Call it the forgotten rivalry. The Cincinnati Reds and the Los Angeles Dodgers may not share geographical boundaries, and today they don’t even play in the same division, but for a period of time in the 1970s Dodgers vs. Reds was the best rivalry in Major League Baseball. They boasted the biggest names of the game—Johnny Bench, Steve Garvey, Pete Rose, Don Sutton, and Ron Cey, to name a few—and appeared in the World Series seven out of nine years. In Cincinnati Red and Dodger Blue: Baseball's Greatest Forgotten Rivalry, Tom Van Riper provides a fresh look at these two powerhouse teams and the circumstances that made them so pivotal. Van Riper delves into the players, managers, executives, and broadcasters from the rivalry whose impact on baseball continued beyond the 1970s—including the first recipient of Tommy John surgery (Tommy John himself), the all-time hit king turned gambling pariah (Pete Rose), and two young announcers who would soon go on to national prominence (Al Michaels and Vin Scully). In addition, Van Riper recounts in detail the 1973 season when both teams were at or near their peak form, particularly the extra-inning nail-biter between the Reds and Dodgers that took place on September 21 and effectively decided the divisional race. Cincinnati Red and Dodger Blue includes never-before-published interviews with former players from the rivalry, providing a personal and in-depth look at this decade in baseball full of upheaval and change. Baseball’s realignment in 1994 may have rendered this great rivalry nearly forgotten, but its story is one that will be enjoyed by baseball fans and historians of all generations.

One of the oldest and most celebrated franchises in baseball history, the Cincinnati Reds have left an indelible mark on the national pastime. Perhaps the most compelling but overlooked period in Reds history is the 1940 championship season, during which the team won 100 games and earned the world title while overcoming an in-season tragedy faced by no other team in baseball history. Four attempted suicides, three of which were successful, by individuals connected to the team dealt a tragic and unprecedented setback to what was ultimately a successful season. This book addresses both the 1940 Cincinnati Reds as a collective group and, to a greater degree, the individual players who comprised that championship squad. The book begins with the story of Willard Hershberger, the 1940 reserve catcher for the Reds and the only player ever to commit suicide during a major league season. Later chapters tell the stories of Bill McKechnie and Warren Giles, the managers who together led the Reds to victory over the Detroit Tigers in 1940, and the stories of the players on the pennant-winning team: Frank McCormick, Lonnie Frey, Billy Myers, Billy Werber, Eddie Joost, Paul Derringer, William "Bucky" Walters, Johnny Vander Meer, Gene Thompson, Jim Turner, Joseph Beggs, Jimmy Ripple, and Ernie Lombardi. The crucial games, important performances, and personal tragedies of the 1940 season, culminating in the drama of a seven-game World Series, are chronicled in this book.

In Tales from the Cincinnati Reds Dugout, fans can join former pitcher Tom Browning for legendary tales of festivity (the 1990 World Series championship), immortality (a perfect game in 1988), and a bit of eccentricity (life with owner Marge Schott). He tries to answer a variety of questions that fans have been asking for years: What was his reaction to the lifetime suspension of his manager and friend Pete Rose? How did a ragtag group of Cincinnati ballplayers topple the mighty Oakland A's in the 1990 Fall Classic? Was that really Tom on a Sheffield Avenue rooftop—in uniform—during a 1993 Reds-Cubs game at Wrigley Field? Browning also offers stories and anecdotes about some of the biggest names in Reds history, including Pete Rose, Tony Perez, Marge Schott, Lou Piniella, Eric Davis, Dave Parker, Buddy Bell, Barry Larkin, Joe Nuxhall, Mario Soto, and Jose Rijo. He devotes an entire chapter to his perfect game, considered to be one of the greatest moments in club history. Tales from the Cincinnati Reds Dugout is a must-have for any Reds fan.

An insider’s look at baseball’s unwritten rules, explained with examples from the game’s most fascinating characters and wildest historical moments. Everyone knows that baseball is a game of intricate regulations, but it turns out to be even more complicated than we realize. All aspects of baseball—hitting, pitching, and baserunning—are affected by the Code, a set of unwritten rules that governs the Major League game. Some of these rules are openly discussed (don’t steal a base with a big lead late in the game), while others are known only to a minority of players (don’t cross between the catcher and the pitcher on the way to the batter’s box). In The Baseball Codes, old-timers and all-time greats share their insights into the game’s most hallowed—and least known—traditions. For the learned and the casual baseball fan alike, the result is illuminating and thoroughly entertaining. At the heart of this book are incredible and often hilarious stories involving national heroes (like Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays) and notorious headhunters (like Bob Gibson and Don Drysdale) in a century-long series of confrontations over respect, honor, and the soul of the game. With The Baseball Codes, we see for the first time the game as it’s actually played, through the eyes of the players on the field. With rollicking stories from the past and new perspectives on baseball’s informal rulebook, The Baseball Codes is a must for every fan.

