Tales from the Team – serie

Since 1883, the Philadelphia Phillies have been up, down, and all around. Most recently, thanks to Charlie Manuel, the Phillies have become a National League powerhouse, with four NL East titles, two pennants and the 2008 World Series championship to show for it. In Tales from the Philadelphia Phillies Dugout Rich Westcott takes readers behind the scenes into the glorious, quirky, and victorious stories that make this team the legend it is.

Shirley Muldowney not only broke the gender barrier in the National Hot Rod Association in the 1970s, but she also completely rewrote the record books in Top Fuel Eliminator, drag racing’s quickest and fastest category. She was the first woman to receive a Top Fuel license from the NHRA. Between 1977 and 1982, Muldowney won three NHRA Top Fuel championships—the first female ever to win a title in any professional motorsport. She won the prestigious NHRA US Nationals in 1982 and was recently inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. By the time she retired at the end of the 2003 season, Muldowney had become one of the most recognized and celebrated race car drivers in history.Tales from a Top-Fuel Dragster is an unabashed collection of stories, anecdotes, and opinions in Muldowney’s own unvarnished style of storytelling, laced with her straightforward, take-no-prisoners approach. She has spent her entire lifetime telling it like it is, standing up to the establishment, and refusing to do anything other than in her own way. Politically correct? Hardly. Readers are encouraged to strap themselves in when she shares her many tales. It’s the whole truth and nothing but the truth according to the legendary Shirley Muldowney.

The images are forever etched in the minds of Arizona basketball fans, from Miles Simon falling to the court clutching the basketball as Arizona won its first and only NCAA title in 1997, to Lute Olson’s hair being mussed in the process, to Jason Terry sleeping in his uniform for four consecutive games in the middle of all the madness. All are indelible in Wildcats history as Arizona calmly drove the winding and bumpy road to the Final Four and beyond. Before Simon, Terry, and Olson, however, there were the likes of Sean Elliott, Steve Kerr, Fred Enke, and Pop McKale—all pivotal figures in Arizona’s hoops history. There were also Fred Snowden, Mo and Stewart Udall, and a host of others who helped bring prominence to a school looking for respect first in the Southwest, and then in the rest of the nation. Arizona’s rise has made them one of television’s must-see teams and one of the country’s top winning programs over the past 25 years.In Tales from the Arizona Wildcats Locker Room, author Steve Rivera takes readers back to the time when James Pierce wanted to be more of a movie idol than a coach. They will learn about the troubled times of the 1950s and ’60s, when racial tensions were high, and how Arizona’s first black player, Hadie Redd, dealt with them. Rivera also details Arizona’s participation in the Border Conference, its switch to the Western Athletic Conference, and its current dominance of the Pacific-10 Conference. This book is sure to be a must-have for any true Arizona fan.

From the club’s inception in the late ’70s to winning the division for the first time in the ’80s, Joe Carter’s epic home run, the two World Series titles in the early ’90s, the reign of Roy Halladay, and everything in between, the Blue Jays have continued to build a storied history as one of baseball’s most exciting teams. In Tales from the Toronto Blue Jays Dugout, Jim Prime, who has written several books on the AL East rival Boston Red Sox, captures all of the best moments in Blue Jays history, from the most thrilling to the most humorous, and so much more. Stories of players and coaches from both on and off the field can be found here, including tales of All-Stars Dave Stieb and Carlos Delgado; Hall of Famers Dave Winfield, Rickey Henderson, and Roberto Alomar; and many more memorable Blue Jays, past and present.It’s all here, in the latest addition to the Tales From series, the perfect gift for any fan of the only current Major League Baseball team playing in Canada!Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports—books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team.Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

From the club’s inception in the late ’70s to winning the division for the first time in the ’80s, Joe Carter’s epic home run, the two World Series titles in the early ’90s, the reign of Roy Halladay, Josh Donaldson’s MVP season, and everything in between, the Blue Jays have continued to build a storied history as one of baseball’s most exciting teams. In Tales from the Toronto Blue Jays Dugout, Jim Prime captures all of the best moments in Blue Jays history, from the most thrilling to the most humorous, and so much more. Stories of players and coaches from both on and off the field can be found here, including tales of All-Stars Dave Stieb and Carlos Delgado, Hall of Famers Dave Winfield, Rickey Henderson, and Roberto Alomar, and many more memorable Blue Jays, past and present.It’s all here, in the latest addition to the Tales From series, the perfect gift for any fan of the only current Major League Baseball team playing in Canada!

