Sports Heroes and Legends
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Sandy Koufax
by Matt Doeden
Part of the Sports Heroes and Legends series
Sandy Koufax grew up in Brooklyn, New York, dreaming of playing basketball for the New York Knicks. He played baseball just for fun, but in college his pitching attracted the attention of scouts from across the country. Sandy joined his hometown team, the Brooklyn Dodgers, and followed them a few years later to Los Angeles. Along the way, he dazzled batters with his fastball and curveball. Read all about his struggles to overcome injuries and take his team to the World Series!
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Doug Flutie
by Matt Doeden
Part of the Sports Heroes and Legends series
Think you know all there is to know about Doug Flutie? Well, did you know that:● He played football in three different professional leagues?● He made the first NFL dropkick play in sixty-four years?● He plays in a rock-and-roll band?Most people said that Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie was too small to play professional football. But Flutie proved the critics wrong during his twenty-year career in the professional leagues. He joined the United States Football League's New Jersey Generals right after college, but the league folded at the end of Flutie's first year. In the Canadian Football League, he led his teams to three championships. In the National Football League, he surprised everyone with a string of stellar seasons for teams including the Buffalo Bills and the New England Patriots. Find out how this unlikely hero became a champion.
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Tiger Woods
by Matt Doeden
Part of the Sports Heroes and Legends series
Considered one of the best golf players in the world, Tiger Woods has had a spectacular career to date-and he's only getting started. A golf prodigy, he began playing when he was 9 months old, and went pro in 1996 when he was just 20 years old. In the years since, Woods has won countless tournaments. Among the victories is the coveted Masters. At an early age, Woods created a name and a permanent place for himself among the pros, and in golfing history.
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Michelle Kwan
by Anne E. Hill
Part of the Sports Heroes and Legends series
A born competitor and natural talent, Michelle Kwan skated her way onto the public figure skating scene more than a decade ago and has dominated it ever since. From public skating rinks in California to the podium at the Olympics, Michelle Kwan's elegance and grace on and off the ice have made her one of figure skating's most spectacular and popular champions.
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Peyton Manning
by Matt Doeden
Part of the Sports Heroes and Legends series
From an early age, Peyton Manning loved the mental challenge of playing quarterback. He is known for his extraordinary understanding of the game and his tireless work ethic. As the star of the Indianapolis Colts, he is on track to break career records set by history's greatest quarterbacks. Even so, he is a team player, and he achieved his greatest victory when he led the Colts to a Super Bowl championship in 2007. Find out how this football heir is proving himself as the NFL's next legend.
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Sasha Cohen
by Anne E. Hill
Part of the Sports Heroes and Legends series
Think you know all there is to know about Sasha Cohen? Well, did you know that: * She grew up in southern California? * Ice cream is one of her favorite foods? * She won a gold medal at the 2006 U.S. National Championships? Sasha Cohen fell in love with figure skating when she was seven years old. She quickly became a fierce competitor and by age fifteen, she was skating with the best in the world. At the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah, she finished in fourth place-just missing a medal. She spent the next four years working to improve. See how this elegant skater made it to the top!
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Wilma Rudolph
by Tom Streissguth
Part of the Sports Heroes and Legends series
Early in her life, doctors told Wilma Rudolph she would never walk. She had a disease called polio, which crippled her leg. But Wilma proved the doctors wrong. Not only did she walk, she also ran-fast! By the time she was sixteen, she had an Olympic bronze medal. She went on to win three gold medals at the 1960 Olympic Games. Find out how this dedicated athlete beat the odds to become a champion.
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Mickey Mantle
by John Marlin
Part of the Sports Heroes and Legends series
Mickey Mantle was one of baseball's best players-and perhaps the greatest athlete of his time. Follow Mickey from his childhood days playing baseball in Commerce, Oklahoma, to his celebrated eighteen-year career with the New York Yankees, to his induction into baseball's Hall of Fame. Don't miss this inspiring story of a true sports hero!
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Jesse Owens
by Tom Streissguth
Part of the Sports Heroes and Legends series
Nicknamed the World's Fastest Human," Jesse Owens grew up in a poor farming community. A sickly child, he went on to become one of history's most talented track athletes. The first man to win four gold medals in a single Olympics, Owens set six World Records and discredited Nazi leader Adolph Hitler's racist beliefs by showing his superior athletic skills at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games. From his childhood in Alabama through his death in Arizona, this book follows the spectacular life of this incredible athlete.
