Baseball GPA


Book Description

Gross Productivity Average, or GPA, is a new baseball statistic that measures performance. Accounting for the effect that each plate appearance or baserunning play has on scoring opportunities, it is reported on a scale similar to that for batting average, making it easy for the average fan to understand. Beginning with a detailed explanation of the statistic and its derivation, the book identifies, in Part II, historical patterns in league-average GPA (even the steroids effect is quantified). Practical applications are then explored, as GPA is used in Part III to settle long-running arguments about strategy and in Part IV to reassess players and awards voting from 1952 to 2012.




Reclaiming the Game


Book Description

In Reclaiming the Game, William Bowen and Sarah Levin disentangle the admissions and academic experiences of recruited athletes, walk-on athletes, and other students. In a field overwhelmed by reliance on anecdotes, the factual findings are striking--and sobering. Anyone seriously concerned about higher education will find it hard to wish away the evidence that athletic recruitment is problematic even at those schools that do not offer athletic scholarships. Thanks to an expansion of the College and Beyond database that resulted in the highly influential studies The Shape of the River and The Game of Life, the authors are able to analyze in great detail the backgrounds, academic qualifications, and college outcomes of athletes and their classmates at thirty-three academically selective colleges and universities that do not offer athletic scholarships. They show that recruited athletes at these schools are as much as four times more likely to gain admission than are other applicants with similar academic credentials. The data also demonstrate that the typical recruit is substantially more likely to end up in the bottom third of the college class than is either the typical walk-on or the student who does not play college sports. Even more troubling is the dramatic evidence that recruited athletes "underperform:" they do even less well academically than predicted by their test scores and high school grades. Over the last four decades, the athletic-academic divide on elite campuses has widened substantially. This book examines the forces that have been driving this process and presents concrete proposals for reform. At its core, Reclaiming the Game is an argument for re-establishing athletics as a means of fulfilling--instead of undermining--the educational missions of our colleges and universities.




Beyond Batting Average


Book Description

Over the past few decades, a multitude of advanced hitting, pitching, fielding and base running measures have been introduced to the baseball world. This comprehensive sabermetrics primer will introduce you to these new statistics with easy to understand explanations and examples. It will illustrate the evolution of statistics from simple traditional measures to the more complex metrics of today. You will learn how all the statistics are connected to winning and losing games, how to interpret them, and how to apply them to performance on the field. By the end of this book, you will be able to evaluate players and teams through statistics more thoroughly and accurately than you could before.




Just Baseball


Book Description

That sound, the first crack of the bat. Every year in early spring a special kind of joy comes over those who love America’s favorite pastime, baseball. This feeling is no different for the millions of kids who dream of greatness when they pick up a bat and make their way to the plate. In Just Baseball, Mike Just has created a guide to the world of baseball. Drawing from his own journey to the pros, Just better equips parents and players to make smart decisions as they pursue the game while encouraging players to pursue excellence, maximize their talents, and inspire them to find greater satisfaction in the game. The book covers these topics and more: At what age should youngsters start playing the game? What values will define a player’s baseball character? How important is it to be a team player? What do baseball scouts look for? How can players gain an edge in recruiting? What if your head coach leaves? Is being drafted out of high school a good or bad thing? Baseball is not a one-size-fits-all journey. Learning how to make thoughtful choices that make the most sense for one’s own set of circumstances is all part of getting to the next level. Mike Just’s own experience provides valuable insight for all those who are serious about baseball, and who want to be the best.




Who Can Play?


Book Description




The Mental Road to the Major Leagues


Book Description

Integrating sport psychology with the personal testimonies of baseball players, this helpful guide offers a step-by-step overview of what it takes for a boy playing little league baseball to work his way to college ball, the minor leagues, and beyond. Throughout, emphasis remains on the mental challenges players face and ways players can prepare for these challenges, both on and off the field. From college scholarships to meager minor league salaries, from getting traded to getting injured, this handbook will help athletes and parents navigate choices while illuminating the mental aspects that give the game its unpredictability and vitality.




The High School Athlete's Guide to College Baseball


Book Description

Tips from over 70 college baseball coaches and pro scouts describing how to market yourself to the college of your dreams. -from front cover







Out of Bounds


Book Description

This collection of essays highlights the controversies surrounding racism in sports and African American athletes, examining the racial discrimination that exists in one of the most public arenas in the 21st century. Despite increasing diversity in the American population, race and racial bias continue to be significant issues in the United States. Sports—one of the most visible and important subsets of American culture—directly reflect our society's beliefs about race. This book examines racial controversy and conflict in various sports in the United States in both previous eras as well as the current "Age of Obama." The essays in the work explain how racial ideologies are created and recreated in all areas of public life, including the world of sports. The authors address a wide range of sports, including ones where racial minorities are in the numerical minority, such as hockey. Specific topics covered include the devaluation of black athletes, racism in Major League Baseball, and the treatment of black female athletes.




Administration of Intercollegiate Athletics


Book Description

The dynamic world of collegiate sports has seen seismic changes since the previous edition of Administration of Intercollegiate Athletics was published. Conference realignments; name, image, and likeness (NIL) advancements; multibillion-dollar media rights deals; expanded bowl games and tournaments; and big-money corporate sponsorships have all been arisen out of the burgeoning popularity of college sports. The growing complexities of the sport administrator’s role necessitate a college text that reflects the times. And that’s exactly what Administration of Intercollegiate Athletics, Second Edition, does. Some of the most informed and experienced professionals in the field of athletics administration have lent their expertise to the updated second edition, making it the most comprehensive resource available today for students aspiring to work in the field and for professionals navigating an increasingly demanding environment. The text offers students a deep dive into the day-to-day operations of collegiate athletics departments. With chapters covering governing bodies and conference governance; leadership and management; rules compliance; academics, eligibility, and student-athlete development; media relations and production; financial operations and budgeting; marketing, ticketing, licensing, and sponsorships; facility and event management; alumni relations; and support services, the text provides students with the essential underpinnings of an athletics administration position. New to this edition is a chapter dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion to provide broader discussions of athlete social justice activism, gender equity, Title IX compliance, feminist theory, and allyship. In addition, the second edition discusses the rise of NIL deals, legalized sports wagering, and esports, as well as the lasting financial impacts of COVID-19 on athletics departments at all levels of intercollegiate sport. While Division I schools grab the spotlight, administrators in Division II, Division III, junior colleges, and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) athletics departments share the same responsibilities as their Division I counterparts. Throughout the text, Administration of Intercollegiate Athletics, Second Edition, takes care to address the needs and concerns of administrators at these levels, even more so than in the previous edition. New and updated features include Leadership Lesson sidebars, discussion questions, learning activities, and case studies designed to enhance learning and provide practical application of the concepts presented. Also included are Industry Profile sidebars that highlight prominent athletics administrators, Technology Tools sidebars that showcase the latest advancements assisting administrators in their roles, and Professional Development sidebars that provide students with direction on how to enter and succeed in the industry. Administration of Intercollegiate Athletics, Second Edition, is an essential textbook for courses on intercollegiate athletics, sport management, or sport marketing and is a relied-on resource for current sport administrators.