Hearts Heart of Midlothian Football Club 2018 Annual Yearbook - official licensed product

The Big Red Machine dominated major league baseball in the 1970s, but the Cincinnati franchise began its climb to that pinnacle in 1961, when an unlikely collection of cast-offs and wannabes stunned the baseball world by winning the National League pennant. Led by revered manager Fred Hutchinson, the team featured rising stars like Frank Robinson, Jim O'Toole, and Vada Pinson, fading stars like Gus Bell and Wally Post, and a few castoffs who suddenly came into their own, like Gene Freese and 20-game-winner Joey Jay. In time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their pennant-winning season, the amazing story of the "Ragamuffin Reds" is told from start to finish in Before the Machine. Written by long-time Reds Report editor Mark J. Schmetzer and featuring dozens of photos by award-winning photographer Jerry Klumpe of the Cincinnati Post & Times Star, this book surely will be a winner with every fan in Reds country and coincides with an anniversary exhibit at the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum. Through interviews and research, Before the Machine captures the excitement of a pennant race for a team that had suffered losing seasons in 14 of the past 16 years. Schmetzer also beautifully evokes the time and place--a muggy Midwestern summer during which, as the new song of the season boasts, "the whole town's batty for that team in Cincinnati." Led by regional talk-show star Ruth Lyons (the Midwest's "Oprah") fans rallied around the Reds as never before. The year didn't begin well for the team. Budding superstar Frank Robinson was arrested right before spring training for carrying a concealed weapon, and long-time owner Powel Crosley Jr., died suddenly just days before the start of the season. Few experts--or fans--gave the Reds much of a chance at first place anyway. With powerhouse teams in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Milwaukee, the National League pennant was unlikely to fly over Cincinnati's Crosley Field. But manager Hutchinson somehow galvanized his motley crew and led them to victory after victory. Joey Jay, who had languished with the Braves, mowed down hitters while his rotation mates O'Toole and knuckleballer Bob Purkey did the same. The team also featured a dynamic duo in the bullpen in Bill Henry and Jim Brosnan, whose book about the season, Pennant Race, became a national bestseller the following year. As the rest of the league kept waiting for the Reds to fade, Hutch's boys kept winning--and finally grabbed the pennant. Though they couldn't continue their magic in the World Series against the Yankees, the previously moribund Reds franchise did continue to their success throughout the decade, winning 98 games in 1962 and falling just short of another pennant in 1964. They established a recipe for success that would lead, a few years later, to the emergence of the Big Red Machine.

The leaping Springbok on the green jersey of South Africa is one of the most iconic emblems in world rugby. At the same time, no symbol in world sport has ever done so much to divide - and then unite - a nation. Respected by opponents and supported passionately by South Africans, the Springboks have been a powerhouse rugby nation for over a century, yet the emblem that now sits alongside the Protea on the chests of the players was once a symbol of violent oppression in apartheid South Africa, the epitome of the white man's dominance over people of colour in the Republic. Told in the words of Springboks past and present, Our Blood is Green explores what it means to play for South Africa - from schoolboy dreams to the sacrifices required to make it to the very top - as well as the myriad difficulties the players have faced over the years, from the horrors of apartheid through to the emerging rainbow nation in the 1990s and the multi-cultural World Cup-winning team of today. It is a fascinating, powerful and poignant read that explores the unity of a brotherhood that fights to transcend race, culture and class while simultaneously striving to become the best team on the planet. Our Blood is Green examines what it truly means to be a Springbok and it is told the only way it can be - by the players themselves.

Bill Terry had some big shoes to fill in midseason 1932, when he took over managing the second division New York Giants for the iconic John McGraw. The next year, his first full season as player-manager, "Memphis Bill" guided the Polo Grounders to the pennant and a World Series victory over a strong Washington Senators team. This is the story of how Terry reshaped the club he inherited, molding them into world champions at the height of the Great Depression. The author provides a game-by-game season narrative, with detailed depictions of each Fall Classic contest. Biographical overviews of the Giants' primary players and an analysis of the first All-Star Game are included.

