With virtually the same lineup that had won both the National League pennant and the World Series the previous season, the 1926 Pittsburgh Pirates were favored by the majority of preseason prognosticators to capture the pennant for the second year in a row. But they finished in third place, four and a half games behind the St. Louis Cardinals. That failure has largely been attributed to the ""ABC Affair,"" the alleged dissension between vice president and assistant to the manager Fred Clarke and several players who attempted to remove him. This retelling of the story shows that the blame assigned to Clarke has mostly been misplaced and that the reasons for the Bucs' 1926 failure were far more complex.

In 1869 the Cincinnati Red Stockings became the first openly all-professional baseball club in the world. The history, geography, demography, and economy of the area contributed to making Cincinnati a baseball town par excellance. During professional baseball's formative years in the 19th century, Cincinnati was almost always represented by a club called the Reds in one league or another. As chairman of the National Commission after he had helped broker peace between the National and American Leagues, Cincinnati owner Garry Hermann became known as the "Father of the World Series". The Reds proceeded to win the Series in 1919, 1940, 1975, 1976, and 1990. Under the ownership of the controversial Marge Schott and managed on the field by the mercurial Lou Piniella, the Reds led the National League West wire-to-wire in 1990, defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League Championship Series, and swept the powerful Oakland Athletics in the World Series. Stars such as Barry Larkin and Eric Davis, along with pitcher Jose Rijo and the trio of relievers known as the Nasty Boys deserve much of the credit for the Reds' success, but lesser known players, for example, Billy Hatcher and Glenn Braggs, made significant contributions. Although they have come close the Reds have not yet won another pennant since the glorious 1990 season.

Road-Tripping the South Atlantic League: A Guide to the Teams, Ballparks and Cities, is a comprehensive guide for planning Minor League Baseball Road Trips. The primary focus of the book is on the teams, ballparks, and cities of the South Atlantic League. But, it also details how you can adjust your travel plans to include games of teams in other Minor Leagues that overlay the regional footprint of the South Atlantic League. This book reviews the methodology you need to plan an efficient, cost effective baseball road trip and includes information for developing a rich and rewarding baseball road trip itinerary. Provided are detailed outlines of suggested travel routes, a listing of interesting eateries in or near each city, and the location of other baseball and visitor attractions accessible from the South Atlantic League travel route. Finally, the book is also about the baseball played on the fields of the modern South Atlantic League. It traces the history of the league, profiles each of its current teams, and identifies a number of players that led the league in either a batting or pitching statistic. The team profiles list more than 300 players that played their A level ball with a South Atlantic League team and then went on to have a long, successful Major League career. The book offers insight and stories about the Minor League and/or Major League careers of a number of them.

Ross reveals the story of New York Yankees baseball, as told by Yankee players, coaches, opponents, fans, and the media. It salutes the great pinstripers and the unrivaled championship teams, major moments, and the tradition. Includes a tribute to the immortal No. 7, Mickey Mantle.

Baseball fans might know the story of the Brooklyn Dodgers, but they don't know the whole story. Until now. David Krell brings the magic of the Brooklyn Dodgers to life in Blue Magic: The Brooklyn Dodgers, Ebbets Field, and Baseball's Greatest Legacy. Utilizing archival documents, contemporary press accounts, and interviews with fans, he chronicles the genesis, glory, and demise of the team that changed baseball--and America--in excruciating detail that will satisfy the diehard baseball enthusiast. With a Foreword by Branch Barrett Rickey--Branch Rickey's Grandson--Blue Magic fills voids in Dodgers scholarship by exploring the impact of the Brooklyn Dodgers on popular culture, illuminating the genesis of the team's history, and revealing personal stories of the fans that embraced Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese, Carl Erskine, Roy Campanella, and the other sentinels of Ebbets Field.

For three decades, Louis Norman "Bobo" Newsom (1907-1962) was one of the most well-known pitchers in baseball. Frequently quoted by sportswriters, he appeared in all the popular sports publications as well as on Wheaties boxes and bubblegum cards, and was the undisputed star of the 1940 World Series. Despite his success, he was sold or traded 14 times during his 20-year career. He pitched for nine of 16 Major League teams - including five stints with the Washington Senators - and made sports headlines nearly every year for holding out, being suspended or traded. In an era when players seldom changed teams more than once and rarely defied authority, Newsom seemed always at odds with the powers that be. Drawing on interviews with family, friends and former teammates, this first full-length biography of Newsom takes an entertaining look at the life and career of one of sports' most memorable characters. Despite his nickname and nonstop antics, Bobo was much more than a clown, and gave more to the game than he ever got from it.

