Baseball Audiobooks | Sports & Recreation

The Bona Fide Legend of Cool Papa Bell: Speed, Grace, and the Negro Leagues

The ?rst full biography of the star Negro Leaguer and Hall of Famer James "Cool Papa" Bell (1903-1991) was a legend in Black baseball, a lightning-fast switch hitter elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974. Bell's speed was extraordinary; as Satchel Paige famously quipped, he was so fast he could ?ip a light switch and be in bed before the room got dark. In The Bona Fide Legend of Cool Papa Bell, experienced baseball writer and historian Lonnie Wheeler recounts the life of this extraordinary player, a key member of some of the greatest Negro League teams in history. Born to sharecroppers in Mississippi, Bell was part of the Great Migration, the movement of African Americans from the southern states to the northern states from 1910 through 1930. In St. Louis, baseball saved Bell from a life working in slaughterhouses. Wheeler charts Bell's ups and downs in life and in baseball, in the United States, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico, where he went to escape American racism and major league baseball's color line. Rich in context and suffused in myth, this is a treat for fans of baseball history.

Lonnie Wheeler (Author), David Sadzin (Narrator)

Audiobook

Moon Baseball Road Trips: The Complete Guide to All the Ballparks, with Beer, Bites, and Sights Near

Sunshine, hot dogs, friends, and the excitement of the game: Baseball is called America's pastime for a reason. Experience the best of the MLB cities and stadiums with Moon Baseball Road Trips. - Flexible Itineraries: Explore the 30 major league cities with a variety of road trip options, including a Boston to DC route, a loop through the Midwest, a dip into Toronto, a cruise along the West Coast, and more - Visit all the Ballparks: From the ivy walls of Wrigley to Fenway's Green Monster and Dodger Stadium's gorgeous mountain views, experience every ballpark in the league and dive into local fan culture - Catch a Game: Find valuable tips for snagging tickets and get the inside scoop on the best places to park or catch public transit, where to eat and drink nearby, and events like music festivals, the Hall of Fame Weekend, Fourth of July celebrations, and more - Explore the Major League Cities: Get to know the MLB hometowns with full chapters on each city. Pay respects to Babe Ruth in Baltimore, visit Cleveland's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and stroll through the Boston Common. Find the best local craft breweries, and chow down on chili dogs, barbecue, fresh crab, and more foodie specialties. Hold back a tear at the Field of Dreams, grab a seat for a Spring Training game, or rent a kayak on the bay and try to catch a fly ball from San Francisco's Oracle Park - Expertise and Know-How: Former baseball writer and avid Phillies fan Timothy Malcolm shares his advice for planning the perfect baseball road trip - Maps and Driving Tools: Easy-to-use maps, along with mileages, driving times, and directions, with full-color photos throughout - Helpful resources on COVID-19 - Planning Tips: Where to stay, when and where to get gas, how to avoid traffic, and tips for driving in different road and weather conditions, plus suggestions for seniors, families with kids, and more With Moon Baseball Road Trips' practical tips, local expertise, and flexible itineraries, you're ready to step up to the plate and hit the road.

Timothy Malcolm (Author), George Newbern (Narrator)

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Comeback Season: My Unlikely Story of Friendship with the Greatest Living Negro League Baseball Play

