Brendan is a star player on a team going nowhere. It looks as if his playoff dreams will never come true—at least not with his team! He feels almost as bad as Ernie Banks, the Hall-of-Famer who played in more games than any other major leaguer without ever going to the playoffs or World Series. But when his uncle takes him to a game at Wrigley Field, an unexpected event makes Brendan see his team in a new light. Could his playoff dreams come true?
This collection of 19 essays examine the role of baseball's Cubs in the history and politics of Chicago. They focus on topics such as the rise of a nationwide fan base through the long reach of superstation WGN; the local uses and views of icons Ernie Banks, Ron Santo, and Ryne Sandberg; historical divides along lines of race (on the field) and class (in the stands); Wrigley Field as a public space both sacred and cursed; the importance of local and nationwide media coverage; and the Cubs' impact on Chicago music and literature.
“A queer sports romance and a triumphant debut . . . a heartstring-pulling tale of two minor-league baseball rivals who realize they play much better together.”—Elle, The Best (and Most Anticipated) Romance Books of 2024, So Far “I completely adored it.” —Casey McQuiston, author of Red, White & Royal Blue Minor leagues. Major chemistry. Hope is familiar territory for Gene Ionescu. He has always loved baseball, a sport made for underdogs and optimists like him. He also loves his team, the minor league Beaverton Beavers, and, for the most part, he loves the career he’s built. As the first openly trans player in professional baseball, Gene has nearly everything he’s ever let himself dream of—that is, until Luis Estrada, Gene’s former teammate and current rival, gets traded to the Beavers, destroying the careful equilibrium of Gene’s life. Gene and Luis can’t manage a civil conversation off the field or a competent play on it, but in the close confines of dugout benches and roadie buses, they begrudgingly rediscover a comfortable rhythm. As the two grow closer, the tension between them turns electric, and their chemistry spills past the confines of the stadium. For every tight double play they execute, there’s also a glance at summer-tan shoulders or a secret shared, each one a breathless moment of possibility that ignites in Gene the visceral, terrifying kind of desire he’s never allowed himself. Soon, Gene has to reconcile the quiet, minor-league-sized life he used to find fulfilling with the major-league dreams Luis inspires. This triumphant debut romance reveals what’s possible when we allow ourselves to want something enough to swing for the fences.
Now you can cheer for the Habs every day of the year! The Montreal Canadiens are one of the most storied franchises in hockey. No club has won more Stanley Cups than the Canadiens, but they are about so much more than championships. For many French Canadians and fans around the world, the Habs are a source of pride and an inherent part of their identity. From Maurice Richard inspiring generations of French Canadians in La Belle Province to how the infamous “Richard Riot” may have helped spark a revolution in Quebec, the bleu, blanc, et rouge have been an important part of many people’s lives, on and off the ice. You can now relive some of the team’s rich history and memorable moments, such as the club’s origins in 1909, their first overall selection in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, and the 24 Stanley Cups in between. You’ll even find some obscure incidents, like the time “the Gumper” got egged, and some of the more heartwarming moments, like when the Montreal faithful welcomed back captain Saku Koivu after his battle against cancer. Chances are, if you’re holding this book in your hands, you’re a Habs fan, and with every turn of the page you’ll fall in love with the team all over again.
This commemorative book on the Super Bowl XLVI champions provides a visual look at the New York Giants' road to championship glory. Through the unique words and images of the New York Post, this celebratory book takes readers from the season's opening kickoff in September, through the playoffs, and on to the final seconds in Indianapolis. Including nearly 100 color photographs and profiles of Giants stars, including Eli Manning, Jason Pierre-Paul, and Victor Cruz, the keepsake book is an essential part of any fan's collection.
Winning is about more than the final score. An athlete has to seize the moment. Just because you dont take the victory lap doesnt mean youre not a winner. This book is intended to make a lasting impression. I hope that this book will be on the bookshelves of every coach, athlete, and fan. I thank God for giving me this vision.
Examines Boston's 2007-2008 sports season, during which the Red Sox swept the World Series, the Patriots went undefeated during the regular season, and the Celtics won the NBA Championship.
It’s been more than fifty years since Wilt Chamberlain began excelling on a Philadelphia basketball court. After his rookie season in the NBA, he broke a slew of league records and became one of the most revered professional athletes in Philadelphia history. Yet Chamberlain is not the only star to earn the praise of the dedicated fans of Philly sports. Mike Schmidt, Bobby Clarke, Reggie White, Joe Frazier, and Charles Barkley are among other sports stars held in high regard in the City of Brotherly Love. Philadelphia Phenoms ranks and details the achievements of the top twenty athletes across the various professional sports teams in the history of Philadelphia sports. Eric Karabell focuses on the legends that helped make Philly the fantastic sports town it’s become by speaking to the greats themselves as well as to the writers and broadcasters who chronicled their remarkable achievements. This book is perfect for fans who plan their commitments around the schedules of the Phillies in spring, the 76ers and Flyers in winter, and the Eagles in autumn. 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.
Terry Pluto, one of Cleveland's top sportswriters, takes a hard look at the first 5 years of the new Cleveland Browns franchise and doesn't like what he sees. This book chronicles the backroom deals, big-money power plays, poor decisions, and plain bad luck that have dogged the venerable franchise since Art Modell skipped town in 1995. Legions of loyal fans stand by, waiting for a return to past glory. How much longer must they wait? Pluto sifts through the clues from the last five seasons and looks for answers.
Get inside the minds of the stars of the diamond in this extraordinary tour of brain power, psyche, and sheer will. Yogi Berra once said, "Baseball is 90 percent mental. The other half is physical." Even so, the Yankee great may have underestimated the brain power professional baseball players routinely draw on to perform such astounding feats of athleticism as hitting 98-mph fastballs and diving to catch line drives. In The Psychology of Baseball, Mike Stadler goes beneath the surface of the game to explore the psychology behind the actions of the game’s greats--and breaks down legendary moments from baseball history, such as Willie Mays’s full-sprint over-the-shoulder grab in the 1954 World Series. Stadler begins with the mind’s role in the game’s basic skills, explaining the anticipatory thinking that can make a hitter see a "rising fastball," the complex muscular coordination required to throw a major league heater, and the intense spatial calculations the brain must perform in a split second in order for a fielder to catch a struck ball. Stadler then discusses the hidden nature of streaks and slumps, explaining why a "hot" hitter is most likely just getting lucky and why there’s no such thing as a clutch hitter, and also looks at the psychological basis of the so-called "sophomore slump" and the effect that a big-money contract has on a player’s performance. He also examines the personality types that are best suited to baseball, and explains what traits are most associated with success at the highest levels. A revolutionary new look at America’s pastime that will appeal to the many fans of bestsellers like Moneyball and Three Nights in August, The Psychology of Baseball is a must-read book for the serious baseball fan.
