1. Mens sana in corpore sano: Baseball and Trujillista Politics Chapter 2. Politics at the Plate: The Threat of Communism and the Showcase for Democracy Chapter 3. Criticizing Baseball, Debating Democracy Chapter 4. Así se hace Patria: Baseball and the Bloodless Revolution Chapter 5. Sliding into Third: The Cibao Summer League and Baseball as Development Chapter 6. Making the Majors: The Baseball Industry and Dominican Democracy Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index
£31.50
University of Texas Press Astros and Asterisks Houstons SignStealing
Book SynopsisAn in-depth and multiperspectival look at the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal and its roots in the culture of baseball fandom. In 2017 the Houston Astros won their first World Series title, a particularly uplifting victory for the city following Hurricane Harvey. But two years later, the feel-good energy was gone after The Athletic revealed that the Astros had stolen signs from opposing catchers during their championship season, perhaps even during the playoffs and World Series. Their methods were at once high-tech and crude: staff took video of opponents’ pitching signals and transmitted the footage in real time to the Astros’ dugout, where players banged on trash cans to signal to their teammates at bat which pitches were coming their way. Wry observers labeled them the Asterisks, pointing to the title that no longer seemed so earned. Astros and Asterisks examines the scandal from historical, journalistic, legal, ethical, and
£62.90
University of Texas Press Astros and Asterisks
Book SynopsisAn in-depth and multiperspectival look at the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal and its roots in the culture of baseball fandom. In 2017 the Houston Astros won their first World Series title, a particularly uplifting victory for the city following Hurricane Harvey. But two years later, the feel-good energy was gone after The Athletic revealed that the Astros had stolen signs from opposing catchers during their championship season, perhaps even during the playoffs and World Series. Their methods were at once high-tech and crude: staff took video of opponents’ pitching signals and transmitted the footage in real time to the Astros’ dugout, where players banged on trash cans to signal to their teammates at bat which pitches were coming their way. Wry observers labeled them the Asterisks, pointing to the title that no longer seemed so earned. Astros and Asterisks examines the scandal from historical, journalistic, legal, ethical, andTrade ReviewThis new anthology offers a host of perspectives on the scandal itself and what it reveals about the team and the sport as a whole. It makes for a fascinating read on one of the most revealing moments in professional sports in recent memory. * InsideHook *Despite this volume’s title and primary focus, many of its 15 essays go well beyond specifics of the Houston Astros’ 2017 sign-stealing scandal (and gamesmanship/cheating practices in sports in general) . . . In sum the book is an insightful but painful reflection on the conditions of sport and society in late capitalism. * CHOICE *Table of Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Timeline Part I. Histories of Cheating in Baseball Chapter 1. Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie, and Cheating: Blame It on the Pitchers (Steven Gietschier) Chapter 2. Cheating versus Gamesmanship: Ethical Relativism in Baseball? (George Gmelch) Chapter 3. “This Is Not a Cultural Issue”: The Astros’ (and Baseball’s) Willingness to Overlook Domestic Violence (Katherine Murray) Chapter 4. Round Up the Usual Suspects: Cheating in Baseball (Richard Crepeau) Part II. The Scandal Unfolds Chapter 5. Finally, a Fun Baseball Scandal (Will Leitch) Chapter 6. What Is the Sound of One Bat Slapping? Reading the Houston Astros’ Trash Can (Roberta Newman) Chapter 7. Blame Is a Tangled Mess in Astros Sign-Stealing Scandal (Evan Drellich) Part III. Fans and the Scandal Chapter 8. Interview with a Bang Counter: A Q&A with Tony Adams ( Chapter 9. Reckoning with Tainted Love: What the Astros Scandal Reveals of Sports Fandom (Matthew Klugman) Chapter 10. “To Learn Baseball”: A Transatlantic Dialogue on the Astros and the American Ways of Winning (Michael Hinds and Joseph Rivera) Part IV. The Scandal and Its Ethical Dilemmas Chapter 11. Baseball Has No Love for Truth Tellers (Mitchell Nathanson) Chapter 12. Bad Apples or Bad Astros? Collective Responsibility and the Perils of Team Loyalty (Erin Tarver) Chapter 13. From Protector to Whistleblower: Being a “Good” Teammate When Cheating Occurs (Allison R. Levin and Matthew Staker) Part V. Technology and the Scandal Chapter 14. Stealing Signs: Technology, Surveillance and Policing inside and outside the Game (Dain TePoel and Eileen Narcotta-Welp) Chapter 15. The Spreadsheet in the Garden: Analytics and the Sign-Stealing Scandal (Jonathan Silverman) Appendix: “Defendant Houston Astros”: Michael Bolsinger vs. The Houston Astros Contributors Index
£19.94
University of Toronto Press Canadas Holy Grail
Book SynopsisCanada's Holy Grail investigates the political motivations of Lord Stanley and sheds light on the Stanley Cup as a symbol of Canadian unity.Trade Review"Goldstein’s research is fascinating, and his book allows readers to understand a unique part of Canada’s history and identity. It also tells us how a trophy donated by a Governor General became an enduring symbol of the country. Canada’s Holy Grail is well suited for anyone who loves hockey, Canadian history, and Canadian political thought." -- Rob Alexander * Canada's History *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations, Maps, Photographs Tables Foreword Acknowledgements Introduction Contentions, Argument, Interpretation A Note on Method and Methodology Contribution to the Body of Knowledge Chapters Endnotes Section I: The National 1. Canada 1888 Domestic Affairs: Expansion and Consolidation Foreign Affairs: Sovereignty and Dependence Ideological Battle Endnotes 2. Enshrining the National Not a True Nation The Genesis of Nationalized Sport in Great Britain Nationalized Sport in the United States The Mixed Political Heritage of Confederation British Origins of Canadian Sport American Permutation of Canadian Sport Canadian Nationalized Sport Nineteenth-Century Political Thought and the Evolution of Nationalized Sport Endnotes Section II: The Personal 3. An Honoured Member of Parliament The Early Life of Frederick Arthur Stanley The Politics of the 14th Earl of Derby The Politics of Frederick Stanley: Practical Governance The Politics of Frederick Stanley: Emergent Progressivism Towards a New Liberalism Endnotes 4. Overseeing the Crown Dominion Lord Stanley’s Governance in Canada Domestic Governance International Governance Canadian Travels The Role of Sport Sport and the Stanley Family Stanley and Canadian Sports The Stanley Family and Winter Sport Defining the National Endnotes Section III: The International 5. What Does It Mean to Be Canadian? Debates over Canada’s Future Canada First and the Birth of Canadian Nationality Unlimited Reciprocity, Continental Union, and Annexation Wilfrid Laurier and Unrestricted Reciprocity Protectionism, Imperialism, and Progressivism Federal Election of 1891 Stanley’s Position The Use of Sport to Promote National Identity Imperial Federation and Progressivism Sport in the Promotion of Imperial Connection The Place of Ice Hockey The Role of the Stanley Cup Canada is a British Nation Endnotes 6. National Sport, the State, and Political Thought Philosophical Revolution Lord Stanley and Canada Endnotes Notes on Sources Literature Review Sources of Note Bibliography Primary Sources
£49.50
University of Toronto Press Canadas Holy Grail
Book SynopsisIn 1892, Lord Frederick Arthur Stanley donated the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup later known as the Stanley Cup to crown the first Canadian hockey champions. Canada’s Holy Grail documents Lord Stanley’s personal politics, his desire to affect Canadian nationality and unity, and the larger transformations in Anglo-liberal political thought at the time. This book posits that the Stanley Cup fit directly within Anglo-American traditions of using sport to promote ideas of the national, and the donation of the cup occurred at a moment in history when Canadian nationalists needed identifying symbols. Jordan B. Goldstein asserts that only with a transformation in Anglo-liberal thought could the state legitimately act through culture to affect national identity. Drawing on primary source documentation from Lord Stanley’s archives, as well as statements by politicians and hockey enthusiasts, Canada’s Holy Grail integrates politTrade Review"Goldstein’s research is fascinating, and his book allows readers to understand a unique part of Canada’s history and identity. It also tells us how a trophy donated by a Governor General became an enduring symbol of the country. Canada’s Holy Grail is well suited for anyone who loves hockey, Canadian history, and Canadian political thought." -- Rob Alexander * Canada's History *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations, Maps, Photographs Tables Foreword Acknowledgements Introduction Contentions, Argument, Interpretation A Note on Method and Methodology Contribution to the Body of Knowledge Chapters Endnotes Section I: The National 1. Canada 1888 Domestic Affairs: Expansion and Consolidation Foreign Affairs: Sovereignty and Dependence Ideological Battle Endnotes 2. Enshrining the National Not a True Nation The Genesis of Nationalized Sport in Great Britain Nationalized Sport in the United States The Mixed Political Heritage of Confederation British Origins of Canadian Sport American Permutation of Canadian Sport Canadian Nationalized Sport Nineteenth-Century Political Thought and the Evolution of Nationalized Sport Endnotes Section II: The Personal 3. An Honoured Member of Parliament The Early Life of Frederick Arthur Stanley The Politics of the 14th Earl of Derby The Politics of Frederick Stanley: Practical Governance The Politics of Frederick Stanley: Emergent Progressivism Towards a New Liberalism Endnotes 4. Overseeing the Crown Dominion Lord Stanley’s Governance in Canada Domestic Governance International Governance Canadian Travels The Role of Sport Sport and the Stanley Family Stanley and Canadian Sports The Stanley Family and Winter Sport Defining the National Endnotes Section III: The International 5. What Does It Mean to Be Canadian? Debates over Canada’s Future Canada First and the Birth of Canadian Nationality Unlimited Reciprocity, Continental Union, and Annexation Wilfrid Laurier and Unrestricted Reciprocity Protectionism, Imperialism, and Progressivism Federal Election of 1891 Stanley’s Position The Use of Sport to Promote National Identity Imperial Federation and Progressivism Sport in the Promotion of Imperial Connection The Place of Ice Hockey The Role of the Stanley Cup Canada is a British Nation Endnotes 6. National Sport, the State, and Political Thought Philosophical Revolution Lord Stanley and Canada Endnotes Notes on Sources Literature Review Sources of Note Bibliography Primary Sources
£21.59
Human Kinetics Publishers Sport and Recreation in Canadian History