The uplifting, unlikely, and inspirational true story of the friendships formed between Cam Perron—a white, baseball-obsessed teenager from Boston—and hundreds of former professional Negro League players, who were still awaiting the recognition and compensation that they deserved from Major League Baseball more than fifty years after their playing days were over. Featuring the players' fascinating stories and original photographs. Cam Perron always loved history, and from an early age, he had a knack for collecting. But when he was twelve and bought a set of Topps baseball cards featuring several players from the Negro Leagues, something clicked. Cam started writing letters to former Negro League players in 2007, asking for their autographs and a few words about their careers. He got back much more than he expected. The players responded with detailed stories about their glory days on the field, and the racism they faced, including run-ins with the KKK. They explained how they were repeatedly kept out of the major leagues and confined to the historic but lower-paying Negro Leagues, even after Jackie Robinson—who got his start in the Negro Leagues—broke the color barrier. By the time Cam finished middle school, letters had turned into phone calls, and he was spending hours a day talking with the players. In these conversations, many of the players revealed that their careers had been unrecognized over time, and they'd fallen out of touch with their former teammates. So Cam, along with a small group of fellow researchers, organized the first annual Negro League Players Reunion in Birmingham, Alabama in 2010. At the celebratory, week-long event, fifteen-year-old Cam and the players—who were in their 70s, 80s, and 90s—finally met in person. They quickly became family. As Cam and the players returned to the reunion year after year, Cam became deeply involved in a complicated mission to help many players get pension money that they were owed from Major League Baseball. He also worked to get a Negro League museum opened in Birmingham, and stock it with memorabilia. Sports fans—and anyone who enjoys a heartfelt story—will have their eyes opened by this book about unlikely friendships, the power of memories, and just how far a childhood interest can go.

Cam Perron (Author), Aden Hakimi, David Sadzin, Lamarr Gulley, Leon Nixon, Robin Eller (Narrator)

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How Baseball Happened: Outrageous Lies Exposed! The True Story Revealed

The fascinating, true, origin story of baseball-how America's first great sport developed and how it conquered a nation Baseball's true founders don't have plaques in Cooperstown. The founders were the hundreds of uncredited amateurs-ordinary people-who played without gloves, facemasks, or performance incentives in the middle decades of the nineteenth century. Unlike today's pro athletes, they lived full lives outside of sports. They worked, built businesses, and fought against the South in the Civil War. But that's not the way the story has been told. The wrongness of baseball history can be staggering. You may have heard that Abner Doubleday or Alexander Cartwright invented baseball. Neither did. You may have been told that a club called the Knickerbockers played the first baseball game in 1846. They didn't. You have read that baseball's color line was uncrossed and unchallenged until Jackie Robinson in 1947. Nope. You may have heard Cooperstown, Hoboken, or New York City called the birthplace of baseball, but not Brooklyn. Yet Brooklyn was the home of baseball's first fans, the first ballpark, the first statistics-and modern pitching. Baseball was originally supposed to be played, not watched. This changed when crowds began to show up at games in Brooklyn in the late 1850s. We fans weren't invited to the party; we crashed it. Professionalism wasn't part of the plan either, but when an 1858 Brooklyn versus New York City series accidentally proved that people would pay to see a game, the writing was on the outfield wall. When the first professional league was formed in 1871, baseball was already a fully formed modern sport with championships, media coverage, and famous stars. Professional baseball invented an organization, but not the sport itself. Baseball's amazing amateurs had already done that. Thomas W. Gilbert's history is for baseball fans and anyone fascinating by origin stories and American culture.

Thomas W. Gilbert (Author), George Newbern (Narrator)

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42 Today: Jackie Robinson and His Legacy

Explores Jackie Robinson's compelling and complicated legacy Before the United States Supreme Court ruled against segregation in public schools, and before Rosa Parks refused to surrender her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama, Jackie Robinson walked onto the diamond on April 15, 1947, as first baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers, making history as the first African American to integrate Major League Baseball in the twentieth century. Today a national icon, Robinson was a complicated man who navigated an even more complicated world that both celebrated and despised him. Many are familiar with Robinson as a baseball hero. Few, however, know of the inner turmoil that came with his historic status. Featuring piercing essays from a range of distinguished sportswriters, cultural critics, and scholars, this book explores Robinson's perspectives and legacies on civil rights, sports, faith, youth, and nonviolence, while providing rare glimpses into the struggles and strength of one of the nation's most athletically gifted and politically significant citizens. Featuring a foreword by celebrated directors and producers Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, and David McMahon, this volume recasts Jackie Robinson's legacy and establishes how he set a precedent for future civil rights activism, from Black Lives Matter to Colin Kaepernick.

