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Ken Reid's Hometown Hockey Heroes
Par Ken Reid. 2023
From Sportsnet Central host and broadcaster Ken Reid comes an inspiring and entertaining new collection of hockey stories about local…
legends who define the game and its values. In many communities across Canada, hockey lives in the nearby arenas and leagues that forge both decades-long rivalries and unbreakable friendships. Fans show up to cheer not for distant NHL superstars, but for the homegrown heroes who define their town. These players don&’t always make it to the big leagues, but they inevitably become legends. In this entertaining collection, Canadian broadcaster and Sportsnet Central host Ken Reid tells their uplifting stories, from Pictou, Nova Scotia, to Kimberley, British Columbia—and everywhere in between. There&’s Robbie Forbes, who arrived in Newfoundland in the mid-eighties still dreaming of the pros and ended up giving the town a dream of its own when he led the Corner Brook Royals to a Canadian Senior Hockey title. He also happens to be Sidney Crosby&’s uncle. In a legendary Ontario community, the name Paul Polillo is spoken in the same reverential breath as Wayne Gretzky in their shared hometown of Brantford. There&’s also the tragic story of George Pelawa, who may have been the inspiration for Tom Cochrane & Red Rider&’s famous song &“Big League.&” And Tyson Wuttunee, an Indigenous player in Saskatchewan who, through hockey, found the family and home he&’d always longed for. Featuring heartwarming stories of grit, leadership, and lifelong bonds, Ken Reid&’s Hometown Hockey Heroes celebrates how hockey, and the values the game teaches, can shape our communities for the better.Run the Mile You're In: Finding God in Every Step
Par Ryan Hall. 2019
Journey with Olympian and American half marathon record holder Ryan Hall as he reflects on the joys and trials of…
running and, along the way, shows you how he found God in every step.Ryan Hall is an Olympic athlete and American record holder in the half marathon, but as a kid, Ryan hated running. He wanted nothing to do with the sport until one day, he felt compelled to run the fifteen miles around his neighborhood lake. He was hooked.From that day forward, Ryan felt a God-given purpose in running. He knew he could, and would, race with the best runners in the world and that his talent was a gift to serve others. These two truths launched Ryan's twenty-year athletic career and guided him through epic failures and exceptional breakthroughs to competing at the highest level.Now a coach, speaker, and nonprofit partner, Ryan shares the powerful faith behind his athletic achievements and the lessons he learned that helped him push past his limits, make space for relationships that enrich his life on and off the running trails, and cultivate a positive mindset.As you learn more about Ryan and his incredible path, you'll gain the tools you need to:Focus on your purpose and say no to distractionsSelect and strive for the right goals--goals for the heart and the bodyDeal with defeat and disappointmentEndure immense pain and build resilienceRun like you've already wonRyan's story is one of encouragement and inspiration for readers of any age and level of running ability--or none at all. It's a story that shows that you, too, can change your outlook, see God's hand in your life, and run the race that really matters.Praise for Run the Mile You&’re In:"Run the Mile You're In is not about winning races and setting running records. It's about always moving forward. Moving outward is an act of courage. The reward is living the lifestyle and embracing the dream."--Bart Yasso, newly retired chief running officer, Runner's World"Ryan's journey on and off the course is touching and a meaningful way to live by helping others. This is an uplifting book of joy and finding your sense of purpose."--Meb Keflezighi, Olympic silver medalist; Boston Marathon and NYC Marathon championHolding Fast: The Untold Story of the Mount Hood Tragedy
Par Karen James. 2008
A journey of adventure, tragedy, love, and loss on the summit of Mt. Hood.In December 2006, millions of people across…
the world prayed and waited in anguish to learn the fate of 3 climbers trapped on Mt. Hood. The worst storm in the last decade was pounding the mountain with hurricane-force winds that would not permit the army of rescue workers to do their work. No one below could forget the last phone call Kelly James placed to his wife, telling her that he was trapped in a snow cave just below the summit. What happened next would change the lives of everyone involved and deeply touch millions of people who desperately hoped to see a Christmas miracle.For more than a week, the search dominated the news as family members huddled below, praying for the climbers' safe return. But the story did not end when Kelly James's body was airlifted off the mountain and the cameras stopped rolling. For Karen, the year after Kelly's death was spent searching for answers to what really happened on the mountain. In this journey of adventure, tragedy, love and loss, she reveals never-released information about the fateful climb and behind-the-scenes details of how the family coped with the shocking news.SÍ SEÑOR: My Liverpool Years - THE LONG-AWAITED MEMOIR FROM A LIVERPOOL LEGEND
