Major League Turbulence

Major League Turbulence
Author: Douglas M. Branson
Publisher: McFarland
Total Pages: 258
Release: 2021-10-05
Genre: Sports & Recreation
ISBN: 1476640661

The decades between the late 1960s counterculture and the advent of steroid use in the late 1980s bought tumult to Major League Baseball. Dock Ellis (Pirates, Yankees) and Dick Allen (Phillies, Cardinals, Dodgers, White Sox) epitomized the era with recreational drug use (Ellis), labor strife (Allen), and the questioning of authority. Both men were Black Power advocates at a time when the movement was growing in baseball. In the 1970s and 1980s, Marvin Miller and the Major League Baseball Players Association fought numerous, mostly victorious battles with MLB and team owners. This book chronicles a turbulent period in baseball, and in American life, that led directly to the performance-enhancing drug era and the dramatically changed nature of the game.

The Pastime in Turbulence

The Pastime in Turbulence
Author: Brent Kelley
Publisher: McFarland
Total Pages: 338
Release: 2010-06-28
Genre: Sports & Recreation
ISBN: 9780786481040

The 1940s were years of change in the world of baseball. Minor league free agents were introduced to the game in 1940 by Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis; Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941 and player after player left to join the war effort with players both below and well above draft age completing the rosters; 1946 marked the first time that two National League teams, the St. Louis Cardinals and Brooklyn Dodgers, were tied for first place, forcing a best two-out-of three series; 1947 brought racial integration, with Jackie Robinson taking the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers; and the American League saw its own tie for first place in 1948 between the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox, which was played out in a one-game playoff. This work focuses on 27 players of the 1940s, guys--like Gene Thompson, Elmer Valo, Damon Phillips, Joe Cleary, and Cliff Chambers--who witnessed these changes and firsts personally. The players interviewed for this work had different experiences in the major leagues--some experienced long careers and benefited from the changes while others did not--and they come from diverse backgrounds as well.

The Year Without a World Series

The Year Without a World Series
Author: Robert C. Cottrell
Publisher: McFarland
Total Pages: 266
Release: 2023-09-06
Genre: Sports & Recreation
ISBN: 1476692475

The 1994 Major League Baseball season promised to be memorable. Long-standing batting and pitching standards were threatened, including the revered single-season home run record. The Montreal Expos and New York Yankees were delivering remarkable campaigns. In August, acting commissioner Bud Selig called a halt to the season amid the League's latest labor dispute. The shutdown led to a lockout as well as cancellation of more than 900 regular season games, the scheduled expanded rounds of playoffs, and that year's World Series. Like all labor struggles, it was fundamentally about control--of salaries, of players' ability to decide their own fates, and of the game itself. This book chronicles Major League Baseball's turbulent '94 season and its ripple effects. It highlights earlier labor struggles and the roles performed by individuals from John Montgomery Ward, David Fultz and Robert Murphy to Marvin Miller, Andy Messersmith, Jim "Catfish" Hunter and Donald Fehr. Also examined are the ballplayers' own organizations, from the Players League of the early 1890s to the still potent Major League Baseball Players Association doing battle with team owners and their representatives.

THE HISTORY OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

THE HISTORY OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Author: James Bren
Publisher: James Bren
Total Pages: 116
Release:
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN:

Embark on an enthralling journey through the captivating history of America's cherished pastime with "The History of Major League Baseball" by James Bren. This meticulously researched and eloquently written chronicle offers readers an immersive exploration of the evolution, iconic moments, and enduring legacy of Major League Baseball (MLB). From its humble beginnings in the mid-19th century to the contemporary spectacle we know today, Bren unravels the rich tapestry of baseball's history. Delve into the early days of the sport, the formation of the first professional teams, and the emergence of baseball as a cultural phenomenon that would come to define the nation. Bren skillfully navigates through pivotal moments that shaped MLB, from landmark rule changes that revolutionized gameplay to the gripping narratives of legendary World Series matchups. The book meticulously examines the rise of iconic teams, the triumphs of unforgettable players, and the profound impact of historical events on the sport's trajectory. No exploration of baseball's history is complete without a focus on the extraordinary individuals who became legends. Bren brings to life the stories of baseball's most iconic figures, from the unparalleled achievements of Babe Ruth to the groundbreaking journey of Jackie Robinson, and the modern-day excellence of players like Derek Jeter. These narratives provide a comprehensive understanding of how these players not only influenced the game but also left an indelible mark on American culture. As Bren takes readers through the pages of history, he addresses the challenges that baseball confronted during pivotal moments in time. From the repercussions of the Black Sox Scandal to navigating the adversities of the Great Depression and the impact of World War II, the narrative underscores baseball's resilience and its ability to mirror the societal landscape. Beyond the diamond, the book explores the strategic shifts in gameplay, the evolution of team dynamics, and the enduring passion of fans that have made baseball a cultural touchstone. The narrative captures the essence of the sport's ability to captivate generations, fostering a sense of unity and shared identity among fans. "The History of Major League Baseball" is not just a recounting of scores and statistics; it's a compelling exploration of a sport that has become synonymous with the American experience. Whether you're a seasoned baseball aficionado or a newcomer to the game, Bren's masterful storytelling and comprehensive research make this book an indispensable guide to understanding the unparalleled legacy of Major League Baseball.

