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Pennant Race: The Classic Game by Game Account of a Championship Season, 1961
by Jim Brosnan“Brosnan obviously knows his baseball, writes about it wittily, informally and with irony. He is a cynical, tough professional athlete and his book makes wonderful reading.”—New YorkerFrom the author of The Long Season—considered by many to be the greatest baseball book of all time—comes another classic sports memoir by legendary pitcher Jim Brosnan, which chronicles how his team, the Cincinnati Reds, went on to win the 1961 National League pennant.In Pennant Race, Brosnan—with his trademark wise-guy wit and plain-spoken practicality—once again offers a refreshingly candid alternative to hackneyed baseball mythologizing. Day by day, game by game, Brosnan reveals the real lives of professional ballplayers: their exhilaration and frustration, hope and despair, chronic worry over job security, playful camaraderie, world-weary cynicism, and boyish—if cautious—optimism. Although the Reds would ultimately lose the World Series to the Yankees, for Brosnan and his teammates, this was a winning season. Pennant Race vividly captures a remarkable year in the life of a ball club and the golden age of one of Major League Baseball’s most memorable eras.
Saying It's So: A Cultural History of the Black Sox Scandal (Sport and Society)
by Daniel A. NathanThe story of "Shoeless" Joe Jackson and his teammates purportedly conspiring with gamblers to throw the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds has lingered in our collective consciousness for more than eighty years. Daniel A. Nathan's wide-ranging, interdisciplinary cultural history is less concerned with the details of the scandal than with how it has been represented and remembered by journalists, historians, novelists, filmmakers, and baseball fans. Saying It's So offers a series of astute reflections on what these different cultural narratives reveal about their creators and the eras in which they were created, producing a complex study of cultural values, memory, and the ways people make meaning. A volume in the series Sport and Society, edited by Benjamin G. Rader and Randy Roberts
The Summer Game
by Roger AngellThis New York Times bestseller &“takes you into the heart of baseball as it was in the 1960s, conveyed with humor and insight&” (Tim McCarver, The Wall Street Journal). Acclaimed New Yorker writer Roger Angell&’s first book on baseball, The Summer Game, originally published in 1972, is a stunning collection of his essays on the major leagues, covering a span of ten seasons. Angell brilliantly captures the nation&’s most beloved sport through the 1960s, spanning both the winning teams and the &“horrendous losers,&” and including famed players Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Willie Mays, and more. With the panache of a seasoned sportswriter and the energy of an avid baseball fan, Angell&’s sports journalism is an insightful and compelling look at the great American pastime.
The Summer Game: The Summer Game, Five Seasons, And Season Ticket
by Roger AngellThis New York Times bestseller &“takes you into the heart of baseball as it was in the 1960s, conveyed with humor and insight&” (Tim McCarver, The Wall Street Journal). Acclaimed New Yorker writer Roger Angell&’s first book on baseball, The Summer Game, originally published in 1972, is a stunning collection of his essays on the major leagues, covering a span of ten seasons. Angell brilliantly captures the nation&’s most beloved sport through the 1960s, spanning both the winning teams and the &“horrendous losers,&” and including famed players Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Willie Mays, and more. With the panache of a seasoned sportswriter and the energy of an avid baseball fan, Angell&’s sports journalism is an insightful and compelling look at the great American pastime.
Sunny Jim: The Life of America's Most Beloved Horseman, James Fitzsimmons
by Jimmy BreslinAn evocative portrait of the Triple Crown–winning racehorse trainer: &“sportswriting as good as it could ever possibly be&” (New York Daily News). At seventy-seven, James &“Sunny Jim&” Fitzsimmons should have been considering retirement. His six-decade career stretched back to 1885, when, as an eleven year-old, he began working as a stable boy. After failing as a jockey, Fitzsimmons—or Mr. Fitz to those in the know—started training horses, eventually winning three Kentucky Derbys, two Triple Crowns, and more than two thousand races. But by 1951, glory seemed to be behind him. His wife&’s sudden death took the light from his eyes, and retirement loomed. And then he met Nashua. She was the kind of horse trainers dream of. Big, powerful, with a windpipe that could suck down enough air to keep her running for weeks. Mr. Fitz knew he had a winner. It was only a matter of time before he realized that he had also just met the most remarkable horse of his long, storied career. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Jimmy Breslin including rare photos and never-before-seen documents from the author&’s personal collection.
