Eve is used to being the odd woman out. As the only girl on her school's baseball team, she knows exactly how to put sweaty, macho baseball players in their place, and she's learned to focus on one thing and one thing only--being the best pitcher she can be. But when a freak accident forces her school to be absorbed by the neighboring town, Eve has to contend with a new group of guys who aren't used to having a woman on their team. And the new team's star pitcher, Jamie, has no interest in being ousted from his throne. He can't afford to give up his starting slot to a new pitcher--especially to a girl. As the competition between Jamie and Eve starts to heat up, so does their attraction to each other. Can they keep their heads in the game, or will they end up getting played? -- netgalley.

Reflecting on his accomplishments, his colleagues, and the future of baseball, Andre Dawson tells the story of his four-decade career as a player and executive in this intimate memoir. Seriously injured at a young age, Dawson struggled with chronic pain throughout his career and was only seriously scouted by the Montreal Expos during college. Overcoming these odds, he went on to be named the National League Rookie of the Year in 1977, earn eight All-Star appearances, seven Gold Gloves, and a Most Valuable Player Award. This behind-the-scenes look at a dedicated player's journey from a segregated Miami neighborhood to the fabled halls of Cooperstown offers fans a window into the psyche of a fan favorite.

"Kirby Puckett's incredible catch above the center field fence and his eleventh-inning home run in Game Six of the 1991 World Series turned that championship series around - and ignited a nationwide fandom for the smiling center fielder of the Minnesota Twins. His stunning statistics, which include a career batting average ranked third among all active players, five Gold Glove awards, two World Series rings, and a perennial spot on the All-Star team, have all been accomplished by a guy with a chunky, fireplug build who admits he can't even touch his toes. Kirby Puckett's sunny disposition, his huge talent, and his obvious love for the game have won him the respect and affection of fans and ballplayers everywhere, and in this marvelous, personal account, Puckett tells us how he became the player and the person we admire today." "Puckett movingly describes his journey from a childhood spent playing ball on concrete "fields" between apartment buildings on Chicago's tough south side to a spectacular career anchoring a major league franchise. The youngest of nine children, Puckett played ball wherever and whenever he could, but few baseball scouts ventured into the housing project where his family lived." "His break came when he was discovered by a scout who had come to watch his own son play in an Illinois collegiate summer league. After a mere two years in their minor league system, the Twins gambled on a still unseasoned Puckett, calling him up to replace an ailing outfielder. He went four-for-five in his major league debut. The rest is history." "Nine years and two World Series later, Puckett continues to thrill fans with his hardnosed approach to the game, his bold batting style and refusal to play cat-and-mouse with pitchers, and his homer-stealing catches at the center field wall. He gives us an insider's look at some of the exciting moments and great players he's encountered on the field, as well as telling the real story of his cliffhanging negotiations with the Twins after the '92 season, which resulted in a hard-won five-year contract - much to the relief of virtually the entire population of Minnesota!" "He takes us inside the locker room to experience the genuine camaraderie and team unity that keep up the "Twins mystique." Minnesota has a reputation as an always-bustling team propelled by a solid work ethic, and Puckett is a driving force behind that reputation. He introduces Tom Kelly, the highly regarded and lively team manager, and fellow Twin superstars past and present, including Frank Viola, Kent Hrbek, Gary Gaetti, Tom Brunansky, and many more." "Unswervingly upbeat, Kirby Puckett will charm readers as naturally as he charges up his teammates on and off the field with his thoroughly engaging tale of life playing the game he loves with the team he loves."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

“Moving, beautiful . . . If Hemingway had written a baseball novel, he might have written For Love of the Game.”—Los Angeles Times Billy Chapel is a baseball legend, after seventeen season a sure Hall of Famer. He is a man who has retained the endearing qualities of youth, a man who has devoted his life to the game he loves and plays so well. But, because of his unsurpassed skill and innocent faith, he has been betrayed. It's the final game of the season, and Billy's got one last chance to prove who he is and what he can do, a chance to prove what really matters in this life. A taut, compelling story of one man's coming of age, For Love of the Game is Michael Shaara's final novel, the classic finish to a brilliantly distinguished literary career. Praise for For Love of the Game “A delightful and lyrical story about a great athlete's momentous last game . . . A fairy tale for adults about love and loneliness and finally growing up.”—USA Today “An endearing, timeless novel that can be enjoyed by both serious readers and baseball lovers for generations to come.”—The Orlando Sentinel

Triumphant wins, gut-wrenching losses, last-second shots, underdogs, competition, and loyalty—it’s fun to be a fan. But when a football player takes a hit to the head after yet another study has warned of the dangers of CTE, or when a team whose mascot was born in an era of racism and bigotry takes the field, or when a relief pitcher accused of domestic violence saves the game, how is one to cheer? Welcome to the club for sports fans who care too much. In Loving Sports When They Don’t Love You Back, acclaimed sports writers Jessica Luther and Kavitha A. Davidson tackle the most pressing issues in sports, why they matter, and how we can do better. For the authors, “sticking to sports” is not an option—not when our taxes are paying for the stadiums, and college athletes aren’t getting paid at all. But simply quitting a favorite team won’t change corrupt and deplorable practices, and the root causes of many of these problems are endemic in our wider society. An essential read for modern fans, Loving Sports When They Don’t Love You Back challenges the status quo and explores how we might begin to reconcile our conscience with our fandom.

The long-awaited autobiography of Patrice Evra, former captain of Manchester United and France

Middle school is full of new challenges for Jackson, Gig, Isaac, and Diego, four sports-loving friends who have always stuck together. Lockers that won't open, older (and bigger) kids, classes that are far apart, tons of homework—there's a lot to get used to. One thing the boys are looking forward to, however, is making the football team. Not every one will get what he wants, though, on the field and at home.