- Table View
- List View
12: The Inside Story of Tom Brady's Fight for Redemption
by Casey Sherman Dave WedgeThe incredible story of Tom Brady and the Patriots' tumultuous 2016 season: from national disgrace to the greatest Super Bowl comeback of all time. In January 2015, rumors circulated that the New England Patriots--a team long suspected of abiding by the "if you ain't cheating you ain't trying" philosophy--had used under-inflated footballs in their playoff victory against the Indianapolis Colts. As evidence began to build, however, a full on NFL investigation was launched, exploding an unsubstantiated rumor into an intense scandal that would lead news coverage for weeks. As shockwaves rippled throughout the NFL system, the very legitimacy of one of the league's most popular teams and their star quarterback began to erode, even as the Patriots and Brady went on to win that year's Super Bowl. But as the celebrations gave way to the offseason, the investigation only intensified, reopening old wounds between the Patriots' powerful owner, Robert Kraft, and the NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell. Brady was devastated and seemingly more nervous in front of a judge that on a game-winning drive. When the dust settled, Brady would be able to play again - but only after watching the first four games of the 2016 season from his couch. The pressure couldn't have been more intense: Brady's legacy was at stake. If he failed to return to his usual self, all the critics and even the history books would have to put a giant asterisk next to his name, signifying one thing: he was a cheater.12 is the propulsive story of this gritty comeback. It's a drama that unfolds in the locker room, the court room, and under the brightest lights in all of sports--the Super Bowl. Now for the first time, readers will have an exclusive look into Tom Brady's experience and the NFL's shocking strangle-hold on their players. With unprecedented access to Brady himself, his teammates, and his lawyers, we will see just how a football legend went up against one of the largest corporations in the world to stage the greatest comeback in NFL history and emerge a god of the gridiron.
12 Essentials of Concealed Carry
by Grant CunninghamBasic tips to get started in safe and responsible concealed carry.You'll Love This If:You're interested in concealed carry trainingYou're new to defensive shootingYou believe in your right of self-defenseIn 12 Essentials of Concealed Carry, certified Combat Focus Shooting instructor Grant Cunningham breaks concealed carry down into its most important elements. Learn about critical topics like concealed carry laws, choosing the right gun, methods of concealment, interacting with law enforcement and much more. Cunningham draws upon his years of experience to provide a solid foundation of knowledge on safe and responsible concealed carry. This book is a must read for anyone interested in exercising their right of personal defense.You'll Learn About:Concealed carry safetyHow to interact with law enforcementChoosing a concealed carry gunChapters Include:MindsetWhat Your Concealed Carry License AllowsAmmunition for Self DefenseConcealmentPlus, many detailed photos demonstrating proper methods
12 Lessons in Business Leadership: Insights From the Championship Career of Tom Brady
by Kevin Daum Anne Mary CiminelliExpert analysis of the leadership style of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady! The merits of business leaders are under scrutiny more and more these days, whether it&’s Travis Kalanick, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, or many others. But there&’s one place where true leadership is always revealed: on the field. And no matter what you think of the New England Patriots or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, you can&’t argue with the success of Tom Brady, the winningest quarterback of all time. Both revered and hated by football fans, Brady is loved and respected by those who work with him, and his leadership abilities cannot be denied by even his harshest critics. The skills he uses to make his team successful year after year on the field can be executed in the workplace, whether you&’re a team member, team leader, or CEO. In 12 Lessons in Business Leadership: Insights From the Championship Career of Tom Brady, authors Kevin Daum and Anne Mary Ciminelli team up to analyze the strong leadership abilities of the six-time Super Bowl Champion, and translate them into accessible, practical lessons for any stage of your career. In this easy-to-read, entertaining book, the authors help you acquire and practice all the skills you need to have a championship season every year of your career. Practical and instructive, this book makes the perfect gift for anyone looking to rise in their particular vocation or looking to emulate one of the most respected leaders of today! Each chapter focuses on one of twelve leadership lessons gleaned from Brady&’s career and why it matters in your life and career. In the Executing the Play section of each chapter, the authors outline best practices on how leaders can apply that lesson in their workplace, as well as share exercises leaders can complete to develop and strengthen the skill and implement the lesson.