The Gilded Age of Sport: 1945-1960
by Herbert Warren WindFrom gridiron to diamond, lawn to green, a legendary sportswriter captures the wins, losses, and draws of an exciting period in American sports history Throughout his long and distinguished career, Herbert Warren Wind covered many of the most dramatic contests and iconic athletes of the twentieth century. Inspired by Paul Gallico's classic dispatches from the golden age of the 1920s and '30s, The Gilded Age of Sport collects Wind's finest pieces on the people and places of the postwar era. With graceful prose and an authoritative eye for the telling detail, he profiles sports heroes including Yogi Berra, Ben Hogan, Maurice Richard, Bob Cousy, Sam Snead, Ted Williams, Herb Elliott, and Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman. Wind reveals Rocky Marciano's training regimen, journeys as far afield as Japan and Australia to report on the international sports scene, and delights in the startling discrepancy between the woeful record of Harvard's football team and the glory of its marching band. An elegant and comprehensive survey of fifteen thrilling years in sports history, The Gilded Age of Sport is a testament to the versatility, wit, and wisdom of a master craftsman.
A Girl and Five Brave Horses
by Sonora Carver Elizabeth LandSonora Carver, when she was 16 never dreamed that she would be in show business doing an act that was amazing and exciting. But when she ran into Dr. Carver, and saw the Diving Horses act, she fell in love. Sonora had a great life traveling the country, riding and doing shows, and loving the horses she worked with. Klataw, John the Baptist, Juda, Red Lips, Snow, and Lightning, all were her family and her friends. Then one day Red Lips did a very dramatic nose dive and Sonora hit the water with her eyes open and face first. Her life changed after that day and this is her story. This book was the inspiration for the movie "Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken".
LIFE ALI: A Life in Pictures
by The Editors of LifeFor Muhammad Ali, the high drama that he generated within the boxing ring with his athletic prowess was more than matched by the drama that he generated outside of it, and it was stated by many that as the 20th century closed, he was the best known and the most beloved figure in the world. He was also the rare athlete of his day who was photographed equally inside and outside of the ring, and always, the images were striking and compelling.Now, in an all-new special edition, LIFE celebrates the legendary athlete and cultural icon in Ali: A Life in Pictures, featuring dozens of photographs from acclaimed photographers including Gordon Parks, Harry Benson, Marvin Lichtner, James Drake, The Bettman Archive and many more. Many of these images have come to be as synonymous with Ali as his best quotes, and many of these images have not been seen for years.All of the photos are accompanied by essays and commentary that take readers through four distinct stages of Ali's life - "Clay," "Ali," "Legend," and "The Greatest," and all together, Ali: A Life in Pictures is the ultimate commemorative keepsake that celebrates an icon in both words and photographs.
The Morgan Horse
by Jeanne MellinFor the first time in nearly a century--a full and fascinating book about "the wonder colt from nowhere" and the remarkable native American breed he sired... THE MORGAN HORSE. Justin Morgan, the little bay stallion who could outrun, outwork, and outget any other horse brought against him is a familiar hero of American history and folklore. Not so well known is that this amazing horse--"A runt you want to get rid of!" complained the owner who took him in payment of a bad debt--is most famous as a biological sport, so prepotent that 150 years after his death his stamp is clearly evident in his descendents, unique among horses the world over. This complete, up-to-date account of the great Justin Morgan and his stock reveals why the Morgan is the first American breed of horse, and tells about the days when the Morgan was king of American race tracks, how Morgan blood contributed to the American Saddle Horse, Tennessee Walking Horse, and the Standardbred breeds (the pedigree of mighty Titan Hanover had 22 crosses to Justin!), why Morgan horse units were the most valued cavalry of the Civil War and why the Morgan is called today's most versatile horse, and how it is that a growing body of horse fanciers is convinced that an old saying is truer today than ever: "The Morgan horse is one thing. Every other kind of horse is something else." Under saddle or in harness, in the show ring, on the trail, or working stock in the West, these alert, intelligent Morgans with their flowing manes and tails are growing more popular every year for their versatility, stamina, and beauty. The Morgan Horse tells why, citing bloodlines and performances. This is not all. The author, also noted as an illustrator of horses, has included four beautiful portraits, meticulously researched and drawn to scale, of Justin himself and his three most famous sons: Woodbury, Sherman, and Bulrush. As none of them was ever known to have been pictured from life, Miss Mellin's portraits are "firsts" of their kind for the collector. From her experience as exhibitor, rider, and trainer of Morgans, Miss Mellin also furnishes drawings of Morgan types, action, conformation, and versatility. In addition, the more than 100 illustrations include historically valuable engravings, lithographs, stud posters, and lineage charts, plus photographs of modern and once-famous Morgans never before published in book form. This accessible version includes described pedigrees, and image descriptions of over 100 images and photographs of Morgan horses.
