There is no more thrilling moment in the game of baseball than the seconds before the ball flies out of the park, never to be seen again. As Greg Maddux famously said, chicks dig 'em, and men fantasize about hitting them. Now, The Complete History of the Home Run told decade by decade, traces this ultimate macho symbol. Mark Ribowsky looks at how the big hit evolved from a rarity to centerpiece because of Babe Ruth's prowess. Baseball fans will also learn how the home run has been mythologized, written about, and discussed in the media, baseball literature, and in bars all across the county. Featured are such epic swings as: -- Ruth's #60, Roger Maris's #61, Mark McGwire's #70, Barry Bonds's #73, Hank Aaron's K -- Ted Williams's All-Star Game Blast off Rip Sewell; -- Bobby Thomson's Shot Heard Around the World; -- Mickey Mantle's 565-footer in Washington; -- Bill Mazeroski's and Joe Carter's Series-ender; -- Reggie Jackson's Series trio; -- The Tino/Jeter/Brosius trinity.Including commentary on the men who hit these long balls -- Willie Mays, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds, and Ted Williams -- the book also brings out the facts and statistics. Readers will find out the truth behind Ruth's Called Shot, Josh Gibson's alleged blast out of Yankee Stadium, who had the best-ever power season, the myth of the lively ball era, the science of the home run, and why yesterday's hits will always be better than today's.

A poetic account of the legendary Babe Ruth as he prepares to make a home run.

A brief biography emphasizing the careers of the two baseball players famous for their record number of home runs.

The tape measure home run is the greatest single act of power in the game of baseball, and the tales of these homers are the most cherished legacies players and fans hand down through the generations. Fully illustrated with photos of the players and aerial ballpark photos showing the landing spots of each stadium's longest homers.

Perfect for fans of Mike Lupica's sports books and Dan Gutman's Baseball Card Adventures, New York Times bestselling author and former NFL player Tim Green gives readers a thrilling new addition to his bestselling Baseball Great series. Josh's life has just fallen apart. His father will no longer be coaching the travel baseball team and is moving to Florida, forcing his mom and little sister to move into a small apartment on the wrong side of town. To make matters worse, the new coach of the travel team is an unforgiving drill sergeant. But then Benji tells Josh of a home-run derby in which the winner gets a brand-new house. All Josh has to do to qualify is hit twenty home runs during his travel-team season. With Benji and Jaden's help, Josh is hoping to hit it out of the park and save his family, because if he strikes out, he may just lose everything.

How home runs transformed baseball--and America

A collection of unusual and offbeat tales taken from baseball history includes the world's shortest bona fide home run and the baseball player who literally bit himself in the posterior while sliding into second base