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"A hot dog at the ballgame beats roast beef at the Ritz." ~ Humphrey Bogart (1899-1957), American actor
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New and Recently Released!
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| Shining Star: Braving the Elements of Earth, Wind & Fire by Philip Bailey with Keith and Kent ZimmermanStill performing today, lead singer Philip Bailey has been with super-group Earth, Wind & Fire since its early years, joining in 1972 when founder Maurice White started experimenting with musical genres. In this personal account, Bailey traces a journey that started in Denver and led to world-wide success as part of the eclectic funk/soul/ R&B/gospel group. In addition to describing Earth, Wind & Fire's rise to stardom, the influences that shaped the band's sound, and his own experiences both with the group and as a solo performer, Bailey also discusses his personal life -- and drops the occasional name here and there. |
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| All Fishermen Are Liars by John GierachPassionate fisherman John Gierach has a lot to say about his chosen subject. In his 17th book on fishing, he ranges from Chinook salmon to trout fishing to fishing etiquette to...Sun Tzu? Insightful, contemplative, and at times autobiographical, Gierach's essays may cover a variety of topics, but they share a deep love of fishing and the beautiful places that such an interest can take enthusiasts. Gierach fans who have read his entire body of work may want to give James Prosek a try, perhaps starting with Fly-Fishing the 41st. |
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| There Goes Gravity: A Life in Rock and Roll by Lisa RobinsonOver the last 40 years, music journalist Lisa Robinson has met and befriended countless rock stars; in There Goes Gravity she discusses not only her career -- and the people she's met along the way -- but the way rock and roll itself has changed. From John Lennon and David Bowie to Mick Jagger and Lady Gaga, Robinson has plenty of notes to draw from, as well as her own elephantine memory. Readers eager for stories that never made it to print will be delighted with this "backstage pass to the greatest circus of the 20th century" (Kirkus Reviews). If the hold list is long, try fellow rock journalist Lonn Friend's Life on Planet Rock while you wait. |
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| The Noble Hustle: Poker, Beef Jerky, and Death by Colson WhiteheadWhile there are plenty of books about poker out there, this intriguing mix of journalism, memoir, and theory (sort of) is one of a kind. With only six weeks to train, bestselling author Colson Whitehead was given the chance to participate in the World Series of Poker -- but amid his other responsibilities (including his daughter), he doesn't hold out much hope of winning. Nevertheless, his colorful and character-laden descriptions of various elements of high-stakes poker (and the sort encountered in seedy Atlantic City casinos) are plenty enjoyable, at least for us, for Whitehead also chronicles his personal failings. Not for nothing is the opening line "I have a good poker face because I am half dead inside." |
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| The Summer of Beer and Whiskey: How Brewers, Barkeeps, Rowdies, Immigrants... by Edward AchornIn 1882, National League baseball games were too pricey for regular Joes to attend. In a forward-thinking maneuver, a German-born biergarten owner who knew nothing about baseball bought the St. Louis Browns baseball team in an effort to sell more beer. This act led to the creation of the short-lived American Association, but more importantly, it revitalized the sport and made it palatable to the working class and America's immigrants. League standouts -- like the Browns' owner -- as well as the other teams fighting to win the pennant all get their moment to shine in this "thoroughly enjoyable recreation of the gusto, guts, glory and grime of the game's early days" (Kirkus Reviews). |
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| One Shot at Forever: A Small Town, an Unlikely Coach, and a Magical Baseball Season by Chris BallardReaders who enjoy tales of unsung underdogs pulling together to beat higher-profile teams (think Mighty Ducks, or better yet, Hoosiers) will appreciate this entertaining account of a "hippie" outsider who took a rural high school's baseball team all the way to the state finals. Macon, Illinois, may not have known quite what to make of English teacher Lynn Sweet, who let the kids sing at games and sew peace signs on their hats (this was in 1971), but that didn't stop him from being named Coach of the Year. Upbeat and engaging -- inspirational without being cloying -- this book is "a gem" (Library Journal). |
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| The Kid: The Immortal Life of Ted Williams by Ben Bradlee, Jr.The .406 batting average that baseball legend Ted Williams achieved in 1941 hasn't been topped since, but though this sprawling and well-researched biography does (of course!) discuss his baseball career, it covers more than just his at-bats. Williams, who had a troubled childhood, concealed his Mexican heritage throughout his career; he also served his country in the military, had bouts of irrational anger but generously supported cancer research, and was cryonically frozen (likely against his wishes) upon his death in 2002. In short, he was a complex man, which The Kid, by investigative reporter Ben Bradlee, does a fine job exploring. Follow it up with David Halberstam's The Teammates for a well-rounded perspective of Williams both on and off the field. |
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| Wherever I Wind Up: My Quest for Truth, Authenticity, and the Perfect Knuckleball by R.A. DickeyToronto Blue Jays pitcher R.A. Dickey is the MLB's only knuckleballer; like the pitch itself, Dickey's life and career have not been straightforward. A first-round draft choice, his signing bonus was drastically cut after doctors discovered a missing ligament in his elbow; a childhood that included sexual abuse and sleeping in vacant houses as a teenager meant that baseball -- and his faith -- sustained him where his parents couldn't. At the time he wrote this memoir, he'd spent four seasons with four different teams (plus time in the minor leagues); he's now on his fifth. But his ups and downs are buoyed by his determination and his love for his family; his well-written story "has set a new standard" (Publishers Weekly) for sports memoirs. |
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| Color Blind: The Forgotten Team that Broke Baseball's Color Line by Tom DunkelDuring the Great Depression, independent, semi-pro, and municipal baseball leagues dotted a U.S. eager for distractions. Hoping to defeat rivals while showing their civic pride, team owners signed the best they could get, and in tiny Bismarck, North Dakota, local car dealer and squad founder Neil Churchill crossed the color line to do so. With Negro League greats like Satchel Paige, Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe, and Quincy Trouppe, the Bismarck Churchills trounced all comers to win the first National Semi-Pro tournament in 1935. With warmth and verve, Color Blind recounts this fascinating and almost-forgotten moment of baseball history. |
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| Doc: A Memoir by Dwight Gooden with Jeff JohnsonEarly in his Major League career, Dwight "Doc" Gooden was touted as a superstar, only to get addicted to alcohol and cocaine. Despite his success as a pitcher, his life off the field got progressively more out of control, with suspensions, rehab, and arrests. Though much of this was covered in his 1999 autobiography (Heat), here he also talks of the difficult years since, directly and honestly. From his childhood to his ultimately successful stint on TVs Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, Gooden takes pains to explore both the good and the bad. For the story of another baseball player who overcame addiction, try Josh Hamilton's Beyond Belief. |
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