Hal Trosky played first base for the Cleveland Indians during the Great Depression, a time when the American League included perhaps the greatest trio of first basemen ever: Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, and Hank Greenberg. Because of the phenomenal feats of those players, Trosky's story was consigned to the figurative back page of history. He led the American League in Runs Batted In in 1936, was elected to the Indians' All-Time team in 1969, and at his peak played at a level comparable to anyone in the game. His career was tragically cut short due to an onset of severe migraine headaches, and he was out of baseball by the age of 34, but his playing days spanned the time from Babe Ruth through the end of World War II. Until now, his story has never been entirely told. This book combines access to Trosky family archives with exhaustive research in order to craft a narrative of Trosky's life. From his early years in Iowa, through his entire major league career and throughout his life after baseball, this book looks at the man on and off the diamond, and on the legacy that remains.

More than 300 ballplayers have spent time with both the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees, opposing teams in one of the most intense rivalries in sports. This book examines the century long antagonism between the two clubs, chronicling their storied pasts and their evolution during the 20th century. Several what-ifs are considered: what if Babe Ruth had never been traded from the Red Sox to the Yankees? What if the clubs had swapped Joe DiMaggio for Ted Williams, as was proposed by the owners of both teams? What if Alex Rodriguez had gone to Boston, as was originally intended, rather than to New York? The debate as to which team has made out better with shared players is explored.

He never felt like a Hall of Famer."" ""You can't argue with championships."" ""If he was so good, why were his teams so bad?"" On talk shows and in sports bars, statements like these are often made about both underrated and overrated players. It's generally accepted that being in a bigger market or on a winning team can cause a player to be overrated, while the opposite can leave them underrated. Examining pennant races to show how much attention a team receives and which teams are getting the most attention provides a context to this familiar commentary. This book studies the effects of the sports media spotlight (and its absence) on the fortunes of teams in pennant races and Hall of Fame inductees. Along the way, the author brings to light accomplished players most non-fans have probably never heard of.

How much do you really know about Newcastle United? Put your Magpies knowledge to the test with this bumper book of brainteaser quizzes and fascinating facts, beautifully illustrated by one of the world's leading sports artists. It's packed with trivia on all the Newcastle greats - from 'Wor Jackie' Milburn to Supermac and Shearer, from 'King Kevin' Keegan to Rafa Benitez and beyond - providing hours of highly dippable fun and entertainment. On his retirement in 1984, which player left the field by helicopter still dressed in his kit? Which club favourite made 95 appearances for Peru? Alan Shearer once scored a goal 10.4 seconds into a Premier League game against which club? Who was the first Newcastle United player to win the Premier League Golden Boot? The Magpies take to the field for each home game to the sound of which Mark Knopfler song? Trivquiz Newcastle United holds the answers to all these questions and hundreds more.

The perfect golf gag gift, funny golf prank, or book for any golfer who always has an excuse for their wayward shots on the tee box There's nothing better than a perfect day on the course, except for maybe the excuses thrown around for a sliced drive or a missed putt. As soon as you shot goes askew... You can blame your job... You can blame the course... You can blame mother nature... Or you can blame your equipment... But Never, Ever, BLAME YOURSELF! The perfect golf gift for men who always have the perfect excuse for their golf misfortunes, 501 Excuses for a Bad Golf Shot is the ideal father's day gift, gag gift, or present for that friend in your golf league whose excuses are always a hole-in-one (even when their shots aren't).

The last time the Chicago Cubs played in the World Series, World War II had just ended. The last time they won a World Series, World War I had not yet begun. But from 1906-1910 the Cubs not only played in the World Series four of the five years, they won two World Championships, as well. It was a time when the Cubs ruled baseball, and no one could have imagined the roller coaster adventures that were ahead for this grand old franchise. In The Last Chicago Cubs Dynasty: Before the Curse, Hal Bock tells the story of this legendary team, the characters who were central to its success, and the misfortunes which have plagued the team ever since. Stars such as pitcher Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown and the double-play combination of Tinker to Evers to Chance are profiled, as are opponents who caused the Cubs unending headaches, like superstar pitcher Christy Mathewson and immortal shortstop Honus Wagner. A chronology and cast of characters set the stage for the reader before Bock delves into the early history of the Cubs and the assembly of what would become a dynasty. With talent to spare and just a little bit of luck going their way, the Chicago Cubs were unstoppable. But when an angry fan issued a curse on the team during the 1945 World Series, some believe it marked the beginning of the end for this storied franchise. Featuring 100-year-old images from historic baseball cards, profiles of Hall of Fame legends, and a foreword by Cubs supporter and TV star Joe Mantegna, The Last Chicago Cubs Dynasty will appeal to all baseball fans, but especially to those always-passionate Cubs enthusiasts from around the nation.

