New Releases by Peter Golenbock

An oral history of the New York Mets, by the New York Times bestselling baseball writer of Bums and The Bronx Zoo. From Tom Seaver to Gary Carter, Ron Swoboda to Al Leiter, from the team''s inception to the current day, the New York Mets'' road to success has been a rutted and furrowed path. Now, with the help of New York Times bestselling author Peter Golenbock, the complete story of one of the most controversial teams in baseball history comes to life. Told from the voices of the men who experienced it firsthand, this compulsively readable account gives baseball fans the inside scoop on one of baseball''s most popular teams. This is the true story of a group of men who won the hearts and shattered the dreams of generations. Utilizing dozens of personal interviews with players, coaches, fans, and sportswriters, Amazin'' takes readers on a journey from the Mets'' bumbling days as a new team in 1962, to their stunning World Championships in 1969 and 1986, right up through to today. In time for the anniversary of the New York Mets, Amazin'' is rich with unforgettable personalities and wondrous stories both funny and poignant.

New York Times bestseller Presumed Guilty exposes shocking, never-before revealed, exclusive information from the trial of the century and the verdict that shocked the nation. When Caylee Anthony was reported missing in Orlando, Florida, in July 2008, the public spent the next three years following the investigation and the eventual trial of her mother, Casey Anthony. On July 5, 2011, the case that captured headlines worldwide exploded when, against all odds, defense attorney Jose Baez delivered one of the biggest legal upsets in American history: a not-guilty verdict. In this tell-all, Baez shares secrets the defense knew but has not disclosed to anyone until now and frankly reveals his experiences throughout the entire case—discovering the evidence, meeting Casey Anthony for the first time, being with George and Cindy Anthony day after day, leading defense strategy meetings, and spending weeks in the judge''s chambers. Presumed Guilty shows how Baez, a struggling, high-school dropout, became one of the nation''s most high-profile defense attorneys through his tireless efforts to seek justice for one of the country''s most vilified murder suspects.

Written in collaboration with New York Times bestselling author Peter Golenbock, Larry Lawton''s true-life story is a Hollywood producer''s dream. Larry and Peter show the world a life of a straightforward, no excuses man who refused to let a broken system keep him down. Think Goodfellas, only better. Gangster Redemption tracks Larry''s life growing up in the Bronx, his connection to organized crime, and how he went on to steal over 15 million dollars in jewels, ultimately landing himself in one of America''s most brutal maximum-security prisons where he was exposed to unbelievable torture. Through reading this book, readers will discover: a vivid account of Larry''s crimes and how he managed to evade law enforcement and the FBI for nearly six years a secret life of corruption the truth about prison life, what is lost, how to avoid and dissolve bad associations, and how to turn ones life around how Larry developed the #1 program in the country designed to steer teens away from a life of crime Lawton''s Reality Check Program is nationally recognized and used by judges, law enforcement, government officials, attorneys, and parents all over the country. It has kept thousands of teens and young adults from going to prison. His success rate is incredible and well documented. So is Larry Lawton''s story.

No metropolis in America has more pure baseball spirit than St. Louis, Missouri. It''s a love affair that began in 1874, when a band of local boosters raised $20,000 to start a professional ball club, and the honeymoon still isn''t over. Now Peter Golenbock, the bestselling author and master of baseball oral history, has written another remarkable saga enriched by extensive and incomparable remembrances from the scores of players, managers, and executives who lived it. These pages capture the voices of Branch Rickey on George Sisler. Rogers Hornsby and his creation of the farm system. Hornsby on Grover Cleveland Alexander -- and Alexander on Hornsby. Dizzy Dean on -- who else? -- Dizzy Dean. And so many others including "The Man" himself, Stan Musial; Eldon Auker, Ellis Clary, Denny Galehouse, and Don Gutteridge on the 1940s Browns; Brooks Lawrence, the second man to cross the Cardinals'' color line; Jim Bronsnan, the first man to break the players'' "code of silence"; Tommy Herr, Darrell Porter, and Joe McGrane on Whitey Herzog''s Cardinals; and Cardinal owner Bill DeWitt, Jr., on the team today.

