Biographies Titles

Nobody's baseball story is like Roy Halladay's.He was born and raised to be a superstar. He was a first-round draft pick in 1995. He nearly threw a no-hitter in his second big-league start in 1998. But two years later, Halladay suffered arguably the worst season by any pitcher in baseball history. He was months away from being out of the game.Hall of Fame pitchers do not struggle like that. But Halladay vowed to change. He altered his pitching mechanics and rewired his brain to become one of the greatest pitchers of all time. How did Doc do it? Doc: The Life of Roy Halladay tells the remarkable story; based on more than 100 interviews with Halladay's family, friends, managers, coaches, teammates, and competitors, including extensive interviews with his wife, Brandy; comprehensive archival research; and previously unpublished commentary from Halladay himself. Doc not only tells the story of Halladay's illustrious baseball career in Toronto and Philadelphia, but his hard-driven adolescence, his lifelong personal struggles, and his motivation to pay forward the knowledge and philosophies that helped him achieve baseball greatness before his tragic death in 2017.This essential biography is a testimonial for baseball players and pitchers from high school to the big leagues still searching for their path to excellence, like Halladay. It's also a celebration and a profound exploration of a generational pitcher and a beloved teammate, friend, and family man.

Anyone who knows Jay Horwitz knows he loves stories, and has a wealth of them to share. As the beloved, longtime PR director for the New York Mets, he has witnessed and quietly shaped some of the most memorable moments in team history, becoming a trusted friend and mentor to generations of players, from Darryl Strawberry to Jacob deGrom. In this fascinating memoir, Horwitz tells the unlikely story of a childhood dream come true, offering an unparalleled insider's perspective on four dynamic and unpredictable decades of Mets baseball. Featuring reflections and anecdotes only Horwitz can tell, on subjects ranging from clubhouse hijinks, to the chaotic New York media scene, to navigating moments of greatness and defeat, Mr. Met is a remarkable behind-the-scenes ride that fans will not want to miss.

For a generation of American League baseball fans, Rod Carew was the definition of "batting champion." An insecure boy from Panama raised by a brutal father, Carew ascended to baseball stardom, tormenting pitchers with a smooth swing from a crouched stance and winning seven batting titles on his way to the Hall of Fame. It wasn't until he lost his beautiful 17-year-old daughter to an aggressive and rare form of leukemia that Carew had to re-gather himself and find new purpose outside of baseball. Then he was struck with a near-fatal heart attack and discovered that the heart transplant he received came from a 29-year-old pro football player whom he happened to have met years before. Now the parents of Konrad Reuland listen to their son's heart beating strong in Carew's chest, and Carew works to honor his daughter's wish that he "make a difference." Carew uses his own journey to show readers that regardless of what you may be facing–heart disease, cancer, divorce, an abusive relationship, premature retirement–you can persist and grow with the kind of grace, character, and determination that he learned to cultivate on the field and beyond.

Dick Bremer's distinctive baritone has served as the soundtrack of Minnesota Twins baseball for over three decades. Millions of fans have enjoyed Bremer's observations, insight, and magical storytelling on television broadcasts. Now, in this striking memoir, the Minnesota native and lifelong Twins fan takes fans behind the mic, into the clubhouse, and beyond as only he can. Told through 108 unique anecdotes–one for each stitch in a baseball–Bremer weaves the tale of a lifetime, from childhood memories of the ballfield in remote Dumont, Minnesota, to his early radio days as the "Duke in the Dark," to champagne soaked clubhouses in 1987 and 1991, and his encounters with Twins legends ranging from Calvin Griffith and Harmon Killebrew, to Kirby Puckett and Kent Hrbek, to Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau. Game Used gives fans a rare seat alongside Bremer and his broadcast partners, including Killebrew, Bert Blyleven, Jack Morris, Jim Kaat, Tom Kelly, and other Twins legends.

Tony Parker is nothing short of a San Antonio legend, and his number 9 hangs high in the rafters as a symbol of teamwork, longevity, and tenacious talent. For the first time in the English language, the beloved Spurs point guard opens up about his life and career in the NBA, on the international stage, and beyond. This candid, conversational memoir takes fans on a whirlwind tour which includes Parker's early life in France, his four NBA championships with the Spurs, and countless memorable interactions with luminaries like Gregg Popovich and Tim Duncan. It also includes insights on more personal matters and unique challenges Parker faced. Featuring photos from Parker's personal collection, this is an essential read for all basketball fans.

