Baseball's Greatest Controversies

Baseball's Greatest Controversies PDF

Author: John G. Robertson

Publisher: Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland

Published: 1995

Total Pages: 218

ISBN-13:

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To the uninitiated, baseball is a simple sport: the pitcher throws the ball, the hitter tries to hit it, and the fielders try to catch it. But what happens before, during and after those basic actions causes more arguments than can be found in any other sport. Most of these disputes are settled quickly; a few survive for generations, still able to spark heated debate decades later. Did Babe Ruth call his home run in the 1932 World Series? Was Shoeless Joe Jackson a victim or a perpetrator of the Black Sox Scandal? And who really won the batting title in 1910? These and 23 other of the game's most heated controversies are analyzed in this work. The background for each of the debates is given, as well as a full discussion of the historical implications of the decisions. After all, disputes have been a part of the national pastime since Abner Doubleday laid out the first baseball diamond in 1839. Right?

Clearing the Bases

Clearing the Bases PDF

Author: Allen Barra

Publisher: Macmillan

Published: 2008-09-30

Total Pages: 286

ISBN-13: 1429970693

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Sports expert Allen Barra's Clearing the Bases takes you to the heart of baseball's ultimate question in this, the ultimate baseball debate book, one guaranteed to spark thousands of heated arguments and supply the fuel for thousands more. Who was better, Mickey Mantle or Willie Mays? Who was the best right-hander of the '60s, Bob Gibson or Juan Marichal? Who is the greatest starting pitcher of all time? At his peak, who was more valuable, Joe DiMaggio or Ted Williams? If Lefty Grove, Sandy Koufax, and Roger Clemens had pitched at the same time against the same hitters, who would have won the most games? If Jackie Robinson had been white, would he be deserving of the Hall of Fame? Is Pete Rose overrated? Has Tim Raines been underrated? Who is the best hitter of the game today-- Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Ken Griffey, Jr.? Is today's pitching really that bad? Why can't modern pitchers go nine innings? Which are more valuable--good starters or good relievers? How important is the stolen base? What are the myths that still surround Babe Ruth? What was the most talented baseball team of the twentieth century? Which twentieth-century championship team has been most slighted by baseball historians? What has been the real impact of black and Latin talent on Major League Baseball? Is baseball more competitive now than it was one hundred years ago? Or fifty? Or twenty-five? Who was the greatest all-around player of the last century? Find the answers here. Clearing the Bases is the first book to tackle these and many other of baseball's most intriguing questions, plus it offers hard, sensible answers--answers based on exhaustive research and analysis. Sports journalist Allen Barra, whose weekly sports column, "By the Numbers," has earned him millions of readers in The Wall Street Journal and whose outspoken opinions on Salon.com are discussed regularly on National Public Radio, takes on baseball's toughest arguments. Using stats and methods he developed during his ongoing tenure at The Wall Street Journal, Barra takes you to the heart of baseball's ultimate question, Who's the Best?, in this, the ultimate baseball debate book. Regardless of what stand you take in these debates, you'll never think about baseball's greatest stars in the same way again.

Ty Cobb

Ty Cobb PDF

Author: Charles Leerhsen

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2015-05-12

Total Pages: 464

ISBN-13: 1451645767

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"An biography of perhaps the most significant and controversial player in baseball history, Ty Cobb, drawing in part on newly discovered letters and documents"--

Baseball and the Blame Game

Baseball and the Blame Game PDF

Author: John Billheimer

Publisher: McFarland

Published: 2007-07-02

Total Pages: 229

ISBN-13: 0786429062

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Most baseball fans know what links Fred Merkle, Fred Snodgrass, Mickey Owen and Bill Buckner. It's a pantheon of public failure. They would be harder put to say what links Eric Byrnes, Tony Fernandez, and Babe Ruth, though these players made misplays every bit as egregious. In this smart, highly readable history of scapegoating, John Billheimer identifies the elements that combine to condemn one player to a life sentence while another gets a wrist slap for the same offense. As it turns out, the difference between a lower-case e in some forgotten box score and a lifetime of ignominy can hinge on a number of factors, including timing, geography, reputation, misunderstanding, media bias, and just plain bad luck.

How to Snag Major League Baseballs

How to Snag Major League Baseballs PDF

Author: Zack Hample

Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books

Published: 1999

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780689823312

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The author, who has acquired more than 1000 baseballs at major league baseball games, offers advice on the many ways to get balls at games.

