As the anchor titles in a new “Time Machine” Lyons Press baseball series, The Ultimate Cleveland Indians Time Machine presents a timeline format that not only includes the Indians’ greatest moments—including World Series appearances and individual achievements—but would focus also on some very unusual seasons and events, such as the team’s 20-134 season of 1899 (the absolute worst in baseball history), the "Crybabies" of 1940 (who received this nickname after complaining about their manager to such as extent that fans even turned on them), or the infamous “Ten Cent Beer Night of 1974” (when thousands of drunken fans stormed the field and forced the team to forfeit). Of course there are other events to recall, like 17-year-old Bob Feller making his debut and striking out 17 batters in 1936, or Albert Belle famously pointing at his muscle after a playoff opponent claimed (rightly) that he had corked his bat and one of his teammates sneaked into the umpire's room to steal it back so the umps could not find out that it was corked. There are dozens of impressive, wild, wacky and wonderful stories over the years regarding Indians history and Gitlin is the perfect person to write it with his trademark humor and thorough knowledge of Indians lore.

The Ultimate Boston Red Sox Time Machine presents a timeline format that not only includes the Red Sox's greatest moments—including its nine World Series wins and individual achievements—but focuses also on some very unusual seasons and events, such as the refusal of the New York Yankees to go up against them in the 1904 World Series, the derivation of its name, and of course the famous Curse of the Bambino. There are dozens of impressive, wild, wacky and wonderful stories over the years regarding Red Sox history and Gitlin is the perfect person to write it with his trademark humor and thorough knowledge of Red Sox lore.

This book covers the entirety of franchise history, from their birth and struggles as the Highlanders to the bludgeoning bats of Murderer’s Row and the first Yankees dynasty to the juggernauts of the 1940s, 1950s and early 1960s, to the anomalous mediocrity that followed, to the championships and circus of the Steinbrenner, Jackson and Billy Martin era to, the run of crowns two decades later, to the years of frustration and missed opportunity through the second decade of the twenty-first century. However, how to make a book exceptional when champonships are routine, and scores of a team’s player are imortal? Emphasize a variety of players, teams, moments, events and contributors that made the Yankees unique in the annals of American sport, which this book ably does.

The Detroit Tigers have been marked neither by dynasties nor doldrums. The Tigers captured just four World Series championships since becoming a charter member of the junior circuit in 1901. They compiled a record barely above .500 during that 120-year span. They have suffered through seasons of failure so pronounced that they have gone down as some of the worst in the annals of baseball. But their periodic years of greatness have proven so memorable that they have remained in the hearts and minds of Tigers fans forever. They have provided a sense of pride and optimism to even the most fervent and critical followers during the most woeful periods. This book covers the entirety of Tigers history and even delves into the birth of professional baseball in Detroit in the National League to its continuation in the Western League, which morphed into the American League. This book details the Tigers’ greatest and most interesting teams, players, moments, and eras.

In 1995, Cleveland rocked. With Montell Jordan's "This Is How We Do It," blaring in the locker room, the Indians racked up 100 wins in a strike-shortened season and reached the World Series for the first time in 41 years. Fans were on a first-name basis with the stars that lit up the city: Omar, Manny, The Thomeinator, A.B. Cleveland Rocked is the complete story of the team that brought sellout crowds and walk-off wins to the corner of Carnegie and Ontario. Author Zack Meisel traces the roots of the pennant winner, from trading All-Star Joe Carter for Sandy Alomar and Carlos Baerga in 1989 to the campaign to build a new stadium. Meisel introduces readers to a cast of characters that larger-than-life personalities, including Belle, Thome, Kenny Lofton, Eddie Murray, and manager Mike Hargrove, who managed to keep the clubhouse at peace. Thrilling come-from-behind wins jump off the page as the Indians race toward clinching the division. Then Meisel details the Indians' October to Remember, from thrilling playoff triumphs over Boston and Seattle to the first World Series games in Cleveland since the days of Bob Feller. Cleveland Rocked offers the story of a team that brought baseball back in Northeast Ohio.

The Ultimate Chicago Cubs Time Machine presents a timeline format that not only includes the Cubs’ greatest moments—including their World Series appearance in 2016 and individual achievements—but also focuses on some very unusual seasons and events, such as the 1872 season when the Great Chicago Fire destroyed their stadium and uniforms. There are dozens of impressive, wild, wacky, and wonderful stories over the years regarding Cubs history, and Gitlin is the perfect person to write it with his trademark humor and thorough knowledge of team lore.

From their ignominious 40-120 debut in 1962, to the "Miracle Mets" of the shocking 1969 season, to the teams of Darryl Strawberry, David Wright, and Jacob deGrom, the New York Mets have in nearly sixty years become the city's other beloved baseball franchise, with its fan base stretching well beyond the New York suburbs. The Mets' rich history is told in over two dozen engaging chapters celebrating the highlights, as well as the low lights, of baseball's most lovable team--win or lose.