Par Roberto Firmino. 2023
A revelatory memoir from Liverpool legend and global football star Bobby Firmino.Master of the no-look goal and Anfield favourite, Roberto…
'Bobby' Firmino, signed for Liverpool in July 2015. Over the next eight years - and seven winners' medals - he established himself as one of the club's most important players in recent years for his audacious skill, impressive goal scoring, and beaming smile.Jürgen Klopp saw Firmino as the on-pitch 'engine' that drove the club's counter-pressing strategy and together with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané, Firmino formed a formidable attacking trio. The Kop rewarded Roberto with the ultimate accolade - his own song: 'Sí, Señor, give the ball to Bobby and he will score.' Sí, Señor celebrates Firmino's cherished years in a red shirt and will remind fans why they fell in love with him in the first place.The Way It Was: My Autobiography
Par Stanley Matthews. 2000
The classic football memoir, now available as an ebook‘An absolute magical player. I loved him’ Sir Bobby Charlton‘A god to…
those of us who aspired to play the game’ Brian Clough‘The man who taught us the way football should be played’ PeléSir Stanley Matthews was the most popular footballer of his era and the game’s first global superstar. He was the first footballer to be knighted, the first European Footballer of the Year (aged 41), and he played in the top division until he was 50. His performance in the ‘Matthews final’ of 1953, when he inspired Blackpool to victory over Bolton, is widely considered the finest in FA Cup history.Here, in his own words, and showcasing his unique humour, is a sporting gentleman who epitomised a generation of legendary players: Sir Tom Finney, Nat Lofthouse, Billy Wright and many more. The Way It Was: My Autobiography is filled with characters, camaraderie, drama and insight, and is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand how football, and society, have changed over the last century. It is a fascinating memoir of a great footballer, and the remarkable story of an extraordinary life.Praise for The Way it Was‘A ticket to a different era, when the game wasn't saturated with money and men like Sir Stanley upheld sporting ideals’ The Times‘There is a heartfelt, elegiac quality [to] The Way It Was… it is only a pity he is not here to see it published’ Independent‘Brings vividly to life some of the greatest games of the time and features his perceptive analysis of the characters who illuminated the age’ Independent‘A gracefully crafted autobiography filled with entertaining anecdotes reflecting an age when the game was uncorrupted by greed’ Birmingham Post‘A fascinating and amusing insight into the inner workings of football during its golden era’ Daily Telegraph‘It is impossible to imagine any of today’s football stars ever producing a memoir half so interesting’ Mail on SundayJonah Lomu, A Giant Among Men: The Story of a Rugby Hero
Par Niall Edworthy. 2015
A concise biography of Jonah Lomu, the international icon who changed rugbyJonah Lomu, A Giant Among Men profiles New Zealand’s…
greatest sportsman, and one of the finest players in the history of rugby. His combination of pace and power was unprecedented, enthralling fans from around the world. Lomu burst onto the international scene in 1994, joining the All Blacks as their youngest-ever member. With a string of exceptional performances he came to dominate the Rugby World Cup the following year. His ebullient personality, frightening athleticism and passionate pride in wearing the shirt captured the public imagination, and made Lomu the game’s first truly global superstar.His tragic death in November 2015, aged just 40, left the rugby community in shock. This biography pays tribute to a life cut short, but one marked by such achievement and impact that it will never be forgotten.Rise: A Soldier, A Dream, And A Promise Kept
Par Joe Layden, Daniel Rodriguez. 2014
The &“harrowing, heartbreaking, redemptive&” memoir of a US Army veteran who fought through PTSD to play college football with the…
Clemson Tigers (Sports Illustrated). Daniel Rodriguez joined the army just weeks after graduating from high school. Almost immediately, he was deployed to Iraq and then to Afghanistan. While there, he made a promise to his best friend: &“When I get out of this shithole, I&’m going to play college football.&” Wounded at the Battle of Kamdesh, Daniel received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. He was lucky enough to make it out alive; his friend was not. Back at home, Daniel was unemployed and stuck in the clutches of PTSD, but he remembered the promise he had made and resolved to make good on it. When he posted a video online of his grueling training efforts, it went viral overnight. Through a mixture of hope, determination, and the power of the Internet, Daniel earned a spot on the Clemson University football team as a wide receiver. In Rise, Rodriguez tells his powerful and inspiring story. &“A compelling story of one man&’s quest to overcome the horrors of war through fortitude and determination.&” —San Antonio Express NewsThe Greatest You: Face Reality, Release Negativity & Live Your Purpose
