Baseball in the Mahoning Valley
From Pioneers to the Scrappers
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
Around the horn in the Mahoning Valley The history of baseball in Ohio's Mahoning Valley has been, to say the least, eventful. Murder, the Civil War, the hot dog, a presidential assassination and one of the deadliest known volcanic eruptions all shaped America's pastime in the Valley. African American baseball pioneer and Hall of Fame inductee Bud Fowler began his professional baseball career in the area, and the first ceremonial celebrity first pitch came from the arm of a prominent local. The area also contributed to Cleveland professional ballclubs like the enigmatic 1883 Blues and the 2016 Believeland Indians, which included numerous players from the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, a minor-league team with its own rich heritage. Digging up little-known facts about Fowler and sundry other colorful stories, local author and creator of Eastwood Field's Days Gone By exhibit PM Kovach celebrates the proud history of baseball in northeast Ohio.
Iowa State Hockey and Al Murdoch
Building a Dream
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
The Making of Iowa State Hockey During five decades, Alan Murdoch played for, coached and managed the Iowa State Cyclone hockey team, making a life's work out of his personal resourcefulness and initiative. Iowa State grew into a premier program in non-scholarship hockey, and as the network of similar teams became increasingly formalized under the auspices of the American Collegiate Hockey Association - an organization to which Murdoch was an essential contributor - the Cyclones played at a national championship-level. The trophy for which they were vying: the Murdoch Cup. By the time he left the bench, Murdoch's teams had won more than 1,000 games against opponents from around the world. Sometimes funny, sometime emotional, Murdoch and author Tim Harwood explore the story of how winning became a way of life for Cyclone Hockey.
The Cleveland Grand Prix: An American Show Jumping First
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
Home to inventors of the first automobile, airplane and professional baseball team, Ohio is also the birthplace of the first horse show jumping grand prix in the Western Hemisphere. Longtime fans can relive the exciting victories of some of the finest horses and riders in history, while newcomers can experience the Cleveland Grand Prix's glory years as the premier summer social tradition for thousands of spectators. From harness racing to fox hunting, saddle up with equestrian authority Betty Weibel as she explains how this picturesque corner of the Chagrin Valley grew into a world-class horse sport hub.
United in Rivalry
Richmond's Armstrong-maggie Walker Classic
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
Around Richmond, it�s simply known as �The Classic.� From 1938 to 1979, Armstrong High and Maggie Walker High, the only two all-black high schools within the city limits, converged on the gridiron each Thanksgiving weekend as spirited rivals. Each year
more and more people packed the old City Stadium, sometimes as many as thirty thousand, sometimes too many to count. They cheered as the players fought for field position, pride, and bragging rights, and when the game was over, they fought for equality in the
face of segregation, prejudice, and Jim Crow justice. Enjoy a view from the press box as Richmond sports historian Michael Whitt offers a summary of every Armstrong�Maggie Walker Classic and the often volatile social and political context in which they were played. The two schools may have produced one of Virginia�s greatest prep rivalries, but they also helped shape its greatest achievement in unity.
High School Football in South Carolina
Palmetto Pigskin History
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
South Carolina has a proud tradition of high school football stretching back to the 1890s, making the sport one of the most celebrated in the state. Discover how Florence High School-- sometimes dubbed the Yellow Jackets or the Golden Tornados--won the first four state titles, a record that has been tied but never broken. And learn about the aftermath of a 1922 game between Columbia and Charleston, when violent Columbia fans hurled eggs at the Charleston train as the players left for home. Through the 1960s, the sport withstood the immense pressure of integration until 157 teams ballooned into 193 by the end of the decade. John Boyanoski reveals the trophies, tears, and triumphs of the Palmetto State's time-honored football legacy.
100 Years of Baseball on St. Petersburg's Waterfront
How the Game Helped Shape a City
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
Step onto the field and bear witness to baseball's outsized impact on Florida's Sunshine City.
Northeast Ohio High School Football Rivalries
A History
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
p> Taking you behind the scenes of the big games, Vince McKee unfolds play-by-play recaps and memorable moments that will leave you wanting more until the last snap!