Book SynopsisServing as a foundation for critical discussion about the importance of the past, Sport and Recreation in Canadian History covers the historical events, people, and moments that shape Canadian sport in the present and future. While this text focuses on sport and recreation practices on these lands now claimed by Canada, it is set within a larger historical context of interconnecting social and cultural practices to speak to the sustained tensions, complexities, and contradictions prevalent in Canadian society. The editor, Dr. Carly Adams, and her 17 contributing experts from across Canada bring the latest research in all areas of Canadian sport history to life and present a thorough look at the nation’s past events. The text challenges the dominant narratives and encourages students to think critically about Canadian sport history. It examines how gender, ethnicity, race, religion, ability, class, and other systems of oppression and privilege have shaped sport Trade Review“Sport and Recreation in Canadian History sets a new direction for Canadian sport history. Its third-generation contributors challenge earlier categories and trajectories, and they account much more sensitively and comprehensively for the racially and culturally diverse society that Canada has been. They prepare us for the post–Truth and Reconciliation Canada that we urgently need to understand. It’s both illuminating and timely.”—Dr. Bruce Kidd, Professor at the University of Toronto“The best sport and recreation histories educate us about the past while challenging us to recognize patterned inequities in opportunities for meaningful physical activities as part of broader societal patterns of colonization, privilege and discrimination. This collaborative textbook, Sport and Recreation in Canadian History, written by leading Canadian sport historians, does that, thereby broadening the ways students can know Canadian sport and recreation but also themselves.”—Dr. Vicky Paraschak, Professor at the University of WindsorTable of ContentsChapter 1. Sport and Recreation Histories MatterCarly AdamsChapter 2. Methods and Theory in Historical ResearchSarah Barnes and Mary Louise AdamsChapter 3. Indigenous Peoples’ Cultures and Physical ActivitiesBraden Te HiwiChapter 4. Case Studies of Indigenous SportJanice ForsythChapter 5. Colonial Encounters, Conservation, and Sport Hunting in Banff National ParkCourtney W. MasonChapter 6. The Impact of Industrialization on Sport, Recreation, and the EnvironmentRobert Kossuth and Dave McMurrayChapter 7. Ideological Struggles and the Emergence of Cricket, Lacrosse, and BaseballCraig GreenhamChapter 8. The Development and Organization of Professional SportRobert KossuthChapter 9. Hockey, Identity, and NationhoodCarly Adams, Russell Field, and Michel VigneaultChapter 10. Rereading Histories of Inclusive Recreation, Physical Education, and SportDanielle Peers and Lisa TinkChapter 11. Black Canadian Sporting Histories in the 19th and 20th CenturiesOrnella Nzindukiyimana and Kevin B. WamsleyChapter 12. The Sports–Media Complex and Canadian CultureStacy Lorenz and Jay SchererChapter 13. The Assertion of Canada’s Colonial Self in National and International SportChristine M. O'BonsawinChapter 14. At Home and Abroad: Canada’s Engagement With International Sport and RecreationRussell FieldChapter 15. Reflection on the Field: Sports Histories, Timelines, and De-Centring Settler Colonial PerspectivesBraden Te Hiwi and Carly Adams
£48.60
University of Nebraska Press The Black Bruins
Book SynopsisThe intertwined story of five influential African American athletes who came together as teammates at UCLA in the 1930s, a time when racial discrimination in sports was widespread across the nation. Their career pursuits after college precipitated political and social change in the world of sports, entertainment, and politics. Trade Review"Johnson engagingly captures the lives, struggles, and triumphs of five men whose greatness transcended American sports."—Kirkus starred review"Johnson has a novelist's skill with narrative, which gives extra flair to this fascinating look at an era of evolving racial attitudes."—Wes Lukowsky, Booklist"James Johnson offers a well-researched analysis of the careers of the young athletes, from the discrimination they faced on the playing fields in Westwood through the success, and even fame, they achieved in their professional lives. . . . This highly-readable book should not be relegated to a sports library, despite its absorbing accounts of early Bruins football: readers interested in social and cultural history will be intrigued by the surprising impact of the five on the civil rights movement."—Helene Woodhams, Arizona Daily Star"James W. Johnson's The Black Bruins maps the rise of five former Bruins' athletes who not only helped further the integration of college sport, but each became trailblazers in their own right. . . . The Black Bruins is a home-run for those unfamiliar with both UCLA's modest—yet significant—contribution in integrating college sports in the late 1930s and the five former teammates who helped put UCLA on the map. The book also reminds readers that narratives are not singular, but intersect with others. Perhaps an existential take-away from The Black Bruins is one that compels us not only to consider more carefully how to appropriate and build upon such legacies, but also to better see how our own diverse and distinct California narratives connect to each other."—Nickolas Hardy, Boom California"Johnson brings these five meaningful lives into full, vivid view, and he reminds his readers of their significant contributions to American sport and race relations."—Jack Ryan, Aethlon"A reader interested in the compelling stories of five men who spent their lives breaking down racial exclusion in college football, major league baseball, the NFL, in film, and in politics will find much to enjoy here. . . . The lives of these men also expose much about the social and political history of race in the twentieth-century United States."—Andrew Doyle, Journal of Arizona History"What happens after UCLA is what makes this book an important one to read for those readers who are interested in the civil rights movement and the integration of sports and entertainment."—Guy Who Reviews Sports Books“Must-reading for anyone who would truly understand the foundations of activism among black athletes today and their evolved sense of a broader role and obligation in society beyond athletic proficiency and performance.”—Harry Edwards, professor emeritus of sociology at the University of California, Berkeley “Five African American men enrolled at UCLA in the late 1930s, touching off a revolution in collegiate sports, introducing integration to Major League Baseball and pro football, and bringing diversity to public life. This well-researched, engrossing account brings four athletes into sharp focus as they move from high-school and university athletic fame to national and regional prominence and groundbreaking civic and social achievement.”—Jim Price, editor, writer, and sports historian “Those who came before me, detailed in this book, paved the way not only for my life as a minority student-athlete and later athletic director at UCLA; they also provided the opportunity for future generations of Bruins from every walk of life to become barrier-breakers as well.”—Dan Guerrero, director of athletics at UCLA Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Prologue 1. No Bed of Roses in Pasadena 2. The Kingfish and Woody 3. The High School Years 4. The Little Brother 5. Obstacles to Overcome 6. A Sorry Season 7. An Easy Choice 8. Fitting in at UCLA 9. Under-the-Table Help 10. Filling the Coffers 11. High Expectations 12. A Disappointing End to the Season 13. Decision Time 14. Passed Over by the NFL 15. The Indispensable Robinson 16. World War II Beckons 17. Moving Up in the Ranks 18. Making NFL History 19. The Negro League Years 20. End of the Line at LAPD 21. Leaving Athletics 22. Movie Star in the Making 23. A Promotion Earned 24. Blending In 25. Changing Los Angeles 26. The Civil Rights Years 27. Their Legacy Notes Bibliography Index
£27.90
University of Nebraska Press Jewish Sports Legends
Book SynopsisIn photos and short biographies, Jewish Sports Legends introduces famous, and not so famous, Jewish sports greats throughout history. Trade Review“As a piece of reference material it is a fine accomplishment. It’s exhaustive research into a myriad of sports, and the accompanying biographies and pictures are done first class. . . . It is an education.”—Los Angeles Times“The impressive achievements of Jews in sports are well documented in this encyclopedic reference volume. . . . A first-rate account of Jews in sports since the end of the nineteenth century.”—Jerusalem Post“Any sports enthusiast, armchair or otherwise, will find this book a fascinating read. This is indeed a keepsake to read and hold for many years for those interested in sports of all ages.”—National Jewish Post and Opinion“It is the ultimate book for the serious sports fan.”—Jewish News“Jewish stars shine! The book should put to rest the notion that there are few great Jewish athletes. The book profiles the nearly 250 members of the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.”—Washington Jewish Week“Libraries with a strong emphasis on sports collections may want to add this title to their collection.”—American Reference Books Annual“This encyclopedic and lavishly illustrated volume covers a dizzying array of sports. . . . I was amazed!”—Canadian Jewish NewsTable of ContentsForeword by Mark Spitz Preface by Joseph M. Siegman Acknowledgements Prologue by Dr. Uriel Sirnri 1. AUTO RACING Kenny Bernstein, United States Mauri Rose, United States Jody Scheckter, South Africa Sheliah Van Damm, Great Britain 2. BASEBALL Moe Berg, United States Harry Danning, United States Barney Dreyfuss, United States Sidney Gordon, United States Shawn Green, United States Henry "Hank" Greenberg, United States Ken Holtzman, United States Sanford "Sandy" Koufax, United States Mike Lieberthal, United States Marvin Miller, United States Charles "Buddy" Myer, United States Lipman Pike, United States Jimmie Reese, United States Al "Flip" Rosen, United States Al Schacht, United States Allan “Bud” Selig, United States Harry Simmons, Unaited States Steve Stone, United States Albert Von Tilzer, United States Kevin Youkilis, United States 3. BASKETBALL Arnold "Red" Auerbach, United States Sam Balter, United States Louis Bender, United States Senda Berenson, United States Harry Boykoff, United States Tal Brody, Israel Lawrence Brown, United States William “Bill” Davidson, United States Max Friedman, United States Harry Glickman, United States Julius Goldman, United States Alexander Gomelsky, Soviet Union Edward Gottlieb, United States Baruch Hagai, Israel Lester Harrison, United States Nat Holman, United States William "Red" Holzrnan, United States Rudy LaRusso, United States Harry Litwack, United States 1935-1936 Long Island University Basketball Team Donna Geils Orender, United States Orna Ostfeld, Israel Philadelphia SPHAs, United States Maurice Podoloff, United States Leonard Rosenbluth, United States Mendy Rudolph, United States Abe Saperstein, United States Adolph "Dolph" Schayes, United States Barney Sedran, United States Morris “Moe” Spahn, United States David Stern, United States Earl Strom, United States Sidney Tanenbaum, United States David “Pep” Tobey, United States Max Zaslofsky, United States 4. BILLIARDS Arthur Ruben, United States Michael Sigel, United States 5. BOWLING John Brunswick, United States Marshall Holman, United States Mortimer “Mort” Lindsey, United States Mark Roth, United States Louis Stein, United States Sylvia Wene (Martin), United States 6. BOXING Ray Arcel, United States Abe Attell, United States Monte Attell, United States Max Baer, United States Benny Bass, United States Jackie “Kid” Berg, Great Britain Samuel Berger, United States Jack Bernstein, United States Morris “Whitey” Bimstein Joe Choynski, United States Robert Cohen, France (Algeria) Dutch Sam (Samuel Elias), Great Britain Leone Efrati, Italy Jackie Fields, United States Charley Goldman, United States Abe Goldstein, United States Reuven “Ruby” Goldstein, United States Alphonse Halimi, France (Algeria) Harry Harris, United States Ben Jeby, United States Mike Jacobs, United States Louis "Kid" Kaplan, United States Solly Krieger, United States Benny Leonard, United States Battling Levinsky, United States Harry Lewis, United States Ted "Kid" Lewis, Great Britain Al McCoy, United States Daniel Mendoza, Great Britain Samuel Mosberg, United States Bob Olin, United States Victor "Young" Perez, Tunisia Charley Phil Rosenberg, United States Maxie Rosenbloom, United States Barney Ross, United States Corporal Izzy Schwartz, United States Eric Seelig, Germany Al Singer, United States Jack Solomons, Great Britain Lew Tendler, United States Gyula Torok, Hungary Irving Underman, Canada Matt Wells, Great Britain Young Dutch Sam, Great Britain 7. CANOEING Leonid Geishtor, Russia Myriam Fox Jerusalmi, France 8. CONTRIBUTORS Jehoshua Alouf, Israel Robert Atlasz, Germany/Israel Baruch Bagg, Israel Richard Blum, Germany Alfred Brull, Hungary Haskell Cohen, United States Lajor Domeny-Deutsch, Hungary Pierre Gildesgame, Great Britain Emmanuel Gill, Israel Chaim Glovinsky, Israel Arthur Abraham Gold, Great Britain Kenneth Gradon, Great Britain Sir Ludwig Guttmann, Germany/Great