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Tony Dungy
by Matt Doeden
Part of the Sports Heroes and Legends series
Although Tony Dungy was passed over in the 1977 NFL draft, Coach Chuck Noll of the Pittsburgh Steelers recognized his athleticism and understanding of the game and signed him as a free agent. Later, at the age of 25, Dungy began his NFL coaching career with the Steelers. He went on to coach the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and then considered retiring from football. Instead, he accepted a coaching job with the Indianapolis Colts and in 2007 became the first African American head coach to win the Super Bowl. Find out how Dungy's intellect, strength of character, and leadership qualities have made him a champion on and off the field.
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Wilt Chamberlain
by Matt Doeden
Part of the Sports Heroes and Legends series
Think you know all there is to know about Wilt Chamberlain? Well, did you know that: •He holds the record for most rebounds in a single NBA game? •He is a member of the Volleyball Hall of Fame? •He played for the Harlem Globetrotters before joining the NBA? Wilt Chamberlain is perhaps best known as the only player in the history of the NBA to score 100 points in a single basketball game. But Chamberlain's success extends to more than a single game. In college, he led the Kansas Jayhawks to the NCAA title game and later he played with two NBA championship-winning teams. In addition to being a major force in basketball, Chamberlain loved volleyball and track and field, and he even appeared in a Hollywood movie. Learn more about the man who dominated his sport like no other in this lively biography.
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Barry Bonds
by Ross Bernstein
Part of the Sports Heroes and Legends series
One of the most spectacular professional baseball players of all time, Barry Bonds has broken more records and achieved more sports goals than any other player in the history of the game, despite never having won a world series. Follow this amazing athlete's life from his childhood as a baseball prodigy to major-league record-breaker.
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Lou Gehrig
by Kevin Viola
Part of the Sports Heroes and Legends series
A quiet, hardworking man, Lou Gehrig is one of the most underrated baseball players of all time. Although he repeatedly outscored, outhit, and outplayed his teammates Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio, his shy nature often kept him in their shadow. Follow Lou's outstanding career from the playgrounds of New York City to the fields of Yankee stadium. Don't miss this incredible story of one of history's greatest baseball players!
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Hank Aaron
by Serena Kappes
Part of the Sports Heroes and Legends series
Born in 1934, Hank Aaron faced many roadblocks because of his race. In fact, his school did not even have a baseball team. When Jackie Robinson broke the race barrier and entered the major leagues, Aaron was given hope that his dream of playing professional baseball could someday come true. Aaron became one of baseball's best players-winning the World Championship, breaking Babe Ruth's home run record, and being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
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Dale Earnhardt Jr.
by Matt Doeden
Part of the Sports Heroes and Legends series
Born into a racing family, Dale Earnhardt Jr. seemed destined to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. This book follows the skyrocketing career of this racing star from his first NASCAR Busch series race and back-to-back Busch championships to his father's sudden death during the 2001 Daytona 500 and his current chase for the Winston Cup championship.
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Roberto Clemente
by Stew Thornley
Part of the Sports Heroes and Legends series
Roberto Clemente grew up dreaming of playing professional baseball in the United States. By the time he was out of high school, it looked like his dream might just come true. Clemente was drafted by a major league team and headed north. He had to overcome a language barrier, racism, and segregation along the way. But he didn't let these challenges affect his top-notch performance on the field. His career was cut short when he died in a tragic plane crash while bringing aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. Follow this heavy hitter on his amazing journey to stardom and success.
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Willie Mays
by Matt Doeden
Part of the Sports Heroes and Legends series
Think you know all there is to know about Willie Mays? Well, did you know that: •He once batted .477 in the minor leagues? •He won twelve straight Gold Glove awards? •He was the first African American team captain in major-league history? Willie Mays started his baseball career in the little-known Negro Leagues in 1948. He crossed over to the major leagues with the New York Giants in 1951. During the 1954 World Series, Mays stunned the baseball world with an unbelievable over-the-shoulder catch. That play launched him into superstardom. He stayed with the Giants for more than twenty years, first in New York and then in San Francisco. Along the way, he earned his place in the record books, tallying the fourth-highest home run total in major-league history. Find out how Willie Mays made it to the top of his game and stayed there.