Northeast Ohio high school football has always been known for its drama, intensity and rivalries. For more than a century, McKinley and Massillon have met on the gridiron every fall in one of the state's most evenly matched contests. Since 1971, the St. Ignatius Wildcats yearly clash with the St. Edwards Eagles in the Cleveland Holy War. More recently, Avon and Avon Lake have kicked off a border war for bragging rights and hardware in the Silver Rail Rivalry, and Olmsted Falls and Berea-Midpark face each other in the heated Battle of Bagley Road.
Join author and founder of McKee on Sports Vince McKee for a thrilling look under the Friday night lights in the Buckeye State.
Integrating Pittsburgh Sports
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
Steel City Sports as a Catalyst for Change
Though Pittsburgh athletics had many of the same barriers to equality and racial discrimination as the rest of the nation for far too long, the city has celebrated some of the most important moments in the integration of sports in the country.
Pittsburgh was the only city with two Negro League teams, fielding such future Hall of Famers as Josh Gibson, Cool Papa Bell, Oscar Charleston and Satchel Paige.
Local high school basketball stars Chuck Cooper, Bill Nunn, Jr., Dick Ricketts, Maurice Stokes, and Jack Twyman held integrated pick-up games at local parks such as Mellon Park in Shadyside in the 1950s.
In college football, Connellsville native Jimmy Joe Robinson became the first African American player on Pitt's football team in 1945 as the school continued to integrate its squad ahead of federal desegregation.
The Association of Gentleman Pittsburgh Journalists present the compelling, heartbreaking and courageous history of how Pittsburgh's integration of sport helped lead the nation.
Hidden History of Twin Cities Sports
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
Twin Cities sports fans are well-versed in disappointment, but the last 120 years of Minneapolis and St. Paul sports have also produced forgotten milestones. Most know of the Vikings' Super Bowl woes and the Twins' record-setting postseason losing streak. Few know that the first full-time college basketball coach originated here and that a Babe Ruth home run record supplanted a local player's achievement. Fewer still know about near misses like John Wooden almost becoming the University of Minnesota basketball coach in 1948 and Billie Jean King turning down an offer to join the Twin Cities' World Team Tennis franchise. Longtime Twin Cities journalist Joel Rippel documents these subjects and other forgotten or unheralded stories.
Hunting and Fishing the Chesapeake
Unforgettable Tales of Wing and Water
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
Fish and fowl make their way to the Chesapeake Bay with the changing seasons, and sportsmen yearn for the hunt. Whether on the wing or water, stories of the chase are integral to life on the Eastern Shore. Thousands of fishermen turn out for the annual White Marlin Open, but not every boat comes close to winning the tournament's big money. Dedicated hunters brave the Bay on a cold January day to hunt waterfowl on the Pocomoke Sound. Only the most committed fishermen launch a brand-new boat from Saxis Island in the teeth of a summer storm. Join author C.L. Marshall as he weaves humorous and harrowing tales of the sporting life on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake.
Montana Duck Hunting Tales
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
Ducks across the Big Sky
To hunt ducks in Montana--where the land breathes history--is to experience extremes in geography, weather and wildlife. The breadth of mountains and prairie is unlike anywhere else in the Lower 48. Both the Central and Pacific flyways span the state's iconic wetlands, rivers and lakes. Hunting opportunities abound thanks to the state's wildlife conservation legacy on public and private lands. Hunters walk in the footsteps of plains Indians, Lewis and Clark and mountain men while looking for a spot to pitch decoys. Embark on an epic and distinct Big Sky journey with author and hunter Matt Wemple, where a moose or grizzly bear could stroll through the decoys at any time.
Hidden History of Cleveland Sports
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
Cleveland sports history goes well beyond The Shot, The Fumble, The Drive and so many other ignoble moments. Many of the city's most illustrious sports tales are long-forgotten chapters of tribulations and tragedy, of fleeting fame and enduring milestones. There are forgotten firsts, such as football's first pass and the invention of baseball's slider having ties to Cleveland. There are overshadowed tragedies like a fatal crash involving an Indians pitcher occurring the same year two of the team's hurlers were killed in a high-profile boating accident. And then there are the near misses-like George Steinbrenner coming within seconds of owning the Indians and a famous musician who almost became a Cleveland Brown. From basketball to boxing, hockey to Heisman, journalist Marc Bona chronicles more than a century of unremembered tales.