Britain Arthur Hanak, Israel Ben Hatskin, Canada Joseph Inbar, Israel Ferenc Kemeny, Hungary Dr. Herman Lellewer, Germany Ferenc Mezo, Hungary Zvi Nishri, Israel Charles Ornstein, Unted States Emmanuel Simon, Israel Dr. Uriel Simri, Israel Arthur Takac, Yugoslavia Chaim Wein, Israel Joseph Yekutieli, Israel Aviezer Yellin, Israel Paul Ziffren, United States Harold O. Zimman 9. CRICKET Aron "Ali" Bacher, South Africa 10. EQUESTRIAN Margie Goldstein Engle, United States Robert Dover, United States 11. FENCING Albert Axelrod, United States Daniel Bukants, United States Jeno Fuchs, Hungary Tamas Gabor, Hungary Janos Garay, Hungary Oszkar Gerde, Hungary Sandor Gombos, Hungary Sada Jacobson, United States Allan Jay, Great Britain Endre Kabos, Hungary Grigori Kriss, Soviet Union Alexandre Lippmann, France Mark Midler, Soviet Union Armand Mouyal, France Ivan Osiier, Denmark Attila Petschauer, Hungary Julia Jones Pugliese, United States Mark Rakita, Soviet Union Yakov Rylsky, Soviet Union Sergi Sharikov, Russia David Tyshler, Soviet Union Eduard Vinokurov, Soviet Union Lajos Werkner, Hungary 12. FIELD HOCKEY Carina Benninga, Netherlands 13. FIGURE SKATING / ICE DANCING Ilia Avenrbukh, Russia Ellen Burka, Canada Petra Burka, Canada Alain Calmat, France Sasha Cohen, United States Sarah Hughes, United States Gennadi Karponosov, Soviet Union Lily Kronberger, Hungary Emilia Rotter, Hungary Louis Rubenstein, Canada Irina Slutskaya, Russia Laszlo, Szollas, Hungary 14. FOOTBALL Joseph Alexander, United States Lyle Alzado, United States Harris Barton, United States Arthur “Bluey” Bluethenthal, United States Al Davis, United States Benny Friedman, United States Sid Gillman, United States Marshall Goldberg, United States Charles “Buckets” Goldenberg, United States Sid Halter, Canada Sigmund “Sig” Harris, United States Lew Hayman, Canada Mark Levyu, United States Benny Lom, United States Sid Luckman, United States Joseph Magidsohn, United States Ron Mix, United States Edward Newman, United States Harry Newman, United States 15. GOLF Amy Alcott, United States Herman Barron, United States 16. GYMNASTICS Valeri Belenki, Azerbaijan/Germany Alfred Flatow, Germany Gustav Felix Flatow, Germany Mitch Gaylord, United States Maria Gorokhovskaya, Soviet Union Abie Grossfeld, United States George Gulack, United States Agnes Keleti, Hungary Tatiana Lysenko, Soviet Union/Ukraine Netherlands’1928 Women’s Olympic Champions Alexandra “Aly” Raisman, United States Yelena Shushuvona, Soviet Union Kerri Strug, United States Galina Urbanovich, Soviet Union 17. HANDBALL Vic Hershkowitz, United States Jimmy Jacobs, United States Fred Lewis, United States Steve Sandler, United States 18. HORSE RACING Walter Blum, United States Robert “Bobby” Frankel, United States William “Willie” Harmatz, United States Hirsch Jacobs, United States Walter Miller, United States Georges Stern, France 19. ICE HOCKEY Garry Bettman, United States Hyman “Hy” Buller, Canada Nikolay Epshtein, Soviet Union Cecil "Cece" Hart, Canada Alfred Kuchevsky, Soviet Union Mathieu Schneider, United States 20. JUDO Yael Arad, Israel Rena Kanokogi (Rusty Glickman) Daniela Krukower, Argentina 21. LACROSSE Victor Ross, United States 22. MEDIA Jesse Abramson, United States Maury Allen, United States Mel Allen, United States Ira Berkow, United States Simon “Si” Burick, United States Murray Chass, United States Howard Cosell, United States Dan Daniel, United States Massimo Della Pergola, Italy Al Munro Elias, United States Red Fisher, United States Nat Fleischer, United States Marty Glickman, United States Al Greenberg, United States Bud Greenspan, United States Jerome Holtzman, United States Jerry Izenberg, United States Hank Kaplan, United States Max Kase, United States Leonard Koppett, United States A.J. Liebling, United States Willy Meisl, Germany & Great Britain Barney Nagler, United States Ben Olan, United States Murray Olderman, United States Bernard Postal, United States Shirley Povich, United States Joe Reichler, United States Harold Ribalow, United States Ed Sabol, United States Dick Schapp, United States Jesse Silver, United States Roy Silver, United States Bill Stern, United States Gyorgy Szepesi (Friedlander), Hungary Sam Taub, United States 23. RACQUETBALL Sheerman Greenfeld, Canada Marty Hogan, United States 24. ROWING Nathan Cohen, New Zealand Laszlo Fabian, Hungary Joe Jacobi, United States Allen Rosenberg, United States Leon Rottman, Romania Donald Spero, United States 25. RUGBY Aaron “Okey” Geffen O”The Boot”), South Africa Jonathan Kaplan, South Africa Sydney Nomis, South Africa Wilf Rosenberg, South Africa Albert Rosenfeld, Great Britain/Australia Joel Stransky, South Africa 26. SAILING Jo Aleh, New Zealand Zephania Carmal, Israel Gal Fridman, Israel Lee Korsitz, Israel Lydia Lazarov, Israel Walentin Mankin, Soviet Union 27. SOCCER Arthur Baar, Austria Jozsef Braun, Hungary Bela Guttmann, Hungary Hakoah.Vienna Club, Austria Kurt Lamm, United States Gyula Mandi, Hungary Hugo Meisl, Austria 28. SOFTBALL Harry “Coon” Rosen, United States 29. SPEED SKATING Irving Jaffee, United States 30. SURFING Shaun Tomson, South Africa 31. SWIMMING William Bachrach, United States Seymon Belits-Geiman, Russia Judith Deutsch, Austria Leo Donath, Hungary Charlotte Epstein, United States Anthony Ervin, United States Harry Getz, South Africa Alfred Hajos-Guttmann, Hungary Otto Herschmann, Austria Lenny Krayzelburg, United States Keren Leibovitch, Israel Jason Lezak, United States Alfred Nakache, France Paul Neumann, Austria/United States Marilyn Ramenofsky, United States Margalit Sonnenfeld, Israel Mark Spitz, United States Eva Szekely, Hungary Judit Temes, Hungary Dara Torres, United States Garrett Weber-Gale, United States Ben Wildman-Tobriner, United States Wallace “Wally” Wolf, United States 32. TABLE TENNIS Ruth Aarons, United States Angelica Adelstein-Rozeanu, Romania Viktor Barna, Hungary Laszlo Bellack, Hungary Richard Bergmann, Austria & Great Britain Traute Kleinova, Czechoslovakia Erwin Kohn, Austria/Argentina Ivor Goldsmid Montagu, Great Britain Anna Sipos, Hungary Mikios Szabados, Hungary Leah Thall-Neuberger, United States Leah Thall-Sommer, United States 33. TENNIS Angela Buxton, Great Britain Pierre Darmon, France Umberto de Morpurgo, Italy Herb Flam, United States Ian Froman, South Africa Brian Gottfried, United States Jim Grabb, United States Ladislav Hecht, Czechoslovakia Gladys Heldman, United States Julie Heldman, United States Ilana Kloss, South Africa Zsuzsa (Suzy) Kormoczy, Hungary Harold Landesberg, United States William Lippy, United States Nicholas Massu, Chile Tom Okker, Netherlands Daniel Prenn, Germany & Great Britain Dick Savitt, United States Joseph Shane, United States Harold Solomon, United States Brian Teacher, United States Eliot Teltscher, United States 34. TRACK & FIELD Harold Abrahams, Great Britain Gerald Ashworth, United States Gretel Bergmann (Margaret Lambert), Germany Lillian Copeland, United States Milton Green, United States Gary Gubner, United States Lilli Henoch, Germany Harry D. Henshel, United States Maria ltkina, Soviet Union Elias Katz, Finland Irena Kirszenstein-Szewinska, Poland Abel Kiviat, United States Shaul Ladany, Israel Henry Laskau, United States Fred Lebow, United States Fania Melnik, Soviet Union Laurence "Lon" Myers, United States Zhanna Pintusevich-Block, Ukraine Myer Prinstein, United States Mel Rosen, United States Fanny “Bobbie” Rosenfeld, Canada Ester Roth-Sachamarov, Israel Fred Schmertz, United States Sam Stoller, United States Allen Tolmich, United States 35. VOLLEYBALL Doug Beal, United States Adriana Behar, Brazil Arie Selinger, Israel Eugene Selznick, United States Hagai Zamir, Israel 35. WATER POLO Istvan Barta, Hungary Gyorgy Brody, Hungary Bela Komjadi, Hungary Bela Rajki-Reich, Hungary Miklos Sarkany, Hungary 37. WEIGHTLIFTING Isaac Berger, United States Ben Helfgott, Great Gritain Edward Lawrence Levy, Great Britain Grigori Novak, Soviet Union Frank Spellman, United States Oscar State, Great Britain Ben Weider, Canada Joe Weider, Canada 38. WRESTLING Boris Makovitch Gurevich, Soviet Union Boris Mikhaylovich Gurevitch, Soviet Union Nikolaus “Mickey” Hirschl, Austria Karoly Karpati, Hungary Fred Oberlander, Canada & Europe Yakiv Punkin, Ukraine Richard Weisz, Hungary Henry Wittenberg, United States 39. LIFETIME ACHEIVEMENT AWARD Sam Sharrow – 1992 David Pincus – 1993 Karl Ribstein – 1994 Monty Hall – 1995 Yariv Oren – 1996 Alan Sherman – 1997 Moshe Rashkes – 1998 Fred Worms – 1999 Joseph Luttenberg – 2000 Robert Spivak – 2001 Uri Afek – 2002 Lester Fein – 2003 Shimon Mizrahi – 2004 Sidney Greenberg – 2005 Alex Gilady – 2006 Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer – 2007 Stephen Rubin – 2008 Michael Kevehazi – 2009 Moshe Theumim – 2010 Robert Levy – 2011 Michel Grun – 2012 William Steerman – 2013 Harry Swimmer – 2014 Robert Kraft – 2015 Dr. Uri Schaefer – 2016 Victor Vaisman - 2017 Joseph Siegman - 2018 Roy Salomon - 2019 40. PRESIDENT’S AWARD OF EXCELLENCE Samuel P. Sporn – 2010 Teddy Kaplan – 2012 Reuven Heller – 2013 Zohar Sharon – 2013 Dr. Anita Shkedi – 2015 Arie Rosenzweig – 2016 Lenny Silverberg - 2017 41. About the Hall of Famer 42. Wingate Institute 43. Distinguished Authorities 44. Benefactors 45. Jewish Olympic Medalists by Dr. George Eisen 46. The Maccabiah Games 47. Munich 11
£27.90
University of Nebraska Press Women on the Move
Book SynopsisThe 1890s was the peak of the American bicycle craze, and consumers, including women, were buying bicycles in large numbers.Despite critics who tried to discourage women from trying this new sport, women took to the bike in huge numbers, and mastery of the bicycle became a metaphor for women's mastery over their lives. Spurred by the emergence of the safety bicycle and the ensuing cultural craze, women's professional bicycle racing thrived in the United States from 1895 to 1902. For sevenyears, female racers drew large and enthusiastic crowds across the country, including Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Kansas City, and New Orleansand many smaller cities in between. Unlike the trudging, round-the-clock marathons the men (and their spectators) endured, women's six-day races were tightly scheduled, fast-paced, and highly competitive. The best female racers of the eraTillie Anderson, Lizzie Glaw, and Dottie Farnsworthbecame household names and were AmTrade Review“Gilles’s book is a window into a virtually unknown time in women’s sports, and it is important because it adds to the history of female athletes who have overcome so many obstacles to be able to compete. It’s also more evidence that women have always been more suited to sports than they’ve been given credit for, and that when they have the opportunity to train, they’ve always been just as capable as the men.”—Britni de la Cretaz, Guardian “In focusing on these pioneers of American women’s athleticism, Gilles has provided a much needed examination of a little-known aspect of American women’s history in general.”—K.B. Nutter, Choice "Roger Gilles's Women on the Move: The Forgotten Era of Women's Bike Racing gives due recognition to the achievements of Anderson and her rivals, breathes fresh life into stories that once gripped thousands of sports fans across America."—Feargal McKay, Podium Cafe"Gilles has resurrected a time of women’s racing that we today didn’t know even existed. Thanks to Women on the Move, we can catch up and learn about pioneer women bike racers."—Peter Joffre Nye, Bike Race Info"Gilles . . . has finally brought back to light these long-forgotten heroines."—Peter Joffre Nye, U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame"Fans of sports, bike racing, and amazingly talented female athletes will delight in reading—and picturing as they ’round the corner—Women on the Move."—Evan Friss, Missouri Historical Review"Women on the Move is an enjoyable read, and Gilles is clearly passionate about the subject matter. This book will attract academic and non-academic audiences alike because of its accessible style and fascinating content. Gilles brings to life an important piece of cycling history that deserves much more attention. Tillie Anderson and her fellow cycliennes demonstrate how much the bicycle was a revolutionary piece of technology that transformed how men and women interacted, exercised, and lived their lives."—Rebecca Beausaert, Journal of Arizona History"An important and compelling story. It is the fact that Giles has uncovered this hidden history that makes his book such a worthy contribution."—Robert J. Turpin, Technology and Culture“Women on the Move is a much-needed look at the history of sports and the challenges—and advancement—of women in America. A must-read for sports fans, equality advocates, and history enthusiasts.”—Kathryn Bertine, author of The Road Less Taken and documentary filmmaker of Half The Road“Roger Gilles shines a much-deserved light on 1890s women cyclists, bringing back to life Tillie Anderson, Dottie Farnsworth, and their sisters on wheels. Thoroughly researched, this is a rollicking read—a treasure.”—Peter Joffre Nye, author of Hearts of Lions and The Fast Times of Albert ChampionTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction: The Terrible Swede Part 1. Bicycles and Bloomers Chapter 1. Six-Day Bike Race for Women Chapter 2. Watch the Woman Cyclists Chapter 3. After Gold and Medals Part 2. Leading Ladies Chapter 4. Riders Are Dressed in Pleasing Costumes Chapter 5. Like Spiders on a Wall Chapter 6. Lovers True Chapter 7. Girls May Pull Hair Part 3. Backlash Chapter 8. Threatened with Suspension Chapter 9. A Gala Event on Wheels Chapter 10. Is Bicycling Immoral? Chapter 11. Men versus Women Chapter 12. Amazons on Wheels Part 4. Rivals Chapter 13. Girls Have a Spat! Chapter 14. It Will Be Run for Blood Chapter 15. They Do Not Speak Chapter 16. The “Muscular Beauties” Part 5. Lisette Chapter 17. The Parisian, Unbeaten and Unafraid, Is Coming Chapter 18. Lisette and Her Lightning Rivals Chapter 19. The Greatest Drawing Card in Bicycle History Part 6. Farewell to Cycliennes Chapter 20. War on Six-Day Bicycle Races Chapter 21. Grand Vaudeville Chapter 22. Have You Seen the Cycle Whirl? Epilogue: Maiden Name Known to All Notes Index
