MLB Titles

Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris are forever intertwined in baseball history thanks to the unforgettable 1961 season, when the two Yankee icons spurred each other to new heights in pursuit of Babe Ruth's home run record. History has largely overlooked the bond between the two men not as titans of their sport, but as people. Guided by Tony Castro, bestselling author and foremost chronicler of Mantle, readers will journey into history, from the Yankees' blockbuster trade for Maris, whose acquisition re-ignited Mantle's career after a horrendous 1959 season, to the heroics of 1961 and far beyond. This dual biography is a thoroughly researched, emotionally gripping portrait that brings Yankees lore alive.

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. 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.

In 1995, Cleveland rocked. With Montell Jordan's "This Is How We Do It," blaring in the locker room, the Indians racked up 100 wins in a strike-shortened season and reached the World Series for the first time in 41 years. Fans were on a first-name basis with the stars that lit up the city: Omar, Manny, The Thomeinator, A.B.Cleveland Rocked is the complete story of the team that brought sellout crowds and walk-off wins to the corner of Carnegie and Ontario. Author Zack Meisel traces the roots of the pennant winner, from trading All-Star Joe Carter for Sandy Alomar and Carlos Baerga in 1989 to the campaign to build a new stadium. Meisel introduces readers to a cast of characters that larger-than-life personalities, including Belle, Thome, Kenny Lofton, Eddie Murray, and manager Mike Hargrove, who managed to keep the clubhouse at peace. Thrilling come-from-behind wins jump off the page as the Indians race toward clinching the division. Then Meisel details the Indians' October to Remember, from thrilling playoff triumphs over Boston and Seattle to the first World Series games in Cleveland since the days of Bob Feller. Cleveland Rocked offers the story of a team that brought baseball back in Northeast Ohio.

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.

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.

A fascinating look inside the inner sanctum of the Steinbrenner era Yankees No team in American sports has as storied a history as the New York Yankees, winners of 27 World Series. As the strength and conditioning coach for the Yankees for parts of three decades, Jeff Mangold?was firmly imbedded ?in building the dynasty of the 1990s and 2000s.? In?Power and Pinstripes, Mangold shares priceless stories from his 14 seasons behind the scenes in the Bronx. Mangold had a front-row seat to the daily drama of George Steinbrenner's revolving door of managers—Yogi Berra, Billy Martin, and Lou Piniella—in the 1980s. Then, when he returned to the Yankees in 1998, he joined a juggernaut of a team and was tasked with maintaining the health of a star-studded roster including the Core Four of Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Andy?Pettitte, and Mariano Rivera.? Mangold shares personal tales of finding his way with stars like Dave Winfield and Ron Guidry, motivating personalities like David Wells, and facing a thorny challenge that later became a scandal when Roger Clemens and other Yankees arrived at?spring training with their own personal strength coaches in tow.? Yankees fans will not want to miss this unique perspective on a the franchise during one of baseball's most exciting and controversial eras.

11 in '11 is a thoroughly reported chronicle of an unparalleled season, packed with interviews with key players, team executives, broadcasters, and more Of the 11 World Series titles the St. Louis Cardinals have won in their formidable history, 2011's victory stands out as something different, something magical. It was the work of a team that seemingly had no business even playing in October yet one that stared down defeat over and over again, refusing to back down until the trophy was theirs.? St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Benjamin Hochman offers on-the-ground and behind-the-scenes perspective as he brings to life a cast of characters including Albert Pujols in his final year as a Card, team ace Chris Carpenter, Yadier Molina showing his might both behind and at the plate, and of course the unlikely hero David Freese.  Go inside the front office to see how this roster was constructed; relive the blistering final stretch of the regular season which saw the team winning 20 of its last 28 games; experience the palpable energy of Busch Stadium during Game 6, where Hochman watched enthralled as a fan. This is the definitive account of a championship run no Cardinals fan will ever forget. 

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.

For the modern major league team, player evaluation is a complex, multi-pronged, high-tech pursuit. But far from becoming obsolete in this environment?—as Michael Lewis' Moneyball once forecast?—the role of the scout in today's game has evolved and even expanded. Rather than being the antithesis of a data-driven approach, scouting now represents an essential analytical component in a team's arsenal.  Future Value is a thorough dive into the world of the contemporary scout—a world with its own language, methods, metrics, and madness. From rural high schools to elite amateur showcases, from the back fields of spring training to major league draft rooms, FanGraphs' Eric Longenhagen and ESPN's Kiley McDaniel break down the key systems and techniques used to assess talent. It's a process that has moved beyond the quintessential stopwatches and radar guns to include statistical models, countless measurable indicators, and a broader international reach. Practical and probing, discussing wide-ranging topics from tool grades to front office politics, this is an illuminating exploration of how to watch baseball and see the future.