Historic Ballparks of the Twin Cities
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
From the rickety to the palatial, ballparks have grown up with and defined baseball in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Some old-timers have vivid memories of cheering for Willie Mays and Roy Campanella at Nicollet and Lexington. Others marveled at a majestic Killebrew home run at the Met. Many a lucky resident celebrated two world championships in the Metrodome and witnessed one of the greatest pitching performances in World Series history. More recently, fans have enjoyed the return of sunshine and even raindrops at Target Field. Described by City Pages as "the most respected local baseball historian," Stew Thornley leads a tour of where we--as well as our grandparents and now our children--discovered baseball.
Georgia High School Football
Peach State Pigskin History
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
Georgia is known as one of the most competitive proving grounds in America for high school football. The league that began as a few city teams in the late nineteenth century blossomed to the four hundred-plus schools that put teams on the field today. These teams have given college football and the professional ranks their share of champions. As schools across the state continue to chase�and break�records, a century of winning is only the beginning of Georgia�s dynamic high school football legacy. Jon Nelson guides readers through an unparalleled history of coaches, towns and dynasties that have led Georgia to become one of the top five most competitive football states in the country.
A History of Wrestling in Iowa
Growing Gold
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
The state of Iowa is just as well known for prominent wrestlers as it is acres of corn and beans. That gives the state the mighty distinction of feeding the world and defeating it on the mat. Men like Dan Gable, Tom Brands, Harold Nichols, Jim Miller, Nick Mitchell and Chuck Patten led Iowa colleges to forty-four of an astounding sixty-nine national team championships. In 1954, Simon Roberts of Davenport was the first African American to win a state wrestling title and later the first African American NCAA wrestling champion. Wrestler Norman Borlaug received the Nobel Peace Prize and is credited with preventing more than one billion deaths from starvation. Author Dan McCool details the long history of hard work and dedication from the fields to the mat.
Connecticut's Girls of Summer
the Brakettes and the Falcons
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
Connecticut has a long history of producing outstanding sports teams and athletes. Two of the greatest teams to come out of the state are the legendary Brakettes and Falcons women's fast-pitch softball teams. In their seventy-six-year history, the Brakettes are considered the most successful and longest-running organized women's sports franchise of all time. With forty national championships, three world championships and eleven Olympians, their dynasty remains synonymous with softball excellence. Likewise, the Connecticut Falcons were the most dominant team of the Women's Professional Softball League, winning the championship title all four years of the WPS existence. The most famous and iconic product of these two teams has been Waterbury's legendary Joan Joyce, who is considered by many experts to be the greatest female athlete in sports history. Join author Tony Renzoni as he interviews former players and highlights the accomplishments of these two renowned teams and their legendary athletes.
Pittsburgh's Greatest Athletes
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
Greatness in sport is both undefinable and immediately recognizable. Though it is rare, Western Pennsylvania has been graced with a long history of athletes who embody the essence of greatness. They have proudly represented the region in sports such as boxing, golf and track; carried their collegiate teams to victory; and worn the black and gold of the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins. Pittsburghers still recall how Mario Lemieux glided effortlessly through an opposing defense before befuddling the goalie or Arnie Palmer's unique swing that made the everyday duffer feel like he was one of them. Fans debate whether Bradshaw or Roethlisberger is the better quarterback and what the legacy of Barry Bonds is, while keeping Roberto Clemente among their most cherished icons. Author David Finoli covers the greatest fifty men and women athletes in Pittsburgh history.
Baseball in Evansville
Booms, Busts and One Global Disaster
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
Baseball exploded in Evansville after the Civil War. Early clubs like the Resolutes, Blues, Brewers, Hoosiers and Blackbirds played, built ballparks, struggled financially and suffered scandals until the early 1900s. A near tragic event fueled the 1915 construction of Bosse Field, now the third-oldest professional ballpark in operation and the host to Major League Spring Training and the filming of A League of Their Own. After World War II, college baseball returned after lying dormant since the 1920s. In the late 1960s, a local entrepreneur attempted to build a third major league. When he failed, the city ascended to the minor leagues' highest level. Join sportswriter and Evansville native Kevin Wirthwein as he recounts baseball's illustrious history in the River City.