£22.79
University of Nebraska Press The Pitcher and the Dictator
Book SynopsisThe incredible untold story of legendary pitcher Satchel Paige, who played high-stakes baseball for Dominican Republic dictator Rafael Trujillo.Trade Review“While baseball is at the heart of the book, The Pitcher and the Dictator—the pitcher being the legendary Satchel Paige—the story is about much more, including gunboat diplomacy, the blood-drenched history of the Dominican Republic and, not least, the prevalence of racism and repression in mid-twentieth century America.”—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times“This short, action-packed narrative illuminates one of those footnotes that dot the history of the game but are seldom explored in depth. Here the footnote explodes with unexpected vitality.”—Paul Dickson, Wall Street Journal"This is a baseball book but it is so much more. It deals with history, politics, and power. . . . I encourage baseball fans and history aficionados to get this book for a good read."—Tom Knuppel, KNUP Sports"Smith offers a breezy account of an unusual episode in baseball history that was just one of many colorful moments in Paige’s lengthy career."—Missouri Historical Review"The Pitcher and the Dictator is an entertaining read, and Smith goes to great pains to describe the mood, the weather, the fans' enthusiasm and the sinister specter of Trujillo looking over the all-stars' shoulders. The detail is exquisite."—Bob D'Angelo, Sports Bookie blog"If a reader wishes to learn more about this season in the Dominican Republic for three of the greatest stars of the Negro Leagues as well as the first Cuban player inducted into the American Baseball Hall of Fame, this is a good book to start that journey."—Guy Who Reviews Sports Books“I was nineteen years old when I played with Satchel Paige in 1968. He knew my name but called me Daffy—and I was happy to let him. By then Satchel had lived one of the most extraordinary lives of our times, and Ace Smith captures his spirit with his compelling true story of the one adventure that could have ended it all, a deal to pitch in the Dominican Republic, under military watch, when losing was not an option. The Pitcher and the Dictator paints a rich portrait of one of the greatest barnstorming baseball teams.”—Dusty Baker, legendary Major League Baseball player and manager“The Pitcher and the Dictator is a gripping account of Satchel Paige’s travels to an island run by a dictator—during which he faces the harsh obstacles of racism, power, and politics in the 1930s.”—Lance Williams, award-winning journalist and coauthor of Game of ShadowsTable of ContentsPreface: Recovery of a Lost History 1. Trujillo City 2. Time to Get a Job 3. Show Me the Money 4. Chapita 5. The Americans 6. A Long, Lanky Black Boy by the Name of Satchell 7. Trujillo Es El Jefe 8. Opening Day Away 9. Royal Prerogative 10. Total Catastrophe 11. The Stars Arrive 12. Después de la Victoria 13. Nuevos Rumbos 14. Black Babe Ruth 15. Fiesta de la Chapita 16. The Maestro’s Coda 17. The Heartbreaking End of Josh Gibson 18. The Fall of Trujillo 19. The Persevering Paige 20. “El Gamo” 21. Y Otras Epilogue: Tenth Inning Appendix: Notes on Paige’s Magical Pitching Notes Bibliography Index
£19.94
University of Nebraska Press Doc Donnie the Kid and Billy Brawl
Book SynopsisDoc, Donnie, the Kid, and Billy Brawl focuses on the 1985 New York baseball season, a season like no other since the Mets came to town in 1962. Never before had both the Yankees and the Mets been in contention for the playoffs so late in the same season.Trade Review"A really fun look back at the summer of 1985 when the Mets and the Yankees flirted for the very first time with giving us a Subway Series. Fine work by Chris Donnelly."—Mike Vaccaro, New York Post"Although many readers already know the outcome of the 1985 season, Donnelly does a good job of building suspense. A solid choice for both Mets and Yankees fans."—Kirkus"The author has done a thorough job exploring the intense rivalry between the talent-rich '85 Mets and the equally loaded Yankees for supremacy in the city during what were the generally bleak days of the mid- '80s. . . . [An] entertaining trip down memory lane."—Mark Levine, Booklist"In Doc, Donnie, The Kid and Billy Brawl: How the 1985 Mets and Yankees Fought for New York’s Baseball Soul . . . Chris Donnelly captures the essence of how entranced both fan bases were, as their respective teams battled at the top of their divisions, as they played meaningful baseball in both Yankee and Shea Stadium through September."—Jerry Milani, Sports Media Report"Every fan of one of the New York teams needs to add this book to their bookshelves. An informative, entertaining and well-researched book, it captures the spirit of New York baseball during that crazy 1985 season."—Guy Who Reviews Sports Books"A rollicking look back at the pre–Wild Card era."—Patrick J. Sauer, New York Intelligencer"Fun. Nostalgic, Contagious. Doc, Donnie, The Kid, And Billy Brawl is a a manual for Yankees and Mets fans to read cover to cover, and use as ammunition for just who was a better team in 1985, and why."—(Utica) Observer-Dispatch“Donnelly’s latest is a must-read for sports fans everywhere. His attention to detail along with the firsthand accounts of so many players and personalities involved brought me back to the summer of ’85 and that unforgettable baseball season.”—David A. Paterson, former governor of New YorkTable of Contents Acknowledgments 1. A Seismic Shift 2. ""Never Played the Game"" 3. Attendance Envy 4. Fun to Be a Met 5. Billy and George, a Love/Hate Story 6. The Russians Attack Atlanta 7. Hospital Management 8. ""I'm Going to Kill You"" 9. ""One Tremendous Baseball Season"" Epilogue Notes Bibliography Index
£22.79
University of Nebraska Press A Game of Their Own
Book SynopsisTwenty American women were selected to represent Team USA in the fourth Women's Baseball World Cup in Caracas, Venezuela in 2010; most Americans, however, had no idea such a team even existed. A Game of Their Own chronicles the largely invisible history of women in baseball and offers an account of the 2010 Women's World Cup tournament.Trade Review“A Game of Their Own provides a reminder that although Title IX has helped create more opportunities for girls and women in sports, ‘the segregated masculinity of baseball’ still intimidates all but the strongest and most resilient girls and women who’ve chosen baseball as their game.”—Bill Littlefield, on WBUR’s Only a Game “A Game of Their Own reveals a thrilling and too-long-hidden part of our collective sports history. We owe Jennifer Ring a debt of gratitude for assembling this terrific text. We owe a similar debt to the women in these pages who fiercely and rebelliously love a sport that for too long has refused to return their affections. I don’t think a person can say they have a comprehensive sports history library without the inclusion of A Game of Their Own.”—Dave Zirin, sports editor of The Nation “Fascinating.”—Huffington Post "This revealing book, which makes an important contribution to sports and women's history, will interest anyone curious about an overlooked segment of amateur athletics."—Craig Clark, Booklist“I would recommend the book to those interested in baseball, sports history, gender and women’s studies but also to those who are interested in culture and sociology and how one sport in particular which could easily be open to girls and boys, has managed to discriminate against girls and women for decades through tight control, culture, and legacy.”—Ellen Bartages, AETHLON: Journal of Sports Literature"A Game of Their Own is an engaging and well-written chronicle of women's baseball in the United States."—Maria J. Veri, Journal of Sport History"More than just the content or message, what I really believe makes this book very good is Ring's writing. Her style captures the emotions and heart of each player instead of just reporting on what they did on the field. If nothing else, for that reason alone everyone who reads baseball books should add this one to their libraries."—Guy Who Reviews Sports Books“Ring does not bring comfort to those comfortable with the status quo in baseball. She raises tough questions and follows up with a poignant account of the girls and women who must continue to fight for their place on the field. Meticulously researched, eloquently told.”—Jean Hastings Ardell, author of Breaking into Baseball: Women and the National Pastime “Jennifer Ring has written a book that fills a painful gap in baseball history. It is so much more than the story of the playing careers of a group of ballplayers. It is an examination, through the words of the players themselves, of their trials and struggles to be accepted as ballplayers.”—Leslie Heaphy, associate professor of history at Kent State University at Stark and coeditor of Encyclopedia of Women in BaseballTable of ContentsList of IllustrationsPrefaceAcknowledgmentsIntroductionPart 1. Baseball and American Women1. The Dream and Its Challenges2. Cary, 20103. From Cary to CaracasPart 2. The Veterans4. Tamara Holmes5. Donna Mills6. Jenny Dalton HillPart 3. Softball and Baseball Players7. Tara Harbert8. Veronica Alvarez9. Sarah Gascon10. Jenna MarstonPart 4. Baseball Girls11. Malaika Underwood12. Marti Sementelli13. Lilly Jacobson14. Meggie MeidlingerPart 5. Gender Segregation, Equality, and Women’s Baseball15. America’s Team16. Grassroots Women’s Baseball17. USA BaseballAppendix A: Player Interview QuestionsAppendix B: USA Baseball Women’s National Team Rosters and Current Women’s Baseball Leagues and Teams in the United StatesNotesSuggestions for Further ReadingIndex
£15.19
University of Nebraska Press Called Out but Safe
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
£14.24
University of Nebraska Press In Pursuit of Pennants
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
£21.59
University of Nebraska Press Gil Hodges
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
£17.99
University of Nebraska Press The Hole Truth