In 1990, 25.2 million people watched minor league baseball games. In 2001, that number had increased to 38.8 million thanks in large part to the “new minors.” In addition to the die-hard fans, families and business associates and church, social and school groups come to eat crab cakes and sushi and drink lattes, take in the between-inning contests such as “Race the Mascot,” see entertainers such as the Blues Brothers of Wisconsin, and watch post-game fireworks. This book examines the concept of the “new minors” as it has developed over the past fifteen years. Part One traces and analyzes the changes in the organization and operation of minor league franchises and the shifting relationship between the majors and the members of the National Association. Part Two focuses on the people, places and events of the 2003 season and playoffs. Special attention is paid to the personnel of the minor league franchises, the coaches and players, the player development departments of the major league clubs, and the relationships between them. Part Three offers general observations about the future of the “new minors.” The Edmonton Trappers of the Pacific Coast League, the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the California League, the Billings Mustangs of the Pioneer League, the El Paso Diablos of the Texas League, the Lansing Lugnuts of the Midwest League, and the Mahoning Valley Scrappers of the New York-Pennsylvania League are highlighted.

From the club’s inception in the late ’70s to winning the division for the first time in the ’80s, Joe Carter’s epic home run, the two World Series titles in the early ’90s, the reign of Roy Halladay, Josh Donaldson’s MVP season, and everything in between, the Blue Jays have continued to build a storied history as one of baseball’s most exciting teams. In Tales from the Toronto Blue Jays Dugout, Jim Prime captures all of the best moments in Blue Jays history, from the most thrilling to the most humorous, and so much more. Stories of players and coaches from both on and off the field can be found here, including tales of All-Stars Dave Stieb and Carlos Delgado, Hall of Famers Dave Winfield, Rickey Henderson, and Roberto Alomar, and many more memorable Blue Jays, past and present. It’s all here, in the latest addition to the Tales From series, the perfect gift for any fan of the only current Major League Baseball team playing in Canada!

In Tumultuous Times in America’s Game: From Jackie Robinson's Breakthrough to the War over Free Agency, Bryan Soderholm-Difatte provides a comprehensive examination of major developments and key figures in Major League Baseball from the integration of Jackie Robinson in 1947 to the owners-instigated catastrophic players’ strike of 1994-95. While many fans will recall those decades with fond remembrances of the baseball stars who played then—from Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, and Willie Mays to Roberto Clemente, Pete Rose, Reggie Jackson, and Cal Ripken—they were also a time of substantial challenges that upended more than half a century of tradition that was the backbone of the major leagues. Tumultuous Times in America’s Game includes histories of each of the major league franchises, presented alongside Soderholm-Difatte’s detailed examination of the controversies, developments, and innovations from these significant decades in professional baseball. Recaps of several of baseball’s most exciting pennant races round out the narrative, making this book a valuable read for fans and historians of the national pastime.

Sports Marketing: A Strategic Perspective is the most authoritative, comprehensive, and engaging introduction to sports marketing currently available. It is the only introductory textbook on this subject to adopt a strategic approach, explaining clearly how every element of the marketing process should be designed and managed, from goal-setting and planning to implementation and control. Covering all the key topics in the sports marketing curriculum, including consumer behavior, market research, promotions, products, pricing, sponsorship, business ethics, technology, and e-marketing, the book introduces core theory and concepts, explains best practice, and surveys the rapidly changing international sports business environment. Chapters contain extensive real-world case studies and biographies of key industry figures, and challenging review exercises encourage the reader to reflect critically on their own knowledge and professional practice. Now in a fully revised and updated sixth edition, Sports Marketing: A Strategic Perspective includes expanded coverage of social and digital media, analytics, and ethical issues, as well as a greater number of international articles and examples. In a new feature, successful sports marketers reflect on their careers and how they progressed in the sports marketing industry. It is an essential foundation for any sports marketing or sports business course, and an invaluable reference for any sports marketing practitioner looking to improve their professional practice. A companion website offers additional resources for instructors and students, including an instructor’s guide, test questions, presentation slides, and useful weblinks.

Offers instructions for creating over fifty fleece projects fit for game day, including ear warmer headbands, antenna pennants, and cozies for coffee, cans, and bottles, and includes charts listing team colors.

“Takes an inside look into the wave of player departures that has rocked the game both in Cuba and the U.S., while providing historical perspective.” —USA Today The stellar play and fascinating backstories of exiled Cuban sluggers and hurlers has become part of Major League Baseball history. On-field exploits by colorful Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig, AL rookie-of-the-year José Abreu, home run derby champion Yoenis Céspedes, radar-gun busting Cincinnati fast-baller Aroldis Chapman, and a handful of others have been further enhanced by feel-good tales of desperate Cuban superstars risking their lives to escape Fidel Castro’s communist realm and chase an American Dream of financial and athletic success. But a truly ugly underbelly to this story has also slowly emerged—one that involves human smuggling operations financed by Miami crime syndicates, operated by Mexican drug cartels, and conveniently ignored by ball clubs endlessly searching for fresh waves of international talent. Given rare access to Cuba and its ballplayers, Peter C. Bjarkman has spent over twenty years traveling to all corners of the island getting to know the top Cuban stars and witnessing their struggles and triumphs. In this book, Bjarkman places events in the context of Cuban baseball history and tradition before delving into the stories of the major Cuban stars who have left the island. He reveals their personal histories, explains the events that led them to defect from their homeland, and details their harrowing journeys to US shores. Players whose big-league dreams failed are also discussed, as are Cuba’s efforts to stem the defection tide through working agreements with the Japanese and Mexican leagues. Cuba’s Baseball Defectors will fascinate baseball fans, those interested in the history of US-Cuba relations, and those wanting to learn more about the unsavory story of human trafficking in the name of baseball glory. “A revelation . . . an original social history for sports enthusiasts and readers interested in past and future Cuba–U.S. ties.” —Library Journal Includes photos