Baseball has a rich history-and a treasure trove of books, magazines, and newspaper accounts celebrating (or lamenting) what went down on the diamond. And some of the most amazing games happened when fall arrived and the boys of summer played for the championship. During those two weeks in October (now November), time stood still. Nothing else mattered. This anthology captures the best of times and the worst of times as teams battled for the glory-and will bring back memories to all who cherish Americas national sport. On these pages, youll find: o Casey Stengels inside-the-park home run 1923-Robert W. Creamer o Babe Ruths Called Shot 1932-Leigh Montville o The Catch: Willie Mays and Vic Wertz 1954-Arnold Hano o Dustys Moment, 1954 World Series-Stephen Jay Gould o Jackie Robinson Steals Home 1955-Carl Erskine o Dodgers Win 1955 (Sandy Amoros catch)-Tom Oliphant o Don Larsens Perfect Game 1956-Don Larsen o Mazeroskis Home Run Yankees vs. Pirates 1960-Lester J. Biederman o 1986 Mets vs. Red Sox-Roger Angell o St. Louis Cardinals 1964-David Halberstam o World Series cancelled 1994-Jack Curry o Cleveland/Atlanta series 1995-Tom Verducci

In 1949, when Humpy Wheeler was 11, he attended the very first NASCAR race. For the next ten years, he spent as much time in the pits as he could, and came to know many of the sport’s pioneers. Eventually, Wheeler began promoting races at Carolina tracks such as Concord Speedway, Robinwood Speedway, and Starlight Speedway. Racing was so rough back then he kept a gun by his side when he paid the purse, and often used his fists to keep order. By the time Wheeler retired in 2008, he had helped NASCAR become the six-billion-dollar-a-year industry it is today. Filled with photographs from Wheeler''s personal archives, Growing up NASCAR presents the ultimate behind-the-scenes look at NASCAR from the consumate insider.

In this definitive history, bestselling journalist Golenbock focuses on a particularly dominant period of the Yankees'' past, when the Bronx Bombers won nine World Series titles on the strengths of such Hall of Famers as DiMaggio, Mantle, Berra, and Ford. Includes interviews of players and coaches, vintage photos, and a new introduction.

Dear Baseball Fan: I know what you’re thinking: Couldn’t he have come up with a better title? My mother agrees with you, but unfortunately Genius just doesn’t have the same ring. Let’s get something straight right away. I may be an idiot, but I’ve tried to do more in this book than just revisit the Red Sox’s Miracle Season. I want to give you a sense of what it’s like to grow up with baseball dreams, to spend long years climbing the ladder, and then over the course of three years to see the building blocks of those dreams fall into place. In this book, you’ll be reading about the son of an Army staff sergeant—a thrill-seeking Orlando kid who at age thirteen was gifted with a man’s body, including rare speed and reflexes. It was some straight talk from my brother that kept me from abandoning that talent, which led to my eventually catching on with the Kansas City Royals and later the Oakland A’s. Starting in 2002 with the Red Sox, I got to see what can happen when a determined front office decides to roll the dice and acquire players who, like me, leave the thinking out of it—who trust their instincts and play team baseball. Forget what you’ve read about the posse of long-haired rebels who eventually made up the 2004 Red Sox. I''ll give you the straight dope, including who''s got the biggest mouth (hint: his first name is Kevin); what Pedro Martinez was doing all those times when you couldn’t find him on the bench; what game David Ortiz should never play; and why I sometimes question Curt Schilling’s sanity. Memo to Curt: the statue of you is being erected. What’s it like being responsible for the hopes of millions? In the fall of 2004 my teammates and I got to find out. What I’ve tried to do in these pages is bring you inside, show you the black humor that erupted when it seemed we could do nothing right, and the immense joy that followed when 25 guys took turns picking each other up, and by sheer force of will reached baseball’s summit. Red Sox Nation (both natives and new arrivals), this one’s for you. —Johnny Damon, #18

It''s been over 50 years since they moved to Los Angeles, but the Brooklyn Dodgers remain ingrained in the fabric of our national pastime. Golenbock''s oral history of these "lovable losers" tells the team''s tale through the words of Pee Wee Reese, Leo Durocher, Duke Snider, and other Brooklyn greats.

Golenbock, the author and renowned sportswriter, returns to the territory he brought to life in "Bums: An Oral History of the Brooklyn Dodgers" to offer a rich and revealing portrait of a vibrant place and the people who make it great. Bw photos throughout.

