Titles by Phil Pepe

Reflecting on an outstanding 19-year major-league career, this autobiography chronicles baseball great Ken Griffey, beginning with his days just out of high school. The account relates Griffey's decision to venture into the baseball business, documenting his time as a scout, coach, and manager along with his accomplishments as a father, raising two other major league ballplayers: Craig, who played briefly for the Seattle Mariners, and future Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. Capturing the subject's time with the Big Red Machine, this record details his days playing alongside Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, and Pete Rose, highlighting the Reds' two consecutive world championships in 1975 and 1976. Finally, the ultimate thrill of Griffey's career is featured: playing in the same outfield in 1990 with his son, Ken Griffey Jr., during the game where they hit back-to-back home runs—the only father-son combination to do so in the history of Major League Baseball. Filled with amusing anecdotes and behind-the-scenes glimpses of what it's like when baseball really does run in the family, this is a sports memoir unlike any other.

<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>Tracing the careers of four instrumental players who turned around the Yankees ball club, this book shares behind-the-scenes stories from their early days together in the minors through the 2013 season, and follows them on their majestic ride to the top of the baseball world. At a time when the New York Yankees were in free fall, having failed to win a World Series in 17 years and had not played in one in 14 years—the Bronx Bombers’ longest drought since before the days of Babe Ruth—along came four young players whose powerful impact returned the franchise to its former glory. They were a diverse group from different parts of the globe: Mariano Rivera, a right-handed pitcher from Panama, who was destined to become the all-time record holder in saves and baseball’s greatest closer; Derek Jeter, a shortstop raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan, who would become the first Yankee to accumulate 3,000 hits; Jorge Posada, an infielder-turned-catcher from Puerto Rico, who would hit more home runs than any Yankees catcher except the legendary Hall of Famer Yogi Berra; and Andy Pettitte, a left-handed pitcher born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who would win more postseason games than any player in baseball history. Together they formed the “Core Four,” and would go on to play as teammates for 13 seasons during which time they would help the Yankees advance to the postseason 12 times, win the American League pennant seven times, and take home five World Series trophies. This book follows these phenoms from the minor leagues to the present, detailing their significant contributions to a winning major league franchise. This 2014 edition updates readers on Jeter’s struggles with injuries and recovery, Rivera’s final season, and Pettitte’s and Jeter’s plans moving forward.

Tracing the careers of four instrumental players who turned around the Yankees ball club, this book shares behind-the-scenes stories from their early days together in the minors through the 2012 season, and follows them on their majestic ride to the top of the baseball world. At a time when the New York Yankees were in free fall, having failed to win a World Series in 17 years and had not played in one in 14 years—the Bronx Bombers’ longest drought since before the days of Babe Ruth—along came four young players whose powerful impact returned the franchise to its former glory. They were a diverse group from different parts of the globe: Mariano Rivera, a right-handed pitcher from Panama, who was destined to become the all-time record holder in saves and baseball’s greatest closer; Derek Jeter, a shortstop raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan, who would become the first Yankee to accumulate 3,000 hits; Jorge Posada, an infielder-turned-catcher from Puerto Rico, who would hit more home runs than any Yankees catcher except the legendary Hall of Famer Yogi Berra; and Andy Pettitte, a left-handed pitcher born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who would win more postseason games than any player in baseball history. Together they formed the “Core Four,” and would go on to play as teammates for 13 seasons during which time they would help the Yankees advance to the postseason 12 times, win the American League pennant seven times, and take home five World Series trophies. This book follows these phenoms from the minor leagues to the present, detailing their significant contributions to a winning major league franchise.

In Put It In the Book, New York Mets broadcaster and lifelong fan Howie Rose takes fans behind the microphone, into the locker rooms, and through the last 50 years of Mets baseball. Millions of fans have listened to Rose’s trademark calls over the years, and now, with his patented honesty and humor, he gives a firsthand account of the Amazins’—from the greatness of Tom Seaver to Johan Santana’s recent no-no. In addition to a personalized look at the rich history of the of the team, this work also features Rose’s thoughts and opinions on the current Mets team and roster and his thoughts on the future of the club.

Covering nearly 130 years of the team’s history, former Phillies great and current color commentator Gary Matthews recounts the greatest Phillies and their contributions to the sport of baseball. From Robin Roberts and the Whiz Kids of the 1950s to the world champion 2008 roster, this work includes a ranking of the top five Phillies at each position, rare archival photos, and detailed biographies of the franchise’s greatest players. With insights from a uniquely qualified baseball insider, this one of a kind book is the ultimate reference for any baseball fan or Phillies fanatic.