In the world of sports, Iowa is probably best known for wrestling but the state has also produced more than 200 major league baseball players. Sixteen of them are profiled here, including six Hall of Famers, the game's brightest star of the 19th century, an American League batting champion, the only pitcher to lead the National League in strikeouts seven years in a row, the only catcher to catch two back-to-back no-hitters and one of the most dominant pitchers in American League history. They made their presence felt off the field, too. One helped fortify the game's racial barriers. One helped tear them down. One invented devices that changed the game. Two wrote instructional books on baseball. One became famous so young, he graced the cover of national magazines before graduating from high school. Each has a compelling story, some interwoven with the game's greatest moments.

Baseball programs at all levels recognize the competitive edge that can be gained by their athletes through targeted resistance training programs. Every Major League Baseball team, most minor league teams, the top 25 ranked college baseball teams, and even some high schools (depending on the level and size) have a full-time strength and conditioning professional on staff. With Strength Training for Baseball, you will gain insights into to how amateur to professional baseball players are trained, and you will learn to apply those best practices with your own team to gain a winning advantage. Developed with the expertise of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), Strength Training for Baseball explains the value of resistance training for baseball athletes-backed by practical experience, evidence-based training methodologies, and research. The book will help you understand the specific physical demands of each position-pitchers, catchers, middle infielders, corner infielders, center fielders, and corner outfielders-so you can design program that translate to performance on the field. You will also find the following: 13 detailed protocols to test baseball athletes' strength, power, speed, agility, body composition, and anthropometry 11 total body resistance exercises with 13 variations 19 lower body exercises with 29 variations 28 upper body exercises with 38 variations 23 anatomical core exercises with 11 variations 34 sample programs for off-season, preseason, in-season, and postseason resistance training Each resistance training exercise consists of a series of photos and a detailed list of primary muscles trained, beginning position and movement phases, modifications and variations, and coaching tips to guide you in selecting the right exercises for a program. You'll also learn how to structure those programs based on the goals and length of each season and for each position. Backed by the NSCA and the knowledge and experience of successful high school, college, and professional baseball strength and conditioning professionals, Strength Training for Baseball is the authoritative resource for creating baseball-specific resistance training programs to help your athletes optimize their strength and successfully transfer that strength and power to the baseball field.

Ty Cobb was considered the greatest baseball player of his time. Some still call him the greatest in history. He cast a shadow over the entire game of baseball with his violence, both on the field and off. The shadow was never darker than when it was over his teammates. Sam Crawford, Harry Heilmann and Heinie Manush were three of the greatest players in baseball history, good enough to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Each played in the Detroit outfield alongside Cobb, their deeds never reaching the level of his. Little is remembered about this trio of Hall of Famers, even in Detroit, where each made their biggest mark on the game. Crawford, the all-time triples leader, Heilmann, the last right-hander to hit .400, and Manush, another batting champion, each made their own mark on the game, something that is illustrated for the first time in this triple biography.

Around 1863, William "Candy" Cummings discovered he could make clamshells curve when thrown-a skill he transferred to baseball as a pitcher for the New York Excelsiors. In 1869, the Cincinnati Red Stockings became the first team in baseball to place all of their players on salary. And in 1945, the St. Louis Browns recruited a one-armed outfielder to the majors. These stories and much more are brought to life in Touching All the Bases: Baseball in 101 Fascinating Stories, an all-encompassing look at the game of baseball. Past to present, this book covers the sport in its entirety, from its defining moments on the field to the outside-the-ballpark influences that have shaped the game over the years. Unique chapters-such as the impact of World War II, legal issues, labor disputes, the legacy of Jackie Robinson, and the doping dilemma-complement accounts of milestone events, individual and team achievements, and the most famous games, plays, and players of the sport. Appendixes provide lists of World Series, batting and homerun champions, perfect games, player nicknames, award winners, and more. A comprehensive collection of baseball's history, evolution, and memorable moments, Touching All the Bases will entertain, inform, and educate all those interested in baseball, whether a casual fan or a dedicated enthusiast.

The small and midsized cities of western Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia reached their peaks of population and prosperity in the second quarter of the 20th century. The baseball teams from these towns formed the Middle Atlantic League, the strongest circuit in the low minors and the one with the most alumni to advance to the majors. The MAL played from 1925 through 1951 and went through three distinct phases. In the pre-Depression years, communities rallied around the home team, which always stood one step from financial disaster. During the Great Depression, the league flourished as president Elmer Daily magically found investors and night baseball boosted attendance working class. Middle Atlantic League clubs enjoyed a modicum of financial stability and an infusion of outstanding young players and became talent farms for major league teams. During this period Akron, Dayton, Canton, Springfield, Portsmouth and Zanesville, Ohio became the core cities of the league's strongest era. Following World War II, America and baseball experienced seismic cultural and economic shifts with television, the baby boom, suburban growth and changing family values, which overwhelmed the league and its cities.