The biography of one of the most controversial figures in sports: New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner For 34 years, he berated his players and tormented Yankees managers and employees. He played fast and loose with the rules, and twice could have gone to jail. He was banned from baseball for life—but was allowed back in the game. Yet George Steinbrenner also built the New York Yankees from a mediocre team into the greatest sports franchise in America. The Yankees won ten pennants and six World Series during his tenure. Now acclaimed sportswriter and New York Times bestselling author Peter Golenbock tells the fascinating story of "The Boss," from his Midwestern childhood through his decades-long ownership of the Yankees–the longest in the team''s history. Draws on more than a hundred interviews with those who have known George Steinbrenner throughout his life to tell the complete story of "The Boss" and his long tenure as owner of the New York Yankees Gets inside Steinbrenner’s countless manager hirings and firings, from Billy Martin to Joe Torre; the legendary feuds and hard feelings involving famous figures such as Yogi Berra and Dave Winfield; and the ever-spiraling players'' salaries Covers the astute business deals that transformed the Yankees from a $10 million franchise into a powerhouse worth over $1 billion today Written by Peter Golenbock, one of the nation''s best-known sports authors and the author of five New York Times bestsellers, including Number 1 with Billy Martin and The Bronx Zoo with Sparky Lyle Packed with drama, insight, and fascinating front-office details, George is essential reading for baseball fans and anyone who loves a terrific story well told.

Biography.

A biography of the Hall of Fame baseball player who broke Babe Ruth''s career home run record.

Jesus saves – but Espo puts in the rebound in this raucous, ribald memoir At a party marking the end of his third season with the Blackhawks, Phil Esposito told coach Billy Reay and GM Tommy Ivan that they had a great team, maybe even a dynasty, but that the two of them would screw it up. It was a classic Espo moment (and may have had something to do with his being traded to the Bruins): the big centre from the Soo who became one of hockey’s all-time leading scorers, has never been reluctant to speak his mind. In this rollicking hockey memoir, he reveals what it was like to play with other Hall of Famers like Howe and Hull and Orr. He recalls his acrimonious encounters with Allan Eagleson, the incredible intensity of the 1972 Canada-Russia series, the fabulous ride with the great Bruins teams of the early 1970s, and the tough years that followed with the New York Rangers. From being a player, Esposito went on to be a commentator, a coach, a general manager, and then founder and part-owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning. He saw it all: the booze, the drugs, the women, the wheeling and dealing, the good times and the camaraderie, the bad times and the back-stabbing. In telling what it was really like, Esposito takes readers into the boardrooms, back rooms – and even the bedrooms – of the men who make their lives in the NHL.

The heart and soul of NASCAR is bared in this collection of stories from people intimately involved in stock car racing. Best-selling author Peter Golenbock interviewed a wide range of known and not-so-well-known players in the NASCAR game, ranging from the feisty female racer from the 1950s, Louise Smith, to the legendary champion Fred Lorenzen and announcer Benny Parsons. Golenbock draws incredible stories from these people, and has assembled a collection of stories that tells the tale of not only NASCAR''s transformation from a regional backwater sport to an empire, but also brings to light new twists on the most dramatic stories of the sport. Golenbock''s interviews pull out the human side of the men and women of racing, offering an intimate glimpse of life on and off the track.

Go Gators! takes the reader through every milestone of this legendary team, from their humble origins through their gradual rise to perennial New Years Day bowl-game contestants. Widely considered to be one of the dean of sportswriters, Peter Golenbock has authored six New York Times bestsellers including The Bronx Zoo, Personal Fouls, and Cowboys Have Always Been My Heroes. 30 black-and-white photos and first-time interviews with over 60 Gators who played between 1946 and 2001 are offered.

Describes the racial prejudice experienced by Jackie Robinson when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers and became the first black player in Major League baseball and depicts the acceptance and support he received from his white teammate Pee Wee Reese.

A premier racer in NASCAR history drives his way into readers'' hearts with an inside story of his amazing recovery after a 1994 crash, his strong opinions of the racing world today, and a candid account of his personal life. of photos.

The commandments of hitting.

On t.p.: The bittersweet world of major league baseball as seen through the eyes of the men who played one more time.

Describes the racial prejudice experienced by Jackie Robinson when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers and became the first Black player in Major League baseball and depicts the acceptance and support he received from his white teammate Pee Wee Reese.

Head coach of North Carolina State''s renowned basketball team, Jim Valvano isfamous, admired, and rich. But beneath this successful image lies the realityof a multi-million dollar business--a story as funny as it is scary.

A chronicle of the 1983 baseball season with the New York Yankees.