Dabo's Dynasty
Clemson's Rise to College Football Supremacy
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
From the beginning of the season, Dabo Swinney's rallying cry was "joy." Each week for opponents, though, was another joyless occasion against a big orange machine that found its high gear midseason. The results shook the foundation of college football. In 2015 and 2016, the Tigers needed to bring their own guts to achieve great things. In Swinney's tenth season, they brought their own sledgehammers. Larry Williams, who has covered Clemson and Swinney since 2004, unearths revealing anecdotes from Dabo's tenure and shares how a season dominated by Alabama hype ended up overwhelmed by a Clemson tide.
Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Champions
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
Since the 1940's, forty racing champions have traveled the hallowed grounds at the historic Aiken Training Track. Thoroughbred icons such as Kelso, Tom Fool, Swale, Pleasant Colony, Conquistador Cielo and Shuvee trained at this world-renowned track. Numerous members of the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame won the biggest races in the sport. These champions combined for a total of 546 wins in 1,395 starts, including wins in the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. Race along with author Lisa J. Hall as she pays homage to these equine champions and an Aiken legacy.
Baseball in Alabama
Tales of Hardball in the Heart of Dixie
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
Although football may first spring to mind when talking about sports in Alabama, the state has certainly made its mark with the national pastime. Thirteen players with Alabama roots are enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, including all-time greats like Hank Aaron, Ozzie Smith and Satchel Paige. Bob Veale of Birmingham led the National League in strikeouts in 1964. Superstars and former players like Bo Jackson and Britt Burns give back to their home state by organizing charities and coaching Alabama's next generation of players. Author and baseball historian Doug Wedge explores stories from this rich history.
Here We Go
Dawn Staley's Gamecocks and the Road to the National Championship
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
She stood at the podium on May 10, 2008, and promised to bring national prominence to South Carolina. Most thought it would take a miracle to get to that point, but Dawn Staley has always beaten the odds. Staley's vision for the Gamecocks' women's basketball team came true over the next nine years, culminating in the 2017 national championship. Her willingness to keep striving-to deliver on her promise-was met with early resistance. It paid off with several winning seasons, then terrific recruits. And, finally, the only prize Staley had not obtained in a lifetime of championship basketball. David Cloninger takes you on the team's journey to the national title.
Snowboarding in Southern Vermont
From Burton to the U.S. Open
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
During the 1980s and 1990s, the "Manchester and the Mountains" area of Vermont was the epicenter of the fledgling sport of snowboarding. With the presence of Burton Snowboards, the U.S. Open Championships and one of the earliest machine-built halfpipes at Stratton Mountain, the local population led the vanguard as the sport ventured from the fringe to mainstream. Ranging from Olympic gold medalists to backhoe operators and converted skiers, locals contributed immensely to the development of the sport. Author Brian Knight details the birth, growth and development of a new worldwide sport from humble beginnings in southern Vermont.
Celebrating Old Friends
Stories from Kentucky's Thoroughbred Retirement Farm
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
When Michael Blowen first dreamed of creating Old Friends, he envisioned a place where Thoroughbred stallions could retire with dignity following their racing or breeding careers. He also wanted people to visit the iconic horses. In 2003, Old Friends opened on leased land with a miniature horse named Little Silver Charm, a gelding named Invigorate and a mare named Narrow Escape. Today, the two-hundred-plus-acre farm in Georgetown has more than 160 retired Thoroughbred stallions, geldings and mares, including two Kentucky Derby winners. It even welcomed two satellite farms, one in New York and one at Kentucky Downs racetrack. In his follow-up to History of Old Friends, Rick Capone revisits the unforgettable history of this horse retirement home.