128 Billion to 1: Ten Steps to Beat the Odds and Win Your NCAA Tourney Office Pool
by Mike NemethEach year experts, odds makers, the polls, team records, tournament seeds, and the eyeball test mislead March Madness fans filling office pool brackets. 128 Billion to 1: Ten Steps to Beat the Odds and Win Your NCAA Tourney Office Pool by Mike Nemeth, explains the secrets and inner workings of the NCAA Tournament to exponentially increase one’s odds of filling a winning bracket. It was written for basketball fans who want to understand why they don’t often win their office pool.128 Billion to 1 is a simple, yet ingenious guide to the way the NCAA Championship works, and explains the factors that best predict the outcome. Paramount among the factors is an accurate assessment of relative team strength to correct misleading polls and erroneous tournament committee selections and seedings. Using analytics, understandable mathematics and a dash of ingenious reasoning, Nemeth exposes the need for a new set of statistical measures to explain the outcomes of basketball games. The new statistics accurately rank each team entering the NCAA Tournament so that fans can make informed picks in their tournament brackets. Weekly accurate rankings can be found at https://nemosnumbers.com/basketball-rankings/.
1312: A journey with the world’s most extreme fans
by James MontagueYou can see them, but you don't know them.Ultras are football fans like no others. A hugely visible and controversial part of the global game, their credo and aesthetic replicated in almost every league everywhere on earth, a global movement of extreme fandom and politics is also one of the largest youth movements in the world. Yet they remain unknown: an anti-establishment force that is transforming both football and politics. In this book, James Montague goes underground to uncover the true face of this dissident force for the first time. 1312: Among the Ultras tells the story of how the movement began and how it grew to become the global phenomenon that now dominates the stadiums from the Balkans and Buenos Aires. With unprecedented insider access, the book investigates how ultras have grown into a fiercely political movement, embracing extremes on both the left and right; fighting against the commercialisation of football and society – and against the attempts to control them by the authorities, who both covet and fear their power.
13th World Congress of Performance Analysis of Sport and 13th International Symposium on Computer Science in Sport (Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing #1448)
by Arnold Baca Juliana ExelThis book discovers the latest research and insights in sports performance analysis and computer science in sports with the 13th World Congress of Performance Analysis of Sport and 13th International Symposium on Computer Science in Sport joint conference proceedings. This comprehensive book features over 40 peer-reviewed scientific works, showcasing the latest developments in these areas. The book covers a wide range of topics, including data analytics in sports, performance tracking and monitoring, artificial intelligence and machine learning in sports, virtual and augmented reality in sports, sensor technology, sports biomechanics, and motor control. By reading this book, you'll gain a deeper understanding of how applied and research-based problems can, together, transform the world of sports, and how you can stay ahead of the curve in this rapidly evolving field. This means that whether you're a researcher, coach, athlete, or sports enthusiast, there is something for everyone in this book.
14-Minute Metabolic Workouts: The Fastest, Most Effective Way to Lose Weight and Get Fit
by Jason R. KarpTime. It is the thing that most people claim they don’t have enough of, and the lack of it is the most common excuse for not exercising. But everyone has 14 minutes. 14-Minute Metabolic Workouts is the solution to everyone’s time problem, in that it offers fitness-conscious people a variety of compact, science-based workouts that target the five components of physical fitness—cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, muscular strength, body composition, and flexibility. This complete guide includes information on cardio intervals, strength circuits, sprint intervals, muscle power workouts, and flexibility workouts—for people of different fitness levels to address everyone’s individual needs. The book, which features photos to accompany the exercise descriptions, also includes workouts that can be done at the gym, at home, or outside. If that’s not enough, the last chapter contains a cleverly-crafted “menu” of workouts so that readers can choose their own daily workout and create an individualized weekly training program. The perfect gift for anyone trying to lose weight and get fit!