This is the story of the Troy Haymakers, a pioneer baseball team legendary for their exploits on and off the field. Formed in 1860 in Troy, New York - an industrial city experiencing rapid growth - the team was embraced by the tough-minded Trojans as emblematic of their vigorous boomtown, which rivaled larger, better-established communities. The Haymakers were a strong amateur club before becoming a charter member of baseball's first major league, the National Association, and subsequently being awarded a franchise in the National League. Reflecting the working-class nature of the city, team rosters were filled with characters and scalawags along with talented players, including four future Hall of Famers. After losing its National League franchise in 1882, Troy fielded minor league teams for 34 years - with a wistful eye to Haymaker history.

The Cooperstown Symposium on Baseball and American Culture, 2013-2014 is an anthology of seventeen scholarly essays that utilize the national game to examine topics whose import extends beyond the ballpark. The anthology is divided into six parts. Baseball Poetry, Music, and Literature considers the congruence of culture and baseball. The Ballpark: Place and Atmosphere examines the importance of venue distinctiveness. Myths, Legends, and Icons of the Game provides perspectives on protagonists of the baseball imagination. Asian and Asian-American Baseball explores international and ethnic variations on the game. Museums: Baseball Exhibits, Standards, and Preservation analyses the craft and goals of baseball curators. Contracts, Jurisprudence, and the Pastime contextualizes the games' rules of play and labour. Each of the six parts contains essays related by theme and topic. Baseball, Casey, and Me by Frank Deford, Senior Contributing Writer for Sports Illustrated, for example, discusses the challenges and opportunities presented when writing about baseball's signature poem, Casey at the Bat.Back to the Future: Building a Ballpark, Not a Stadium by Janet Marie Smith, the Los Angeles Dodgers' Senior Vice President for Planning and Development, discusses her role in the construction of Orioles Park at Camden Yards and the renovation of Fenway Park, Dodger Stadium, Turner Field, and other iconic venues. A Strategic Approach for Baseball to Flourish in Modern China by Keith Spalding Robbins, who served as Vice President, Director of Design, and Lead Design Principal of a Chinese-owned planning and design studio headquartered in Shanghai, offers analysis and policy proposals for establishing a Chinese Major League.

The Cup of Coffee Club shares the stories of eleven men who played in just a single major league baseball game and how they responded to the heartache of never making it back. Featuring exclusive interviews with each of the players, their insight provides a unique look into the struggles of being a professional ballplayer. Reaching the major leagues is a pipe dream for most young baseball players in America. Very few ever get to live it out. While many that do make it to the big leagues stay there for a long time, there are just as many that are only there for a brief moment. A select few of those players face the elation and frustration of getting to play in just one major league game. The Cup of Coffee Club: 11 Players and Their Brush with Baseball History tells the stories of eleven of these players and their struggles to reach the major leagues, as well as their struggles to get back. They include a former Major League Baseball manager, the son of a Baseball Hall of Famer, and two different brothers of Hall of Famers. Exclusive interviews with each of the players provide insight into what that single seminal moment meant and how they dealt with the blow of never making another major league appearance again. Spanning half a century of baseball, each player’s journey to Major League Baseball is distinct, as is each of their responses to having played in just a single game. The Cup of Coffee Club shares their unique perspectives, providing a better understanding of just how special each major league game can be.

The Double-Goal Coach is filled with powerful coaching tools based on Jim Thompson's Positive Coaching Alliance. These strategies reflect the "best-practices" of elite coaches and the latest research in sports psychology.Hundreds of workshops have shaped these tools for maximum effectiveness and ease of use. The lessons and activities can be used in the very next practice to make sports fun and to get the best from players.

The Double-Goal Coach provides the framework for coaches and parents to transform youth sports so sports can transform youth -- allowing young athletes to enjoy sports while learning valuable life lessons.

After many years of being an also-ran in the National league, the Pittsburgh Pirates' fortunes changed dramatically following the 1899 season after a monumental deal with the Louisville Colonels. The addition of star players such as Fred Clarke, Honus Wagner, Tommy Leach and Deacon Phillippe allowed Pittsburgh to become the first baseball dynasty of the twentieth century as they won National League pennants in 1901, 1902 and 1903. Without question, the 1902 Pirates aggregation was the greatest of those three squads. This definitive historical account examines the record-breaking 1902 Pittsburgh season, the politics that shaped baseball's landscape during that time period and the players who were responsible for allowing that squad to claim its rightful place in baseball history.

