Showing titles in Baseball & Softball

No immortal in the history of baseball retired so young, so well, or so completely as Sandy Koufax. After compiling a remarkable record from 1962 to 1966 that saw him lead the National League in ERA all five years, win three Cy Young awards, and pitch four no-hitters including a perfect game, Koufax essentially disappeared. Save for his induction into the Hall of Fame and occasional appearances at the Dodgers training camp, Koufax has remained unavailable, unassailable, and unsullied.

The Oakland A's of the early 1970s were the most transformative team in baseball history. Never before had an entire organization so collectively traumatized baseball's establishment with its outlandish behavior and business decisions - or with its indisputable winning record: five straight division titles and three straight championships. The high drama that played out on the field was exceeded only by the drama in the clubhouse and front office.

Eclipsing the traditional sports memoir, House of Nails, by former world champion, multimillionaire entrepreneur, and imprisoned felon Lenny Dykstra, spins a tragicomic tale of Shakespearean proportions - a relentlessly entertaining American epic that careens between the heights and the abyss. Nicknamed "Nails" for his hustle and grit, Lenny approached the game of baseball - and life - with mythic intensity.

For nearly 15 years NINE: A Journal of Baseball History and Culture has been a leading scholarly journal of baseball history. Covering the cultural and historical implications of America’s national pastime, NINE has explored baseball from the earliest matches and little-known players of the 1800s to the modern billion-dollar industry and its superstars of today. Here, gathered for the first time, are the best essays from NINE that center on the complex and multifaceted topic of African Americans in baseball.

Jackie Robinson heroically broke the color barrier in 1947. But how—and, in practice, when—did the integration of the sport actually occur? Bill Madden shows that baseball’s famous black experiment” did not truly succeed until the coming of age of Willie Mays and the emergence of some star players—Larry Doby, Hank Aaron, and Ernie Banks—in 1954. And as a relevant backdrop off the field, it was in May of that year that the US Supreme Court unanimously ruled, in the case of Brown v. Board of Education, that segregation be outlawed in America’s public schools.

Stubble scruffed up their chins. Tobacco wads ballooned their cheeks. The 1993 Philadelphia Phillies had the look of a slow-pitch softball team itching to kick some serious butt. They did kick butt, too, on and off the field. “They lived the life of professional baseball players as fully as it can be done,” manager Jim Fregosi said. Though they weren’t a photogenic bunch, their mugs were everywhere, on Baseball Today, on David Letterman, and on Saturday Night Live.

In The Wit and Wisdom of Yogi Berra, author Phil Pepe takes Yogi from St. Louis to New York's Yankee Stadium and Shea Stadium, including all the stops along the way - from the days he put soles on women's shoes to his induction into the Baseball's Hall of Fame, when he coined one of his most remembered phrases: "I thank everybody for making this day necessary." Phil Pepe explores Yogi Berra as a boy, player, hero, coach, manager, husband, and father, a buffoon and a human being. He relates all of the Berraisms in an absorbing treatment that is simultaneously comical, thoughtful, and biographical.

Step up to the plate with the greatest legends of Padres baseball - newly updated! Since they burst onto the scene in 1968, the San Diego Padres have taken fans on a roller coaster ride of ups, downs, and unforgettable moments. In Tales from the San Diego Padres Dugout, longtime Padres announcer Bob Chandler shares his memories of the team with Bill Swank in an easy-to-read recap of the team’s colorful past.

Coming of age in America by way of the baseball diamond, left-hander Henry Wiggen grows to manhood in a right-handed world. From his small-town beginnings to the top of the game, Henry finds out how hard it is to please his coach, his girl, the sports page and himself - all at once. Starring Edward Asner, Amy Pietz, and a full cast!

For over two centuries, it’s been what Walt Whitman called “our game”. It’s America’s favorite pastime, our national preoccupation. It’s more than a game, more than a sport. It’s who we are as a people, as a culture. But where did baseball come from?