14 Minutes: A Running Legend's Life and Death and Life
by Alberto Salazar John BrantIn 2007, after collapsing on a practice field at the Nike campus, champion marathoner Alberto Salazar's heart stopped beating for 14 minutes. Over the crucial moments that followed, rescuers administered CPR to feed oxygen to his brain and EMTs shocked his heart eight times with defibrillator paddles. He was clinically dead. But miraculously, Salazar was back at the Nike campus coaching his runners just nine days later.Salazar had faced death before, but he survived that and numerous other harrowing episodes thanks to his raw physical talent, maniacal training habits, and sheer will, as well as—he strongly believes—divine grace.In 14 Minutes, Salazar chronicles in spellbinding detail how a shy, skinny Cuban-American kid from the suburbs of Boston was transformed into the greatest marathon runner of his era. For the first time, he reveals his tempestuous relationship with his father, a former ally of Fidel Castro; his early running life in high school with the Greater Boston Track Club; his unhealthy obsession to train through pain; the dramatic wins in New York, Boston, and South Africa; and how surviving 14 minutes of death taught him to live again.
15 Sports Myths and Why They're Wrong
by Rodney Fort Jason WinfreeIn "15 Sports Myths and Why Theyre Wrong," authors Rodney Fort and Jason Winfree apply sharp economic analysis to bust some of the most widespread urban legends about college and professional athletics. Each chapter takes apart a common misconception, showing how the assumptions behind it fail to add up. Fort and Winfree reveal how these myths perpetuate themselves and, ultimately, how they serve a handful of powerful parties--such as franchise owners, reporters, and players--at the expense of the larger community of sports fans. From the idea that team owners and managers are inept to the notion that revenue-generating college sports pay for athletics that dont attract fans (and their cash), "15 Sports Myths and Why Theyre Wrong" strips down pervasive accounts of how our favorite games function, allowing us to look at them in a new, more informed way. Fort and Winfree argue that substituting the intuitive appeal of emotionally charged myths with rigorous, informed explanations weakens the power of these tall tales and their tight hold on the sports we love. Readers will emerge with a clearer picture of the forces at work within the sports world and a better understanding of why these myths matter--and are worthy of a takedown.
150 Survival Secrets: Advice on Survival Kits, Extreme Weather, Rapid Evacuation, Food Storage, Active Shooters, First Aid, and More
by James C. JonesAs the world gets more dangerous, you have to be prepared for anything, even the worst. In 150 Survival Secrets, seasoned survivalist James C. Jones provides insider tips to help you and your family survive any catastrophe. Divided into practical sections, 150 Survival Secrets answers every question you’ve ever had about disaster preparedness. One section lists the practical details of making it through any kind of emergency situation. Some topics include: How to survive extreme winter conditionsHow to put together a homemade survival kit in the case of an emergencyHow to safely evacuate from an urban area during a disasterHow much and what type of food to store at home for long-term emergenciesHow to survive an active shooter situationHow to treat common injuries. Other sections answer everything you’ve ever wondered about disaster prepping, including what being a survivalist entails, how to equip your home for survival situations, what gear is essential for a survivalist to own, what elements are essential in a good emergency plan, what types of disasters you can expect to face in your lifetime, and more. So what are you waiting for? With 150 Survival Secrets, you’ll be prepared for anything and everything.
150 Years of Racing in Saratoga: Little-Known Stories & Fact's from America's Most Historic Racing City (Sports Ser.)
by Allan Carter Mike KaneCelebrate a century and a half of horse racing in Saratoga Springs with stories of the events, horse and people who have made its summers so special.Since the inaugural meeting of August 1863, Saratoga Springs is home to one of the oldest sports venues in the country and has been the scene of memorable races, often featuring legends of the sport. Although some of the epic moments are still familiar today, such as Upset&’s defeat of Man o&’ War in the 1919 Sanford Memorial, many of the triumphs and defeats that were once famous have been forgotten. Few remember the filly Los Angeles, who thrived at Saratoga, winning sixteen stakes races, or the influential, sometimes suspicious, reasons why the track was closed three times for a total of six years. Authors Allan Carter and Mike Kane take a look back at these and other important but neglected stories and present statistics from the pre-NYRA years and a rundown of the greatest fields assembled at America&’s oldest track.&“As the subtitle promises, the book consists of unexpected tales regarding Saratoga people, horses, and happenings--things that even certain racing historians had no previous clue about. Kane and Carter are uniquely well-equipped to guide readers down this curious road less traveled.&” —Mary Simon, Daily Racing Forum
18: A Novel Of Golf And Life
by John BarnesCraig Cantwell is well known as a journeyman millionaire and 'the best professional golfer who has not won a major.' His successful life as a tour pro is shattered when he is suspended from the PGA Tour. Without a place to compete and with a personal life tangled with drama, Craig has to find his way back to a life he knows. His fight is not with the scions of the tour, the public, or the scores of great golfers who would be his opponents. He has to prevail over the toughest of adversaries - himself. "18" beautifully tells the story of Cantwell and those in his life: Rachelle Keys, the mother of Craig's daughter and a heroic FBI Agent. Kelly Keys, the new 'IT' girl of golf. Thomas Kincaid, agent and lawyer to the rich and scandalous. And Seth Reede, the personal development guru with a past more shocking than any fallen hero. Far more involved than just a tale of athletic triumph, "18" is a story of forgiveness, truth, courage, and redemption.