Meet Jaromir Jagr, Sidney Crosby, Mario Lemieux, and the Pittsburgh Penguins, the wildest, hockey team in North America. If Penguins fans are not shedding tears of sadness, they are crying for joy or simply laughing so hard they cannot stop.No franchise has survived more near-death experiences than this one, which twice went bankrupt and many times escaped the threat of relocation. In 1975, things were so tough that players had their postgame oranges taken away.Nevertheless, they have persevered. Known across the league as lovable losers for its first 24 years, the team began the climb to the top in the 1990s, winning the Stanley Cup twice in that decade and again in 2009 and 2016.In Tales from the Pittsburgh Penguins Locker Room, sportswriter Joe Starkey takes fans inside the locker rooms, onto the team buses (including the one defenseman Bryan “Bugsy” Watson hijacked), and behind the personalities that have shaped Penguins hockey since 1967.

“I love my ducks.”—Ahmad RashadA collection of the best stories about Oregon Ducks football, updated through the 2011 Championship game.Tales from the Oregon Ducks Sideline takes readers on a fun-filled trip through Oregon's gridiron history. Author Brian Libby brings Duck fans out to the 50-yard line and into the locker room as he tells colorful tales about the Oregon football program, from its start in 1894 to today, culminating in the hard-fought BCS Championship game against Auburn in January 2011. Chapters include:Webfoots in Leather Helmets (1894-1950)Brooks the Maverick (1977-1988)Back in Bowls (1989-1995)Bellotti Begins (1995-1998)Captain Comebacks Adventures (1999-2001)And much more.This is reading for every Oregon fan who loves their football and their Ducks!

The most memorable stories from one of baseball’s most memorable teams. Led by manager Casey Stengel, the team of Marv Thorneberry, Don Zimmer, Choo Choo Coleman, Al Jackson launched the Mets in a way no one would have expected but everyone wants to remember.Tales from the 1962 New York Mets Dugout chronicles the adventures, mishaps, and unforgettable stories as the New York Mets burst onto the baseball scene. From the team’s first win, in its 10th game of the season, to its last loss, which ended with the Mets grounding into a triple play, Tales from the 1962 New York Mets Dugout recaptures that spectacle of a season, with stories from those who lost and lived to tell the tale. Chapters include:Birth of the MetsPutting a Team TogetherWhere to PlaySpring TrainingBack to New YorkThe First Week, the First WinThe Losing StreakWhere Are They NowAnd more!A must-read book for any Mets fan, for any baseball fan, for every New Yorker!

Tom Kelly, the legendary signature voice of USC sports for nearly five decades, combines with coauthor Tom Hoffarth of the Daily News of Los Angeles to take Trojan fans on a journey of memories and previously untold anecdotes from and about many of the great coaches, players, teams, and games in USC football history, as well as other sports. His story in Southern California starts with the recommendation of Jack Buck that he be hired as Chick Hearn’s color man on USC football and basketball games in 1961. During Kelly’s forty-plus year run, the Trojans boasted five Heisman Trophy winners, won five national championships, and played in 14 Rose Bowls and 24 overall bowl games. Kelly, who won five Golden Mike Awards and was named California’s Sportscaster of the Year three times, was inducted into USC’s Hall of Fame. His stories and anecdotes will become a must-read for all Trojan fans.

When most sports fans hear the stat 3,000, they immediately turn to baseball. But for those fans whose breath comes out in frosty puffs, and who bleed ice and snow, 3,000 can only mean one thing—the glory of Montreal Canadiens hockey. The “Original One” of the “Original Six,” the Montreal Canadiens hockey team is practically synonymous with superlative: The most Stanley Cup championship victories, with 24? The Montreal Canadiens. The highest number of regular-season wins? The Montreal Canadiens. The oldest active franchise in the NHL? The Montreal Canadiens.Now the hundred-plus years of Canadiens triumphs, tragedies, and times like no other are captured in Robert Lefebvre’s Tales from the Montreal Canadiens Locker Room. In this unique compendium, Lefebvre brings to life both the history and the anecdotes of this incredible franchise. Stories of Maurice “Rocket” Richard’s incredible skills on the ice are paired side by side with locker room yarns and off-the-ice tales of Jean Beliveau, Dickie Moore, Serge Savard, Guy Lapointe, Patrick Roy, and more. With humor, wit, and a lot of adrenaline, Robert Lefebvre has compiled a collection of Montreal Canadiens stories sure to please any hockey fan.