A young black boy, legally blind in one eye, from a hard-working family in the poorest section of Washington, D.C., leaps to the pinnacle of his sport: the NBA Hall of Fame. A rookie bank teller rises to become one of the nation's most celebrated black business leaders. A once-reluctant political neophyte answers the call to become mayor of America's most troubled city, and he establishes a mentoring program for African-American boys that serves as a model for the nation. All of these stories belong to Dave Bing. In Attacking the Rim, Bing shares this multifaceted personal saga with rare combination of modesty, moxie and powerful self-belief. Reflecting on his playing days with the Detroit Pistons, Washington Bullets, and Boston Celtics, Bing takes readers inside the exciting world of pro basketball at the moment when sensational athletes were turning a low-budget game into a high-powered, multi-million dollar entertainment spectacle. From inside the Detroit mayor's office, he offers a first-hand look at the city's plight, including intractable debt and corruption, massive unemployment, woeful city services and infrastructure, and the daily choices between the lesser of evils.

Derrick Rose achieved an improbable childhood dream: being selected first overall in the NBA draft by his hometown Chicago Bulls. The point guard was a phenom, winning the Rookie of the Year award and electrifying fans around the world. In 2011, he became the youngest MVP in league history. Rarely had a bond between a player and fans been so strong, as the city wrapped its arms around the homegrown hero. Six years and four knee surgeries later, his career was seemingly on the brink of collapse. But Rose never believed his struggles on and off the court were anything other than temporary setbacks. I'll Show You is an honest, intimate conversation with one of the world's most popular athletes, a star whose on-court brilliance is matched only by his aversion to the spotlight. Rose opens himself up in a document that is as unflinching—and at times as uncomfortable—as a personal diary. Detailing his childhood spent in one of his city's most dangerous neighborhoods; his relationships with both opponents and teammates; the pain and controversies surrounding his career-altering injuries; his complicated relationship to fame and fortune; and his rise, fall, and reemergence as the player LeBron James says is "still a superhero," I'll Show You is one of the most candid and surprising autobiographies of a modern-day superstar ever written.

When Eddie Olczyk looks at his life, he can't believe how many times he's beaten the odds. At age sixteen, he was selected for the 1984 U.S. Olympic hockey team, and four months after the competition ended he was drafted in the first round by his hometown Chicago Blackhawks. He played alongside Mario Lemieux and Mark Messier and saw his name engraved on the Stanley Cup. He's brought hockey into American homes as one of the most recognizable voices of the sport, and he's even become a respected analyst in the world of horse racing, thanks to his talent as a bettor—Olczyk once won more than $500,000 picking the winners of six consecutive races while wagering only $168. But perhaps there is no greater example of Eddie O. beating the odds than in 2018 when he went into remission eight months after being diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer. He will readily admit that this was the greatest victory of his life. This memoir is an honest and emotional account of everything Olczyk has experienced: the sacrifices his parents made so he could pursue a career in the NHL, the joy of playing for the Hawks, the mental and physical stress involved in the life of a professional athlete, the incredible moments he's called from the broadcast booth, and the profound lessons learned while battling cancer.

Nicklas Lidstrom is nothing short of a Hockeytown deity, and his number 5 hangs high in Detroit as a symbol of leadership, longevity, and unparalleled defensive talent. The beloved Red Wings captain opens up about his life and career for the first time in the English language in this authorized biography which spans the Hall of Famer's entire NHL journey. Nicklas Lidstrom: The Pursuit of Perfection takes fans on a memorable tour which includes Lidstrom's early life in Sweden, his 20 seasons in Detroit and four Stanley Cup championships, and his taste of Olympic gold with the Tre Konor. It also includes insights on more personal matters and unique challenges Lidstrom faced as well as photos from Lidstrom's personal collection.

Millions of fans have enjoyed his infectious enthusiasm, insight, and storytelling on regular television broadcasts, through moments of triumph and defeat. Now, in this striking autobiography, the longtime broadcaster takes fans behind the mic as only he can. Emrick's love for hockey is obvious to anyone who's heard him call a game, and it's multi-layered. Tradition. The Stanley Cup chase. Suspense. Passion. Teamwork. History. Handshakes. An endless list. Yet it's the people he treasures most of all, and Doc has more than his fair share of stories from countless interactions—more than he's even been able to tell during four decades in the broadcast booth. Through both his early life and his unparalleled career, readers will meet the full cast of characters who have made their mark on the man who's voice has defined the hockey experience for so many. Equal parts riveting and hilarious, this memoir gives fans a rare seat alongside Emrick and serves as a profound ode to the sport of hockey.