18 Holes with Bing: Golf, Life, and Lessons from Dad
by John Strege Nathaniel CrosbyIn this love letter to his father, former professional golfer Nathaniel Crosby shares memories of Bing Crosby on the golf course, and the lessons he taught him about the game and about life. With a Foreword by Jack Nicklaus."Bing Crosby was a great ambassador for our game, as well as a great man," hails longtime friend and golf partner, Jack Nicklaus. The beloved singer and star was also an extraordinary teacher who instilled an abiding passion and mastery of the game in his youngest son, Nathaniel. Winning the US Amateur at nineteen, Nathaniel went on to compete in high-level professional tournaments for his entire life.In 18 Holes with Bing, Nathaniel introduces us to the Bing Crosby he and his family knew--not the beloved singer who played golf, but a golfer who sang to pay his country club dues. Nathaniel shares exclusive stories about this American icon golfing, working, and playing with some of the most famous people in history--royalty, titans of industry, stars of stage and screen, and champions of the green, including Bob Hope, Dwight Eisenhower, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, and Louis Armstrong. At the book's heart is an intimate account of a father and a son--how a mutual love of golf formed an exceptional emotional bond.Full of anecdotes, vignettes, and recollections of Bing's time on the course, the tournaments he created and later sponsored, and the constant encouragement he showed his son, 18 Holes with Bing honors this celebrated golfer, entertainer, and father, and illuminates his life as never before.
18 Holes With Teddy Greenstein: Teeing Up With Big Hitters, Hall Of Famers And Legendary Talkers
by Teddy Greenstein18 Holes with Teddy Greenstein is a collection of articles from Greenstein's Chicago Tribune column detailing his time golfing with and interviewing various sports coaches, broadcasters, and players -- some more experienced than others in the game of golf. Greenstein has played with a wide number of sports influencers, both retired and active: members of the Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks, as well as Heisman Trophy winners, hall of famers, and course designers. Greenstein includes the interviewee's handicap, final score, and golf philosophy, while his light, conversational style makes for articles that are both humorous and informative. Greenstein refers to his "18 holes with. . . " column as "journalism's greatest scam," as it allows him to tee off with some of his greatest heroes -- but it also allows him to share their stories. 18 Holes with Teddy Greenstein gives readers a glimpse at sports celebrities when they are removed from their comfort zones and placed on the fairway. This collection, from a seasoned Chicago Tribune journalist, is perfect for all fans of golf -- from casual to fanatic -- and sports fans in general.
18 in America: A Young Golfer's Epic Journey to Find the Essence of the Game
by Dylan DethierA "winning" (Parade) and "well-conceived" (The New York Times) account of one teenager's solo trek to play golf in each of the lower forty-eight states--"two parts coming-of-age story, one part golf travel adventure, and one part survival test" (Golfweek).Shortly before his freshman year of college was set to begin, seventeen-year-old Dylan Dethier--hungry for an adventure beyond his small town--deferred his admission and, "like Jack Kerouac and Ken Kesey before him, packed his used car and meager life savings and set off to see and write about America" (ABC News/ Yahoo). His goal: play a round of golf in each of the lower forty-eight states. From a gritty municipal course in Flint, Michigan, to rubbing elbows with Phil Mickelson at Quail Hollow, Dylan would spend a remarkable year exploring the astonishing variety of the nation's golf courses--and its people. Over one year, thirty-five thousand miles, and countless nights alone in his dusty Subaru, Dylan showered at truck stops, slept with an ax under his seat, and lost his virginity, traveling "wherever the road took him, with golf as a vehicle for understanding America" (The New York Times). The result is a book that "would be considered fine work by any writer, let alone one so young" (Maine Edge).
