When a batter races toward first base and players scramble to make a tough play, anything can happen. Tales From First Base is a humorous and insightful look at the players, coaches and umpires who have spent time along those first ninety feet of the base path. Wayne Stewart and Brad Engel check out some of the funniest players and most amusing incidents from this corner of the field, such as the time Larry Walker held a running conversation with opposing cornerman Mark Grace in the dirt around the bag. The authors also examine the slickest gloves at first base and how they defended the many plays around that bag. Readers will also learn about the first sackers'roles in some of the most famous plays of all time. In a tight playoff game, Giants first baseman Whitey Lockman prayed to God with his first base coach. They both looked up to the sky and said, "We need some help here if there is anything you can do." Moments later, Bobby Thomson hit his "Shot Heard 'Round the World" to win the National League pennant for the Giants. Packed with exclusive interviews with journalists, players, and fans alike, this book will appeal to a wide audience, both newcomers to the game and lifelong, die-hard fanatics. About the Author Brad Engel has covered sports professionally for the past ten years and is currently the sports editor of the Naperville (Illinois) Sun. He is a former freelancer for the Chicago Sun-Times and Dallas Morning News and has won four national awards and the Chicago Headline Club's Peter Lisagor Award for his sportswriting. He lives near Chicago. Wayne Stewart has covered the sports world as a writer for more than thirty years, interviewing and profiling stars such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, Nolan Ryan, Greg Maddux, and Ken Griffey, Jr. In addition, he has written twenty-four baseball books and appeared on Cleveland's Fox 8 and on ESPN Classic as a baseball historian. He lives in Lorain, Ohio.

Every year, Giant Hills Middle School holds an all-grades musical talent show called The Extravaganza. Students dream of a shot to stand on stage and have thousands of people cheer them on. Singers and musicians from every style practice all year and then give it their all for the crowd. It's a time where anyone can be amazing. It's a chance for anyone to be exceptional. Well... almost anyone. For Danny Tuscho, nothing in life seemed to be going right. He's a quiet kid and it's his first year at Giant Hills. He's the new kid, with no friends, no talents, and no hope of things getting any better. When Danny looks at the boy in the mirror he sees nothing exceptional. Average height. A little skinny. Shaggy hair. "Nothing special," he says to himself. It isn't long before his days are filled with dodging students who are bullying him and working hard to stay out of the way. Life seems to be a lost cause for Danny, until his father suggests he try his hand at playing guitar. Follow Danny as he deals with bullying at Giant Hills Middle School, learns what it means to be more than a bystander when other students are being bullied, learns what it means to be a friend, and tries to make history at The Extravaganza.