The Negro Southern League was a baseball minor league that operated off and on from 1920 to 1951. It served as a valuable feeder system to the Negro National League and the Negro American League. A number of NNL and NAL stars got their start in the NSL, among them five Hall of Famers including Satchel Paige and Willie Mays. During its history, more than 80 teams were members of the league, representing 40 cities in a dozen states. In the end only four teams remained, operating more as semipro than professional teams. This book is a narrative history of the league from its inception with eight teams in major Southern cities until its demise three decades later.

On a sunny Fourth of July during World War I, King George V went out to a ball game. Along with Queen Mary and other royalty, Winston Churchill, dozens of VIPs, thousands of troops and ordinary Londoners, the monarch cheered an extraordinary “baseball match” between American soldiers and sailors. This historic event helped solidify the transatlantic alliance that was vital to winning the war. The game itself was a thriller, reported throughout the English-speaking world. The players ranged from kids fresh off the sandlots to a handful of major and minor leaguers and a future Hall of Famer. The two veteran pitchers went the distance, the outcome in doubt until the last batter. Drawing on American and British sources and game-day coverage, this first-ever full account of the “King's game” records every play and explores the lives of several players. The author provides a brief history of the Anglo-American Baseball League and armed forces baseball played in England, France and the United States during the Great War.

Honus Wagner's spectacular baseball career spanned 21 seasons from 1897 through 1917. Widely considered the greatest shortstop in baseball history, Wagner won eight National League batting titles and helped win the pennant four times for his hometown Pittsburgh Pirates. This book assembles the many stories about Wagner that circulated among his teammates, opposing players, writers and fans - reminiscences that define both his career and his life as a citizen in the Pittsburgh suburb of Carnegie.

When the members of the first baseball players' union formed their own league in open revolt against the reserve clause and other restrictive practices of the National League, baseball journalism moved out of the curiosity shop of mainstream journalism and into the newsroom. Baseball journalists Henry Chadwick, T.H. Murnane and Ella Black covered the labor struggle on the field and in the front offices - and they took sides: one as a mouthpiece for the capitalist owners of the National League, one as a omer for the cooperatively operated Players' League, and the other more or less in the middle. The roots of baseball writing as we know it today are visible in their coverage that season. Through a close examination of their work, this book tells the stories of the three sportswriters and the development of sports journalism in response to the famed "Brotherhood War" of 1890.

Ernie, Gabby, Billy, Fergie, Cap and Hack, Rhino and Santo, Andre and Sammy, Wrigley, the ivy. Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance, tossing back opposing team's homers, the Billy Goat Curse, Bartman's ball. Sixteen National League pennants, two World Series crowns, but...95 years and counting. Cubs Pride spans 129 years of Chicago Cubs ups, downs, and almosts. Extolled are the great legends, the lustrous lore, and the fabled futility of the Windy City's favorite nine. It's certain to work up a case of diamond fever for Cubs fans and baseball enthusiasts everywhere. In 2003 the Cubs were just five outs away from their first World Series appearance since 1945, but the mysterious forces of fate intervened once again, and a late-game eight-run-rally by the Florida Marlins ended the dream. Such mishaps have made the Cubs America's "favorite losers," according to Chicago TV station WGN, owned by the same company that owns the Cubs. The team's perennial failings and underdog status have created a national following. Cubs Pride provides firsthand accounts of the great Cubs players; the intense rivalries; the testaments to Cubs character; the great moments in Cub history; all 16 National League pennant-winning rosters; the all-time Cubs team; and even a shrine to No. 14, the immortal Ernie Banks. All are told by the players themselves, managers and coaches, Cubs' opponents, and members of the media.

The story of the 1914 “Miracle” Boston Braves is one of the most memorable in baseball history, but less well known is what the club did after that spectacular season. They didn't “flash and disappear”, as sports writer John Kieran put it. In 1915, they were strong contenders for the National League pennant, and almost won it again in 1916. This book is the first to look at the “Miracle” Braves in a larger context. Under the innovative manager George Stallings, the Braves won Boston's first National League pennant in 17 years. Their startling sweep of the mighty Philadelphia Athletics was their league's only World Series victory from 1909 to 1919. The Braves of those years - like the hot-tempered Georgian who managed them - were a roistering, pugnacious crew that battled the opposition, the umpires and sometimes each other.

The study of baseball history and culture reveals the national game as a contested field where debates about sport, character, work and play, the country and the city, labor, race, and a host of other issues, circulate. Understanding baseball, then, calls for careful consideration of several different perspectives and what each contributes to the conversation. Intended as a readable textbook for undergraduates (and perhaps advanced high school students) and their instructors, Understanding Baseball is designed to offer insights and inroads into baseball history as a rewarding academic subject worthy of careful scholarly attention. Each chapter introduces a specific disciplinary approach to baseball - in this edition, history, economics, media, law, and fiction - and covers representative questions scholars from that academic field might consider.