As the city was rebuilding following Hurricane Katrina, Sean Payton arrived in 2006 as a relative unknown, a first-time NFL head coach tasked with resurrecting a New Orleans Saints team that had just finished 3-13. Two months after Payton was hired, the Saints signed a free agent quarterback who was cast aside by the San Diego Chargers: Drew Brees. Together, these two underdogs joined forces and transformed the Saints from laughingstock to juggernaut. Payton's bold play-calling proved the perfect match for Brees, who threw a league-leading and franchise record 4,418 passing yards as the Saints advanced to the NFC championship game. Three seasons later, the Saints were Super Bowl champions. Payton and Brees is the definitive account of how this dynamic duo transformed a team, a city, and the game of football.  

One of the most dominant big men of his era, Haywood burst onto the international scene with a revelatory performance as only a 19-year old at the infamous and divisive 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. Yet, while his basketball career was just beginning back in that summer of '68, it was just one notable moment in the extraordinary and fateful life of the big man from Silver City, Mississippi. Marc Spears of ESPN's The Undefeated and Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe tell the remarkable story of a man who was born into indentured servitude in rural Mississippi, and all of the unbelievable trials, tribulations, successes, failures, and redemptions that followed. Haywood's triumphs on the court are only part of the legend, as his winding journey off the court saw him challenge the NBA Draft entry rules and win at the Supreme Court level, run in New York City high-fashion circles in the mid-1970s with his then-wife supermodel Iman, and bottom out with alcohol and drug addiction during the infancy of the Showtime Lakers dynasty. Spears and Washburn explore how Haywood's impact was felt throughout the NBA and in society at large, culminating in Haywood's inspiring second act as an advocate for current and retired NBA players alike.

Day in, day out, Leo Carlin was a constant presence with the Philadelphia Eagles for over five decades. The longtime ticket director and front office mainstay has dedicated most of his life to creating memorable experiences for Eagles fans. He's played countless roles and has countless stories to tell as a result. A Bird's-Eye View is a fascinating, frank, in-the-room look at nearly 60 years of Eagles' history, spanning five different ownerships, 14 head coaches, so many stars, and, of course, a Super Bowl. From getting his start as a part-timer in 1960—when professional football in Philadelphia ranked a distant third in popularity to baseball and college football—to riding down Broad Street with his fellow Eagles hall of famers in the championship parade, Carlin opens up about the highlights, lowlights, and neverending hijinks that come with the territory.

For ESPN's Ryan McGee, football is a lifelong passion formed from growing up as the son of Dr. Jerry McGee, a man who wore stripes for decades as one of the most highly-decorated officials in college football history. In Sidelines and Bloodlines, Ryan McGee teams up with his father and brother to share lessons learned between the white lines, featuring a cast of characters that runs from no-name small college athletes and coaches to one-name legends such as Holtz, Paterno, Tebow, and Bo. The McGees provide a rare and often hilarious glimpse inside the lives of college officials, detailing how a love for the game convinces accomplished professionals from all walks of life to voluntarily endure ceaseless insults, public criticism, and the expressed goal of doing one's job on a very public stage in a way that will hopefully NOT draw any attention to how that job is done. From hilarious stories of brawling high school referees and making awkward small talk with George Lucas and Darth Vader at the Rose Bowl to the heart-tugging story of young sons in the stands on a Saturday as a stream profanity-laden insults directed at their father drowns out the marching band, Sidelines and Bloodlines delivers laughs, tears, and a deeper understanding of a life in stripes.

When Kirby Smart returned to his alma mater in 2016, hopes were high that he could take Georgia football to that elusive next level. Smart wasted no time putting his mark on the Bulldogs, however, making an immediate impact on recruiting and in 2017, reaching the College Football Playoff and coming within moments of a national championship. Biding his time and crafting his philosophy as a defensive coordinator under Nick Saban, Smart waited for his opportunity to return to Georgia, turning down several coaching opportunities in the meantime. Still early in his tenure, Smart has gone on to dominate recruiting on a national scale, win the SEC, reach the national championship game, and will be attacking the college football landscape for years to come.