18 in America
by Dylan DethierAn exhilarating account of one remarkable teenager's solo trek to play golf in each of the lower forty-eight states--a compelling coming-of-age story and a surprising look at the equalizing power of the sport in America. At seventeen, Dylan Dethier couldn't help but think he'd never really done anything with his life. So, two months before his freshman year was set to begin, he deferred admission to Williams College. With the reluctant blessing of his parents, Dylan set out on his idea of the Great American Road Trip: play a round of golf in each of the forty-eight contiguous states. What began as the teenage wanderlust of a sheltered New England kid soon became a journey to find America's heart and soul, "to figure out where--and why--golf fit in," and to explore what it means to be a young man today. From a three-dollar nine-holer in rural West Virginia to a municipal course amid the failing factories of Flint, Michigan, and to the manicured greens of Pebble Beach, Dylan explored the variety of the nation's golf courses, the multiplicity of its towns and cities, and, most strikingly of all, the diversity of its people. Hoping to shatter golf's elitist reputation, he would play with war veterans, autoworkers, and a livestock auctioneer and discovered golf's unique capacity to serve as an equalizer. In Wyoming, he decided the state's courses matched his own style of play: "unbridled, rough and tumble in a T-shirt and jeans sort of way." Over one year, 35,000 miles, and countless nights alone in his dusty Subaru, Dylan would shower at truck stops, sleep with an axe beside him, lose his virginity, and meet legends like Phil Mickelson and Michael Jordan. Dylan's eighteenth year was one of many firsts--venturing into the world alone, exploring serious questions about his future, and fulfilling an ambitious quest. In crisp prose and with a wry, engaging voice, this precocious writer takes us beyond his own reflections to weave a poignant portrait of America and its golfers, making 18 in America the perfect gift for the golf enthusiast in your family.
180° South
by Doug Tompkins Yvon Chouinard Jeff Johnson Chris Malloy180° South takes readers behind the scenes of the film, 180° South, made by Chris Malloy, to learn more about the people who made the original overland journey to Patagonia in 1968, and the repeat journey over ocean and land 40 years later. The book includes stories of events and experiences that inspired Chris Malloy, Yvon Chouinard, and Doug Tompkins to choose paths committed to saving what's left of the wild world. Open it anywhere and enjoy the photographs by the world's leading surf and climbing photographers Jeff Johnson, Jimmy Chin, Scotty Soen, and Danny Moder.
The 1919 Black Sox Scandal (Images of Baseball)
by Dan HelpingstineAll kinds of spurious rumors had swirled around the 1919 World Series. Allegations about a fixed game between the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies on August 31, 1920, began a chain of events that led to a grand jury indicting eight White Sox players for conspiring to throw the 1919 World Series to the Cincinnati Reds the year before. Outside the courtroom, Shoeless Joe Jackson, just coming off his best overall offensive season with .382 average, was reportedly confronted by a young fan pleading for a denial from his hero. Jackson would later deny the encounter ever occurred and also deny any guilt in the World Series fix. In the almost 100 years since eight White Sox players were banned for life, there has been little historical closure due to a fleeting consensus on a scandal that almost took down Major League Baseball.
1930: The Story of a Baseball Season When Hitters Reigned Supreme
by Lew FreedmanThe 1930 Major League baseball season was both marvelous and horrendous, great for hitters, embarrassing for pitchers. In totality it was just this side of insane as an outlier among all seasons.Major League Baseball began with the founding of the National League in 1876. In the 145 seasons since then, one season stands out as unique for the astounding nature of hitting: 1930.A flipside of 1968&’s &“Year of the Pitcher,&” when the great St. Louis Cardinals Bob Gibson compiled a 1.12 earned run average and Detroit Tigers Denny McLain won 31 games, the 1930 season was when the batters reigned supreme. During this incredible season, more than one hundred players batted .300, the entire National League averaged .300, ten players hit 30 or more home runs, and some of the greatest individual performances established all-time records. From New York Giants Bill Terry&’s .401 average—the last National Leaguer to hit over .400—to the NL-record 56 home runs and major league–record 192 runs batted in by Chicago Cubs Hack Wilson, the 1930 season is a wild, sometimes unbelievable, often wacky baseball story.Breaking down the anomaly of the season and how each team fared, veteran journalist Lew Freeman tells the story of a one-off year unlike any other. While the greats stayed great, and though some pitchers did hold their own—with seven winning 20 or more games, including 28 by Philadelphia Athletics&’ Lefty Grove and 25 by Cleveland Indians&’ Wes Ferrell—Freedman shares anecdotes about those players that excelled in 1930, and only 1930. More than ninety years later, 1930 offers insight into a season that still stands the test of time for batting excellence.
