The Cleveland Browns All-Time All-Stars


Book Description

Let’s say you’re the coach of the Cleveland Browns, deciding which players should start in a Super Bowl matchup against the toughest team in the NFC. But instead of choosing from the current roster, you have every player in the team’s 75-year history in your locker room. Who starts at quarterback: Hall-of-Famer Otto Graham, steady Brian Sipe, deadly accurate Bernie Kosar, or dynamic Baker Mayfield? At kicker, do you play Hall of Famer Lou Groza or 14-year-veteran Phil Dawson? Which players get the start at wide receiver? Dante Lavelli, Paul Warfield, Braylon Edwards, Ray Renfro, or Jarvis Landry? Combining career stats, common sense, and a host of intangibles, veteran sportswriter Roger Gordon imagines an embarrassment of riches and sets the all-time All-Star Browns lineup for the ages.




The Denver Broncos All-Time All-Stars


Book Description

Let’s say you’re the head coach of the Denver Broncos, deciding which players should start in a Super Bowl matchup against the toughest team in the NFC. But instead of choosing from the current roster, you have every player in the team’s nearly sixty-year history in your locker room. Who starts at quarterback: John Elway, Peyton Manning, Craig Morton, or Frank Tripuka? At inside linebacker, do you play Bill Rowmanowski, Karl Mecklenburg, Tom Jackson, Randy or Gradishar? Which player is your featured running back: Floyd Little, Otis Armstrong, or Terrell Davis? Combining career stats, common sense, and a host of intangibles, veteran Broncos beat reporter Mike Klis imagines an embarrassment of riches and sets the all-time All-Star Broncos lineup for the ages.




The Green Bay Packers All-Time All-Stars


Book Description

Let’s say you’re the coach of the Green Bay Packers, deciding which players should start in a Super Bowl matchup against the toughest team in the AFC. But instead of choosing from the current roster, you have every player in the team’s 100-year history in your locker room. Who starts at quarterback: the steady field general Bart Starr, gunslinger Brett Favre, or cannon-armed Aaron Rodgers? At outside linebacker, do you play Hall of Famer Dave Robinson, Lombardi-favorite Dan Currie, current All Pro Clay Matthews, or another player from the team’s deep roster? Which players get the start at wide receiver? Donald Driver, James Lofton, Sterling Sharpe, Max McGee, Jordy Nelson, or Antonio Freeman? Combining career stats, common sense, and a host of intangibles, veteran sportswriter Chuck Carlson imagines an embarrassment of riches and sets the all-time All-Pro Packer lineup for the ages.




The Minnesota Vikings All-Time All-Stars


Book Description

Let’s say you’re the coach of the Minnesota Vikings, deciding which players should start in a Super Bowl matchup against the toughest team in the AFC. But instead of choosing from the current roster, you have every player in the team’s 60-year history in your locker room. Who starts at quarterback: scrambling Fran Tarkenton, gunslinger Daunte Culpepper, or deadly accurate Kirk Cousins? At defensive end, do you play fearsome Carl Eller, fan favorite Jared Allen, sack specialist Chris Doleman, or stalwart Jim Marshall? Combining career stats, common sense, and a host of intangibles, veteran sportswriter Chris Tomasson imagines an embarrassment of riches and sets the all-time All-Star Vikings lineup for the ages.




The Boston Celtics All-Time All-Stars


Book Description

Let's say you're the coach of one of the NBA teams with the most championship banners hanging from its rafters, with every current and former player available on your bench. Game 7 of the Finals is approaching and it's time to put your team on the floor. Who's your starting center? Bill Russell, Robert Parrish, or Dave Cowens? Who's starting at guard? Bob Cousy, Jo Jo White, Tiny Archibald, Dennis Johnson, or Kyrie Irving? At power forward, are you playing Kevin McHale or Jayson Tatum? Is Larry Bird your small forward or John Havlicek? Combining statistical analysis, common sense, and a host of intangibles, long-time Celtics writer John Karalis constructs an all-time All-Star Celtics line-up for the ages. Agree with his choices or not, you'll learn all there is to know about the men who played for and coached the most successful franchise in NBA history.




The Pittsburgh Pirates All-Time All-Stars


Book Description

Let’s say you’re the manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates, deciding which players should start in Game 7 of the World Series against the American League champs. But instead of choosing from the current roster, you have every player in the team’s 131-year history in your clubhouse. Who’s your starting pitcher: lefty John Candelaria, steady Bert Blyleven, Cy Young winner Doug Drabek, or crafty Rip Sewell? Who bats cleanup—hitting-machine Honus Wagner, home-run champ Ralph Kiner, Willie “Pops” Stargell, or the hugely talented Barry Bonds? Combining career stats, common sense, and a host of intangibles, veteran sportswriter Dave Finoli imagines an embarrassment of riches and sets the all-time All-Star Pirates lineup for the ages.




The 50 Greatest Players in Cleveland Browns History


Book Description

The 50 Greatest Players in Cleveland Browns History examines the careers of the 50 men who made the greatest impact on one of the National Football League’s oldest and most iconic and franchises. Using as measuring sticks the degree to which they impacted the fortunes of the team, the extent to which they added to the Browns legacy, and the levels of statistical compilation and overall dominance they attained while wearing a Browns uniform, The 50 Greatest Players in Cleveland Browns History ranks, from 1 to 50, the top 50 players in team history. Quotes from opposing players and former teammates are provided along the way, as are summaries of each player’s greatest season, most memorable performances, and most notable achievements.




Cleveland Browns History


Book Description

There was little fanfare when Art "Mickey" McBride flew into Chicago in 1945 to purchase a professional football team for Cleveland. But that act set in motion a tradition that has brought the city of Cleveland together on Sunday afternoons for (most of) the sixty years to follow. Cleveland Browns History is the story of championship seasons, legendary coaches, and Hall of Fame players. Coach Paul Brown led his teams to seven league title games in their first 17 seasons. Running backs Marion Motley, Jim Brown, and Leroy Kelley each rushed over opposing defenses and straight into Canton, Ohio, along with fellow Browns like Otto Graham, Ozzie Newsome, and Len Ford. The "Kardiac Kids" in 1980 had too many nail-biters for some fans, but won the AFC Central in typical fashion--by three points in the final game of the season. All these stories, plus those of the many unsung heroes to don the NFL's only logo-less helmet, fill the pages of this book, sure to delight any Cleveland Browns fan.




The Boston Red Sox All-Time All-Stars


Book Description

Let’s say you’re the manager of one of the oldest and most beloved franchises in Major League baseball, with every past and current player available in the dugout. Game time is approaching and the ump needs your line-up card. Who’s your starting pitcher? Three-hundred-game-winner Lefty Grove, lights-out Pedro Martinez, fireballer Roger Clemens, or the Sox’s first Cy Young winner Jim Lonborg? Is Carlton Fisk behind the plate or Jason Varitek? Who’ll bat clean-up, Ted Williams or David Ortiz? Combining statistical analysis, common sense, and a host of intangibles, Jeffrey Lyons constructs an all-time All-Star Red Sox line-up for the ages. Agree with his choices or not, you’ll learn all there is to know about the men who played for and managed the BoSox.




The First 100 African Americans to Play in the National Football League


Book Description

Veterans Day, Sunday, November 11, 2001, eighty-one years after the gathering of the founding members of the National Football League in Canton, Ohio, I walked onto the historic Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, as a member of the officiating chain crew to work the football game between the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers, which is the oldest rivalry in the NFL.