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Josh Gibson
by Carrie Golus
Part of the Sports Heroes and Legends series
Think you know all there is to know about Josh Gibson? Well, did you know that Gibson made 75 home runs in 1931? Did you know that Gibson's home runs often soared more than 500 feet? In spite of his talent, Gibson never played for a major league baseball team? Josh Gibson is known to many as one of the best baseball players―and possibly the best hitter, of all time. For many years, baseball fans overlooked Gibson's accomplishments because he was never able to play in the major leagues. When Gibson played baseball in the 1930s and 1940s, African Americans were not allowed to play on major league teams. As a member of two of the best Negro league teams―the Pittsburgh Crawfords and the Homestead Grays―Gibson's celebrity grew. According to legend, Gibson was the only ballplayer to ever hit a fair ball out of Yankee Stadium. While that story has never been proven and the details are uncertain, Gibson's reputation as a power hitter and outstanding ballplayer is fact.
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Jim Thorpe
by Carrie Golus
Part of the Sports Heroes and Legends series
Think you know all there is to know about Jim Thorpe? Well, did you know that:* His Sauk and Fox name was Wa-Tho-Huk, which means Bright Path?* He broke his high school's high jump record on his very first jump?* On the football field, he could run fast enough to catch his own punt? Jim Thorpe has been called the greatest athlete of the twentieth century. He excelled in football, baseball, and track and field. He won two Olympic gold medals in 1912. But his career was marred by controversy. And as a Native American, he faced much prejudice. Read all about his struggles and his triumphs.
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Derek Jeter
by Keith Elliot Greenberg
Part of the Sports Heroes and Legends series
One of baseball's most popular and talented stars, Derek Jeter began his major league career with a bang-knocking a home run out of the park in his very first at bat his rookie year. His phenomenal first year continued as he helped the Yankees win the World Championship while also claiming the Rookie of the Year award. In 1998, 1999, and 2000, Jeter went on to lead the Yankees to three more World Championships.
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Muhammad Ali
by Carrie Golus
Part of the Sports Heroes and Legends series
A stolen bicycle led twelve-year-old Cassius Clay to his first boxing teacher. He spent endless hours training, determined that he would one day become the heavyweight champion of the world. In 1964 he beat Sonny Liston to make his prediction come true. When Ali refused to fight in the Vietnam War, his title was stripped from him, and he was banned from boxing. But just a few years later, he made an incredible comeback. Find out how Ali became one of the most popular athletes in the world.
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Tom Brady
by Matt Doeden
Part of the Sports Heroes and Legends series
Think you know all there is to know about Tom Brady? Well, did you know that: He was drafted by baseball's Montreal Expos after high school? He was the youngest starting quarterback ever to win the Super Bowl? He and New England Patriots' receiver Randy Moss set an NFL record for the most touchdown passes between a passer and a receiver in a single season? Tom Brady excelled in sports from an early age, playing both baseball and football in high school. His dream of playing professional football led him to join the University of Michigan Wolverines. He spent a lot of time on the sidelines during his first three years there, so he studied the game and prepared himself for bigger things. He eventually joined the New England Patriots as a third-string quarterback. But by early in his second season, he was the starter and became an instant celebrity after leading the team to Super Bowl victory. All of the attention was distracting, but Tom stayed grounded. Tom's life is evidence that with hard work and determination anyone can realize their lifelong dreams. Read all the Sports Heroes and Legends books!
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Cal Ripken Jr.
by Matt Doeden
Part of the Sports Heroes and Legends series
Cal Ripken Jr. spent much of his childhood surrounded by baseball - his father was a minor league player and coach. By the time Cal was in high school, his skills had attracted the attention of major league scouts. Cal's dream came true when he was drafted by his hometown team, the Baltimore Orioles. In the years that followed, he would become one of the greatest shortstops in Major League Baseball history. Read all about this legend's incredible career!
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Joe DiMaggio
by Kevin Viola
Part of the Sports Heroes and Legends series
A New York Yankees hero since his rookie year in 1936, Jo DiMaggio became a national hero by completing the longest hitting streak in the history of Major League Baseball with hits in fifty-six consecutive games in 1941. Arguably the best centerfielder in baseball history, DiMaggio won the World Series nine times-including his first four seasons with the team. Although plagued with a series of injuries that eventually forced him to retire, DiMaggio remained one of baseball's most respected, beloved, and talented players.
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David Beckham
by Ken Pendleton
Part of the Sports Heroes and Legends series
Think you know all there is to know about David Beckham? Well, did you know that: ● At age thirteen, he won soccer's famous Bobby Charlton Skills Tournament? ● He's the first English player to score in three World Cup tournaments?● After making a mistake in the 1998 World Cup, he was so unpopular in England that he went to the United States to escape angry fans and media?Young David Beckham dreamed of one thing-playing for his beloved Manchester United soccer team. At age thirteen, that dream became reality. He's starred for Manchester United, for England's national team, and more recently for the Spanish team Real Madrid. Find out how this boy from East London became soccer's most famous superstar.