1941 -- The Greatest Year In Sports
by Mike VaccaroJoe DiMaggio . . . Ted Williams . . . Joe Louis . . . Billy Conn . . . WhirlawayAgainst the backdrop of a war that threatened to consume the world, these athletes transformed 1941 into one of the most thrilling years in sports history.In the summer of 1941, America paid attention to sports with an intensity that had never been seen before. World War II was raging in Europe and headlines grew worse by the day; even the most optimistic people began to accept the inevitability of the United States being drawn into the conflict. In sports pages and arenas at home, however, an athletic perfect storm provided unexpected--and uplifting--relief. Four phenomenal sporting events were underway, each destined to become legend.In 1941--The Greatest Year in Sports, acclaimed sportswriter Mike Vaccaro chronicles this astounding moment in history. Fueled by a somber mania for sports--a desire for good news to drown out the bad--Americans by the millions fervently watched, listened, and read as Joe DiMaggio dazzled the country by hitting in a record-setting fifty-six consecutive games; Ted Williams powered through an unprecedented .406 season; Joe Louis and Billy Conn (the heavyweight and light-heavyweight champions) battled in unheard-of fashion for boxing's ultimate championship; and the phenomenal (some say deranged) thoroughbred, Whirlaway, raced to three heart-stopping victories that won the coveted Triple Crown of horse racing. As Phil Rizzuto perfectly expressed, "You read the sports section a lot because you were afraid of what you'd see in other parts of the paper."Gripping and nostalgic, 1941--The Greatest Year in Sports focuses on these four seminal events and brings to life the national excitement and remarkable achievement (many of these records still stand today), as well as the vibrant lives of the athletes who captivated the nation. With vast insight, Vaccaro pulls back the veil on DiMaggio's anxieties and the building pressure of "The Streak," and chronicles the brash, young confidence Williams displayed as he hammered his way through the baseball season largely in DiMaggio's shadow. He takes readers inside the head of Billy Conn, a kid who traded in his light-heavyweight belt for a shot at the very decent and very powerful Joe Louis, and tells the story of the fire-breathing racehorse, Whirlaway, who was known either for setting track records or tearing off in the wrong direction. Rich in historical detail and edge-of-your-seat reporting, Mike Vaccaro has crafted a lasting, important book that captures a portrait of one of America's most trying, and extraordinary, eras.From the Trade Paperback edition.
1947: When All Hell Broke Loose in Baseball
by Red BarberThis is a great baseball story and an even better one about a crucial moment in American history. When Jackie Robinson was penciled into the lineup for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, America's national pastime and America's future changed forever. How much is reflected in a remark Martin Luther King, Jr. made to Don Newcombe: "You'll never know what you and Jackie and Roy did to make it possible to do my job." Red Barber was perfectly situated to observe this drama. Broadcaster for the Dodgers, friend of Branch Rickey who confided in him before and during the year of decision, and keen student of the game and the behavior of its players, Red held the microphone as the story unfolded with a cast of characters that included baseball immortals Duke Snyder, Leo Durocher, Pee Wee Reese, Pete Reiser, Larry McPhail and Joe DiMaggio. Towering above them all are Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey, who together made baseball and American history and whose courage and toughness Red Barber captures so beautifully in this book.
1951: When the Giants Played the Game
by Kerry KeeneA look back at baseball's most exciting season when the cross town rivalry between the New York Giants and New York Yankees burned brighter than ever: 1951.
