Chris Williams

Stealing First and Other Old-Time Baseball Stories Chris Williams

Whoa! You mean there actually was a player that stole first base? Yes! Catch the story about the zany guy who pulled that off in Stealing First and Other Old-Time Baseball Stories. Did you know that Hall-of-Famer Jackie Robinson was the star of a well-regarded Hollywood movie? The full story about #42's successful stint in front of the camera is found in the pages of this book. Learn about the All-Star career of the man who Lou Gehrig displaced as Yankees first baseman, a major crisis Major League Baseball faced in 1969, and the statistical reasons why the term "The Mendoza Line" is inaccurate and unfair.

Stealing First and Other Old-Time Baseball Stories also includes a heart-felt salute to the major leaguers who lost their lives in war, a new look at the reasons behind the Phillies' historic late-season collapse in 1964, and an easy-to-understand essay that questions the importance of walks in a team's offensive strategy. The exciting baseball of the 1980s is fondly remembered with a tip-of-the-hate to the decade's high-achievers on terrible teams and there's also a big dose of baby-boomer nostalgia centered on a trip to one of baseball's historic ball parks.

And that's not all! Stealing First and Other Old-Time Baseball Stories is loaded with intelligent and fun diamond stories that both stats wonks and the casual fan will enjoy.