Powerhouses of Ohio High School Football
The 50s and 60s
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
By the middle of the twentieth century, Ohio high school football ranked among the mightiest in the nation. Dynastic programs Massillon and Canton McKinley dominated the 1950s. Not to be outdone, Barberton, Portsmouth, Cleveland Cathedral Latin and Jackson staked their claims to greatness, and championship squads from Benedictine to Marion Harding and Alliance fought their way to the top of the rankings. Ever-steady Massillon continued their winning ways in the '60s. Along the way, determined newcomers like Niles McKinley, Toledo Central Catholic, Wyoming, Sandusky, Bishop Watterson and Marion Catholic snatched their share of gridiron glory. At the decade's close, the fierce Golden Bears of Upper Arlington forged their own dynasty. Join author Tim Raab as he presents the champions, contenders, heartbreaks and heroics of this thrilling era of Ohio pigskin history.
Dawgs Gone Wild
The Scandalous '70s of UGA Football
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
In the mid-70s, the University of Georgia football team caused quite a stir off the field. Several players had encounters with the manipulative Godfather of Pro Wrestling and his money-for-sex scheme. A careless prank aboard a team-chartered airplane resulted in a bomb scare and an FBI inquiry. The mysterious death of a standout teammate in 1976 remained unsolved for decades. Despite it all, a valiant and tenacious head coach and his acclaimed Junkyard Dogs defied the odds and developed a celebrated championship team. UGA football writer and historian Patrick Garbin, using extensive interviews with former players and coaches, delivers an astounding and, at times, appalling true tale of sex, drugs and wild debauchery in college football.
Early Skiing on Snoqualmie Pass
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
Relive the exciting early days of skiing when Snoqualmie Pass was the epicenter of the sport. Ski jumping tournaments attracted world-class competitors to Cle Elum, Beaver Lake on the Summit and the Milwaukee Ski Bowl. The Mountaineers' twenty-mile race from Snoqualmie to Stampede Pass, dubbed the worlds longest and hardest race, was a pinnacle of cross-country skiing. Alpine skiing began in private ski clubs and expanded in 1934 with the country's first municipal ski area, known as the Seattle Municipal Ski Park. And the sport peaked when the Milwaukee Ski Bowl at Hyak opened in 1938. With train access, a modern ski lodge, an overhead cable lift and free ski lessons from the Seattle Times, the Ski Bowl revolutionized local skiing. Lawyer and local ski historian John W. Lundin follows the historic tracks through the genesis of American skiing.
More University of Kansas Basketball Legends
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
KU alumnus and Jayhawk enthusiast Kenn Johnson is back with even more legends and firsts. Notable coaches like Danny Manning, who won the national championship as a player in 1988 and again as part of the coaching staff in 2008, have shaped and molded the team throughout the decades. Players like Raef LaFrentz, who became the first Jayhawks player in twenty-seven years to average a double-double over an entire season, keep the fans coming back for more. From the history of the famous Allen Fieldhouse to current coach Bill Self, Johnson offers a closer look at the team's unique contribution to the sport of basketball.
Sandsablaze
Grand Prix Greatness from Harrisburg to the Olympics
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
The Thoroughbred horse Sandsablaze made history in the 1970s, achieving numerous victories with his young owner and rider, William "Buddy" Brown of New York. Despite being deemed awkward in his early years, Sandsablaze began his journey to the top of the sport with a win at the AHSA Medal Finals at Harrisburg, the pinnacle of success in the junior equitation ranks. In an accomplishment that has yet to be duplicated, Sandsablaze - with Brown in the saddle - went on to win at the Grand Prix level and represented the United States at the Olympics. Some of his other key victories occurred at New York's National Horse Show and the Washington International Horse Show, as well as abroad. Nearly thirty-five years after his death, Sandsablaze remains a legend in the sport. Join equestrian author Kimberly Gatto as she tells this remarkable story of partnership and success.
Bare Knuckles & Saratoga Racing
The Remarkable Life of John Morrissey
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
One of the more dynamic characters of his time, John "Old Smoke" Morrissey made his way from undefeated bare-knuckle boxer to found the Saratoga Race Course and win elections to Congress and the New York State Senate. A poor, uneducated Irish immigrant, Morrissey became a leader in the Dead Rabbits street gang. He won fame as a fighter and fortune as the operator of a string of successful gambling houses. He then took Saratoga Springs by storm. He improbably resurrected thoroughbred racing during the Civil War and opened his famous Club House, the most glamorous casino the country had ever seen. Author Brien Bouyea chronicles the incomparable life of a true American legend.
