Davie Meiklejohn had few equals in British football between the wars. According to his admiring contemporaries, he was "e;a tactical genius,"e; "e;ahead of his time"e;-"e;the greatest ever Ranger."e; Fast-tracked by manager William Wilton, the former Maryhill junior was part of a title-winning side in his debut season. There would be many more championships to celebrate for this born leader, though Rangers' failure to lift the Scottish Cup for 25 long years became a music-hall joke-until May, 1928, when Meik led his team to a hoodoo-busting 4-0 rout of arch rivals Celtic. In 1931 the tragic on-field death of Celtic keeper John Thomson saw Meiklejohn at his dignified, inspirational best. He enjoyed international adventures, a post-playing career in journalism, and a twelve-year stint as manager of Patrick Thistle-yet at the height of his fame, Meik lived in a modest two-bedroom flat, no more than 100 yards from Ibrox.
In the late 1960s the New York Rangers transformed from NHL also-rans to Stanley Cup contenders. Gilles Villemure was part of that transformation. The little goaltender had a long wait to make it to the National Hockey League, which had only six teams until after the middle of the decade. Eventually Villemure joined Eddie Giacomin to give the Rangers a strong 1-2 goaltending tandem. The Vezina Trophy–winning twosome was a fixture for the Rangers, threatening to end the franchise’s long Stanley Cup drought, only to come up short. Now, forty years later, Villemure writes about his days with the Rangers in the newly updated Tales from the Rangers Locker Room. Villemure tells stories about old pals like Rod Gilbert, Vic Hadfield, Brad Park, Jean Ratelle—and his boss, Emile “The Cat” Francis. The Rangers finally won that Stanley Cup in 1994, ending over fifty years of frustration, but it was those Francis-led teams—the ones with Villemure and Giacomin in the goal—that brought New York’s Blueshirts, Madison Square Garden’s finest, to the top of the NHL. It is their influence that has continued to propel the Rangers forward even today, with a conference championship win in 2014 and the President’s Trophy in 2015. Fans young and old will want to hear Villemure’s stories come to life. 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.
Featuring exclusive interviews with the greatest players in team history, this is the definitive story of this Original Six franchise, told by the men who built it. Rangers legends—from Frank Boucher and Babe Pratt to Mark Messier, Henrik Lundqvist, and John Tortorella—tell of their experiences with the team to make a comprehensive oral history of the New York Rangers. This collection of first-person accounts is a must-have, perfect for any hockey fan.
In 1926, hockey fans welcomed the New York Rangers to the NHL. Since then, more than 900 players have worn the colors of the Rangers and won the devotion of fans in New York and beyond. 100 Ranger Greats is about the best of the best of these players—the legends of yesteryear and the heroes of today, the men whose accomplishments on the ice have thrilled fans for over eight decades. But who are the best? Of the 900-plus players, who are the ones that stand out in the team’s storied history? Many are easily recognizable by even the most casual of hockey fans—Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and Jaromir Jagr are just a few of these superstars – but no team is made up of its stars alone. There are always the players who aren’t as well known in the public eye but who bring skills and character that make the whole team buzz and help to win championships. They might have played in the earliest days of media coverage—no websites, blogs or internet radio to raise their profiles to household names. Players like Andy Aitkenhead, Arnie Brown or Lorne Chabot to name just three. Through research and personal interviews, and with the addition of over 200 color and black and white photos, 100 Ranger Greats presents personal profiles that combine statistics with personal and often humorous stories so that the reader gets a real understanding of that man’s life as a player in the National Hockey League and with the New York Rangers. A richly illustrated history and a fascinating and entertaining look at a cast of colorful characters, 100 Ranger Greats is for the young fan who wants to learn about the New York Rangers history and the veteran looking for stories about the players they grew up with. For every Rangers fan who wants to know their team and its history better, this is the book.
We Did Everything But Win: An Oral History of the Emile Francis Era New York Rangers (1964–1976) is an entertaining account of one of the most exciting and unforgettable periods in the history of the Broadway Blueshirts as told by Francis as well as several of his players. George Grimm chronicles each season of the Francis era when “The Cat” transformed them from perennial league doormats to a team that made it to the Stanley Cup playoffs for nine consecutive seasons, including a Finals appearance in 1972. There are also chapters detailing Emile’s playing career and his hiring as general manager as well as the aftermath of his dismissal and an analysis of his tenure behind the bench and as GM. It was during those years that the National Hockey League doubled in size and the Rangers moved into a brand-new Madison Square Garden. As the popularity of the National Hockey League skyrocketed, who could forget the Rangers’ battles on the ice with Boston’s Big Bad Bruins and Philadelphia’s Broad Street Bullies and showdowns with the Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Black Hawks? All the great moments are here including a heart-stopping, triple-overtime victory in the 1971 playoffs and Vic Hadfield’s 50th goal the following season. We Did Everything But Win is a tribute to the Rangers of that era; Jacques Plante and Marcel Paille, Eddie Giacomin and Gilles Villemure, Harry Howell and Jim “The Chief” Neilson, “The Old Smoothies,” the “G-A-G Line,” and the “Bulldog Line.” It’s the story of colorful players with nicknames like “Boomer,” “Stemmer,” and “Sarge” and fan favorites such as Brad Park, Rod Gilbert, Jean Ratelle, Walt Tkaczuk. It’s all here—the highs and the lows, the inspiring victories, the devastating losses, and the funny moments along the way.