The philosopher Jacques Barzun thought that "whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball". And whoever wants to know baseball had better learn about umpires. As Larry Gerlach points out in The Men in Blue, these arbiters transform competitive chaos into organized sport. They make it possible to "play ball", but nobody loves them.Considering the abuse meted out by fans and players, why would any sane person want to be an umpire? Many reasons emerge in conversations with a dozen former major-league arbiters.

When young Ron Blomberg told his friends he wanted to be a Major League Baseball player, they practically laughed him out of town. Jewish kids just did not do that in the late 1950s, with the exception of a rare superstar like Sandy Koufax. Fortunately for Blomberg, his parents were a different story. As long as he was happy, they had no problem with their son growing up to be a doctor or a lawyer or a ballplayer. So, with his parents blessing, he prepared to ride his athletic skills as far as possible.

In 1940, at just 15 years old, small-town baseball star Gene Moore was signed to the Brooklyn Dodgers, who saw in him the potential to become one of the great catchers of all time. Before that could happen, though, WWII intervened. Gene's story, a surprising paean to the power and humanity of a game, is told here by his son, a first-time author who exhibits the confidence and pacing of a pro.

Classic Pitches Podcast: Reliving Baseball's Golden MomentsMeta Description: Dive into the 'Classic Pitches Podcast' for a nostalgic journey through baseball history. Experience legendary All-Star games, iconic plays, and timeless sportsmanship with each episode featuring classic game recordings.Welcome to the Classic Pitches Podcast, where history and baseball collide! Our podcast is a treasure trove for baseball enthusiasts, offering a unique chance to relive the most iconic All-Star games from the golden era of baseball.Journey Through Baseball's Legendary Past Each episode takes you back ...

Join lifelong White Sox fan and baseball enthusiast, Barry Dorfman, for some hard-hitting and opinionated baseball talk as he shares his unique perspective on the team, league, and game overall. Get ready for a fast-paced and energetic listening experience filled with biting commentary and a laugh or two along the way.

When journalist Terence Moore was 12 years old, he treasured his poster of Henry Aaron. Years later, Aaron would sign it for him. Later still, Moore would be named an honorary pallbearer at the home run king's funeral. Friends and family knew Aaron as quick-witted, hilarious, and fiercely opinionated beyond what was shown in public. With the encouragement of Aaron's family, Moore now shares this intimate perspective on the baseball legend, the culmination of decades of friendship and correspondence.

Locked On White Sox podcast is your daily ticket to stay ahead of the game and the first to know the latest news, analysis, and insider info for the Windy City, the Chicago White Sox and Major League Baseball. Hosted by Jim Memolo, the Locked On White Sox podcast serves your daily White Sox fix with expert, local analysis, and coverage of all aspects of the Sox franchise. Locked On White Sox takes you beyond the scoreboard for the inside scoops on the biggest stories from within the White Sox locker room and all over MLB. The Locked On White Sox podcast is part of the Locked On Podcast ...

Baseball Podcast Talking MLB, Phillies, Blue Hens and DE High School Baseball hosted by D1 Baseball Coach and MiLB Catcher

Hollywood & Levine looks at the world of entertainment, pop culture, screenwriting, and life, and takes none of it seriously. The point is to make you laugh, although useful information might accidentally slip through. Hosted by Emmy-winning writer/baseball announcer/talk show host, Ken Levine, Hollywood & Levine will feature commentary, war stories on Ken’s career (MASH, Cheers, Frasier, Simpsons), interviews, writing advice, movie reviews, snarky award show recaps, tall tales from his baseball and radio career, segments from old broadcasts, improv sketches, answering listener questions, ...

Locked On Reds podcast is your daily ticket to stay ahead of the game and the first to know the latest news, analysis, and insider info for the Cincinnati Reds and Major League Baseball. Hosted by Jeff Carr and Steven Offenbaker, the Locked On Reds podcast provides your daily Reds fix with expert, local analysis, and coverage of all aspects of the Reds franchise. Locked On Reds takes you beyond the scoreboard for the inside scoops on the biggest stories from within the Reds locker room and all over MLB. The Locked On Reds podcast is part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your Team. Every ...