Indiana boasts a rich baseball tradition, with 10 native sons enshrined in Cooperstown. This biographical dictionary provides a close look at the lives of all 364 Hoosier big leaguers, who include New York City's first baseball superstar; the first rookie pitcher to win three games in a World Series; the man who caught most of Cy Young's record 511 career wins; one of the game's first star relievers; the player who held the record for consecutive games played before Lou Gehrig; an obscure infielder mentioned in Charles Schulz's Peanuts comic strip; baseball's only one-legged pitcher; Indiana's first Mr. Basketball, who became one of baseball's greatest pinch-hitters; the first African American to play for the Cincinnati Reds; the only pitcher to throw a perfect game in the World Series; the skipper of the 1969 "Miracle Mets"; the pitcher for whom a ground-breaking surgical procedure is named; and the only two men to have played in both the World Series and the Final Four of the NCAA Basketball Tournament.

Twenty-one ex-major league baseball players tell about their game and their lives.

The average major league player currently earns more than half a million dollars a season. But, only 25 players make the big team's roster. The 26th Man details the season-long journey of Steve Fireovid of the Triple A Indianapolis Indians, as he deals with the realities and the heartbreak of playing a kid's games well into his thirties.

Between 1876 and 1960, nearly 100 northeastern Pennsylvanians played, managed, coached or umpired in the major leagues. Many were the sons of immigrant coal miners and living and working conditions in America were quite different from what they had been used to. Baseball became an important part of the assimilation process and it thrived as a church-sponsored form of recreation and entertainment for the coal miners and their families. This work explores the childhood, and minor and major league experiences of Christy Mathewson, Stan Coveleski, Stanley "Bucky" Harris, Hughie Jennings, Ed Walsh, Nestor Chylak, Joe Bolinsky, Jake Daubert, John "Buck" Freeman, Mike Gazella, Pete Wyshner, John Edward Murphy, Steve O'Neill, John Picus, Joe "Lefty" Shaute, Steve Bilko, Harry Dorish, Bob Duliba, Joe "Professor" Ostrowski, and Stan Pawloski--21 players, managers, and umpires who exemplify the great talent, dedication, humility, and hardship that many northeastern Pennsylvanians experienced.

The Fort Wayne Wizards 1993 arrival marked the beginning of professional baseball in northeast Indiana for many. However, the city boasts a rich baseball heritage that traces its roots to the very origins of the game. In fact, baseball and its record books begin with Fort Wayne. Over more than 135 years, dozens of teams have called Fort Wayne their homefield, making players into local legends and stars who excelled in the spotlight of baseballs biggest stage. Baseball in Fort Wayne recounts the sports presence in the city, from the earliest days of 1871s Kekiongas to todays Wizards, as well as those who took the field in between.

By all counts, Dick "Lefty" O'Neal didn't have a chance of playing professional baseball. However, today he holds the distinction of being the only white baseball player to pitch for two teams in the Negro Leagues that flourished throughout the twentieth century. "Dreaming of the Majors" is his account of the dream he nurtured from the age of five to play Major League baseball, the people God brought into his life who shaped the dream, and the amazing and unexpected twists and turns Dick experienced along the journey toward fulfilling the dream.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of children play “Cal Ripken Baseball” in the largest division of Babe Ruth League, Inc. Play Baseball the Ripken Way is the ultimate guide to playing the game, by one of the sport’s living legends. Baseball is America’s national pastime, but that doesn’t mean we’re all born naturals. Kids of all ages (and their parents) are eager to improve specific skills, and now they can learn from one of the most respected baseball families in history. Cal and Bill Ripken have written a thoroughly illustrated instructional book that clearly explains proper baseball fundamentals—hitting, fielding, baserunning, pitching, and much more. Based on the teachings of the late Cal Ripken, Sr., a player, coach, manager, and scout in the Baltimore Orioles system for thirty-seven years, Play Baseball the Ripken Way shows players just what they need to do to be their best while maintaining a sense of fun and accomplishment with every new lesson. The Ripken Way consists of the following principles: *Keep It Simple: Teaching that is too complicated is difficult to remember and can result in frustration. *Explain Why: A teacher who cannot explain why is not truly teaching. Lessons that make sense will stick with players. *Celebrate the Individual: No two players are alike, so why treat them as if they are? *Make It Fun: The game gets serious enough quickly enough on its own. Drills and instruction should be structured so that players can enjoy themselves while learning. The book also includes tips for parents and coaches, practice workouts, and drills for players of every level.

Depicts the life of ten onetime minor league baseball players who conquered the odds and became major league stars.

The Father's Dream coming true is about a son's journey of failures, victories and surprises, with many sacrifices being made by family members. His path was also made possible by the contributions of the several friends and associates along the way. His induction into The Baltimore Oriole's Hall of Fame was the culmination of his career, all while acknowledging that God was in control at all times. The forward is written by former Major League Baseball Commissioner, Peter Ueberroth, with an Introduction written by Roland Hemond, voted Major League Executive of the Year for three different years. The book contains testimonies from well known former Major League players, Bobby Grich, Doug DeCinces, Joe Rudi and others. These, and others were players who I partnered with in their developing their skills. He tells of God's Intervention and prayers that were answered in the process of decisions being made.