Lake Placid Figure Skating
A History
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
Figure skating has always had an important home in Lake Placid. Early on, the Sno Birds popularized this summer retreat, and Melville and Godfrey Dewey won the campaign for the 1932 Winter Olympics. The Skating Club of Lake Placid was formed, and after 1932, famous skaters trained here with legendary coach Gus Lussi. When Lake Placid again hosted the Olympics in 1980, skating dominated, with state-of-the-art facilities that have continued to be used by stars like Dorothy Hamill and Sarah Hughes, and helped give rise to Scott Hamilton's Stars on Ice. For more than one hundred years, the Lake Placid community has worked together to support figure skating and skaters in this quiet Adirondack village. Local expert Christie Sausa tells this exciting story.
The Saratoga Race Course
The August Place to Be
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
In the early 1800s, Saratoga Springs was a destination for its natural mineral waters and their healing powers. But that changed in 1863 with the opening of the Saratoga Race Course. From then on, summers in the Spa City came alive with the excitement of the "sport of kings." Since the victory of the great horse Kentucky in the introductory Travers Stakes, the racecourse has showcased the sport's greatest champions. Otherwise seemingly uncatchable thoroughbreds--including Man o' War and Secretariat--faced unexpected defeat on its turf, earning Saratoga the nickname the "Graveyard of Champions." Author Kimberly Gatto chronicles the story of the oldest thoroughbred racetrack in the country, with tales of the famous people and horses that contributed to its illustrious history.
Tampa Spring Training Tales
Major League Memories
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
Since 1913, Tampa has provided the background for some of the Major League Baseball's most iconic spring moments led, of course, by the longest home run of Babe Ruth's career. Tampa was the scene of the Grapefruit League's first no-hitter and the only spring time All-star Game. It was the first gathering place of the Big Red Machine and the Core Four. Well over 125 Hall of Famers honed their craft among the city's three major league ballparks: Plant Field, Al Lopez Field and Steinbrenner Field. All of it resulted from a diverse city's love of the game that began with baseball-crazed cigar factory workers before the turn of the 20th century .
Wisconsin Bird Hunting Tales
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
The Badger State's thriving upland bird population beckons hunters from across the country. Author Ken M. Blomberg recollects nearly half a century of the hunt in his backyard grouse paradise. Marshaling years of experience, he explains how logging roads often lead to grouse and, just as often, to nowhere. He paints an uplifting portrait of an old hunter dragging his creaky body through unforgiving terrain. And with spirit and humor, he tells of boon companions sharing stories around a campfire or nervously slumbering to a wolf country lullaby. Novice and veteran hunters alike will draw delight and inspiration from a relatable love affair with gun dogs, upland birds and Wisconsin.
Montana Baseball History
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
The Wild West had nothing on Montana's first baseball games. Fights, booze, cheating and gambling fueled the state's inaugural professional league in 1892. The turn of the century brought star-studded barnstorming tours and threats of bloodshed. Big Sky Country embraced a distinctly different version of the old ballgame, and Montana players who made their way to big league diamonds helped change the sport on and off the field. From the Lewis and Clark expedition to Dave McNally's historic career, award-winning journalist Skylar Browning and researcher Jeremy Watterson reveal Montana's relationship with America's pastime.
Men's Lacrosse in Maryland
The Pride of the Old Line State
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
Spring in Maryland means one thing: lacrosse. As much a part of the state as crab cakes and the Chesapeake Bay, lacrosse is king at every level, from youth rec and club to high school, college, and the pros. Since the state first fielded teams in the 1870s, Marylanders have played with a unique combination of finesse, speed and passion. The 'Maryland style' of play built a long line of national powerhouses at all levels. With extensive research and dozens of photographs, journalist Tom Flynn traces the long history of the sport in Maryland from its Native American roots to its first arrival in the state and on to the modern highlights. Fans will rediscover their many past champions and gain a glimpse of teams that promise to elevate the sport's status as the pride of the Old Line State.