Billy Martin

Billy Martin PDF

Author: Bill Pennington

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Published: 2015

Total Pages: 565

ISBN-13: 0544022092

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From an award-winning New York Times sports columnist, the definitive biography of one of baseball's most celebrated, mercurial, and misunderstood figures--legendary manager and baseball genius, Billy Martin

The Great Canon Controversy

The Great Canon Controversy PDF

Author: William Casement

Publisher: Transaction Publishers

Published:

Total Pages: 200

ISBN-13: 9781412837064

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Debate about teaching the great books of the Western canon has galvanized American higher education in recent years. The Great Canon Controversy provides an overview of the debate, summarizing the position for the canon and the position against it. Casement supports continued teaching of the canon and respect for it, while calling for revising reading lists to include nontraditional works. Part I describes how the canon was taught from ancient Greece to the present, noting key arguments for this form of pedagogy that are still with us today, specific books that were taught at different times over the centuries, and controversies the canon has been subject to in the past. Part II deals with anticanonism, epistemological and political dimensions of the theory underlying it. Casement then shows concrete examples of anticanonism in operation, at Stanford University and St. Lawrence University. Casement argues that, while much of what anticanonists say is hyperbolic or mistaken, we should listen to their demand to give fair treatment to works by marginalized authors and to great non-Western works. This means re-reviewing works worthy of canonization that may have been obscured by prejudice, but still requiring that they make it on their own merits and not out of sympathy for their authors. The Great Canon Controversy will be of great interest to educators and students alike, as well as those interested in the future of higher education in the United States.

The Pine Tar Game

The Pine Tar Game PDF

Author: Filip Bondy

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2016-08-02

Total Pages: 256

ISBN-13: 1476777187

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On July 24, 1983, during the finale of a heated four-game series between the dynastic New York Yankees and small-town Kansas City Royals, umpires nullified a go-ahead home run based on an obscure rule, when Yankees manager Billy Martin pointed out an illegal amount of pine tar, the sticky substance used for a better grip, on Royals third baseman George Brett's bat. Brett wildly charged out of the dugout and chaos ensued. The call temporarily cost the Royals the game, but the decision was eventually overturned, resulting in a resumption of the game several weeks later that created its own hysteria. The Pine Tar Game chronicles this watershed moment, marking a pivot in the sport, when benign cheating tactics, like spitballs, Superball bats, and a couple extra inches of tar on an ash bat, gave way to era of soaring salaries, labor struggles, and rampant use of performance-enhancing drugs. Filip Bondy paints a portrait of the Yankees and Royals of that era, featuring two diametrically opposed owners, in George Steinbrenner and Ewing Kauffman; a host of bad actors and phenomenal athletes; and lots of yelling. Players and club officials like Brett, Goose Gossage, Willie Randolph, Ron Guidry, Sparky Lyle, David Cone, and John Schuerholz offer fresh commentary on the events along with their take on a rivalry that culminated in one of the most iconic baseball tantrums of all time. Rush Limbaugh, employed by the Royals at the time as a promotions director, offers his own insider's perspective. Through this one fateful game, the ensuing protest, and ultimate fallout, The Pine Tar Game examines a more innocent time in professional sports, as well as the shifting tide that gave us today's modern iteration of baseball.

Home Run Heroes: The Ultimate Guide to Baseball’s Greatest Moments & Strategies

Home Run Heroes: The Ultimate Guide to Baseball’s Greatest Moments & Strategies PDF

Author: Alex Jones

Publisher: Pure Water Books

Published: 2024-06-17

Total Pages: 107

ISBN-13:

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Do you find yourself lost in the lingo of line drives and longing for the lowdown on lockouts? Wondering why a ‘sacrifice fly’ isn’t just an insect on the field? Absolutely, you can become a baseball buff! “Home Run Heroes: The Ultimate Guide to Baseball’s Greatest Moments & Strategies” is the grand slam of guides for the burgeoning baseball enthusiast. This book is your all-access pass to understanding every pitch, play, and part of the game. Unlock the joys of baseball with: · In-Depth Explanations: Demystify baseball jargon and uncover the rules of the game. · Historical Highlights: Relive the most thrilling moments in baseball history. · Strategic Smarts: Gain insights into the strategies that shape the game. · Legendary Lore: Learn about the heroes who have made baseball what it is today. This book is your ticket to a fuller, richer baseball experience. Don’t sit on the sidelines—immerse yourself in the game and discover a newfound appreciation for America’s favorite pastime. Step up to the batter’s box of knowledge and hit a home run in understanding baseball. Get your copy of “Home Run Heroes” now and join the league of happier, more informed sports fans! In Summary: “Home Run Heroes” is an essential guide for anyone looking to deepen their understanding and enjoyment of baseball. It’s packed with explanations, strategies, and stories that will transform you from a spectator to a connoisseur of the game. This book promises to enhance your baseball experience and bring you the happiness that comes with being a true fan of the sport.