Book SynopsisProvides a relativistic approach for evaluating and comparing the performance of golfers while acknowledging the game's changing nature. The Hole Truth analyses the performances of players relative to their peers, creating an index of exceptionality that automatically factors the changing nature of the game through time.Trade Review“In golf, only one metric counts: the score. That means if you adapt for dimensional changes over time, you can go from Bobby Jones to Ben Hogan, Babe Zaharias, Arnie, Jack, Mickey Wright, Tiger, and Annika right to today’s stars, Jordan Spieth and Lexi Thompson, match them all up, and rank them. The Hole Truth measures the best players, men and women, of all golf generations and ages, adapting that single metric—the score—to all the various equipment, course, conditioning and weather changes. In The Hole Truth the genders compete on equal terms. Rightly so. That makes this book a must-read for golfers and golf fans who love the game’s metrics, and who are fascinated by discussions regarding how players of yesterday would fare against the greats of today. You’ll be amazed.”—Jim Colbert, eight-time winner on the PGA Tour, winner of the Senior Players Championship, and golf analyst for ESPN"The Hole Truth is proof that there is indeed truth in numbers, whether you want to believe in them or not."—Pat Ralph, Golf"Felber covers all eras of golf, both men and women and because the standard deviation is measured for each golfer against his or her peers, a fair comparison can be made between Kathy Whitworth and Bobby Jones, for just one example. There is a measure for each golfer for their career and their peak, which is defined as the best five year stretch. No spoilers here to reveal who ranked at the top of those two categories, but like with any other list, statistical or otherwise, it does produce some expected results, some surprises and a huge source of information that can be used to settle debates. . . . Golf fans will certainly want to add this one to their bookshelves."—Lance Smith, Guy Who Reviews Sports BooksTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction 1. The 3 Percent Game 2. Dominance and Chance 3. Tournament Rules 4. Pioneers 5. Coming to America 6. Interwarriors 7. Bantam Ben and Slammin’ Sam 8. The King, Some Queens, and a Black Prince 9. The Golden Bear Market 10. Metallurgy 11. Millennials 12. Still on the Course Afterword Appendix Glossary Notes Index
£32.91
University of Nebraska Press Collision of Wills
Book SynopsisIn their seven years together, quarterback Johnny Unitas and coach Don Shula, kings of the fabled Baltimore Colts of the 1960s, created one of the most successful franchises in sports. Unitas and Shula had a higher winning percentage than Lombardi's Packers, but together they never won the championship. Baltimore lost the big game to the Browns in 1964 and to Joe Namath and the Jets in Super Bowl IIIboth in stunning upsets. The Colts' near misses in the Shula era were among the most confounding losses any sports franchise ever suffered. Rarely had a team in any league performed so well, over such an extended period, only to come up empty. The two men had a complex relationship stretching back to their time as young teammates competing for their professional lives. Their personal conflict mirrored their tumultuous times. As they elevated the brutal game of football, the world around them clashed about Vietnam, civil rights, and sex. Collision of Wills looks at the complicated relationshTrade Review"Gilden's detailed book captures the excitement of the Unitas-led Colts drives and provides a glimpse into one of pro football's greatest player-coach relationships."—Publishers Weekly"Jack Gilden's new book reminds us that the game, even in its golden era, has always had controversy. But it was usually well-hidden. Gilden uncovers much that we never suspected, in a book about two of the most legendary figures the game has ever known. . . . This one's not for the hero worshippers who wish only to think of their favorite teams as happy bands of brothers. It's about one of the greatest teams in football history—the late, lamented Colts before they were snatched from Baltimore—and the sheer contempt their quarterback and coach had for each other."—Michael Olesker, Baltimore Post-Examiner"The author does a fine job of re-creating the Colts' fierce rivalry with Vince Lombardi's Packers and presents well-rounded portraits of Shula, Unitas, and other principals such as owner Carroll Rosenbloom and players Tom Matte and Raymond Berry."—John Maxymuk, Library Journal"Both Unitas and Shula are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, each carving out a glorious career. For seven years they both excelled in spite of each other, winning more games than even Vince Lombardi’s fabled Packers. Gilden brings that conflict into sharp focus with a compelling narrative and the perspective of people who admired both men."—Bob D'Angelo, Sport in American History"This is a very interesting and informative book on the Colts and the two legends who played an important role in making the Colts one of the best teams during the 1960's. Their role in changing the landscape of professional football cannot be overlooked and this book informs the reader of their importance."—Guy Who Reviews Sports Books"I enjoyed reading this book as the author was able to balance the conflicts we saw with Shula and Unitas in the context of the period of societal turmoil they played in. He was also able to interview many individuals from that time period that helped give greater strength to the story that was told. If you are a fan of the Colts and or 1960's football this book would be an excellent addition to your library."—Gridiron Greats Book Review"A revealing look behind the scenes of one of the game's most idolized players, and one of its most triumphant coaches—and how the two men won with remarkable consistency despite their sheer contempt for each other."—Michael Olesker, Baltimore Jewish Living“The Baltimore Colts of the 1960s are one of pro football’s great underreported stories. The fact that Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers took their headlines and championships doesn’t make them any less fascinating. With passion for the subject, extensive reporting, and sharp analysis, Jack Gilden brings to life Johnny Unitas, Don Shula, their team, their era, and their city. I thought I knew everything about Baltimore sports after covering them for more than three decades, but Collision of Wills taught me a lot.”—John Eisenberg, former Baltimore Sun sports columnist and author of The Streak: Lou Gehrig, Cal Ripken Jr., and Baseball’s Most Historic RecordTable of ContentsList of Illustrations Prologue 1. A Legend Departs and an Ambitious Young Man Arrives 2. Rise and Fall of the Colts 3. Complicated Men 4. Shula Encounters Unexpected Problems 5. The Colts’ Greatest Season Yet 6. Black, White, and the Browns 7. Story Lines 8. The 1964 Championship Game 9. The Conflict 10. Love Is Also a Collision Sport 11. Unprecedented Success 12. Changing Times 13. War 14. 1968 15. Super Bowl III 16. Denouement Afterword Acknowledgments Bibliography Index
£25.19
University of Nebraska Press The Eighth Wonder of the World
Book Synopsis2017 Seymour Medal from the Society for American Baseball Research2016 Pete Delohery Award for Best Sports Book from Shelf Unbound When it opened in 1965, the Houston Astrodome, nicknamed the Eighth Wonder of the World, captured the attention of an entire nation, bringing pride to the city and enhancing its reputation nationwide. It was a Texas-sized vision of the future, an unthinkable feat of engineering with premium luxury suites, theater-style seating, and the first animated scoreboard. Yet there were memorable problems such as outfielders' inability to see fly balls and failed attempts to grow natural grasswhich ultimately led to the development of AstroTurf.The Astrodome nonetheless changed the way people viewed sports, putting casual fans at the forefront of a user-experience approach that soon became the standard in all American sports. The Eighth Wonder of the Worldtears back the facade and details the Astrodome's role in transforming Houston as a city while also chroniclinTrade Review"The first domed stadium, a multipurpose venue for baseball, football, livestock shows, rodeos, trade shows, and more, gives us a window on the evolution of sports as entertainment and big business in the 20th Century."—G. Louis Heath, ARETE"The Eighth Wonder of the World is a solid work of sports, business, and political history."—Si Dunn, Lone Star Literary Life"A book worth reading. . . . It not only tells the story of the construction of the Harris County Domed Stadium . . . it does so with enough suspense to keep readers engaged from beginning to end."—Frank G. Houdek, NINE“The Astrodome was an architectural marvel when it opened more than a half century ago. This book documents the many wondrous people and events that starred inside this magical building. I know. I was there to see much of it happen!”—Jim Nantz, lead play-by-play announcer, CBS Sports “Trumpbour and Womack have produced a magnificent examination of one of our greatest undertakings, the Houston Astrodome. This book is a great tribute to the human energy and triumph that reached across the United States and the world.”—Mike Acosta, Houston Astros in-house historian “If you want to learn why the Astrodome is an important part of Houston’s history, read this book. No self-respecting ‘Domer’ should live without it.”—Craig Hlavaty, reporter for the Houston ChronicleTable of ContentsForeword: The Dome Was So Nice They Opened It Twice Mickey Herskowitz Prologue: A Noble Idea for the Oil Patch I. Cow Town 1. Roy Hofheinz: Houston’s Grand Huckster 2. Of Cows and Construction: Houston’s Livestock Show and Rodeo 3. Going Pro: George Kirksey, Craig Cullinan, and the Major League Dream II. Dome Town 4. Zimmerman and the Grand Plan: Engineering a Marvel 5. The Grass Isn’t Always Greener: AstroTurf and the Sports Purist Backlash III. Space City 6. Fractious Dome Futures 7. The Dome and Its Legacy Epilogue: Wonders Never Cease Acknowledgments Notes Bibliography Index
£15.19
University of Nebraska Press Buzzie and the Bull
Book SynopsisBuzzie and the Bull is the story of two men, a championship baseball season, and a country on the brink in 1965.Trade Review“A wonderful exploration of a single baseball season told with great verve and exceptional research augmented by hours of interviews with Ferrara himself and numerous other baseball luminaries.”—Brian Renvall, Library Journal“Buzzie’s ability to see intangibles gave him extraordinary insight into a player’s makeup, as evidenced in this delightful read of Al Ferrara, who played eight years in the big leagues.”—Mike Port, former vice president and general manager of the California Angels and the Boston Red Sox“To memorable duos in baseball history—Ruth and Gehrig, Spahn and Sain, and Abbott and Costello—now add Buzzie and the Bull. In Ken LaZebnik’s masterful hands this unlikely pairing of canny executive and rambunctious player comes alive with flair and fluency.”—Lee Lowenfish, author of the award-winning biography Branch Rickey: Baseball’s Ferocious Gentleman“Buzzie Bavasi was an unparalleled practitioner in the increasingly lost art of finding player talent that statistics fail to disclose, which helped win a pennant when he found it in Al Ferrara.”—Bob Fontaine Jr., scouting director for the Toronto Blue Jays and former scout for the San Diego Padres, California Angels, and Seattle Mariners"A fun, quick read that fans of the Dodgers will enjoy."—Lance Smith, Guy Who Reviews Sports BooksTable of ContentsList of Illustrations Foreword by Bob Bavasi Acknowledgments Introduction 1. The Winter of 1964 2. Spring Training 3. April 4. May 5. June 6. July 7. August 8. September 9. October 10. Winter 11. 1966 and Beyond Epilogue: Two Lives, One Team Sources
£22.79
University of Nebraska Press Issei Baseball
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
£22.79
University of Nebraska Press Summer Baseball Nation
