A thoughtfully researched, movingly presented dual–biography of two iconic American writers, each trying to find the ideal friend with whom they could share their journey through our imperfect world. Any biography that concentrates on either Henry David Thoreau or Ralph Waldo Emerson tends to diminish the other figure, but in Solid Seasons both men remain central and equal. Through several decades of writing, friendship remained a primary theme for them both. Collecting extracts from the letters and journals of both men, as well as words written about them by their contemporaries, Jeffrey S. Cramer beautifully illustrates the full nature of their twenty–five–year dialogue. Biographers like to point at the crisis in their friendship, focusing particularly on Thoreau's disappointment in Emerson—rarely on Emerson's own disappointment in Thoreau—and leaving it there, a friendship ruptured. But the solid seasons remained, as is evident when, in 1878, Anne Burrows Gilchrist, the English writer and friend of Whitman, visited Emerson. She wrote that his memory was failing "as to recent names and topics but as is usual in such cases all the mental impressions that were made when he was in full vigour remain clear and strong." As they chatted, Emerson called to his wife, Lidian, in the next room, "What was the name of my best friend?" "Henry Thoreau," she answered. "Oh, yes," Emerson repeated. "Henry Thoreau."

A thoughtfully researched, movingly presented dual–biography of two iconic American writers, each trying to find the ideal friend with whom they could share their journey through our imperfect world. Any biography that concentrates on either Henry David Thoreau or Ralph Waldo Emerson tends to diminish the other figure, but in Solid Seasons both men remain central and equal. Through several decades of writing, friendship remained a primary theme for them both. Collecting extracts from the letters and journals of both men, as well as words written about them by their contemporaries, Jeffrey S. Cramer beautifully illustrates the full nature of their twenty–five–year dialogue. Biographers like to point at the crisis in their friendship, focusing particularly on Thoreau's disappointment in Emerson—rarely on Emerson's own disappointment in Thoreau—and leaving it there, a friendship ruptured. But the solid seasons remained, as is evident when, in 1878, Anne Burrows Gilchrist, the English writer and friend of Whitman, visited Emerson. She wrote that his memory was failing "as to recent names and topics but as is usual in such cases all the mental impressions that were made when he was in full vigour remain clear and strong." As they chatted, Emerson called to his wife, Lidian, in the next room, "What was the name of my best friend?" "Henry Thoreau," she answered. "Oh, yes," Emerson repeated. "Henry Thoreau."

Stubble scruffed up their chins. Tobacco wads ballooned their cheeks. The 1993 Philadelphia Phillies had the look of a slow-pitch softball team itching to kick some serious butt. They did kick butt, too, on and off the field. “They lived the life of professional baseball players as fully as it can be done,” manager Jim Fregosi said. Though they weren’t a photogenic bunch, their mugs were everywhere, on Baseball Today, on David Letterman, and on Saturday Night Live. Even President Clinton quipped about them. The newly revised edition of Robert Gordon’s and Tom Burgoyne’s More Than Beards, Bellies, and Biceps: The Story of the 1993 Phillies tells the complete story of this gang of baseball throwbacks that quickly seduced the hometown fans. By season’s end they had won over the rest of the country, too. America’s Most Wanted Team became America’s Team in a heart-thumping World Series against Toronto. The ’93 Phils drew more spectators than any other Philadelphia franchise in the city’s century-and-a-quarter of professional sports. More Than Beards, Bellies, and Biceps offers the story of a team that burned the candle at both ends and lit up a city like a firecracker.

The Cleveland Cavaliers franchise has been in existence for more than forty-five years, and it hasn’t been an easy ride for the team or their fans, with many ups and downs along the way. They had seen the “Miracle in Richfield” in 1976, “The Shot” by Michael Jordan to knock them out of the playoffs in 1989, the arrival of “The Chosen One,” LeBron James, in 2003, and a trip to the NBA Finals in 2007, but never a title. All In: The Story of LeBron James annd the 2016 NBA Champion Cleveland Cavaliers takes readers on the rollercoaster ride from LeBron coming back to Cleveland, to their 2015 NBA Finals appearance, through the unforgettable 2015–16 season that gave the city of Cleveland their first major sports championship in fifty-two years. Author Vince McKee brings to life all the drama on and off the court, including how the team was built, why coach David Blatt was fired and replaced by Tyronn Lue midway through the season, and every big game and play along the way, straight through to the dramatic 2016 NBA Finals and epic comeback against the seemingly unbeatable Golden State Warriors. LeBron James finally earned his long-awaited redemption, Kevin Love made his presence felt under the boards, Kyrie Irving took to the NBA’s biggest stage and made it his own under the brightest of lights, and J. R. Smith, Tristan Thompson, Richard Jefferson, and Iman Shumpert all made key contributions. All In is a must-have for all Cleveland sports fans!