Before Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, and Sammy Sosa, there was Roger Maris, the reluctant home run king who electrified the baseball world with one of the most unforgettable seasons the sport has ever known. Born in Hibbing, Minnesota, and raised in Fargo, North Dakota, Maris was a small-town boy who unwillingly became a New York Yankee when he was traded by the Kansas City Athletics. Almost immediately, he was thrust into the glare of the big-city lights and found himself pursuing one of the most prestigious and most celebrated of all baseball records: Babe Ruth's single-season home run mark of 60, set in 1927. Thirty-four years later, Maris joylessly was drawn into the chase and found himself the eye in a storm of controversy. He became the center of attention he never sought and the recipient of a celebrity he didn't want. As a young sportswriter, Phil Pepe joined the fray on August 2, when he took over as the Yankees beat writer for the New York World-Telegram & Sun, and he covered Maris' race for the record to the very end. Here is his firsthand account of that historic home run challenge and the man that conquered it.

<DIV>Former Detroit player Lance Parrish selects the top five Tigers of all time at each position and ranks them in this subjective compendium. Fans may disagree, but they are certain to find his choices interesting, his reasoning for the selections fascinating, and the anecdotes he draws from his years as a Tiger amusing and entertaining. Featured players include Ty Cobb, Harry Heilmann, Charlie Gehringer, Hank Greenberg, George Kell, Willie Horton, and Alan Trammel.</DIV>

Rusty Staub, a former Met with an up-close and personal view of many of the team's strongest players, recalls every year of the Met's history and selects the all-time greatest players in this account. Featured players and managers include Gary Carter, Mike Piazza, Bud Harrelson, Jose Reyes, Tom Seaver, Dwight Gooden, Gil Hodges, and Davey Johnson.

In his new book, Still a Kid at Heart, written with longtime New York baseball writer Phil Pepe, Carter writes of his love for the game, the personalities on and off the field who have enriched his life, and the years since his retirement. His experiences serve as a primer for all professional athletes who face the dilemma of what to do after the cheering subsided. Readers gain incisive insights into the game from the unique perspective of a catcher in this revealing and intimate portrayal of his life as a ballplayer and beyond.

With more than 100 years to choose from, longtime Yankee sportswriter Phil Pepe narrows down the top 40 most fantastic moments in Yankee baseball. From the magical bat of Babe Ruth to the 26 World Series titles, there is no question that the Yankees are in a league of their own. Some of the famous and infamous moments highlighted in the book include Ron Guidry’s 260 strikeout season; Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak; perfect games by Don Larsen, David Wells, and David Cone; and the infamous wife swap between Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich. An extraordinary celebration of Yankee history, fans will have the opportunity to reminisce about these miraculous moments for years to come.

Baseball great Bobby Thomson selects his all-time Giants team—five players at each position plus the top five managers—covering the team's more than 100-year history in two cities, New York and San Francisco.

Monte Irvin, a New York Giants star player who got his start in the Negro Leagues, pays homage to baseball's unsung heroes and long-forgotten stars by selecting the top five players at each position and the top five managers, owners, pioneers, or organizers from the Negro Leagues.

In Catfish, Yaz, and Hammerin' Hank, sportswriter Phil Pepe talks to the stars of the day about their fondest memories and their greatest highlights from an era gone by. The spirit of the day is nostalgically captured in Pepe's priceless interviews and through scores of archival photographs. This book proves to be as enjoyable as the era it so thoroughly depicts.

Duke Snider, former Dodgers great and Hall of Famer who played on both coasts, selects the top five players at each position and the top five Dodgers managers in this exciting compilation. Evoking cherished memories of one of the richest histories in sports and spotlighting the luminescent talent that has worn Dodgers blue, the book includes profiles of Zach Wheat, Burleigh Grimes, Jackie Robinson, Sandy Koufax, Gil Hodges, Steve Garvey, and Fernando Valenzuela.

<DIV>Whitey Ford, a Hall of Fame pitcher with the Yankees for 16 seasons, gives unique insight and takes on the challenge of selecting the five best players at each position in the franchise&#39;s history, which includes 26 World Series championships and 36 American League pennants&#8212;a legacy&#160;no other&#160;team comes close to achieving. Featured players include Joe DiMaggio, Phil Rizzuto, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Johnny Mize, and Enos Slaughter.</DIV>