Book SynopsisThe college baseball season doesn't end when the school year is finished. Many of the top NCAA Division I, II, and III baseball players continue to play in one of the game's most unique environments, the summer wood bat leagues. They swap aluminum bats for wood and play from June through August in more than forty states. The poetry of America's pastime persists as soon-to-be stars such as Gordon Beckham, Buster Posey, and Aaron Judge crash in spare bedrooms and play for free on city and college ball fields. Summer Baseball Nation chronicles a season in America's summer collegiate baseball leagues. From the Cape to Alaska and a lot of places in between, Will Geoghegan tells the stories of a summer: eighteen of the best college players in the country playing Wiffle ball on Cape Cod, the Midnight Sun Game in Alaska, a California legend picking up another win, home runs flying into Lake Michigan, and the namesake of an old Minor League club packing the same charming ballpark. At every stTrade Review"A charming book about a charming element of American life."—David M. Shribman, Wall Street Journal"This book is highly recommended to readers as an enjoyable and informative baseball history."—Anna R. Newton, NINE: A Journal of Baseball History and Culture"This is an informative examination of an overlooked form of grassroots baseball that, for some players, can be an important step to the major leagues."—Wes Lukowsky, Booklist"Reading this makes one realize that there is so much more to the game than just the big money and big statistics. This book is baseball at the grass roots and it is so much fun to read that it comes highly recommended for any baseball fan."—Guy Who Reviews Sports Books“Will Geoghegan’s beautifully written and richly detailed Summer Baseball Nation reminds one of why baseball—in its purest and most innocent form—is still the greatest of all sports.”—Erik Sherman, New York Times best-selling coauthor of After the Miracle: The Lasting Brotherhood of the ’69 Mets“If you’ve ever felt like pulling off the road to witness the last stop before WAR and OPS and WHIP stats overpower grassroots baseball, this is the book for you. Feel the breeze of a Cape Cod summer and the sound of wood bats hitting baseballs. Love this book.”—Marty Appel, New York Yankees historian and author of Pinstripe Empire and Casey StengelTable of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments 1. Cape Cod 2. Newport 3. Fairbanks 4. Santa Barbara 5. Cape Cod 6. Kenosha 7. Washington DC 8. Hampton 9. Cape Cod 10. Extra Innings
£22.79
University of Nebraska Press Alou
Book SynopsisGrowing up in a tiny shack in the Dominican Republic, Felipe Alou never dreamed he would be the first man born and raised in his country to play and manage in Major League Baseballand also the first to play in the World Series. In this extraordinary autobiography, Alou tells of his real dream to become a doctor, and an improbable turn of events that led to the pro contract. Battling racism in the United States and political turmoil in his home country, Alou persevered, paving the way for his brothers and scores of other Dominicans, including his son Moisés. Alou played seventeen years in the Major Leagues, accumulating more than two thousand hits and two hundred home runs, and then managed for another fourteen yearsfour with the San Francisco Giants and ten with the Montreal Expos, where he became the winningest manager in franchise history. Alou's pioneering journey is embedded in the history of baseball, the Dominican Republic, and a remarkable family.Trade Review"A worthwhile journey into baseball's history and the rich story of one remarkable baseball man. All of us who know Alou are aware that his tale is remarkable. This book brings his story alive: his path from an impoverished upbringing to track star to baseball player to become the first major-league player from the Dominican Republic. . . . Alou is a precious part of the history of the Giants and the game."—Ann Killion, San Francisco Chronicle"Famed outfielder Alou, who made history in 1958 as the first person to go from the Dominican Republic to playing with a major league team, delivers a fascinating memoir of his baseball career. . . . This is a powerful memoir of a remarkable player who made a lasting impact on America's pastime."—Publishers Weekly"An engrossing book, with baseball as the background and the lessons from a remarkable life going well beyond the game."—Jorge L. Ortiz, USA Today"It's not surprising that his new book, Alou: My Baseball Journey, is just as much a life journey as it is about baseball. . . . I can’t think of anyone I respect in the game any more than Felipe Alou."—Barry M. Bloom, Forbes"In reading his memoir Alou: My Baseball Journey . . . two things become abundantly clear: Felipe Alou refuses to be silent or be silenced; and the Dominican remains steadfast in his commitment to the belief that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect—from immigrant newcomers and the poor to black and Latino baseball players, as well as those beyond the playing field."—Adrian Burgos, La Vida Baseball"In his extraordinary autobiography, co-written with sportswriter Peter Kerasotis, Alou tells of the political and personal turmoil he faced as he paved the way for future Dominican ball players."—Dominican Today“Sometimes the people who don’t crave attention are the ones who deserve it the most. That’s Felipe Alou. He is one of the best and most caring teammates I ever had. I learned from him what leadership is all about and what it means to be a man. I admired him greatly, first as a fan, then as a teammate, and now, most important, as a friend. Felipe has lived a Hall of Fame life, and in Alou you’ll learn why.”—Joe Torre “It’s an honor to have Felipe Alou as my friend and especially to have him in my career and in my life as a mentor. He blazed a trail for Latin Americans that few men could’ve accomplished, and he did it with class and character. His story, and what he overcame and achieved, will embarrass and enlighten, sadden and inspire, anger and uplift. Felipe Alou is one of the best ambassadors for baseball and an even better ambassador for the human race.”—Reggie Jackson “If Alou was only about Felipe Alou’s legendary baseball career as a player and manager it would be an important read, but it’s much more. Alou not only captures an extraordinary life; it delivers compelling insights into life’s realities. As the first to go from the Dominican Republic to Major League Baseball—both as a player and a manager—Felipe Alou opened the way for his brothers Matty and Jesús, his fellow countrymen, and for scores of other Latin Americans. If you don’t know much about Felipe Alou, this book will convince you that he is as special as anyone who has ever worn a Major League uniform. For those of us who know and admire him, reading Alou makes us appreciate that he is even greater than we imagined.”—Tony La Russa “Felipe Alou played with Willie Mays and managed Barry Bonds. He played a Major League Game in the same outfield with his two brothers, and then saw his son become a Major League star in his own right. He was the first Dominican born and raised to make it to the Major Leagues, opening the door for scores of others. Felipe Alou has a rich and vivid story to tell, and here it is.”—Bob Costas Table of ContentsForeword Introduction Part 1. 1935–1956 1. A Name 2. A Childhood Part 2. 1956–1957 3. Coming to America 4. Just Give Me a Chance 5. Moving Up Part 3. 1958–1963 6. The Rookie 7. Roberto Clemente 8. Beginning of the End 9. Dawn of a Decade 10. Dark Days 11. Death of a Dictator 12. The Road to the World Series 13. 1962 World Series 14. The Alous Said Hello; the Giants Said Goodbye Part 4. 1964–1970s 15. Brave New World 16. Settling In 17. Trouble at Home 18. Hitting the Sweet Spot 19. Family Matters 20. Winding Down Part 5. 1975–Today 21. The Transition 22. The Road Back 23. Big Time Again in the Big Leagues 24. A New Beginning 25. 1994 26. The Demise of the Expos and Me 27. It Ain’t Over till You’re Done 28. Managing Philosophy 29. You Can Go Home Again Epilogue Afterword Acknowledgments Chronology
£15.19
University of Nebraska Press One Nation Under Baseball
Book SynopsisHighlights the intersection between American society and America's pastime during the 1960s, when the hallmarks of the sport - fairness, competition, and mythology - came under scrutiny. One Nation Under Baseball brings to life the seminal figures of the era, portraying their roles during a decade of flux and uncertainty.Trade Review"One Nation Under Baseball . . . looks at how the turmoil of the 1960s sowed the seeds for today's game. A recurrent theme is ballplayers' fight for higher wages, and when the labor lawyer Marvin Miller was hired in 1966 to lead the players' union, it was all over but the court filing: The Curt Flood case taking on baseball's reserve clause would eventually lead to free agency. This excellent read also covers race relations and other social issues, as well as the decade's most memorable teams, players and events."—Daniel M. Gold, New York Times"Careful, pointed writing shows us that professional sports should not be viewed in isolation from the society in which they function."—Kirkus“One great story after another. Mickey Mantle. Muhammad Ali. Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale. Martin Luther King. The moon landing. Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please!”—Jim Bouton, author of Ball Four "A riveting account."—Allen Barra, Dallas News"A brilliant history, both of baseball and our nation."—Bob Mayberry, Spitball: The Literary Baseball Magazine"A compelling account of how many of the major cultural challenges and social upheavals during the 1960s interacted with Major League Baseball."—Joseph L. Price, ARETE“An important inside historical account of baseball’s awakening amid the social change in America in the ’60s. Florio and Shapiro cover it all in riveting and incisive fashion, from the press box to the baseball boardrooms, the clubhouse, and the courthouse.”—Bill Madden, Hall of Fame baseball writer "Florio and Shapiro have captured the essence of the decade offering some compelling stories of the events and people."—Richard Crepeau, New York Journal of Books"This well-researched and -referenced book is a very enjoyable read. Everybody who is interested in knowing and understanding the history of baseball and race relations in America must read it."—Washington Book ReviewTable of ContentsForeword A Note to the Reader Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Epilogue Acknowledgments Bibliography Index
£15.99
University of Nebraska Press Home Team
Book SynopsisIn 1957 Horace Stoneham took his Giants of New York baseball team and headed west, starting a gold rush with bats and balls rather than pans and mines. But San Francisco already had a team, the Seals of the Pacific Coast League, and West Coast fans had to learn to embrace the newcomers. Starting with the franchise’s earliest days and following the team up to recent World Series glory, Home Team chronicles the story of the Giants and their often topsy-turvy relationship with the city of San Francisco. Robert F. Garratt shines light on those who worked behind the scenes in the story of West Coast baseball: the politicians, businessmen, and owners who were instrumental in the club’s history.Home Team presents Stoneham, often left in the shadow of Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley, as a true baseball pioneer in his willingness to sign black and Latino players and his recruitment of the first Japanese player in the Major Leagues, makiTrade Review"A great read and great baseball history."—Allen Barra, San Francisco Chronicle"A significant, authoritative history of the Giants. Baseball fans should read it. Libraries should acquire it."—G. Louis Heath, Aethlon“A good reason to read Home Team is the chance to get to know Horace Stoneham the way I did. He was a good friend, a hard worker, and a great man. He did a lot for me and for baseball.”—Willie Mays “Once you begin the journey with Garratt you won’t stop until the first pitch at Pac Bell Park in 2000. Home Team is a must for any baseball fan.”—Marty Lurie, Giants pre- and postgame radio host of the Bay Area’s KNBR 680 “From the boardroom to the courtroom to the ballpark, Rob Garratt touches all the bases. Must-reading for any baseball fan.”—Hank Greenwald, the voice of the Giants (1979–96) and author of This Copyrighted Broadcast “The vision of Horace Stoneham . . . opened the door for many Latin baseball players, including myself, the Alou brothers, and Juan Marichal, among others. This is an important history of the Giants franchise.”—Orlando Cepeda Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Preface Part I. Horace 1. Sunset in New York 2. Dawning in the West 3. Reinvention 4. Scandalstick 5. Perennial Bridesmaids 6. A Perfect Storm Part II. Bob 7. “Bobby Thomson Lives!” 8. Learning Curve 9. The Humm Babies: “You Gotta Like These Kids!” 10. Vox Populi Part III. Peter 11. “It’s Déjà Vu All Over Again” 12. The Improbable Dream Epilogue: "The Home Team" Acknowledgments Author’s Note Notes Bibliography Index