Par Lou Aronica, Trent Shelton. 2019
Writing from deep, been-there experience, college football standout-turned NFL dropout Trent Shelton takes you on a journey to become the…
best hope-filled version of yourself.Trent Shelton seemed to have it all together–until everything fell apart. A college football standout, his NFL dreams died when he was cut from multiple teams. With no job and no prospects, learning he had a child on the way and numbing himself with whatever he could find, Trent then found out one of his closest friends had killed himself. Life seemed without hope–until Trent discovered the secret to finding promise in the darkest of times. And now he shares that secret with you.Sharing his revolutionary toolkit for transforming your life and reaching your goals, in The Greatest You, Trent will help youbecome everything you are meant to be;face the reality of your circumstances and realize your purpose in life;break free from toxic environments and forgive those who've harmed you; andlearn how to guard yourself against the pitfalls of life. Weaving together personal stories from his own life and from others who have also gone through hard times, Trent reveals how you can bring out the best in yourself and establish a happier, more fulfilled future for generations to come.Undisputed: A Champion's Life
Par Donovan Bailey. 2023
A memoir of Olympic glory, the value of mentorship and the courage to champion your own excellence, from the long-reigning…
world's fastest man, Canadian sprinting legend Donovan Bailey.From the lush fields of his boyhood in Jamaica, to the basketball courts of Oakville, where he came of age in one of Canada&’s most thriving cultural mosaics, to his sprint toward double Olympic gold for Canada in Atlanta in 1996, Donovan Bailey got a long way on natural talent. But he also learned that in the bureaucratic world of Canadian sports, an athlete who didn't come up in the system needed to take charge of his fate if he was going to become the world&’s best. As he ascended from outsider to dominant athlete, others didn&’t always understand the rigour at work behind Bailey&’s confident demeanour. He&’d learned from watching Muhammad Ali that a champion needed to act like a champion. But media grew fixated on the sprinter&’s immodesty, the likes of which they never saw from Canadian athletes, especially track athletes in the wake of the Ben Johnson doping scandal at Seoul in 1988. Bailey was having none of it, and when he called out Canada's subtle racism and contradicted the prevailing idea most Canadians had of their country, he left in his wake a media uproar and cracked wide open the nation&’s moral complacency. In addition to his unforgettable 100-metre and 4x100 relay gold-medal sprints in Atlanta, Bailey's track career was a litany of records and rare accomplishments, including his audacious 1997 race in Toronto's SkyDome against American 200-metre Olympic champion Michael Johnson to determine who was really the world&’s fastest man. There was no disputing the result. Bailey had been coached in success before he was seriously coached in athletics. Following the lead of his father, a machinist-turned-real estate investor, Bailey became a millionaire by the age of 21, an experience he continues to draw on as an entrepreneur and philanthropist. Frank about his dominance on the track and unapologetic for expecting as much of those around him as he expects of himself, Undisputed is an athlete's story that refuses to settle for second best.Juan Marichal: My Journey from the Dominican Republic to Cooperstown
Par Lew Freedman, Juan Marichal. 2011
The groundbreaking superstar tells his story: “To look at the MLB career of Hall of Fame pitcher Marichal is to…
look at another era . . . a solid hit.” —Library JournalIn a decade that featured such legendary hurlers as Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, Don Drysdale, and other Hall of Famers, no pitcher won more games than Juan Marichal in the 1960s. His unique high-kick pitching style was imitated by kids from New York to San Francisco to Santo Domingo, and is immortalized in a bronze statue outside of the Giants’ current ballpark. Marichal was the first Dominican-born player to play in an All-Star Game and the first elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, and he won more games than any of his countrymen. And while Dominican and other Latino players have come to dominate many aspects of baseball in recent years, Marichal was a trailblazer in his day, entering the league at a time when Latin American players were routinely discriminated against, underpaid, and presented with numerous obstacles on their