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Alex Rodriguez
by Serena Kappes
Part of the Sports Heroes and Legends series
Alex Rodriguez was born in New York City, only a few miles from Yankee Stadium. He grew up in the Dominican Republic and Miami, Florida, playing baseball whenever he could. Since he was drafted in 1993, Alex has played for the Seattle Mariners, the Texas Rangers, and the New York Yankees. He has an amazing combination of offensive and defensive skills, and he is one of baseball's highest-paid players. You won't want to miss his incredible life story!
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Lance Armstrong
by Matt Doeden
Part of the Sports Heroes and Legends series
Lance Armstrong achieved what no other cyclist ever had. He won the grueling 2,000-plus-mile Tour de France-a famous bicycle race through the towns and mountains of Europe-seven times. And he did it all after a life-or-death struggle with cancer. As he stepped onto the victor's podium for the seventh time, he left experts amazed and opponents in awe . Learn how this champion made it to the top.
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Tim Duncan
by Sean Adams
Part of the Sports Heroes and Legends series
Tim Duncan, originally from the U.S. Virgin Islands, took the NBA by storm as the top draft pick in 1997. He joined the Spurs and helped them to win two NBA championships in his first six seasons. As well as being a powerhouse basketball player, Duncan is also very active with charities and the community. He and his wife formed the Tim Duncan Foundation, which focuses on causes that benefit breast and prostate cancer research, as well as community needs.
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Wayne Gretzky
by Matt Doeden
Part of the Sports Heroes and Legends series
Think you know all there is to know about Wayne Gretzky? Well, did you know that: He started playing hockey professionally at age seventeen? He scored at least one goal in each of the first fifty-one games of the 1983–1984 hockey season? He holds the NHL record for most career regular-season assists, with 1,963?Canada native Wayne Gretzky grew up surrounded by hockey. He joined his first hockey team at age six and spent most of his childhood playing against kids who were much older-and bigger-than he was. When Wayne joined the Edmonton Oilers in 1979, critics said he was too small to succeed. But Wayne proved everyone wrong. Read all about how this scrappy kid became the greatest hockey player of all time.
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Eli Manning
by Matt Doeden
Part of the Sports Heroes and Legends series
Talk about having big shoes to fill. Eli Manning - the younger brother of record-breaking Peyton and the son of legendary quarterback Archie - was the NFL's number-one draft pick in 2004. At first, the media criticized his inconsistent performance as the New York Giants' quarterback, but he silenced all doubters when he led his team to an unlikely Super Bowl victory in 2008. Find out how Eli proved that he's a champion quarterback in his own right.
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Yao Ming
by Matt Doeden
Part of the Sports Heroes and Legends series
Yao Ming is a force on the basketball court. The center, born in Shanghai, China, towers over opponents at 7-foot-6. His strength, agility, and hard work have made him one of the most dominant big men in the NBA today. After leading his Chinese team to a championship in 2002, Yao was the top pick of the NBA draft by the Houston Rockets. His arrival in the United States has helped to break down cultural barriers and has made Yao one of the most recognized athletes in the world.
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Ichiro Suzuki
by David S. Leigh
Part of the Sports Heroes and Legends series
Ichiro Suzuki was the first Japanese position player (non-pitcher) to make it into the American Major Leagues. People thought that the Japanese couldn't handle the power and speed of American pitchers. Ichiro proved them wrong. Now in his fourth season, Ichiro has shown that he can hit anything thrown his way and is as good, if not better than many of his American contemporaries. His love of the game, amazing skill and crowd pleasing antics have won him a following of fans around the world.
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Pelé
by Dax Riner
Part of the Sports Heroes and Legends series
Think you know all there is to know about Pelé? Well, did you know that Pelé played in his first World Cup tournament at the age of seventeen? Did you know that in 1967, both sides in Nigeria's civil war called a 48-hour cease-fire so Pelé could play an exhibition match in the capital of Lagos? Did you know that Pelé has scored more than 1,200 goals in his professional career? Born into poverty in Três Corações, Brazil, Edson Arantes do Nascimento (aka Pelé) fell in love with soccer at a young age. When he was ten, Pelé and some friends started a soccer team. A year later, a coach took notice of his talent and began to train him. By the time he was just fifteen, Pelé had joined a professional team. This was the beginning of a long career in which Pelé led Brazil to victory in three World Cup tournaments. Pelé became an international celebrity whose name was synonymous with soccer. His fame allowed him to raise awareness of his beloved game around the world.
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