£15.19
University of Nebraska Press Macho Row
Book SynopsisColorful, shaggy, and unkempt, misfits and outlaws, the 1993 Phillies played hard and partied hard. Focusing on six key members of the team, Macho Row follows the remarkable season with an up-close look at the players' lives, the team's triumphs and failures, and what made this group so unique and so successful.Trade Review"Macho Row features a lively cast of characters, players that Major League baseball will probably never witness again."—Jack Ryan, ARETE"Macho Row is a well-documented book that broaches important themes beyond Philadelphia— steroids and sabermetrics—without delving into the detail that other studies focused on those topics have."—Craig R. Coenen, Pennsylvania History: A Journal of Mid-Atlantic Studies“The 1993 Phillies captured the imaginations of fans with their hard-edged, take-no-prisoners attitude.”—Billy Beane, executive vice president of baseball operations for the Oakland Athletics“The [1993] Phillies were loud, irreverent, and politically incorrect. Macho Row vividly re-creates their rowdy, memorable season, warts and all.”—Paul Hagen, former baseball writer for the Philadelphia Daily News“Inspiring as well as tragic, Macho Row is ultimately a cautionary tale about the price some athletes pay after their playing days are over.”—Al Tielemans, photographer for Sports IllustratedTable of ContentsList of Illustrations Acknowledgments Introduction 1. Dutch 2. Gang of Six 3. Nails 4. Boo Birds 5. Krukker 6. Fourth Estate 7. Spring Training 8. Wild Thing 9. Lightning in a Bottle 10. Mikey 11. Dog Days 12. Inky 13. Hide the Women and Children! 14. The Series 15. Inspiring Moneyball 16. Breaking the Code Afterword Appendix A. Major League Career Statistics for Members of Macho Row Appendix B. Individual Hitting and Pitching Statistics for the 1993 Phillies Appendix C. 1993 National League Championship Series Box Scores Appendix D. 1993 World Series Box Scores Notes Selected Bibliography Index
£18.99
University of Nebraska Press Baseballs Endangered Species
Book SynopsisBaseball's Endangered Species is a comprehensive look at professional baseball scouting from the postwar era to the present day.Trade Review"Three cheers for SABR member Lowenfish. Even before opening this book, just by the volume's cover I knew it would be a comprehensive and enjoyable study of scouts."—SABR Southern New England Newsletter“Scouts are like the blues musicians of baseball, whose stories reveal the heart of the game. Lee Lowenfish has dug deeply to bring these tales back to life.”—Dusty Baker, manager of the Houston Astros“Shining through this book is a pure love of baseball—not only in the scouts’ devotion to finding talent but in the author’s ardent research and affectionate writing. The gift that Lee Lowenfish gives to his readers is really an act of homage to the game itself.”—Kevin Kerrane, author of Dollar Sign on the Muscle: The World of Baseball Scouting“From the Ferocious Gentleman, Branch Rickey, the greatest scout in baseball history, to the Four Corners Scout and his three oil changes every calendar year, who better than Lee Lowenfish to write about those who have always been at the heart of our game, unfailingly dedicated yet mostly unseen. Thanks to his passion for baseball and understanding of its history, Lee happily tells their stories.”—Joe Maddon, former Major League Baseball manager“Serious fans and students of the game will appreciate this account of the history and current fortunes of the art of scouting baseball talent. Well told by a deeply knowledgeable writer in a conversational style reminiscent of the late Roger Angell.”—Jean Hastings Ardell, coauthor of Making My Pitch: A Woman’s Baseball Odyssey“Lee Lowenfish has always been thorough and insightful in his writing, and his latest book is no exception. There may not be any scouts in the Hall of Fame—but being included in this book is an accolade for them as individuals and for their profession.”—Marty Appel, Yankees historian and author of Munson: The Life and Death of a Yankee Captain“A most informative and entertaining book. . . . Lowenfish tells the [stories of greater- and lesser-known scouts] with equal appreciation of what they mean to the game. His ability to detail the personal side of the scouts and the players they pursue—and why they pursue them—is a pleasure to read. It is a master class by a master author.”—Lyle Spatz, coauthor of 1921: The Yankees, the Giants, and the Battle for Baseball Supremacy in New York"This book is filed with great stories, great history, and so much more. Everyone who reads this book will learn things about the game that they never knew before."—Paul Semendinger, Start Spreading the News blogTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Prologue Part 1. The Cardinals-Yankees Rivalry That Dominates Baseball, 1919–1964 1. Charley Barrett and the Rise of Branch Rickey’s Farm System 2. Paul Krichell and the Rise of the Yankees’ Dynasties Part 2. Tales from Baseball Expansion Era 3. Red Murff Joins the Scouting Brotherhood with Mets and Expos 4. Art Stewart and the Rise of the Kansas City Royals Expansion Franchise Part 3. Two Veteran Scouts Bookend Three Baseball Monogamists 5. Gary Nickels’s Half Century of Scouting Adventures 6. Paul Snyder, the Braves’ Branch Rickey 7. Gene Bennett’s Love Affair with the Cincinnati Reds 8. Billy Blitzer Finally Wins His Chicago Cubs’ Ring 9. Bill Enos’s Roundabout Journey to Massachusetts Scouting Immortality Notes Bibliography Index
£25.19
University of Nebraska Press The Black Bruins
Book SynopsisChronicles the inspirational lives of five African American athletes who faced racial discrimination as teammates at UCLA in the late 1930s. Best known among them was Jackie Robinson, a fourstar athlete for the Bruins who went on to break the colour barrier in Major League Baseball and become a leader in the civil rights movement.Trade Review"Johnson engagingly captures the lives, struggles, and triumphs of five men whose greatness transcended American sports."—Kirkus starred review"Johnson has a novelist's skill with narrative, which gives extra flair to this fascinating look at an era of evolving racial attitudes."—Wes Lukowsky, Booklist"James Johnson offers a well-researched analysis of the careers of the young athletes, from the discrimination they faced on the playing fields in Westwood through the success, and even fame, they achieved in their professional lives. . . . This highly-readable book should not be relegated to a sports library, despite its absorbing accounts of early Bruins football: readers interested in social and cultural history will be intrigued by the surprising impact of the five on the civil rights movement."—Helene Woodhams, Arizona Daily Star"James W. Johnson's The Black Bruins maps the rise of five former Bruins' athletes who not only helped further the integration of college sport, but each became trailblazers in their own right. . . . The Black Bruins is a home-run for those unfamiliar with both UCLA's modest—yet significant—contribution in integrating college sports in the late 1930s and the five former teammates who helped put UCLA on the map. The book also reminds readers that narratives are not singular, but intersect with others. Perhaps an existential take-away from The Black Bruins is one that compels us not only to consider more carefully how to appropriate and build upon such legacies, but also to better see how our own diverse and distinct California narratives connect to each other."—Nickolas Hardy, Boom California"Johnson brings these five meaningful lives into full, vivid view, and he reminds his readers of their significant contributions to American sport and race relations."—Jack Ryan, Aethlon"A reader interested in the compelling stories of five men who spent their lives breaking down racial exclusion in college football, major league baseball, the NFL, in film, and in politics will find much to enjoy here. . . . The lives of these men also expose much about the social and political history of race in the twentieth-century United States."—Andrew Doyle, Journal of Arizona History"What happens after UCLA is what makes this book an important one to read for those readers who are interested in the civil rights movement and the integration of sports and entertainment."—Guy Who Reviews Sports Books“Must-reading for anyone who would truly understand the foundations of activism among black athletes today and their evolved sense of a broader role and obligation in society beyond athletic proficiency and performance.”—Harry Edwards, professor emeritus of sociology at the University of California, Berkeley “Five African American men enrolled at UCLA in the late 1930s, touching off a revolution in collegiate sports, introducing integration to Major League Baseball and pro football, and bringing diversity to public life. This well-researched, engrossing account brings four athletes into sharp focus as they move from high-school and university athletic fame to national and regional prominence and groundbreaking civic and social achievement.”—Jim Price, editor, writer, and sports historian “Those who came before me, detailed in this book, paved the way not only for my life as a minority student-athlete and later athletic director at UCLA; they also provided the opportunity for future generations of Bruins from every walk of life to become barrier-breakers as well.”—Dan Guerrero, director of athletics at UCLA Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Prologue 1. No Bed of Roses in Pasadena 2. The Kingfish and Woody 3. The High School Years 4. The Little Brother 5. Obstacles to Overcome 6. A Sorry Season 7. An Easy Choice 8. Fitting in at UCLA 9. Under-the-Table Help 10. Filling the Coffers 11. High Expectations 12. A Disappointing End to the Season 13. Decision Time 14. Passed Over by the NFL 15. The Indispensable Robinson 16. World War II Beckons 17. Moving Up in the Ranks 18. Making NFL History 19. The Negro League Years 20. End of the Line at LAPD 21. Leaving Athletics 22. Movie Star in the Making 23. A Promotion Earned 24. Blending In 25. Changing Los Angeles 26. The Civil Rights Years 27. Their Legacy Notes Bibliography Index
£15.19
University of Nebraska Press Bouton
Book SynopsisNamed a BestBaseball Book of 2020 by Sports Collectors Digest Bouton examines the remarkable life of a player and an author who forever changed the way we view not only sports books but professional sports as a whole.Trade Review“Once you start reading, you will not be able to stop. A compelling look at one of the most influential and controversial figures in baseball history. A new generation needs to know the story of Jim Bouton: a man who never wearied of gleefully and hilariously skewering the establishment but who also had the old-school drive to will his dreams into reality. Above all, a lifetime love of baseball shines through in every chapter—a true reflection of Bouton himself.”—Brian Kenny, host for MLB Network and author of Ahead of the Curve: Inside the Baseball Revolution"Baseball fans will laugh alongside and, ultimately, feel touched by this look at an iconoclastic, often quixotic man who, despite the charges that his landmark book had hurt the game, loved baseball to the very end."—Library Journal, starred review"An astute writer on the game, [Nathanson] is as at his best on the Bouton-Shecter collaboration—late nights at the Lion’s Head Bar in Greenwich Village; Shecter making sense of Bouton’s scrawls on stationery, envelopes and toilet paper; the pair noodling over the manuscript stripped down to their underwear in Shecter’s airless Chelsea apartment. . . . Nathanson is good, too, with Bouton wisecracks."—Maxwell Carter, Wall Street Journal"When Mitchell Nathanson, a professor of sports law at Villanova, approached Bouton about writing his biography, the pitcher gave his blessing, on one condition: that Nathanson write about him with the honesty he’d tried to bring to the game of baseball. . . . Nathanson moves crisply through the deep back story, though he knows a good detail when he sees one."