Rebel In Right Field
by Duane DeckerBlue Sox 12. The ball shot on a sinking line over second base into right field, and Danny Redd watched it as he charged. It was a treacherous line drive, and it was his or nobody's. Danny saw that he should dive for it; instead he stretched his glove to his shoe tops. He felt the ball hit the glove, but he knew it had hit the turf a fraction of a second before. The umpire didn't see Danny trap the ball and called the play an out. Danny had apparently saved the inning, and he couldn't understand why manager Jug Slavin was angry about it. Danny Redd was the new right fielder for the Blue Sox, and he was on his way. He did everything right, but he wouldn't take a dive or crash into a fence for anyone. His older brother had finished his baseball career before it began by always getting hurt, and Danny wasn't going to make the same mistake. Great ballplayers aren't made that way, however, and how Danny slowly arrived at this painful conclusion is the climax of one of. Mr. Decker's finest baseball stories.
Space Below My Feet
by Gwen MoffatA classic mountaineering memoir by one of the UK's foremost female climbers.'A story of climbing and compulsive love of mountains ... magnificent' OBSERVERIn 1945, when Gwen Moffat was in her twenties, she deserted from her post as a driver and dispatch rider in the Army and went to live rough in Wales and Cornwall, climbing and living on practically nothing. She hitch-hiked her way around, travelling from Skye to Chamonix and many places in between, with all her possessions on her back, although these amounted to little more than a rope and a sleeping bag.When the money ran out, she worked as a forester, went winkle-picking on the Isle of Skye, acted as the helmsman of a schooner and did a stint as an artist's model. And always there were the mountains, drawing her away from a 'proper' job.Throughout this unique story, there are acutely observed accounts of mountaineering exploits as Moffat tackles the toughest climbs and goes on to become Britain's leading female climber - and the first woman to qualify as a mountain guide.
Break for the Basket
by Matt ChristopherA fun story about basketball from Matt Christopher, the bestselling name behind more than 100 sports-themed books for young readers.
Death in the Afternoon
by Ernest HemingwayStill considered one of the best books ever written about bullfighting, Death in the Afternoon is an impassioned look at the sport by one of its true aficionados. It reflects Hemingway's conviction that bullfighting was more than mere sport and reveals a rich source of inspiration for his art. The unrivaled drama of bullfighting, with its rigorous combination of athleticism and artistry, and its requisite display of grace under pressure, ignited Hemingway's imagination. Here he describes and explains the technical aspects of this dangerous ritual and "the emotional and spiritual intensity and pure classic beauty that can be produced by a man, an animal, and a piece of scarlet serge draped on a stick." Seen through his eyes, bullfighting becomes a richly choreographed ballet, with performers who range from awkward amateurs to masters of great elegance and cunning. A fascinating look at the history and grandeur of bullfighting, Death in the Afternoon is also a deeper contemplation of the nature of cowardice and bravery, sport and tragedy, and is enlivened throughout by Hemingway's sharp commentary on life and literature.
Gaudenzia, Pride of the Palio
by Marguerite HenryGeorgio wanted nothing more than to be a fantino in the great Palio of Siena. But being a peasant farmer's son, and living in Montecello, his dreams were just that - dreams. But this is the story based on true accounts of Giorgio Terni's chances to become a famous fantino, and of the Palio, of the race of centuries' traditions, and of dreams and fate. It is also the story of a mare, a half Arabian, born as a cart horse, who with the right training, kind hands, and a willing heart became one of the most famous horses to win the Palio, and win it four times.
Karate The Art of "Empty-Hand" Fighting
by Richard C. Brown Hidetaka NishiyamaKarate: The Art of "Empty-Hand" Fighting has inspired hundreds of thousands of karateka, and it remains one of the finest texts available on the technique, art, and spirit of karatedo.
Karate The Art of "Empty-Hand" Fighting
by Richard C. Brown Hidetaka NishiyamaKarate: The Art of "Empty-Hand" Fighting has inspired hundreds of thousands of karateka, and it remains one of the finest texts available on the technique, art, and spirit of karatedo.