Michael G. Long (Author), Mirron Willis (Narrator)

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The Forgotten League: A History of Negro League Baseball

★★★ The greatest baseball players...you've never heard of ★★★ Rube Foster, Cool Papa Bell, Monte Irvin, Buck Leonard...they are some of the greatest players to ever play the game; so why have so few people heard of them? Because they never played in the MLB; they were the heroes of a baseball league often forgotten: The Negro League. This book traces the history of the league from the early days of Professional Black Baseball and the formation of leagues to post-integration decline. HistoryCaps is an imprint of BookCaps Study Guides. With each book, a brief period of history is recapped. We publish a wide array of topics (from baseball and music to science and philosophy), so check our growing catalog regularly to see our newest books.

Frank Foster (Author), Jason Sullivan (Narrator)

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Baseball: Baseball Strategies: The Top 100 Best Ways To Improve Your Baseball Game

Are you tired of striking out, getting weak hits or failing to make that crucial play on the field? Whether you want to (1) hit better, (2) play your position like a pro, or (3) master the game, this book will get you there. Do your teammates grumble when it's your turn to bat? Discover the three things that you can do to shore up your weak areas, boost your strengths, and equip yourself to play at your very best each and every time you hit the field. From physical exercises designed to strengthen your arms and body to mental tips that will keep your mind in the game, the proven strategies in this book will help you to improve your overall playing ability! Use the same techniques that the pro's use to improve your swing. Boost your batting average by improving each of the four stages of your swing. By adopting the specific tactics in this book you can revolutionize your at-bats and start driving in runs and getting on base with much more frequency. Increase your enjoyment of the game. Baseball is so much more enjoyable when you know exactly what to do in key areas of the game. Discover all the specific tactics that you can use for your position on the field, so that you can react instantly when the time arises. Approach the diamond with confidence and enjoy the sounds of the cheering crowd. Get in the zone and start crushing it at the plate and on the field: BUY IT NOW!

Ace McCloud, Ace Mccloud (Author), Joshua Mackey (Narrator)

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I Should Have Quit This Morning: Adventures in Minor League Baseball

The road to Major League baseball goes through the minor leagues. Every year there are over 5,500 players trying to work their way to the top of the tiered minor league system. Very few people know what life is really like for these aspiring players-until now. This collection of stories from actual minor league players is a hilarious, heartbreaking and honest account of the struggle to make it to the big leagues. In this book, you will learn: - How it feels to be the first pick in the MLB draft ("everyone started screaming") and how it feels for a player to not hear his name called at all ("Three days came and went and I didn't get picked.") - What Spring Training is like for minor leaguers ("The difference between big league camp and minor league camp is night and day.") - Where players live and how they eat ("I became a pro at cooking in the 'kitchen bathroom' in the hotel.") - What it's like to get promoted, demoted and traded ("It was the first time I actually cried when someone got moved or traded.") - What it's like when players get the ultimate call up to the Major Leagues ("It was still during the game and everyone was like, 'Dude, go call your parents or something.") And so much more!

Kathy Diekroeger (Author), Michael Butler Murray (Narrator)