A History of Fishing in the Florida Keys
Angler's Paradise
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
Since the arrival of Ponce de Leon in the 1500s, the Florida Keys have evolved from a dense, nearly impenetrable jungle full of bears, pumas, snakes, alligators and crocodiles into America's Caribbean islands. And the fish in the region have made the Keys one of the nation's favorite playgrounds for anglers. The Keys are home to more saltwater fishing records than any other angling destination in the world and offer sportsmen an array of amazing fish, from tarpon and Spanish mackerel to mahi-mahi and bonefish. U.S. presidents, celebrities and the world's greatest fishermen and women have cruised the waters of South Florida. Join author Bob T. Epstein on a journey through the storied history of fishing in the Florida Keys.
Brown University Baseball
A Legacy of the Game
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
This book will chronicle the history of baseball at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Brown has earned the distinction of being the most influential institution regarding baseball in Rhode Island. Fields, players, coaches are also included. Perhaps the most interesting parts of the book are the stories revolving around students and baseball games. Racial Integration on the ball field at Brown University is also explored, as well as women who played baseball at Pembroke College (Brown's sister college prior to integration of female and male students).
Marist Football
Inside the War Eagle Tradition
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
On Fridays in the fall, a fog rises from Nancy Creek behind Marist School's Hughes Spalding Stadium and floats across the football field. The apparition, called "the Ghosts of Marist Football," represents the Great Spirit of Marist High School, a school Sports Illustrated ranked number fifteen in its list of top athletic programs in the country. The War Eagle tradition boasts more than six hundred victories, a trophy case filled with championships and thirty straight years of playoff appearances in Georgia high school football, all while playing much larger schools. Join author and Marist alumnus Franklin Cox for three years inside the Spartan-esque tradition and learn why no team dares allow itself to dishonor the glorious roll call of War Eagle history.
Chesapeake Outdoor Tales
Hunting and Fishing by the Tides
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
It's more often that the failures rather than the successes stick in the memories of outdoorsmen. Late September can bring some of the best white marlin fishing of the season to Delmarva, but sometimes you catch a batch of pineapples instead. Sometimes poor weather and a rough season can lead to a duck depression, but one good afternoon can turn it around. The relationships built during hunts and fishing trips make up for even the bad days-a broken boat, the loss of a beloved dog and more. Join author and avid outdoorsman C.L. Marshall as he tells the tales of the ups and the downs of outdoor life on the Chesapeake Bay.
Montana Horse Racing
A History
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
For centuries, on prairie grasslands, dusty streets and racing ovals, everyday Montanans participated in the sport of kings. More than a century after horses arrived in the region, Lewis and Clark's Nez Perce guides staged horse races at Traveler's Rest in 1806. In response to hazardous street races, the Montana legislature granted communities authority to ban "immoderate riding or driving." Helena led the way to respectable racing, with Madam Coady's fashion course hosting the first territorial fair in 1868. Soon, leading citizens like Marcus Daly built oval tracks and glitzy grandstands. By 1890, a horse named Bob Wade set a world record for a quarter mile in Butte, a mark that stood until 1958. Horsewoman and historian Brenda Wahler highlights the Big Sky's patrons of the turf and courageous equine champions, including Kentucky Derby winner Spokane.
Babe & the Kid
The Legendary Story of Babe Ruth and Johnny Sylvester
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
On the eve of game four of the 1926 World Series, Babe Ruth heard that a young New Jersey boy, Johnny Sylvester, was laid up with a deadly illness. Ruth autographed a ball for Johnny, inscribing it, "I'll knock a homer for you in Wednesday's game-Babe Ruth." The rest was history. Ruth delivered on his promise, and Johnny made a miraculous recovery. In Babe & the Kid, author Charlie Poekel traces the story behind the sensational headlines, and follows Johnny's remarkable life in the aftermath of Ruth's incredible feat. Includes photos!
New York's Greatest Thoroughbreds
A Contemporary History
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
Champion Race Horses of the Empire State
From Saratoga to Belmont Park, New York hosts some of horse racing's most important races, but many of the most successful thoroughbreds of the past five decades also have called the state home. Say Florida Say seemed to only improve with age, winning thirty-three times throughout a seven-year career that made him a regional favorite in the 1990s. The first ever New York horse to win the Kentucky derby, Funny Cide, rose to national prominence in 2003, winning both the Derby and the Preakness in incredible fashion. The thoroughbred Audible shared owners with triple-crown winner Justify, and though embroiled in some controversy as a result, was also an elite race horse during a brief career.