“Swanson has done a crucial public service by exposing the barbarous side of the Rangers.” —The New York Times Book Review A twenty-first century reckoning with the legendary Texas Rangers that does justice to their heroic moments while also documenting atrocities, brutality, oppression, and corruption The Texas Rangers came to life in 1823, when Texas was still part of Mexico. Nearly 200 years later, the Rangers are still going--one of the most famous of all law enforcement agencies. In Cult of Glory, Doug J. Swanson has written a sweeping account of the Rangers that chronicles their epic, daring escapades while showing how the white and propertied power structures of Texas used them as enforcers, protectors and officially sanctioned killers. Cult of Glory begins with the Rangers' emergence as conquerors of the wild and violent Texas frontier. They fought the fierce Comanches, chased outlaws, and served in the U.S. Army during the Mexican War. As Texas developed, the Rangers were called upon to catch rustlers, tame oil boomtowns, and patrol the perilous Texas-Mexico border. In the 1930s they began their transformation into a professionally trained police force. Countless movies, television shows, and pulp novels have celebrated the Rangers as Wild West supermen. In many cases, they deserve their plaudits. But often the truth has been obliterated. Swanson demonstrates how the Rangers and their supporters have operated a propaganda machine that turned agency disasters and misdeeds into fables of triumph, transformed murderous rampages--including the killing of scores of Mexican civilians--into valorous feats, and elevated scoundrels to sainthood. Cult of Glory sets the record straight. Beginning with the Texas Indian wars, Cult of Glory embraces the great, majestic arc of Lone Star history. It tells of border battles, range disputes, gunslingers, massacres, slavery, political intrigue, race riots, labor strife, and the dangerous lure of celebrity. And it reveals how legends of the American West--the real and the false--are truly made.
The New York Rangers boast one of the most renowned professional hockey histories in the NHL. Hockey's premier historian recounts all of the Rangers' luminaries, as well as their most telling moments on ice. Stan Fischler, regarded as the dean of American hockey, has covered the sport for 55 years, and has been following the Rangers even longer.
The Greatest Westerns Ever Made and the People Who Made Them provides an eclectic review of the Western film and television genre, from John Ford’s classic, black and white films, to Deadwood and indie darlings. Screenwriter Henry C. Parke presents a nuanced look at Hollywood’s dramatization of historic events, the common themes and archetypes of Western movies, and the characters we love (and sometimes love to hate). This book also features essays and interviews with influential Western filmmakers, character actors, the women of Western films (in front of and behind the cameras), and the Native American perspective on Western films and Hollywood’s portrayal of Native American people.
Since the United States Army's inception by an act of Congress on June 14, 1775, its remarkable service members have engaged in almost every one of the most important turning points in our nation's history. In The Greatest U.S. Army Stories Ever Told, editor Iain Martin gathers the amazing experiences of America's fighting men and women into one unforgettable collection. Each story recounts the sights, sounds, and significance of such hallowed battlefields as Yorktown, Shiloh, and the Argonne. Watch row after row of redcoats attack during the Battle of Monmouth with eyewitness Joseph Plumb Martin. Ride a rickety boat with Washington in his famous night crossing over the Potomac. Triumph with Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain as he snatches victory from the jaws of defeat on Gettysburg's Little Round Top. Charge San Juan Hill with Theodore Roosevelt, as told by the era's most famous war correspondent, Richard Harding Davis. This collection includes the most significant stories of the highest generals, from famous actions such as D-Day, Guadalcanal, and Inchon, as well as the most memorable experiences of the citizen soldier far from home, in such places as Landing Zone X-Ray, 73 Easting, and a spider hole somewhere north of Baghdad. Whether fighting at home or abroad, in victory or defeat, The Greatest U.S. Army Stories Ever Told shares the stories and singular experiences of these amazing individuals, and sheds new light on their courage and sacrifice.