North by Northwestern: A Seafaring Family on Deadly Alaskan Waters
by Mark Sundeen Sig HansenNOW A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!In the tradition of Sebastian Junger and Linda Greenlaw comes Captain Sig Hansen's rags-to-riches epic of his immigrant family's struggle against deadly Alaskan seas, freezing shipwrecks, and dangerously brutal conditions to achieve the American Dream Sig Hansen has been a star of the Discovery Channel's Deadliest Catch from the pilot to the present. Seen in over 150 countries, the show attracts more than 49 million viewers per season, making it one of the most successful series in the history of cable TV. With its daredevil camera work, unpredictably dangerous weather, and a setting as unforgivable and unforgettable as the frigid Bering Sea, The Deadliest Catch is unlike anything else on television. But the weatherworn fishermen of the fishing vessel Northwestern have stories that don't come through on TV. For Sig Hansen and his brothers, commercial fishing is as much a part of their Norwegian heritage as their names. Descendants of the Vikings who roamed and ruled the northern seas for centuries, the Hansens' connection to the sea stretches from Alaska to Seattle and all the way to Norway. And after twenty years as a skipper on the commercial fishing vessel the Northwestern--which was his father's before him--Sig has lived to tell the tales. To be a successful fisherman, you need to be a mechanic, navigator, welder, painter, carpenter, and sometimes, a firefighter. To be a successful fisherman year after year, you need to be a survivor. This is the story of a family of survivors; part memoir and part adventure tale, North by Northwestern brings readers on deck, into the dockside bars and into the history of a family with a common destiny. Built around a gripping tale of a deadly shipwreck like The Perfect Storm, North By Northwestern is the multi-generational tale of the Hansen family, a clan of tough Norwegian-American fishermen who, through the popularity of The Deadliest Catch, have become modern folk-heroes.
On the Tour with Harry Sprague: Letters of a Golf Pro to His Sponsor
by Herbert Warren WindAmerica's greatest golf writer cracks wise in this humorous peek inside the life and mind of an up-and-coming young proIf Hogan had to wait 15 years before winning the Open I guess even a natural athalete like me has to wait a couple of years huh? Harry Sprague may not be the most eloquent golfer on the winter circuit, but spelling and grammar are the least of his concerns. First, he has to work on his putting, which, due to the aradic nature of the greens at Pebble Beach, Cypress Point, the Arizona Country Club, and other Sun Belt courses, is keeping him out of the money. And speaking of money, Harry suspects that his current sponsorship deal--he runs a driving range from April to November for no salary in exchange for the cash to go on tour--might not be the fairest of deals. Finally, there are the fans. In California, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, and Florida, beautiful women line the fairways hoping for a date with their favorite pro. But as Harry soon learns, if wedding bells don't ring the following winter, he'll have hell to pay. First published in Sports Illustrated, these humorous missives from the bottom rungs of the leader board will delight duffers and low handicappers alike.
The Secrets of Judo
by Jiichi Watanabe Lindy AvakianThe Secrets of Judo: A Textbook for Instructors and Students is a revealing classic that focuses primarily on the scientific principles at work in judo, offering clear-cut explanations of the numerous techniques involved in throwing and grappling. In addition to the precise detailing of judo's physical aspects this book provides insights into the psychological factors related to judo's underlying philosophy The Secrets of Judo, a fascinating and valuable work since its original publication in 1959, sets out a comprehensive course to achieve maximum efficient use of mental and physical energy that remains as vital and fresh as when first recommended by Risei Kano, president of the Kodokan, on its original publication.
The Secrets of Judo
by Lindy Avakian Jiichi WatanabeThe Secrets of Judo: A Textbook for Instructors and Students is a revealing classic that focuses primarily on the scientific principles at work in judo, offering clear-cut explanations of the numerous techniques involved in throwing and grappling. In addition to the precise detailing of judo's physical aspects this book provides insights into the psychological factors related to judo's underlying philosophy The Secrets of Judo, a fascinating and valuable work since its original publication in 1959, sets out a comprehensive course to achieve maximum efficient use of mental and physical energy that remains as vital and fresh as when first recommended by Risei Kano, president of the Kodokan, on its original publication.
Showboat Southpaw
by Duane DeckerBlue Sox 11. Sam Sloat was a nineteen-year-old pitcher, and for a left-hander he had good control. He had a good curve, too, but he seldom used it. He figured he didn't need it, not when he could just blow his fast ball past the hitters. The Blue Sox called him up from Triple-A at the end of the season and when he got a chance to pitch, with the game still wide open in the last inning, he shook off his catcher until he got the signal for the fast ball. Then he blew three batters in succession back to the bench, and that was the game. His next performance was even more startling-a complete game using nothing but the fast ball. But back home, in the fall, a frightening thing happened. Showboat Sloat felt the first ominous twinge in his left arm. How he dealt with the situation makes a wonderfully satisfying story, which provides not only plenty of baseball action, but also the picture of a man in the making.
