For these three players, it's all about scoring… In high school, Elizabeth Smith had a serious crush on shortstop Dylan Andrews. Now she has to interview him for an article. Can she stay professional…or will she end up pulling him behind the bleachers? Pitcher Rob Perry wants to prove that he's ready for the Show. But his second chance could turn into a double-play when Tori Gallagher—whose father owns a Major League team—makes one pitch that Rob can't refuse… First baseman Eric Lessing's game has never been consistent until Tess Meyers ignited a winning streak. Now—with Major League dreams on the line—will getting lucky with his charm result in foul play?
Subject: Captain Luke "Solo" Carnes. Current Status: On temporary assignment. Mission: Public recruitment and saving his ex's tail! Obstacle: He wants much, much more than that… Sara Weston, an Air Force Captain herself, needs a pilot for her recruitment program, and fast. And she's found the perfect candidate. Top gun pilot Luke Carnes is qualified, charismatic and available. Problem #1—he's ridiculously hot. Problem #2—he broke Sara's heart years ago… But she'll be professional. Just as long as she's never close to him. Never under his gaze. And never in his bed. Then again, never is a long, long time…
A gripping detailed recap of the wildly insane, oft-overlooked, extra-innings classic that turned the 2004 ALCS into the most memorable playoff series in modern history. No team had ever come back from a 3–0 deficit to win a postseason series in baseball. In the history of MLB postseason play going into Game 5, there had been twenty-five series to start out 3–0. Of those, twenty ended in sweeps, two made it to a sixth game, and none had made it to a seventh game. The Forgotten Game details one of the greatest games in baseball history between the two most bitter rivals in the sport. For years the two teams fought for American League supremacy, with the Yankees usually coming out on top. Following an incredible 2003 playoff series, the two teams squared off again in 2004 for the right to go to the World Series. The Yankees won the first three games in convincing fashion, and it seemed, yet again, they would eliminate the Red Sox…until Boston miraculously won Game 4. Most fans remember the steal by Dave Roberts that sparked the game-tying rally in the ninth to keep Boston’s hopes alive. And most fans remember Curt Schilling’s sutured ankle in Game 6. But Game 5 was a do-or-die moment for the Red Sox, and they delivered in epic fashion. Yet, despite being the pivotal game in the series, it hasn’t drawn the attention the others have. The Forgotten Game breaks down Game 5 on a virtual pitch-by-pitch basis, from the battle between Pedro Martinez and Mike Mussina, to the clutch performances by Tim Wakefield and David Ortiz, while breaking down the strategies the managers employed, and stories of how various players made their way to their respective teams for that fateful night. Never before has the story of Game 5 been told in such vivid and riveting detail. “If you’ve devoured everything Red Sox-Yankees you’ll LOVE IT. If you are new to the rivalry and era you will understand it for the first time. I couldn’t put it down and loved the historical context of each inning. I loved it.” —Gar Ryness (Batting Stance Guy) “While most people remember Boston's dramatic game 4 victory or Curt Schilling's bloody sock heroics in game 6, game 5 was truly the unsung hero of the series. John Vampatella does a magnificent job of explaining why while providing tremendous background and anecdotes that all baseball fans will enjoy. The Forgotten Game is an absolute must for Red Sox fans of all ages!” —Scott Cordischi, WEEI sports talk show host
With more than 500 photographs -- Introduction by Roger Angell -- Essays by Thomas Boswell, Robert W. Creamer, Gerald Early, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Bill James, David Lamb, Daniel Okrent, John Thorn, George E Will -- And featuring an interview with Buck O'Neil
The newest addition to the Tales from the Team series, Tales from the Atlanta Braves Dugout includes stories on the greatest players and coaches to don the Braves uniform. Author Cory McCartney includes stories about Hank Aaron, Dale Murphy, Phil Niekro, Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Bobby Cox, and so many others. Recall the harrowing experience of Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium catching fire on July 21, 1993, overshadowing the debut of Fred McGriff, and read all about Sid Bream's slide and the worst-to-first season of 1991. From the run of 14 consecutive division titles and the 1995 World Series title, to Kent Mercker's 1994 no-hitter; from the arrival of the Baby Braves in Brian McCann, Jeff Francoeur, and others, to the 2014 Hall of Fame–induction of Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, and Bobby Cox, the on and off-the-field stories are all here. This is the perfect addition to a Braves fan’s shelf! Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports—books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team. Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