Many people may not know that Boston College’s most embarrassing football defeat may have saved the lives of hundreds of Eagles fans. They also may not know that Doug Flutie failed to see a wide-open receiver and instead heaved the ball to an apparently well-covered Gerard Phelan to complete the “Miracle in Miami.” The stories behind those little-known facts and many more are contained in Tales from the Boston College Sideline, an anecdotal history of Boston College football. Author Reid Oslin, who served as Boston College’s sports information director for nearly a quarter of a century, has collected scores of stories about the many accomplishments—and occasional downfalls—of the Boston College Eagles. Material from the University Archives, dozens of personal interviews, and the author’s own up-close recollections will make the newly revised Tales from the Boston College Sideline a valuable resource—as well as enjoyable history—for any BC fan.

Calling all Tribe fans! This massive collection captures the glory of Indians baseball both on the field and off with tales of Robbie Alomar, Len Barker, Rico Carty, Bob Feller, Ray Fosse, Ken Harrelson, Orel Hershiser, Phil Niekro, Satchel Paige, Gaylord Perry, and more.In this one-of-a-kind compendium of anecdotes from players, managers, and beat writers, Russell Schneider captures all the magic and passion of Cleveland Indians baseball. Amazing Tales from the Cleveland Indians Dugout is a colorful journey through the history of the franchise. Included are the best memories and stories in the players’ and managers’ own words, as found in Schneider’s Tales from the Tribe Dugout and More Tales from the Tribe Dugout.Within these pages, fans will chafe at the rivalries, cheer the wins, and challenge the losses both on the road and at home. Max Alvis reveals his most embarrassing moment on the field, Mickey Cochrane orders Harry Eisenstat to intentionally bean a batter, and Doc Edwards groans in agony during the game in which he finally figures out Cal Ripken’s signals to the outfield (the Indians scored ten runs by knowing which pitch was coming and still managed to lose). Featured players include the Alomar brothers, Lou Boudreau, Orel Hershiser, Ralph Kiner, Minnie Minoso, Omar Vizquel, and many other Tribe legends.This tantalizing offering from Indians expert Russell Schneider will provide hours of entertainment for Indians and baseball fans alike.

For 33 years, Bobby Bowden was the heart and soul of Florida State football. Now Seminoles fans of every generation will get to relive the glory and passion of Florida’s winningest coach in this edition of Tales from the Florida State Seminoles Sideline. In this gripping narrative, Bobby Bowden and Steve Ellis bring readers right up to the sideline to experience pivotal moments in Florida’s football history. From Bowden’s first winning season to the national championship victories in 1993 and 1999, into the new millennium and beyond, Tales from the Florida State Seminoles Sideline has it all. Bowden relives the pride and competition he felt as he faced his son in the famous Bowden Bowls, and shares his innermost thoughts as he revolutionized collegiate sports. Without a doubt, this is a must-have for any Seminoles fan.

By the end of 1966, the Boston Red Sox were a team in serious trouble. The Red Sox had not won a pennant in twenty years and had not posted a winning record in eight. Pampered by their benevolent owner, Tom Yawkey, the Red Sox had developed a reputation as a team that cared more about having a good time than winning baseball games. The "Gold Sox" (or "Jersey Street Jesters") were sometimes playing before fewer than 1,000 fans at Fenway Park. Yawkey, disillusioned, began seriously considering selling the team or moving the franchise to another city.Then, in 1967, a brash rookie manager named Dick Williams took charge of a hungry, but very young and inexperienced team that did not know how to win. A strict disciplinarian, Williams had no tolerance for nonsense, and he taught the Red Sox how to play the game right. Yet, when he predicted that the Red Sox would win more games than they'd lose in 1967, no one took him seriously. The Red Sox forged a 10-game, midseason winning streak. Adopting the theme song from the hit Broadway musical, Man of La Mancha, the 1967 Red Sox season became "The Impossible Dream." The fans grew excited again and started flocking to Fenway Park or tuning their radios to the broadcasts of the games. Over the season's final six weeks, the Red Sox never led or trailed by more than 1 1/2 games. Three teams were still in the pennant race during their final game. When that day was over, the Red Sox had become the first and only team in major-league history to rise from ninth place to league champion.The Red Sox remain indebted to the 1967 champions, and they will be indebted forever. Rico Petrocelli, one of Boston's most beloved athletes and a twenty-four-year-old shortstop on that "Impossible Dream" team, recaptures the thrills of that improbable season through his unique anecdotes. In this re-release timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary that magical year, Rico chronicles both the nightmare that threatened to swallow an organization and the resurrection that would reinvigorate a team and a city that share the same heart