In Cobb's Shadow

In Cobb's Shadow
Author: Dan D’Addona
Publisher: McFarland
Total Pages: 225
Release: 2015-09-30
Genre: Sports & Recreation
ISBN: 0786497165

Considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time, Ty Cobb cast a shadow over the game with his violent behavior on the field and off. His shadow was never darker than when it fell on his teammates. Sam Crawford, Harry Heilmann and Heinie Manush were three of the greatest players in baseball history, good enough to be in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Each played in the Detroit outfield alongside Cobb, though their fame never reached the level of his. Little is remembered about this trio of Hall of Famers. Crawford, the all-time triples leader, Heilmann, the last right-handed batter to hit .400, and Manush, another batting champion, each made his own mark on the game, detailed for the first time in this triple biography.

Major League Turbulence

Major League Turbulence
Author: Douglas M. Branson
Publisher: McFarland
Total Pages: 258
Release: 2021-09-27
Genre: Sports & Recreation
ISBN: 1476680582

The decades between the late 1960s counterculture and the advent of steroid use in the late 1980s bought tumult to Major League Baseball. Dock Ellis (Pirates, Yankees) and Dick Allen (Phillies, Cardinals, Dodgers, White Sox) epitomized the era with recreational drug use (Ellis), labor strife (Allen), and the questioning of authority. Both men were Black Power advocates at a time when the movement was growing in baseball. In the 1970s and 1980s, Marvin Miller and the Major League Baseball Players Association fought numerous, mostly victorious battles with MLB and team owners. This book chronicles a turbulent period in baseball, and in American life, that led directly to the performance-enhancing drug era and the dramatically changed nature of the game.

The Minors

The Minors
Author: Neil J. Sullivan
Publisher: Macmillan
Total Pages: 352
Release: 1990-03-15
Genre: Sports & Recreation
ISBN: 9780312302214

This impressive history of baseball in the smaller towns and cities of the U.S. is divided into three sections. The first covers the years from 1877 to 1920, when the modern game was evolving and the general outlines of major and minor leagues were taking shape; the second treats the period from 1920 to 1950, the golden age of the minors; the third is devoted to the expansion of the majors and the rise of television, both of which all but destroyed the minors, reducing the number of leagues from 59 to 21.

Kiss 'Em Goodbye

Kiss 'Em Goodbye
Author: Dennis Purdy
Publisher: ESPN
Total Pages: 385
Release: 2010-02-23
Genre: Sports & Recreation
ISBN: 0345520475

The fascinating sports history of defunct teams in baseball, hockey, basketball and more! THEY’RE GOING, GOING, GONE. . . . Their names roll off the tongue, a litany of the damned: the Providence Steam Roller, the Wilmington Quicksteps, the Cincinnati Porkers. They are the lost squads of professional sports history—teams forsaken by fans, fleeced by owners, or forgotten by time. Until now. Kiss ’Em Goodbye unearths the real stories of dozens of vanished teams that once graced—and often disgraced—North America’s big leagues. Like the St. Paul Apostles, the only major league team never to have played a home game; Card-Pitt, the NFL’s World War II doormat; and the Philadelphia Quakers of the NHL, a team owned jointly by bootleggers and a retired boxer who climbed back into the ring to help meet payroll. In obituaries for both big-city franchises that skipped town (the Baltimore Colts, the Brooklyn Dodgers) and small-town teams that had their brief moment of glory (the Tonawanda Kardex, the Pottsville Maroons), Kiss ’Em Goodbye commemorates mysterious fires, waterlogged basketball courts, fields tended by goats (“cheaper than mowers!”), and uniforms that broke team budgets. It’s all here in a fascinating, hilarious, page-turning celebration of teams that prove it’s not whether you win or lose, but that you once played the game.

Major League Baseball in the 1970s

Major League Baseball in the 1970s
Author: Joseph G. Preston
Publisher: McFarland
Total Pages: 412
Release: 2014-05-23
Genre: Sports & Recreation
ISBN: 0786484055

Many of the most powerful trends in baseball today have their roots in the 1970s. Baseball entered that decade seriously behind the times in race relations, attitudes toward conformity versus individuality, and the manager-player relationship. In a sense, much of the wrenching change that American society as a whole experienced in the 1960s was played out in baseball in the following decade. Additionally, the game itself was rapidly evolving, with the inauguration of the designated hitter rule in the American League, the evolution of the closer, the development of the five-man starting rotation, the acceptance of strikeout lions like Dave Kingman and Bobby Bonds and the proliferation of stolen bases. This book opens with a discussion of the challenges that faced baseball's movers and shakers when they gathered in Bal Harbour, Florida, for the annual winter meetings on December 2, 1969. Their worst nightmares would be realized in the coming years. For many and often contradictory reasons the 1970s game evolved into a war of competing ideologies--escalating salaries, an acrimonious strike, Sesame Street-style team mascots, and the breaking of the time-honored tradition that all players, including the pitcher, must play on offense as well as defense--that would ultimately spell doom for the majority of attendees.

The American League in Transition, 1965-1975

The American League in Transition, 1965-1975
Author: Paul Hensler
Publisher: McFarland
Total Pages: 265
Release: 2012-12-24
Genre: Sports & Recreation
ISBN: 0786446269

In the years following the decline of the New York Yankees dynasty that ended in 1964, three American League teams endeavored to stake their claim to the Junior Circuit's crown. From 1965 to 1975, the Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles, and Oakland Athletics emerged as the most significant AL clubs, but this trio achieved varying degrees of success. Through the prism of these three teams, this book examines facets of their dynastic aspirations: the way in which key personnel were assembled into a cohesive roster, the glory that was won by the clubs, and the factors leading to their decline. Drawing on a rich variety of primary and secondary sources, the story is told of vital players from Latin America who made their way to Minnesota, the select few who ventured from the Orioles' training facility in Thomasville, Georgia, to Baltimore, and the collegiate stars selected in the early years of the newly-created amateur draft who went on to help forge a winning combination in Oakland.