—John Swansburg, New York Times Book Review"Nathanson goes beyond tracing Bouton’s life, focusing instead on explicating the roots of Ball Four. In so doing, the book becomes an inside-publishing exposé, showing how the publication and selling of Ball Four changed our expectations of what a sports book could be. . . . In addition, the book provides fascinating details about Bouton's post–Ball Four life, including his fling at acting and his turn as an entrepreneur, developing the successful bubble-gum product Big League Chew. A welcome look at one of baseball's signature mavericks."—Mark Levine, Booklist"Nathanson's chronicle of baseball's renowned counter-culture renegade as author of Ball Four in 1970 is a masterful exploration of Jim Bouton's impact not only to major-league baseball but also within the larger societal spheres of the overall sports industry and American culture in general."—Charlie Bevis, Bevis Baseball Research"Bouton: The Life of a Baseball Original is one of the best baseball biographies in recent memory. Nathanson is a fantastic storyteller, capable of juxtaposing Bouton's recollections with those of his contemporaries and situating these stories within their historical context. While researching the book, he spent a significant amount of time with Bouton in the final years of his life (Bouton died in 2019), which contributes to the depth with which he renders his subject."—Clayton Trutor, Reason"Bouton is a book that deserves space next to Ball Four on the bookshelf. Nathanson has done a thorough job of presenting the life of a complex man who changed the game of baseball, not by what he did on the field, but what he observed on the field, in the clubhouse and on the road."—Bob D'Angelo, Sports Bookie"A well-researched and fascinating read that tells how the free thinking Bouton always marched to the beat of his own drummer."—John Werner, Waco Tribune-Herald"Nathanson's source list is deep and insightful and his writing is crisp. And his access to Bouton's Ball Four notes provides answers to some lingering questions."—Dennis Star, Peoria Journal StarTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Prologue: Publication Day Part One: The Bulldog 1. Warm-up Bouton 2. Take a Hike, Son 3. Joliet 4. You Should Write a Book 5. A Long Way from Amarillo 6. Fucking Shecter 7. All ’Bout Bouton 8. A Threat, Not a Fine 9. The Bulldog and the Chipmunks 10. Rebel without a Fastball 11. The Youth of America Is for Kids 12. The End of the Line Part Two: The Author 13. Beginnings 14. From Tell-Some to Tell-All 15. Take Your Pants Off, Bouton 16. Fuck You, Shakespeare 17. Protectors of the Holy Flame 18. Against the Unwritten Rules of Baseball 19. Not Enough Sex 20. The Leni Riefenstahl of the National Football League 21. Taking It Personally 22. Bad Stuff ’bout the Mets Part Three: The Iconoclast 23. Not Selling Refrigerators 24. The Most Famous Vasectomy in New York 25. Are We Rolling? 26. One Smart-Ass and Four Lawyers 27. You’re a Long Time Dead 28. The Battered Bastard of Baseball 29. Gilligan’s Island in Baseball Suits 30. Too Old, Too Everything 31. Magic 32. Dreaming in Baseball 33. Mask of the Bulldog 34. Hey, New York—Bouton’s Back! 35. Lightning in a Pouch 36. The Solo Artist 37. Laurie 38. Existential Bad Faith 39. A Mile in Bowie’s Shoes 40. Cashing Out 41. The Butter-Yellow Box Epilogue: The Cool of the Evening Notes Bibliography Index
£25.19
University of Nebraska Press Baseball Rebels
Book Synopsis Finalist for the 2023 Seymour Medal Foreword INDIES Finalist in History In Baseball RebelsPeter Dreier and Robert Elias examine the key social challenges—racism, sexism and homophobia—that shaped society and worked their way into baseball’s culture, economics, and politics. Since baseball emerged in the mid-1800s to become America’s pastime, the nation’s battles over race, gender, and sexuality have been reflected on the playing field, in the executive suites, in the press box, and in the community. Some of baseball’s rebels are widely recognized, but most of them are either little known or known primarily for their baseball achievements—not their political views and activism. Everyone knows the story of Jackie Robinson breaking baseball’s color line, but less known is Sam Nahem, who opposed the racial divide in the U.S. military and organized an integrated military team that won a championsTrade Review"In an age where increasing amounts of attention continue to be devoted to diversity and inclusion, Peter Dreier and Robert Elias reinforce the notion that we've come a long way but still have a long way to go. Baseball Rebels serves as a well-rounded volume that examines various aspects of the national pastime vis-à- vis the tumultuous social issues of race relations, the battle of the sexes— in more ways than one— and progressive activism."—Paul Hensler, NINE: A Journal of Baseball History and Culture"Well-written and convincingly argued, Baseball Rebels warrants a place on the shelves of fans and scholars alike. Baseball may seem like a fundamentally conservative sporting culture. But as this important book shows, beneath the surface, there have always been brave dissenters willing to challenge the status quo even at the expense of their own careers, and even in the face of long, daunting odds."—Derek Catsam, Journal of Popular Culture"Baseball Rebels conducts deep dives into the ugly past in the game. The history lessons offered through the lens of Dreier and Elias make their book a must-read."—Don Laible, Bradenton Times"For all the progress that has been made, we're still waiting for greater minority representation in front offices, for women to be part of the game, and for LGBTQ+ individuals to feel unashamed of who they are within the context of the game. Baseball Rebels makes you feel like it's only a matter of time before that's a reality, though, and that's a really good thing."—Chris D. Davies, coveringthecorner.com"Readers will find much in this volume that a second or third reading will bring new delight and interest."—Paul Buhle, Progressive Magazine“Baseball is America’s game: it’s a game with an important and often-overlooked history of rebellion, and one that, with fits and starts, has helped lead the nation’s fight against racism, sexism, and homophobia. Don’t believe me? This incisive and compelling book proves it. . . . Highly recommended.”—Jonathan Eig, author of Luckiest Man and Opening Day“It’s not just that Baseball Rebels homes in on the heroes (and reprobates) in the ongoing battles for civil rights and against gender discrimination. It’s that it does it with grace and humanity, telling must-read stories of barrier-breakers we know, like Satchel Paige, and others we ought to, like Frank Sykes.”—Larry Tye, author of Satchel: The Life and Times of an American Legend“Baseball began in the cities, from a nostalgic longing for an agrarian paradise more ideal than real. That idealism—a wish for fairness and harmony on a level playing field—animated all that came after and is splendidly delineated in Robert Elias and Peter Dreier’s new book. Who is in, who is out, and who gets to decide: that has been the banner under which all baseball’s rebels have marched.”—John Thorn, official historian of Major League Baseball“We all know about Ruth and Koufax. But as Dreier and Elias remind us, the game has also been played by Octavius Catto and Helen Callaghan, Frank Sykes and Glenn Burke—men and women who used the ballfields to fight for social justice and equality. Read this book, and you will agree that their stories deserve to be known.”—Joshua Prager, author of The Family Roe and The Echoing Green“Baseball is a funny game. It’s also a serious game. In their book Baseball Rebels, Peter Dreier and Robert Elias take a deep look at the players and nonplayers who changed the game for the better by fighting for access and equality. From Jackie Robinson to Roberto Clemente to my own mother, a professional ballplayer herself, their individual stories as athletes add up to a revealing narrative of how the game reflected and impacted some of the most important cultural and social changes in the broader society. The book is a home run. In that I hit so few home runs in my major league career, I know one when I see one.”—Casey Candaele, Major League Baseball player with Montreal Expos, Houston Astros, and Cleveland Indians, and Triple-A managerTable of ContentsList of Illustrations Foreword by Dave Zirin Acknowledgments Introduction Resisting Racism 1. Battling Jim Crow 2. Building Black Institutions 3. Before Jackie Robinson 4. Crossing the Color Line 5. Defending Civil Rights Resisting Sexism and Homophobia 6. Women in Baseball 7. Gay Men in Baseball Today’s Activists and an Agenda for Change 8. Modern-Day Rebels 9. Baseball Justice: An Unfinished Agenda Bibliography Index Also by the Authors
£26.09
University of Nebraska Press The Wax Pack
Book SynopsisPart baseball nostalgia and part road trip travelogue, The Wax Pack follows Brad Balukjian as he tracks down players from a single pack of baseball cards from 1986 that had remained sealed for almost thirty years.Trade Review“A wonderful journey that opens into an exploration of sports, nostalgia, American culture, and memory, The Wax Pack will surprise and engage you. It’s a delight to read and a tribute to the power of curiosity.”—Susan Orlean, author of The Orchid Thief and The Library Book“What if a pack of baseball cards could come to life? It sounds like a Spielberg movie plot, except it happened. It happened because Brad Balukjian made it happen, in real life, with the most eclectic cast of baseball characters ever assembled. And the result is one of the most fun, honest, funny, human, and uniquely creative baseball books of the year. I’ll admit it. I loved The Wax Pack!”—Jayson Stark, senior baseball writer for The Athletic “The Wax Pack is one of the most interesting and pleasing baseball-themed books I have read in quite some time. An original idea, brought to fruition with graceful prose, a sense of humor, empathy, and insight.”—Bob Costas"Baseball cards were a wonderful and memorable part of my childhood. Balukjian brought a random pack of cards to life. Such a unique way to tell a fascinating story."—Tim Kurkjian“Poignant and powerful. . . . Balukjian covers more than ten thousand miles to track down the stories of fourteen men from a single pack of 1986 Topps baseball cards, learning a lot about their lives—and his own. Hop in the backseat and join him for the journey.”—Tyler Kepner, national baseball writer for the New York Times and best-selling author of K: A History of Baseball in Ten Pitches“As pleasing as the pink slab of bubble gum that, long ago, came with baseball cards inside five cent packets, this slender volume gives fresh flavor to the familiar phrase ‘inside baseball.’”—George F. Will“What a weird, quirky, fun read. There have been 50,000 books written on Major League Baseball, but Brad Balukjian’s The Wax Pack is a uniquely romantic love letter to a game, a time period, and its random soldiers. Well done.”—Jeff Pearlman, author of Football for a Buck“The Wax Pack is the perfect synthesis of what makes baseball (and baseball cards) compelling, combining the thrill of discovery, the reassurance of shared memory, and poignant metaphors for life. Balukjian’s cross-country, cardboard-based bildungsroman reminds us that baseball’s best stories are sometimes told by and about players who’ve long since left the league.”—Ben Lindbergh, best-selling author of The MVP Machine and The Only Rule Is It Has to Work“Brad Balukjian’s book is for all those little kids with cardboard heroes who turned into big kids and started wondering, ‘Hey, what if there’s more to life than just the cardboard?’ Turns out, there is.”—Rob Neyer, author of Power Ball: Anatomy of a Modern Baseball Game“A journey of self-discovery by way of a pack of 1986 baseball cards. In Brad’s emotional quest, he not only finds answers but shares a snapshot of ballplayers who, like him, are trying to make it through life’s many twists and turns.”—Shane Rawley, former MLB pitcherTable of ContentsAuthor’s Note Prologue 1. Warming Up 2. Happy Meals 3. Yeager Bombs 4. Camp Templeton 5. Houston, We Have a Problem 6. Ready Is Ready 7. Carman’s Cradle 8. The Battery 9. Chasing Carlton 10. Leader of the Pack 11. Vincent van Gone 12. Is It September Yet? 13. Nobody Home 14. Gone Fishing 15. Catching Carlton 16. Captain Comeback 17. Straight Outta Compton Epilogue Acknowledgments Notes
£20.89