Smoke Rings (Ginny Atkins #2)
by Dorothy LyonsWhen Ginny Atkins, by quick thinking, saved an impulsive stranger and the handsome gray horse he could not control from a near fatal accident, she had no idea that this would change the next three years of her life. After the incident, Ginny suddenly found herself the new owner of Smoke Rings, Mr. Pollard's Thoroughbred hunter. And the improbable dream she had admitted only to herself-of trying for the U. S. Equestrian Olympic Team-came a step closer to reality. Coached by a former Olympic rider, Ginny devoted all her energies to achieving perfection of performance with Smoke Rings. But the road to the Olympics was demanding, grueling, and expensive. The relentless training required dedication to withstand its monotony, and the frustrations and sacrifices were not easy for a fun-loving high school senior. Dorothy Lyons, an expert horsewoman herself and the accomplished author of many horse stories for girls, has written an absorbing book, which reaches a dramatic climax at the 1960 Olympics in Rome. There, amid the colorful international hubbub, Ginny's long-treasured dream is realized against the impressive pageantry of the Seventeenth Olympiad.
Unguarded: My Forty Years Surviving in the NBA
by Lenny Wilkens Terry PlutoFor forty years, he has been the Quiet Man of the NBA. As a rookie, he was overshadowed by two pretty fair guards who entered the league at the same time: Jerry West and Oscar Robertson. As a veteran, he was -- both figuratively and literally -- a coach on the floor, but he had the misfortune to play for several struggling teams. As a general manager, he won a championship and made back-to-back Finals appearances -- but he did it without superstars, a year before Magic Johnson and Larry Bird revitalized the league. And as a coach, he has won more games than anyone in NBA history -- but spent his best years locked in the same division as Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls. Basketball connoisseurs have long appreciated the style and intelligence with which Lenny Wilkens played and the unflappability and class he's brought to coaching. The respect he has earned resulted in his joining the legendary John Wooden as the only men to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame twice -- first as a player, and then as a coach. Now, in Unguarded, Lenny Wilkens steps out from behind his placid demeanor to speak plainly and unequivocally on the enormous social and athletic changes he's seen in his career. Wilkens sounds off about the challenges he had to overcome in the course of his journey: the racism that left him off the 1960 Olympic basketball team and kept him from being chosen as head coach of the first Dream Team; the fatal miscalculation that kept his Cleveland Cavaliers from getting past Michael Jordan to the NBA Finals; the painful, frustrating task of coaching a troubled and troublesome J.R. Rider, a player who contributed to his departure from Atlanta. And he credits those who went out of their way to help him: the priests and nuns who taught him the value of discipline and reinforced his faith; the coaches who pushed him to develop his talents to the fullest; the selfless players such as John Johnson, Hot Rod Williams, Larry Nance, Steve Smith, and many others who sacrificed individual glory for the good of their teams; his mother, Henrietta, and his wife, Marilyn, who stood beside him in many trying times. Unguarded reveals the Lenny Wilkens we have never seen before, the tough, strong, thoughtful, and analytical man who has spent a life in basketball making his teammates and players better than they knew they could be. Thought-provoking, candid, always honest, Wilkens shares all the secrets he's learned in his four decades surviving in the NBA storm.
When Saturday Comes: The Half Decent Football Book
by When Saturday ComesThe best chants, the funniest nicknames, the greatest headlines and enough little-known facts to keep the average football supporter entertained - and entertaining - for several seasons. This is the story of the greatest game on earth, from 'abandoned matches' to 'Yeovil Town', via celebrity fans, mascots, punditry and superstitions, written from the fan's point of view and with a separate entry for every club in the English and Scottish leagues. Who cares why, if Torquay United's strikers had been more prolific in the 1950s, England may never have won the World Cup; or where football hooliganism actually began; or who the hell Captain Henry Blythe Thornhill Wakelam is?We do. Because as every true student of the game knows: it's important.
The Witch Family (An\odyssey/harcourt Young Classic Ser.)
by Eleanor Estes Edward ArdizzoneOld Witch, Little Witch Girl, Weeny Witch, and two real girls in a fantasy that blends the worlds of reality and imagination. A Halloween classic about the power of make-believe.