1954: The Year Willie Mays and the First Generation of Black Superstars Changed Major League Baseball Forever
by Bill Madden1954: Perhaps no single baseball season has so profoundly changed the game forever. In that year#151;the same in which the US Supreme Court unanimously ruled, in the case of Brown vs. Board of Education, that segregation of the races be outlawed in America's public schools#151;Larry Doby's Indians won an American League record 111 games, dethroned the five-straight World Series champion Yankees, and went on to play Willie Mays's Giants in the first World Series that featured players of color on both teams. Seven years after Jackie Robinson had broken the baseball color line, 1954 was a triumphant watershed season for black players#151;and, in a larger sense, for baseball and the country as a whole. While Doby was the dominant player in the American League, Mays emerged as the preeminent player in the National League, with a flair and boyish innocence that all fans, black and white, quickly came to embrace. Mays was almost instantly beloved in 1954, much of that due to how seemingly easy it was for him to live up to the effusive buildup from his Giants manager, Leo Durocher, a man more widely known for his ferocious "nice guys finish last" attitude. Award-winning, New York Times bestselling author Bill Madden delivers the first major book to fully examine the 1954 baseball season, drawn largely from exclusive recent interviews with the major players themselves, including Mays and Doby as well as New York baseball legends from that era: Yogi Berra and Whitey Ford of the Yankees, Monte Irvin of the Giants, and Carl Erskine of the Dodgers. 1954 transports readers across the baseball landscape of the time#151;from the spring training camps in Florida and Arizona to baseball cities including New York, Baltimore, Chicago, and Cleveland#151;as future superstars such as Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, and others entered the leagues and continued to integrate the sport. Weaving together the narrative of one of baseball's greatest seasons with the racially charged events of that year, 1954 demonstrates how our national pastime#151;with the notable exception of the Yankees, who represented "white supremacy" in the game#151;was actually ahead of the curve in terms of the acceptance of black Americans, while the nation at large continued to struggle with tolerance.
1960 Winter Olympics, The (Images of Sports)
by David C. AntonucciThe 1960 Olympic Winter Games were a long-shot effort that succeeded beyond the wildest expectations. Working in a sparsely populated valley in the Sierra Nevada with only rudimentary facilities, organizers created a world-class Olympic site in four short years. For the only time in Olympic history, the venues and athlete residence halls were located in a compact, intimate setting that encouraged sportsmanship and interaction between athletes. There was elaborate pageantry in the ceremonies and decorations. The underdog American ice hockey team won the first-ever USA gold medal in that sport. American figure skaters swept gold in the individual events. Well-trained Soviet and Scandinavian athletes dominated the speed skating and cross-country skiing events. American women proved their mettle in the Alpine skiing events. German skiers made surprise upsets in the Nordic combined and ski jumping contests. And CBS-TV was there to capture the most exciting moments and make groundbreaking live broadcasts to American audiences.
1962: Baseball and America in the Time of JFK
by David KrellIn the watershed year of 1962, events and people came together to reshape baseball like never before. The season saw five no-hitters, a rare National League playoff between the Giants and the Dodgers, and a thrilling seven-game World Series where the Yankees, led by Mickey Mantle, won their twentieth title, beating the San Francisco Giants, led by Willie Mays, in their first appearance since leaving New York. Baseball was expanding with the Houston Colt .45s and the New York Mets, who tried to fill the National League void in New York but finished with 120 losses and the worst winning percentage since 1900. Despite their record, the &’62 Mets revived National League baseball in a city thirsty for an alternative to the Yankees. As the team struggled through a disastrous first year, manager Casey Stengel famously asked, &“Can&’t anybody here play this game?&” Earlier that year in Los Angeles, Dodgers owner Walter O&’Malley launched Dodger Stadium, a state-of-the-art ballpark in Chavez Ravine and a new icon for the city. For the Dodgers, Sandy Koufax pitched his first of four career no-hitters, Maury Wills set a record for stolen bases in a season, and Don Drysdale won twenty-five games. Beyond baseball, 1962 was also a momentous year in American history: Mary Early became the first Black graduate of the University of Georgia, First Lady Jackie Kennedy revealed the secrets of the White House in a television special, John Glenn became the first astronaut to orbit Earth, and JFK stared down Russia during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Weaving the 1962 baseball season within the social fabric of this era, David Krell delivers a fascinating book as epochal as its subject.