Tales from First Base


Book Description

When a batter races toward first base and fielders scramble to make a tough play, anything can happen. Tales from First Base is a humorous and insightful look at the players, coaches, and umpires who have spent time along those first ninety feet of the base path. Brad Engel and Wayne Stewart check out some of the funniest players and most amusing incidents from this corner of the diamond, such as the time Larry Walker and opposing cornerman Mark Grace traced out, in the dirt around the bag, a running conversation with each other. And then there was Dick Stuart, a fielder who wasn't exactly known for catching baseballs. But, he once caught a bounding bat that had slipped out of the hands of a hitter and later in his career received a standing ovation from a Pittsburgh crowd when he caught a hot dog wrapper on the fly. Readers will also learn about the first-sackers' roles in some of the most famous plays of all time, such as the blown call that cost Detroit pitcher Armando Galarraga a perfect game on June 2, 2010. When umpire Jim Joyce later apologized to Galarraga, the player graciously accepted the apology, stating, Nobody's perfect. Packed with exclusive interviews with popular players at all positions—including fan favorites Hank Aaron, Jeff Bagwell, Curtis Granderson, Adam LaRoche, and Joe Carter—this book will appeal to newcomers to the game and die-hard fans alike.




First-Base Hero


Book Description

Baseball is fun and it takes hard work to be good. A little league composed of children diverse in age, race and gender learn what it takes to be a success on the field. They see how good sportsmanship, teamwork, real competition, and self determination make stronger athletes and a stronger team!




Tales from the Deadball Era


Book Description

The Deadball Era (1901û1920) is a baseball fanÆs dream. Hope and despair, innocence and cynicism, and levity and hostility blended then to create an air of excitement, anticipation, and concern for all who entered the confines of a major league ballpark. Cheating for the sake of victory earned respect, corrupt ballplayers fixed games with impunity, and violence plagued the sport. Spectators stormed the field to attack players and umpires, ballplayers charged the stands to pummel hecklers, and physical battles between opposing clubs occurred regularly in a phenomenon known as ôrowdyism.ö At the same time, endearing practices infused baseball with lightheartedness, kindness, and laughter. Fans ran onto the field with baskets of flowers, loving cups, diamond jewelry, gold watches, and cash for their favorite players in the middle of games. Ballplayers volunteered for ôbenefit contestsö to aid fellow big leaguers and the country in times of need. ôJoke gamesö reduced sport to pure theater as outfielders intentionally dropped fly balls, infielders happily booted easy grounders, hurlers tossed soft pitches over the middle of the plate, and umpires ignored the rules. Winning meant nothing, amusement meant everything, and league officials looked the other way. Mark Halfon looks at life in the major leagues in the early 1900s, the careers of John McGraw, Ty Cobb, and Walter Johnson, and the events that brought about the end of the Deadball Era. He highlights the strategies, underhanded tactics, and bitter battles that defined this storied time in baseball history, while providing detailed insights into the players and teams involved in bringing to a conclusion this remarkable period in baseball history.




Barbed Wire Baseball


Book Description

As a boy, Kenichi “Zeni” Zenimura dreams of playing professional baseball, but everyone tells him he is too small. Yet he grows up to be a successful player, playing with Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig! When the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor in 1941, Zeni and his family are sent to one of ten internment camps where more than 110,000 people of Japanese ancestry are imprisoned without trials. Zeni brings the game of baseball to the camp, along with a sense of hope. This true story, set in a Japanese internment camp during World War II, introduces children to a little-discussed part of American history through Marissa Moss’s rich text and Yuko Shimizu’s beautiful illustrations. The book includes author and illustrator notes, archival photographs, and a bibliography.




Ball Tales


Book Description

This history of American sports fiction traces depictions of baseball, basketball and football in works for all age levels from early dime novels through the 1960s. Chapters cover dime novel heroes Frank and Dick Merriwell; the explosion of sports novels before World War II and its influence on the authors who later wrote for baby boom readers; how sports novels persisted during the Great Depression; the rise and decline of sports pulps; why sports comics failed; postwar heroes Chip Hilton and Bronc Burnett; the lack of sports fiction for females; Duane Decker's Blue Sox books; and the classic John R. Tunis novels. Appendices list sports pulp titles and comic books featuring sports fiction.




