Advice on how to improve your turn at bat and become the best hitter possible.

In the more than 40 years since Rod Carew debuted in the big leagues, he's watched thousands of great and not-so-great hitters while discerning the fundamentals of success at the plate. Countless hours spent experimenting, watching video, and refining his own techniques have helped transform Carew from one of the game's best hitters to one of its most revered teachers. Rod Carew's Hit to Win teaches hitters how to develop their own swing, stance, and plate approach, all within the framework of solid fundamentals. Detailed photos and diagrams help students envision and execute success at the plate. Carew's hitting philosophy is featured here as well, with a focus on the mental and psychological battle between a hitter and a pitcher. Carew encourages his students to be creative and flexible in the batter's box, making Rod Carew's Hit to Win the ideal instructional tool for hitters of all ages and skill levels.

Don Mattingly's Hitting is Simple: The ABC's of Batting .300 presents an all-ages guide to hitting a baseball by one of the Yankee greats--which covers stance, proper balance and coverage of the strike zone to the mechanics of a fluid swing Don Mattingly was one of the greatest offensive ballplayers of his generation. In 1985 he was the American League MVP and Player of the Year--a nine-time gold glove winner, a batting champion, and six-time all-star. He remains today one of the most beloved Yankee first basemen of all-time. Now as manager for the Miami Marlins and former hitting instructor for the most successful sports franchise in history, he offers solid advice and instruction for young athletes around the world on how to hit a baseball. With instructional photos throughout, and careful step-by-step instruction, Don Mattingly's Hitting Is Simple: The ABC's of Batting .300 covers all the fundamentals: *proper balance and stance *the mechanics of a sound swing *reading pitchers and pitches *how to hit to all fields *drills to improve your timing This all-ages guide to hitting a baseball by one of the Yankee greats is sure to become one of the most definitive books on hitting in years.

Inspiration for the film "THE MENTAL MASTERY OF HITTING IN BASBALL", Mind of a Superior Hitter: The Art, Science, and Philosophy takes an in-depth look into the key aspects of becoming a great hitter from a psychological, emotional and strategic perspective. The book is designed to enhance the intelligence of hitters in both baseball and softball on a level that is unprecedented. It includes quotes and advice from some of the top hitting coaches in the world, former professional players and prominent minds that have contributed to today's leading hitting ideologies. Throughout, players and coaches are provided valuable information on what it takes to become a better all-around hitter. Hitters of all ages will learn how to: - MENTALLY DEAL WITH SLUMPS - DEVELOP IMPROVED FOCUSED IN THEIR TRAINING- BECOME A BETTER SITUATIONAL HITTER- CUSTOMIZE THEIR SWING TO FIT THEIR STRENGTHS- BE MORE CONFIDENT AND POSITIVE IN THEIR APPROACH Input from master teacher's of hitting such as: · Steve Springer, former professional player and hitting coach· C.J. Stewart, former professional player and private hitting coach for pro players· Laura Berg, 4-time All-American softball player, 4-time Olympian and Olympic Hall of Famer· Jacob Cruz, former MLB player and professional hitting instructor

Includes a new chapter exclusive to the paperback edition! Three of America's top sports journalists have teamed up to investigate the politics of the National Basketball Association. This work chronicles one season in the NBA and shows the systematic cover-up of corruption over the years--including scandals involving some of the biggest names in the sport today. 16-page photo insert.

African-American athletes have played a significant role in the development and popularity of American professional sports, and have encountered numerous obstacles on the road to athletic success. This is the first comprehensive multi-sport biographical dictionary of African Americans who reached the pinnacles of success in their sport. It contains more personal and career profiles of African-American sports greats than are found in any other single source. Biographical profiles of 166 noted athletes, coaches, and administrators in team and individual sports include both Ristorical figures such as Jesse Owens and Satchel Paige and contemporary stars such as Charles Barkley, Ken Griffey, Jr., Michael Jordan, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Shaquille O'Neal, and Emmitt Smith. Forty-four sports historians contributed the colorfully written biographies, which blend both personal background information and athletic career accomplishments. All information is current through the middle of 1995. The dictionary covers the contributions made by African-American greats in football, baseball, basketball, track and field, boxing, wrestling, auto and stock car racing, golf, thoroughbred racing, tennis, cycling, and figure skating. More than two-thirds of the entries represent team sports. The dictionary is organized alphabetically by person. Each colorfully written profile is 800-1,000 words in length and traces the subject's personal life, family and educational background, personal struggles, career accomplishments, records set, statistical data, awards and honors, and overall impact; and features lively quotations by and about the sports luminaries. Each entry contains a handy bibliography of books and articles about the subject. Biographies of managers, coaches, and club executives describe their teams, statistical achievements, accomplishments, strategy, and sports impact. A general introduction traces the historic struggle of African-American athletes in professional and Olympic sports and appendices provide alphabetical listings of biographical entries and entries by sport. A selection of photos complement the profiles. For the sports fan or librarian, this is a first stop for biographical information that captures the personality of the athlete and includes all the pertinent information about his or her accomplishments. It is an essential addition to the reference sections of junior high, high school, and public libraries.