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Fireman
Fireman

Fireman

The Evolution of the Closer in Baseball
By Fran Zimniuch, Foreword by Lee Smith

SPORTS & RECREATION

288 Pages, 6 x 9

Formats: Trade Paper, EPUB, Mobipocket, PDF

Trade Paper, $16.95 (CA $18.95) (US $16.95)

ISBN 9781600783128

Rights: WOR

Triumph Books (Feb 2010)

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Overview

Revealing how the pitching roles in baseball have been redefined over the years, this book uses statistics, trend analysis, and interviews with front office personnel, managers, coaches, and pitchers past and present, to discuss the changing nature of the bullpen and how the current, specialized role of the closer came into being. Goose Gossage, Dennis Eckersley, Fergie Jenkins and All-Star closer Lee Smith all share their insights and own experiences as pitchers and why they were instrumental in helping to change the role of relievers during their careers. Fireman provides a true understanding of how relief pitching got to where it is today and how the closers role has been able to reshape America’s pastime. Baseball fans from every generation will not want to be with out this book.

Author Biography

Fran Zimniuch
See Author
Fran Zimniuch is an award-winning sports journalist, columnist, and author who has written for various newspapers and magazines for more than 25 years. He is the author of seven other books, including Ph-ANTASTIC! The 2008 World Champion Philadelphia Phillies. He lives in southern New Jersey. Lee Smith is a former Major League closer who was one of the most dominate players of his time. He retired with 478 saves, which is currently third all-time.

Media

Lee Smith stops by Boomer and Carton to talk Fireman and his career as a closer.
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MLB.com talks to Fran Zimniuch about Fireman and the nature of closers.
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The Milwaukee Journal Sentintel analyzes some of the closers included in Fireman.
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InStoreMag.com previews Fireman.
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Book Signings

Past Events

May
29
Lee Smith - "Fireman" ›
Ridgewood, NJ
1:00pm
May
28
Lee Smith - "Fireman" ›
New York, NY
1:00pm
Apr
13
Fran Zimniuch - "Fireman" ›
Philadelphia , PA
6:00pm
Mar
20
Fran Zimniuch - "Fireman" ›
Marlton , NJ
1:00pm

Press Releases

 

It’s the bottom of the ninth inning with the game on the line. The only thing standing in the way of victory is three outs. The closer is called upon to come into the game and get those three outs, but it wasn’t always that way.

 

Fireman: The Evolution of the Closer in Baseball by Fran Zimniuch (Foreword by Lee Smith) reveals how the pitching roles have been redefined over the years and why specialization is the key word when it comes to the pitching staff in today’s game.

 

There weren’t always closers or set-up men or middle relievers. In fact, there was a time when starting pitchers were expected to complete most of the games they started, but that is no longer the case and Fireman examines exactly why.

 

Using statistics, trend analysis, and interviews with front office personnel, managers, coaches, and pitchers past and present,author Fran Zimniuch discusses the changing nature of the bullpen and how the current, specialized role of the closer came into being.

 

Goose Gossage, Dennis Eckersley, Fergie Jenkins and All-Star closer Lee Smith all share their insights and own experiences as pitchers and why they were instrumental in helping to change the role of relievers during their careers.

 

Fireman provides a true understanding of how relief pitching got to where it is today and how the closers role has been able to reshape America’s Pastime. Baseball fans from every generation will not want to be with out this book. 

About the Author:
Fran Zimniuch is an-award-winning sports journalist, columnist, and author who has written for various newspapers and magazines for more than 25 years. He is the author of seven other books, including Ph-ANTASTIC! The 2008 World Champion Philadelphia Phillies. He lives in southern New Jersey.

 

CONTACT: Natalie King, Triumph Books, 312-252-1252, n.king@triumphbooks.com

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