Off Base


Book Description

The flamboyant, controversial base-stealer for the Oakland A's offers a no-holds-barred account of his notorious career. From his boyhood in Oakland to his relationships with Billy Martin, Jose Canseco, Reggie Jackson, and others, to his feelings about racism and rising players' salaries, Henderson tells all in a candid, revealing memoir. 8-page photo insert.




ZANE GREY Ultimate Collection: Historical Novels, Western Classics, Adventure Tales & Baseball Stories (60+ Titles in One Volume)


Book Description

In Zane Grey's Ultimate Collection, readers will find a treasure trove of historical novels, western classics, adventure tales, and baseball stories all compiled into one comprehensive volume. Grey's literary style is characterized by vivid descriptions of the American West, engaging dialogue, and thrilling plotlines that keep readers on the edge of their seats. Set against the backdrop of the rugged frontier, Grey's stories offer a unique blend of action, romance, and exploration, making them a must-read for fans of the genre. This collection showcases Grey's versatility as a writer, with each story offering a new and exciting adventure for readers to embark on. Zane Grey's deep connection to the American West and his love for the outdoors heavily influenced his writing. As an avid outdoorsman and angler, Grey drew inspiration from his own experiences to create unforgettable characters and settings that resonate with readers to this day. His passion for storytelling shines through in each tale, capturing the spirit of the Wild West and bringing it to life for modern audiences. I highly recommend Zane Grey's Ultimate Collection to readers who enjoy immersive historical fiction, gripping westerns, and thrilling adventure stories. With over 60 titles to choose from, this compilation offers hours of entertainment and a glimpse into the rich tapestry of American literature.




Tales from the Cincinnati Reds Dugout


Book Description

In Tales from the Cincinnati Reds Dugout, fans can join former pitcher Tom Browning for legendary tales of festivity (the 1990 World Series championship), immortality (a perfect game in 1988), and a bit of eccentricity (life with owner Marge Schott). He tries to answer a variety of questions that fans have been asking for years: What was his reaction to the lifetime suspension of his manager and friend Pete Rose? How did a ragtag group of Cincinnati ballplayers topple the mighty Oakland A's in the 1990 Fall Classic? Was that really Tom on a Sheffield Avenue rooftop—in uniform—during a 1993 Reds-Cubs game at Wrigley Field? Browning also offers stories and anecdotes about some of the biggest names in Reds history, including Pete Rose, Tony Perez, Marge Schott, Lou Piniella, Eric Davis, Dave Parker, Buddy Bell, Barry Larkin, Joe Nuxhall, Mario Soto, and Jose Rijo. He devotes an entire chapter to his perfect game, considered to be one of the greatest moments in club history. Tales from the Cincinnati Reds Dugout is a must-have for any Reds fan.




Bob Chandler's Tales from the San Diego Padres Dugout


Book Description

Since they burst onto the scene in 1968, the San Diego Padres have taken fans on a roller coaster ride of ups, downs, and unforgettable moments. In Tales from the San Diego Padres Dugout, longtime Padres announcer Bob Chandler shares his memories of the team with Bill Swank in an easy-to-read recap of the team’s colorful past.




Tales from the Dodgers Dugout


Book Description

To baseball fans of today, the name “Dodgers” is synonymous with Hollywood, the warm California sun, and names like Tommy Lasorda, Kirk Gibson, Steve Garvey, and Orel Hershiser. The Dodgers mean much more than that to fans of baseball history, however. Namely, these fans remember the famed “Boys of Summer,” otherwise known as the Brooklyn Dodgers, a team that included some of the most storied players in baseball history, such as Hall of Famers Duke Snider, Roy Campanella, Gil Hodges, Pee Wee Reese, and Jackie Robinson. Although they eventually moved out west, the Brooklyn Dodgers provided some of the greatest moments the game has ever seen and some of the greatest personalities to ever take the field. Carl Erskine, another member of that legendary team, relates memories about his days with the Dodgers in a book full of true stories and revealing anecdotes. The result is Tales from the Dodgers Dugout, first published in 2004 and newly updated to provide a delightfully interesting trip through the world of baseball in the 1950s. Among Erskine’s many tales are his dealings with immortal team official Branch Rickey, his view from the Dodgers bench during Don Larsen’s perfect game in the 1956 World Series, and his firsthand experiences when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier and became the first black player in Major League Baseball history. During his frequent speaking engagements, people often ask Erskine if all of his stories are true. His standard response has been, “Yes, I couldn’t possibly make them up the way they actually happened.” Now fans can read all of those great stories in Tales from the Dodgers Dugout.