Please Don't Take Me Home is the emotional tale of Italian immigrant Simone Abitante's 20-year love affair with Fulham Football Club. After leaving his native country, Simone falls in love with London and its oldest club, embarking on a personal mission to spread the word and get Fulham recognised beyond Britain by as many people as possible. Following the Cottagers through the most successful spell in their modern history, Simone takes his nephews to Craven Cottage where - together with new friends and Whites addicts Jeff, Mark and Ben - they experience unforgettable wins, exhilarating highs and devastating lows, amid rivers of beer, true friendship and an unquenchable passion for the beautiful game. Even after leaving London for Mallorca, Simone keeps following his beloved Fulham, with that famous white jersey serving as a second skin. Played out against a backdrop of heartbreaks, departures and life-changing decisions, Please Don't Take Me Home is a footballing story every fan can relate to.

Swansea City Miscellany collects together all the vital information you never knew you needed to know about the Swans. In these pages you will find irresistible anecdotes and the most mindblowing stats and facts. Heard the one about the Swans striker who was sent off after zero seconds? How about the keeper who played a full game up front? Or why Swansea City have a strange link with a bustling New York neighbourhood? Did you know that the Swans broke the record for the longest Premier League match ever? Which legendary manager penned his own book of sports-influenced poetry? And what a great fantasy team you can make up from all the Joneses that have played for the club? All these stories and hundreds more appear in a brilliantly researched collection of trivia - essential for any Swans fan who holds the riches of the club's history close to their heart.

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.

This book carefully examines the careers of the fifty men who made the greatest impact on one of the most successful franchises in the history of professional sports. Features of The 50 Greatest Players in Detroit Tigers History include quotes from opposing players and former teammates, summaries of each player's best season, recaps of their most memorable performances, and listings of their notable achievements.

Generazione Wunderteam is the enthralling story of the Austrian national football team of the 1930s, an innovative side that dazzled Viennese crowds and sparked a new-found passion for football both at local and international level. Although the Wunderteam was short-lived, this squad led by Hugo Meisl, one of the most prominent figures in European football, proved hugely influential. Vienna quickly became - along with Budapest and Prague - one of the world's football capitals and the birthplace of some of the greatest players of the era, including Matthias Sindelar, a centre-forward whose fame transcended football, and who was often compared to Mozart and other Viennese celebrities. Sindelar died in suspicious circumstances at age 35, after defying the Nazis. The book takes the reader on a journey through that forgotten era, examining the genesis of Hugo Meisl's side, its key figures, the historical vicissitudes of the inter-war years and the most important Viennese teams of the period.

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.

So comprehensively has Arsene Wenger rebranded Arsenal Football Club that it is possible to forget the 100-plus years of history that came before him. Yet there remain curious parallels that glue together the club's past and present: just as the modern team is built on outsiders, born far from the confines of N5, so too was the original side of 1886, created by economic migrants from the Midlands, the North of England and Scotland, looking to prosper in London. Now for the first time in paperback, and using photographic and written archives of the "Daily Mirror" (including rare and unseen material), "When Football Was Football - Arsenal" takes us on a nostalgia-packed journey through the club's evolution from its beginnings as a south London munitions factory team, through the nurturing of some of the game's fabled characters. From notorious chairman Henry Norris to the great innovator Herbert Chapman, and the players from Brylcreem Boy Denis Compton, wee Alex James, Charlie George and Frank McLintock, up to the fresh-in-the-memory figures of Tony Adams and Ian Wright (perhaps the last bastion of a pre-modern Arsenal). Key images that will engage and delight readers include: 1930 - Arsenal win their first trophy, the FA Cup at Wembley; 1968 - Pat Rice working on a fruit stall; 1982 - "Champagne" Charlie Nicholas living up to his nickname. The book draws a line in the sand at the advent of the Premier League, when Arsenal, and football, were carried along on a wave of ruthless commercialism. Packed with evocative, atmospheric photos depicting bygone eras, "When Football Was Football - Arsenal" reminds us of how things used to be - and leaves the reader to decide which they prefer.

Founded in 1879, Sunderland AFC quickly became one of the greatest clubs in English football. This history of the club takes the reader step by step through the club's development, beginning with the club's foundation, the early triumphs and subsequent tragedies, through conflicts with Sunderland Albion to league and cup domination, from Raich Carter and Bobby Gurney to Kevin Phillips and Niall Quinn. Along the way great players, matches and successes are highlighted, in an accessible style suitable for football fans of all ages.