In 1964, thousands of Philadelphia baseball fans were caught up in the Phillies' unexpected run at the National League pennant. Nearly a decade of continuous defeat had earned them little more than the reputation for an unprecedented record of consecutive losses. But in that '64 season the Phillies shocked the baseball world, taking over the National League in mid-July and holding on to first place for 73 consecutive days. And then, as the team's first pennant in a generation seemed within reach, the Phillies collapsed in the greatest meltdown in baseball history. This account traces the rise and fall of that year's Phillies team and attempts to disentangle the complex issues that ultimately cost them the pennant. The book sheds light on the influential events of the fifties and sixties that rendered the team first futile and then undefeated, beginning with an exploration of Philadelphia itself and its team in the 1950s. Early chapters discuss the acquisition of a new manager (Gene Mauch) and the dramatic additions of a dynamic new pitcher (Jim Bunning) and the first great African American player produced by the farm system (Richie Allen). Following chapters focus specifically on the 1964 season and its critical moments, from Jim Bunning's perfect game and Johnny Callison's winning home run in the All-Star game, to Chico Ruiz's steal of home that began the devastating 10-game losing streak at the end of the season. Final chapters analyze what went wrong during the season and discuss the Phillies' position in baseball today. Three useful appendices provide the statistics for the games of the '64 season and for the individual players on the team, and detailed statistics for the 10-game losing streak.

“This is one of the very best baseball books in years.” Booklist, Starred Review Reaching the major leagues is a pipe dream for most young baseball players in America. Very few ever get to live it out. A select number of those players face the elation and frustration of getting to play in just one major league game. The Cup of Coffee Club: 11 Players and Their Brush with Baseball History tells the unique stories of eleven of these players. It details their struggles to reach the major leagues, their one moment in the limelight, and their struggles to get back. They include a former Major League Baseball manager, the son of a Baseball Hall of Famer, and two different brothers of Hall of Famers. Exclusive interviews with each of the players provide insight into what that single seminal moment meant and how they dealt with the blow of never making another major league appearance again. Spanning half a century of baseball, each player’s journey to Major League Baseball is distinct, as is each of their responses to having played in just a single game. The Cup of Coffee Club shares their unique perspectives, providing a better understanding of just how special each major league game can be.

More than any other sport, baseball has developed its own niche in America's culture and psyche. Some researchers spend years on detailed statistical analyses of minute parts of the game, while others wax poetic about its players and plays. Many trace the beginnings of the civil rights movement in part to the Major Leagues' decision to integrate, and the words and phrases of the game (for example, pinch-hitter and out in left field) have become common in our everyday language. From AARON, HENRY onward, this book covers all of what might be called the cultural aspects of baseball (as opposed to the number-rich statistical information so widely available elsewhere). Biographical sketches of all Hall of Fame players, owners, executives and umpires, as well as many of the sportswriters and broadcasters who have won the Spink and Frick awards, join entries for teams, owners, commissioners and league presidents. Advertising, agents, drafts, illegal substances, minor leagues, oldest players, perfect games, retired uniform numbers, superstitions, tripleheaders, and youngest players are among the thousands of entries herein. Most entries open with a topical quote and conclude with a brief bibliography of sources for further research. The whole work is exhaustively indexed and includes 119 photographs.

For nearly two decades Alan Trammell displayed an all-around game as a fielder, hitter, and base runner that was rare for shortstops of his era. With second baseman Lou Whitaker, he formed one-half of arguably the greatest double-play combination in baseball history and was an integral piece of one of the signature teams of the 1980's. Trammell was a World Series hero and a central figure in one of the greatest pennant races in American League history. From his early days as a multi-sport prep star in the talent-rich San Diego area, through a meteoric ascension up the minor league ladder and into the big leagues, Trammell won over doubters and overcame setbacks to become one of the top players in the Detroit Tigers' history. He joined Ty Cobb and Al Kaline as the only players to spend 20 seasons in Detroit, and later served an ill-fated managerial stint with the franchise. This exhaustively researched biography provides the first book-length account of the life and career of one of the most well-known figures in Detroit sports history.