journey to the big leagues.Now, Marichal tells the story of his rise from living on a rural farm as a young boy in the Dominican Republic to his status as one of the greatest pitchers of all time. Along the way, he was enlisted by the son of the country’s dictator to play for the national team, was threatened at gunpoint to throw a game during a tournament in Mexico, fought homesickness as a minor leaguer in rural Indiana, and went head-to-head with some of the best pitchers and hitters the game has ever seen.For the first time, Marichal gives his perspective on life as a Latino ballplayer in the 1960s, describes the highs and lows of a sixteen-year major league career, and explores what the recent influx of Dominicans in the majors has meant to baseball and to his home country—and also offers reflections on lingering stereotypes, the impact of steroids, and the general state of the game in the twenty-first century.Straw: Finding My Way
Par Darryl Strawberry, John Strausbaugh. 2009
“Straw is the story of a guy who had two strikes against him in the middle innings of life and…
hit one out of the park.”—Reggie Jackson“A riveting and memorable account of one man’s pursuit of a meaningful life.”—David ConeFormer New York Met and Yankee slugger Darryl Strawberry has subtitled his autobiography Straw, “Finding My Way”—and his path was never easy. A National League Rookie of the Year, eight-time MLB All Star, and four-time World Series Champion, Strawberry’s baseball achievements were often overshadowed by his struggles off the field. In Straw, he tells it all: his boyhood in Crenshaw, Los Angeles; his rise to baseball superstardom; the high life and low life; his brushes with the law; his triumphant battle over cancer; his religious awakening, and his marriage to the love of his life.The Yankee Way: Playing, Coaching, and My Life in Baseball
Par Willie Randolph. 2014
Legendary New York Yankee Willie Randolph tells the story of his life playing and coaching for the most storied professional…
sports franchise in the world, detailing his career on and off the field with some of baseball biggest stars.In his long-awaited memoir, Willie Randolph shares stories from life in New York Yankee pinstripes, opening up about the team that raised him and the city that molded him.For over thirty years, Randolph has been a part of Yankee lore and mythology. From the best seat in the stadium he has witnessed the greats, from Reggie Jackson to Don Mattingly to Derek Jeter; larger-than-life managers, including Billy Martin and Joe Torre; and of course The Boss himself. Randolph offers truly unique, firsthand insight into some of the greatest players to ever play the game and the greatest teams ever to call the Bronx their home.But though Randolph is a Yankee, he is first and foremost a quintessential New Yorker. Brooklyn born and raised, he shares memories of his rise from the projects to the house that Ruth built. Along the way he discusses, his triumphs and struggles on the field and in the dugout, as well as his time spent as manager of the Yankees’ crosstown rivals, the Mets.As fascinating and thoughtful as Randolph himself, filled with sixteen pages of black-and-white photos, The Yankee Way is a moving portrait of a legendary team, a unique city, and a remarkable man. With 16 pages of black & white photos.Heart of the Game: Life, Death, and Mercy in Minor League America
Par S. L. Price. 2009
“Genuine and raw…a heartfelt work of despair, triumph, and redemption.” —Boston GlobeThe critically acclaimed Heart of the Game—subtitled “Life, Death, and…
Mercy in Minor League America”—explores the pure roots of a sport that is stained by scandal at its highest level. S.L. Price, award-winning writer for Sports Illustrated and author of Pitching Around Fidel, gives a tragic but ultimately uplifting account of the death of minor league baseball coach Mike Coolbaugh, and in doing so, illustrates the many reasons and myriad ways in which baseball still has a hold on America. A Friday Night Lights for baseball fans, Heart of the Game reveals the classic heart of small-town America.Pride and Pinstripes: The Yankees, Mets, and Surviving Life's Challenges
Par Mel Stottlemyre, John Harper. 2007
More than a star pitcher and accomplished coach, Mel Stottlemyre has a history that serves as a behind-the-scenes tour of…
five decades of baseball. From Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford to Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry to Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, Stottlemyre connected generations of stars during a remarkable career.In his long-awaited autobiography, Stottlemyre tells his story in colorful detail, from his days as a rookie sensation on the last of the great Mantle teams to those as trusted pitching coach during the Joe Torre administration. Along the way he takes readers inside the clubhouses of champions—describing the defiance of the '86 Mets, from manager Davey Johnson on down, and recalling the true grit and selflessness that helped make Torre's Yankees a dynasty from 1996 to 2000.Jock Itch: The Misadventures of a Retired Jersey Chaser