Audiobook

Tom Seaver: A Terrific Life

An authoritative biography of Hall of Fame pitching legend Tom Seaver, still the greatest player ever to wear a Mets jersey, by a journalist who knows him well. He was called Tom Terrific for a reason. Tom Seaver was one of the most talented and popular players in the history of baseball. He is one of only two pitchers with 300 wins, 3,000 strikeouts, and an ERA under 3.00. He was a three-time Cy Young award winner, twelve-time All Star, and was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame with the highest percentage ever at the time. Popular among players and fans, Seaver was fiercely competitive but always put team success ahead of personal glory. Born in Fresno, California, Seaver signed with the New York Mets in 1967, leading them to their stunning 1969 World Series victory. After a legendarily lopsided trade, he joined the Cincinnati Reds, then later played for the White Sox and the Red Sox before ending his career following the 1986 season. After his playing days, Seaver retired back to California to establish a successful vineyard. Then in 2013, a recurrence of Lyme disease severely affected his memory, which Madden was the first to report. In 2019 Seaver's family announced that he had been diagnosed with dementia and was withdrawing from public life. Madden began following Seaver's career in the 1980s. Seaver came to trust Madden so completely that, eager to return to New York from Chicago, he asked Madden to explore a possible trade to the Yankees, which never materialized. Drawing in part on their long relationship, Madden offers a deeply personal and fascinating portrait of one of the greatest and most admired players of all time.

Bill Madden (Author), David Marantz (Narrator)

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From The Stick to The Cove: My Six Decades with the San Francisco Giants

Day in, day out, Mike Murphy has been a constant presence with the San Francisco Giants since the team moved west in 1958. The clubhouse at Oracle Park bears his name, and in the jubilant aftermath of the team's 2010 World Series victory, Buster Posey told Murphy, 'We did it for you, we got your ring.' If you know the Giants, you know 'Murph.' In From the Stick to the Cove, the beloved longtime clubhouse manager reflects on over six decades of incredible memories, from getting his start as a bat boy and first meeting his idol Willie Mays, to unexpected celebrity encounters, to his role as a father figure for more recent generations of Giants.

Chris Haft, Mike Murphy (Author), Kyle Tait (Narrator)

Audiobook

Baseball History: The History of Baseball Along With Fascinating Facts & Unbelievably True Stories

Would you love to explore the incredible and exciting history of baseball? Whether you want to (1) learn amazing and interesting facts about baseball history, (2) discover some of baseball’s greatest events and stories, or (3) be thoroughly entertained as you learn how baseball has evolved over the years, this audio book will give you everything you need to know. Get an inside look at the game. This audio book is about what makes baseball the sport it is today. We’ll take you inside a game to see what individual players are thinking. Learn some of the early influences that have made the game what it is today. Discover the greatest innovations to baseball. Baseball relies equally upon chance and skill. Find out what players have used over the years to improve their odds for success. Follow the struggle for advantage between pitchers and batters, offense and defense. The Rich Culture of Baseball Baseball is a sport rich in history, culture, and traditions. Gain both inspiration and a treasure of knowledge that add depth to the game. Learn some of the strategies that have made baseball so unpredictably fascinating. Trace the Development of the Sport. Meet some of the interesting people who have contributed to the game. Learn from the ongoing legacy of practical innovation that has shaped baseball over its one hundred-plus years of history. Whatever your interest or level of knowledge, “The History of Baseball” will entertain, educate, and inspire you. Discover the incredibly entertaining history of baseball. Get inside the game: Buy It Now!

Ace McCloud, Ace Mccloud (Author), Joshua Mackey (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Captain: A Memoir

The memoir from the last Mets captain, David Wright, one of the most admired players in recent MLB history, about his inspiring and deep commitment to the game. David Wright played his entire fourteen-year Major League Baseball career for the New York Mets. And when he came back time and again from injury, he demonstrated the power of hard work, commitment, and love of the game. Wright was nicknamed 'Captain America' after his performance in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. He is a seven-time All-Star, a two-time Gold Glove Award winner, a two-time Silver Slugger Award winner, and a member of the 30-30 club. He holds Mets franchise records for most career RBIs, doubles, total bases, runs scored, walks, sacrifice flies, times on base, extra base hits, strikeouts, double plays, and hits. He was named captain of the Mets in 2013, becoming the fourth captain in the team's history. Now the widely admired, beloved New York Mets third baseman and captain tells it from his perspective.

Anthony Dicomo, David Wright (Author), Joe Knezevich (Narrator)

Audiobook

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