Author Allan Carter highlights the stories behind the greatest New York thoroughbreds of the past half-century.
A History of Mount Saint Charles Hockey
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
For twenty-six straight seasons--from 1978 to 2003--Mount Saint Charles Academy captured the hearts of its fans and the state's high school hockey championship. Attributing the streak to a near-mystical force called "Mount Pride," beloved coach Bill Belisle and his team have built the most successful hockey program in Rhode Island. In the thrilling 2013 season, they recaptured the Mount glory as state champions. Yet the high school hockey team is much more than its wins and losses--it's a culture and a family. Beginning with the earliest days when Rhode Island's four-team league took to the frozen ponds with tree branches serving as rudimentary hockey sticks, author Bryan Ethier chronicles the history of the MSC "Flying Frenchmen." Join Ethier as he takes to the ice with the great games, the star players and the unforgettable moments to tell the remarkable story of Mount Saint Charles Hockey.
Surfing Newport Beach
The Glory Days of Corona Del Mar
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
Corona del Mar was once California's premier surfing spot, holding the sport's first Pacific Coast competition in 1928. Attempts to tame Corona and to make the Newport Beach harbor mouth safe for watercraft drastically altered board riding, destroying the great "wave-making machine" of Corona and creating the surf giant of today known as the "Wedge." Read about Newport before World War II: experience the Great Rescue of 1925 by Duke Kahanamoku and others, the rum runners of Balboa and the evolution of Newport Bay. Pioneering surfers such as George Freeth, Tom Blake, the Vultee brothers and Pete Peterson helped make a name for the city in surf culture. Authors Claudine Burnett and her surfer husband, Paul, have delved deeply into the past, sharing stories that will give readers never-before-revealed facts not only about surfing but Newport Beach and Corona del Mar history as well.
The San Jose Earthquakes
A Seismic Soccer Legacy
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
In 1974, amid the early days of the North American Soccer League, an unlikely team transformed a quiet suburb into a soccer haven. Combining excellent play with a grass-roots movement of fervent fans, the San Jose Earthquakes shook the Northern California sports landscape. While rival NASL franchises struggled for attendance, the Quakes played sold-out games to the most loyal and passionate fan base in the league, creating an unforgettable and enduring legacy. After the NASL disbanded, the team reemerged over a decade later as a Major League Soccer team and today commands as much fan loyalty and passion as ever. Join author Gary Singh, a San Jose native and lifelong fan, as he recounts the Earthquakes' legendary story in vibrant detail.
The Rise of Washington State University Football
The Erickson & Price Years
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
The rise of the crimson and gray.
In 1987, Dennis Erickson arrived in Pullman, Washington to take over the struggling Washington State University football program. Under his leadership, the Cougars ended 1988 with a 9-3 record and a victory in the Aloha Bowl. In just two years, the team had transformed, and Erickson's lifelong friend, Mike Price, took over in 1989 to build on that legacy. By the end of Price's tenure, WSU had appeared in five bowl games including two Rose Bowls, eclipsing the four bowl games in the entire program's history. The coaches also produced a number of high-profile NFL quarterbacks, including Drew Bledsoe and Ryan Leaf.
Join author Ben Donahue as he explores how the Washington State University Cougars went from doormats to perpetual contenders.
Gamecock Glory
The University Of South Carolina Baseball Team's Journey To The 2010 Ncaa Championship
Part of the Sports (Arcadia Publishing) series
After more than one hundred years of craving a champion, the University of South Carolina finally has one. The 2010 Gamecock baseball team won six consecutive games over eight summer nights to take the College World Series and lay claim to the school's first major national championship. From dancing around in a dark locker room to singing "Silent Night"? on the team bus after every victory in Omaha, these Gamecocks were as fun-loving as they were talented. And they did it all in the name of one special boy, seven-year-old Bayler Teal. Bayler passed away before he could see his beloved Gamecocks triumph, but the team's victory is a tribute to their number one fan. Join the Post and Courier's Travis Haney as he recounts this incredible team's historic season.