Par Rosa Blasi. 2011
With acerbic wit and raw honesty, actress Rosa Blasi—star of ABC’s The Whole Truth, Make It Or Break It and…
Hollywood’s The Grudge—shares the intimate and laugh-out-loud funny details of her misadventures in dating professional athletes, a bad habit that lasted from her first high school football player boyfriend until a decade of 'roid rage and pathological cheating led to her embrace a life of sports star sobriety. With echoes of Chelsea Handler’s on-her-back honesty; Karrine Steffans’ behind-the-scenes confessionals; the steamy, tell-all spice and humor of Jenna Jameson’s How to Make Love Like a Porn Star, and the sports world sensibilities of Jose Canseco’s Juiced, Rosa’s Jock Itch is an unforgettable, unmissable true tale of her lessons in life, love, and linebackers.Losing Isn't Everything: The Untold Stories and Hidden Lessons Behind the Toughest Losses in Sports History
Par Michael Arkush, Curt Menefee. 2016
A refreshing and thought-provoking look at athletes whose legacies have been reduced to one defining moment of defeat—those on the…
flip side of an epic triumph—and what their experiences can teach us about competition, life, and the human spirit.Every sports fan recalls with amazing accuracy a pivotal winning moment involving a favorite team or player—Henry Aaron hitting his 715th home run to pass Babe Ruth; Christian Laettner’s famous buzzer beating shot in the NCAA tournament for Duke. Yet lost are the stories on the other side of these history-making moments, the athletes who experienced not transcendent glory but crushing disappointment: the cornerback who missed the tackle on the big touchdown; the relief pitcher who lost the series; the world-record holding Olympian who fell on the ice.In Losing Isn’t Everything, famed sportscaster Curt Menefee, joined by bestselling writer Michael Arkush, examines a range of signature "disappointments" from the wide world of sports, interviewing the subject at the heart of each loss and uncovering what it means—months, years, or decades later—to be associated with failure. While history is written by the victorious, Menefee argues that these moments when an athlete has fallen short are equally valuable to sports history, offering deep insights into the individuals who suffered them and about humanity itself.Telling the losing stories behind such famous moments as the Patriots’ Rodney Harrison guarding the Giants' David Tyree during the "Helmet Catch" in Super Bowl XLII, Mary Decker’s fall in the 1984 Olympic 1500m, and Craig Ehlo who gave up "The Shot" to Michael Jordan in the 1989 NBA playoffs, Menefee examines the legacy of the hardest loses, revealing the unique path that athletes have to walk after they lose on their sport’s biggest stage. Shedding new light some of the most accepted scapegoat stories in the sports cannon, he also revisits both the Baltimore Colts' loss to the Jets in Super Bowl III, as well as the Red Sox loss in the 1986 World Series, showing why, despite years of humiliation, it might not be all Bill Buckner's fault.Illustrated with sixteen pages of color photos, this considered and compassionate study offers invaluable lessons about pain, resilience, disappointment, remorse, and acceptance that can help us look at our lives and ourselves in a profound new way.The Journey Home: My Life in Pinstripes
Par Jorge Posada. 2015
The legendary New York Yankee catcher tells the incredible story of his personal journey, offering an unexpected, behind-the-plate view of…
his career, his past, and the father-son bond that fueled his love of the game.For seventeen seasons, the name Jorge Posada was synonymous with New York Yankees baseball. A fixture behind home plate throughout the Yankees biggest successes, Jorge became the Yankees' star catcher almost immediately upon his arrival, and in the years that followed, his accomplishments, work ethic, and leadership established him as one of the greatest Yankees ever to put on the uniform.Now, in this long-awaited memoir, Jorge Posada details his journey to home plate, sharing a remarkable, generational account of his journey from the ball fields of Puerto Rico to the House that Ruth built. Offering a view from behind the mask unlike any other, Jorge discusses the key moments and plays that shaped teams and forged a legacy that came to define Yankee baseball for a generation. With pitch-by-pitch recall, Jorge looks back across the years, explaining how—as part of the Core Four alongside Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, and Mariano Rivera—he helped to reestablish the Yankees as a dynasty and win five World Series.Going beyond his all-star career, Jorge also shares his life in full for the first time, examining how his remarkable journey to the big leagues began in the most unexpected of ways. Digging into his cultural roots in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba, Jorge illuminates three generations of cherished father-son relationships that have made him the man he is today. At the center is the deep bond he shares with his father and namesake, Jorge Sr, who escaped Cuba and would eventually mold his son to be a ball player, honing his talent and instilling in him the drive necessary to fulfill his childhood dream of playing in the Bronx.Complete with sixteen pages of color photographs, this touching and earnest memoir is a testament to hard work and a celebration of the generational gift of baseball between fathers and sons.Wish Granted: 25 Stories of Strength and Resilience from America's Favorite Athletes