From the humble heights of a Class-A pitcher's mound to the deflating lows of sleeping on his gun-toting grandmother's air mattress, veteran reliever Dirk Hayhurst steps out of the bullpen to deliver the best pitch of his career--a raw, unflinching and surprisingly moving account of his life in the minors. I enjoyed the visualizations, maybe a little too much, and would stop only when I felt I'd centered myself. . .or after one of my teammates hit me in the nuts with the rosin bag while my eyes were closed. Hilariously self-effacing and brutally honest, Hayhurst captures the absurdities, the grim realities, and the occasional nuggets of hard-won wisdom culled from four seasons in the minors. Whether training tarantulas to protect his room from thieving employees in a backwater hotel, watching the raging battles fought between his partially paralyzed father and his alcoholic brother, or absorbing the gentle mockery of some not-quite-starstruck schoolchildren, Dirk reveals a side of baseball, and life, rarely seen on ESPN. My career has crash-landed on the floor of my grandma's old sewing room. If this is a dream come true, then dreams smell a lot like mothballs and Bengay. Somewhere between Bull Durham and The Rookie, The Bullpen Gospels takes an unforgettable trot around the inglorious base paths of minor league baseball, where an inch separates a ball from a strike, and a razor-thin margin can be the difference between The Show or a long trip home. "It's not often that someone comes along who is a good pitcher and a good writer." --King Kaufman, Salon "After many minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years spent in the bullpen, I can verify that this is a true picture of baseball." --Tim McCarver "There are great truths within, of the kind usually unspoken. And as he expresses them, Dirk Hayhurst describes himself as 'a real person who moonlights as a baseball player.' In much the same manner, while The Bullpen Gospels chronicles how all of us face the impact when we learn reality is both far meaner and far richer than our dreams--it also moonlights as one of the best baseball books ever written." --Keith Olbermann "A bit of Jim Bouton, a bit of Jim Brosnan, a bit of Pat Jordan, a bit of crash Davis, and a whole lot of Dirk Hayhurst. Often hilarious, sometimes poignant. This is a really enjoyable baseball read." --Bob Costas "Fascinating. . .a perspective that fans rarely see." --Trevor Hoffman, pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers "The Bullpen Gospels is a rollicking good bus ride of a book. Hayhurst illuminates a baseball life not only with wit and humor, but also with thought-provoking introspection." --Tom Verducci, Sports Illustrated "Dirk Hayhurst has written a fascinating, funny and honest account on life in the minor leagues. I loved it. Writers can't play baseball, but in this case, a player sure can write." --Tim Kurkjian, Senior Writer, ESPN The Magazine, analyst/reporter ESPN television "Bull Durham meets Ball Four in Dirk Hayhurst's hilarious and moving account of life in baseball's glamour-free bush leagues." --Rob Neyer, ESPN.com "If Holden Caulfield could dial up his fastball to 90 mph, he might have written this funny, touching memoir about a ballplayer at a career--and life--crossroads. He might have called it 'Pitcher in the Rye.' Instead, he left it to Dirk Hayhurst, the only writer in the business who can make you laugh, make you cry and strike out Ryan Howard." --King Kaufman, Salon "The Bullpen Gospels is a funny bone-tickling, tear duct-stimulating, feel-good story that will leave die-hard baseball fans--and die-hard human beings, for that matter--well, feeling good." --Bob Mitchell, author of Once Upon a Fastball
This in-depth treatment of the organization and operation of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League draws on primary documents from league owner Arthur Meyerhoff and others for a unique perspective inside the AAGPBL. The study begins with a brief history of women's softball, an important precursor to, and talent pool for, women's professional baseball. Next the book investigates league administration and organization as well as publicity and promotion. Later chapters cover team administrative structures, managers, chaperones, player backgrounds, and league policies. Finally, discussion focuses on the activities of the AAGPBL Players' Association from 1980 onward. Informed by many years of research and insights from former players, this exhaustive history contains 149 photographs.
It's more than a one-night stand for Brazilian heiress Terry Monteverde when she and FBI agent Mitch Barnes make love. In danger, Terry tracks Mitch to Texas and leaves him with her most precious possession--their baby. Original.