Mike Puma of the New York Post provides insight into the team's inner sanctum as only he can The New York Mets are one of the most historic teams in Major League Baseball, with superstars over the years including Jacob deGrom, Mike Piazza, David Wright, and Tom Seaver. Aided by dozens of new, exclusive interviews, readers will gain the perspective of players, coaches, and personnel from Mets history in moments of greatness as well as defeat, making for a keepsake no fan will want to miss. Few fan bases display as much rabid devotion to their team as the New York Mets', win or lose. That spirit is celebrated in this colorful collection of stories about the Lovable Losers.   The If These Walls Could Talk series is a one-of-a-kind, insider's look into the great moments, the lowlights, and everything in between in your team's history. Other New York titles include: •If These Walls Could Talk: New York Giants •If These Walls Could Talk: New York Yankees •If These Walls Could Talk: New York Jets 

The deeply personal story of a friendship between two teammates, and of a human bond which ultimately transcends the game itself. As back-to-back No. 1 draft picks for the New York Yankees, Ron Blomberg and Thurman Munson made for an odd couple. One was a good-looking, gregarious kid from Atlanta who cheerfully talked anyone's ear off at the slightest provocation; the other was a dumpy, grumpy dude from the Midwest rust belt who was about as fond of making idle chit-chat as he was of shaving.  Despite the surface differences, the two men would form a close attachment as they ignited a youth movement with the 1970s Yankees. Now, over 40 years after Munson's shocking death in a plane crash at age 32, Blomberg opens up to author Dan Epstein about the beloved Yankees captain in an extraordinary memoir that reaches far beyond baseball.? By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, The Captain & Me shares tales of clubhouse hijinks during the infamous Bronx Zoo era, adventures on the road, and even rubbing shoulders with mobsters. Blomberg also offers a fascinating glimpse into baseball history, including the first-ever strike and lockout, the escalation of the Yankees–Red Sox rivalry, and the start of full-scale free agency.  This illuminating remembrance of Munson is filled with untold stories about his analytical-yet-hard-nosed approach to baseball, as well as his kindness and generosity off the field. 

With a New Afterword: THE INSIDE STORY OF WHAT WENT WRONG AFTER 2016!  David Kaplan of CSN Chicago and ESPN Radio goes behind the scenes with the Cubs and their front office, walking the steps of their captivating rise to becoming 2016 World Series champions On October 12, 2011, Theo Epstein became the new Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations, flipping a switch on the lovable-loser franchise and initiating a plan to accomplish in Chicago what he'd succeeded in as general manager of the Boston Red Sox: ending a World Series drought.  It would require a complete team tear-down and turnover, a new farm system foundation of young talent which Epstein and Cubs GM Jed Hoyer gradually added to with gutsy trades and timely signings. After years of rebuilding, Epstein's vision was realized in the form of one of the most exciting and talented teams in baseball, led by heavyweights like Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant, as well as visionaries like manager Joe Maddon.  Then the challenge became making the success last.Featuring exclusive interviews with Epstein, owner Tom Ricketts, and other team insiders, this is the definitive account of modern baseball on the North Side. 

The Big 50: Chicago Cubs is an extensive and dynamic look at the 50 top moments and figures that make the Cubs the Cubs The Big 50: Chicago Cubs is an extensive and dynamic look at the 50 top moments and figures that make the Cubs the Cubs. Longtime MLB scribe Carrie Muskat recounts the living history of the team. Learn about and revisit the remarkable stories, featuring greats like Ernie Banks, Ryne Sandberg, Ron Santo, Anthony Rizzo, and more. With dozens of interviews compiled over years of intimate access to the team, this is the perfect primer for new Cubs fans and an essential addition to a seasoned fan's collection. The Big 50 series take a deep dive into the fifty best figures and historical moments that make a team. Other Big 50 titles on Chicago sports include: •The Big 50: Chicago Bears •The Big 50: Chicago Blackhawks 

Having established themselves as perennial contenders, expectations heading into 2020 were sky high for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Dave Roberts' squad embraced those expectations in a season like no other, winning the World Series for the first time since 1988. Anchored by stars like Clayton Kershaw, Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger, the Dodgers demonstrated relentless focus on the path to victory, claiming their 8th straight division title while adapting to new norms amid a global pandemic. Through insightful stories from the Los Angeles Daily News and dynamic photos, relive all the key moments and storylines, including dominant postseason performances against the Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres, the euphoric NLCS Game 7 victory over the Atlanta Braves and finally raising the trophy in Arlington after defeating the Tampa Bay Rays. This commemorative book also features in-depth profiles on popular figures like Kershaw, Betts, Bellinger, Corey Seager, A.J. Pollock and more.

Boasting a mix of homegrown talent and All-Star signings, the 2009 Yankees were composed of the very best. With the previous season's failed playoff bid still as fresh as the paint job on the new Yankee Stadium, a 27th championship flag represented the singular objective of a squad that ultimately carved out a unique spot among the Yankees' pantheon of World Series teams. It was the last title for the "Core Four"—Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, and Andy Pettitte—who would each retire over the course of the next five years. It was the lone title for Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, A.J. Burnett, and Nick Swisher, each of whom saw memorable peaks and valleys during their time in the Bronx. For CC Sabathia and Brett Gardner, it was their first championship, though the veterans were still in pinstripes as the latest generation of Yankees arrived for what they hope will be the next dynasty. Mission 27 is a thoroughly reported chronicle of an unforgettable season, packed with interviews with the full cast of key players, team executives, broadcasters, and more.