Par Don Yaeger. 2014
“Those kids are my heroes and by actively deciding to help them continue their fight with a little more hope,…
you’re one of my heroes, too.”—Michael Jordan, from the IntroductionPoignant stories from this nation’s best loved athletes include Michael Jordan, Michael Phelps, John Cena, Bethany Hamilton, Danica Patrick, Tony Hawk, the New England Patriots, and many more.Imagine a seriously ill child who gets to make one wish . . . and that wish is to meet you. How would you measure up? Wish Granted shows how twenty-five of the most celebrated professional athletes of all time answered this question by sharing what it is like to transform the lives of Make-A-Wish kids. You will find out that these wishes are game changers, not just for the kids . . . for the athletes themselves. Some, like record-breaking gold medalist Michael Phelps, discover the tremendous impact wish kids have had on wish granters’ perspectives, on their understanding of real strength, and on how we all want to live our lives.Sports fans will be thrilled to get an insider’s look into the deeply personal moments of their favorite superstars, and every reader will find inspiration in the amazing gift of human connection.The People's Team: An Illustrated History of the Green Bay Packers
Par Mark Beech, Austin Murphy, Peter King. 2019
The definitive, lavishly illustrated history of the Green Bay Packers, commemorating the team's 100-year anniversaryNot only are the Packers the…
only fan-owned team in any of North America&’s major pro sports leagues, but Green Bay—population 104,057—is also the smallest city with a big-time franchise. The Packers are, in other words, unlikely candidates to be pro football's preeminent team. And yet nobody in the NFL has won more championships. The story of Titletown, USA, is the greatest story in sports. Through extensive archival research and unmatched insider access to players and team officials, past and present, Mark Beech tells the first complete rags-to-riches history of the Green Bay Packers, a full chronicle of the most illustrious team in NFL history. The People&’s Team paints compelling pictures of a franchise, a town, and a fan base. No other team in pro sports is so bound to the place that gave birth to it. Here is the story of the Packers and of Green Bay—from the days of the French fur traders who settled on the shores of La Baie in the seventeenth century, to the team&’s pursuit of its fourteenth NFL championship. Featuring essays by Peter King, Chuck Mercein, Austin Murphy, and David S. Neft, The People&’s Team is a must-have for fans, old and new, and the definitive illustrated history of the most important team in the NFL.The Emerald Diamond: How the Irish Transformed America's Favorite Pastime
Par Charley Rosen. 2012
“The Emerald Diamond is a must read. It is a remarkable story about the achievements of the Irish throughout the…
history of baseball in America.”-Jay P. DolanNew York Times bestselling sportswriter Charley Rosen, author of The Bullpen Diaries and More than Just a Game, delivers a one-of-a-kind instant classic perfect “for anyone who is Irish and loves baseball.” The history of the Irish in baseball is much richer than anyone realizes. From early discrimination to later domination, from Mike Kelly, a society star in the 1880s, to the managerial fame of Connie Mack (né McGillicuddy), early Irish players and managers helped shape the game of baseball in every way. From the first curveball to the first players' unions, Irishmen took America's national pastime and made it their own, turning it into the glorious game we know today, as more recent players have kept alive the Irish tradition of setting records.A wild, fun, fact-filled celebration of the Irish in baseball, The Emerald Diamond intersperses interviews with current players with tales of such players as Dan Brouthers, who at 6'2" and well over 200 pounds, was the game's home-run king until Babe Ruth came along; and includes lively anecdotes about such colorfully nicknamed ballplayers. Just a few of the great Irish athletes featured as well are Mickey Cochrane (for whom Mickey Mantle was named); Charles Comiskey; Ed Walsh, the last pitcher to win 40 games in a single season; and Ed Delahanty, whose prodigious life and mysterious death continue to be a source of intrigue. With decade-by-decade profiles of exciting Irish figures on the field and off, The Emerald Diamond also offers important discussion on cultural and political themes relevant to their times.