Early Sport

Includes a bonus episode from the podcast I Am Kobe. The inside look at one of the most captivating and consequential figures in our culture—with never-before-heard interviews. Kobe Bryant’s death in January 2020 did more than rattle the worlds of sports and celebrity. The tragedy of that...

Baseball's Golden Age comes alive through the voices of men who were there. Selected from the original tapes on which Lawrence S. Ritter based his classic book of baseball history, The Glory of Their Times is a collection of wonderful tales that paint a vivid and evocative picture of a lively young America and the giants who starred on her ballfields, legends like Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Walter Johnson, and many others.

This is the true story of how organized baseball started, how gambling shaped the game from its earliest days, and how it became our national pastime and our national mirror. Baseball in the Garden of Eden draws on original research to tell how the game evolved from other bat-and-ball games and gradually supplanted them, how the New York game came to dominate other variants, and how gambling and secret professionalism promoted and plagued the game.

Skyhawks Flag Football: A Chapter Book for Kids Ages 6–8 A girl quarterback learns to lead—on and off the field. When Noor joins the Skyhawks, she and her coed team discover that flag football is really about choices: staying calm under pressure, helping friends shine, and playing with kindness. Across 12 short, high-energy chapters, readers learn real flag-football basics—no tackling, clean flag pulls, first-down cones, the “Three-Mississippi” rush, sideline awareness, and simple plays like the safe Skyhook and clever Sky-Weave—all explained in friendly, in-story language. ...

Joe Farrell, Joe Farley, and Lawrence Knorr have combed New York and Pennsylvania for the gravesites and biographies of some of our most interesting and accomplished sports figures. Included in this volume are: Alan Ameche “The Horse” William “Willie” Law Anderson “Golf’s Forgotten Legend” Paul Arizin “Pitchin’ Paul” Don Richard “Ritchie” Ashburn “His Whiteness” De Bonneville “Bert” Bell “Modern Football’s Founding Father” Billy Conn “The Pittsburgh Kid” James “Jim” Crowley and Harry Stuhldreher “Half the Horsemen” Joe William Frazier “...

Splash! The Mermaid’s Secret is a heartwarming chapter book for girls ages 6-8 who love swimming, mermaids, and magical adventures! Mia dreams of winning her swim races but always comes in second place. Just when she’s ready to give up, she discovers a mysterious mermaid named Luma hiding in the pool! Luma reveals a secret—swimming isn’t just about speed; it’s about trusting the water. With Luma’s help, Mia learns to glide effortlessly, build confidence, and embrace the magic within her. Perfect for early readers and independent swimmers, this illustrated chapter book encourages...

Before soccer became the world’s game, it had to become a game at all. In the nineteenth century, football was not yet the clean, global sport we recognize today. It was a disputed pastime, a school tradition, a local habit, a working-class obsession, a moral argument, and eventually a national institution. Its rules had to be written. Its competitions had to be invented. Its clubs had to survive. Its players had to choose between amateur ideals and professional reality. Its crowds had to be understood. Its stories had to be remembered. Making the People’s Game tells the story of how ...

What if your child learned that the secret to success is simply never giving up? In Carlos Never Gives Up, young readers join Carlos, a determined soccer player who loves the game more than anything. There’s just one problem—his kicks never go very far. During practice, the other players send the ball flying across the field while Carlos’s ball barely rolls. Carlos begins to feel frustrated and wonders if he will ever get better. But with encouragement from his coach and help from a good friend, Carlos learns an important lesson: great players aren’t born overnight—improvement ...

Are you ready to get loud, proud, and sparkly? If you have a daughter, niece, or granddaughter aged 6-8 who is bursting with energy, Cheer Magic is the perfect book to channel that enthusiasm into confidence and fun! Designed specifically for beginner cheerleaders, this interactive guide takes young readers on a journey from their very first "Ready Position" to becoming a confident squad leader. Guided by the encouraging "Coach Sparkle," girls will learn that cheer leading is about so much more than just pompoms—it’s about being brave, kind, and strong. Inside this action-packed book, ...

In this “sharp-eyed account of a nearly forgotten African-American sports legend” (Publishers Weekly)—the remarkable Major Taylor who became the world’s fastest bicyclist at the height of the Jim Crow era—“Kranish has done historians and fans a service by reminding us that such...

Zara Joins the Cheer Squad is a warm, confidence-building cheerleading chapter book for girls ages 6-8. After a school pep rally, second grader Zara decides to try out for the Sunrise Sparks. With simple vocabulary and short chapters, young readers follow Zara as she learns 8-counts, claps, clean motions, tiny toe-touch jumps, and the safest first stunts with bases and a back spot. When the music fizzles, a bow slips, or a stunt wobbles, the team models calm problem solving: breathe, trust your people, choose safety, and finish with heart. Perfect for early independent reading or shared ...

Stepping up to the plate for the very first time can feel scary… but sometimes bravery begins with one small swing. Owen loves baseball more than anything. He loves the bright green grass, the dusty infield, and the sound of a ball popping into a glove. When Owen finally makes the Cedar Grove Hawks, he can hardly believe his dream has come true. But when it’s time for his first at-bat, Owen suddenly feels nervous. What if he swings and misses? What if he lets his team down? With the encouragement of Coach Ben and the support of his teammates, Owen learns that baseball isn’t about ...

Playing for Keeps is an insightful, in-depth account of the game that became America's premier spectator sport for nearly a century. Reconstructing the culture and experience of early baseball through a careful reading of the sporting press, baseball guides, and the correspondence of the player-manager Harry Wright, Warren Goldstein discovers the origins of many modern controversies during the game's earliest decades.The 20th Anniversary Edition includes information about the changes that have occurred in the history of the sport since the 1980s.

Picking up where he left off in his acclaimed memoir Sting-Ray Afternoons, Steve Rushin brilliantly captures a bygone era, and the thrills of new adulthood in the early 80s.It begins in Bloomington, Minnesota, with a 13-year-old kid staging his own author photo that he hopes will someday grace...

Starting something new can feel scary… but sometimes all it takes is one brave step. Ethan loves soccer. He dreams about playing on a team, scoring goals, and having fun on the field. But when he joins the Silver Strikers, everything suddenly feels big and overwhelming. The field looks huge. The other players seem fast and confident. And Ethan isn’t sure if he belongs. What if he makes a mistake? What if everyone is better than him? Just when Ethan begins to doubt himself, a friendly teammate named Nico shows him something important — courage doesn’t mean you’re never nervous. ...

What a surprise to find my grandfather's scrapbooks including his published stories in Forest and Stream Magazine after 100 years. It was imperative for me to make these jewels available! Russell Mott aka Double Barrel hunts caribou, grizzly bears, moose, mountain goats, mountain sheep, and sharks in Canada and Florida. Mott's descriptions of the countryside, the guides, the hunts, the wildlife, and saving a life are truly remarkable. With each story, you can learn valuable history, hunting, and nature lessons.

Friendship. Teamwork. Courage. The Starlight Superstars are ready to shine! Maya has one big dream—to be the brightest soccer star on the field. But when she joins the Starlight Superstars, she soon discovers that being a true champion isn’t about standing out… It’s about standing together. With her teammates Lily and Chloe by her side, Maya learns that soccer is more than just scoring goals. It’s about cheering for each other, finding bravery when the game gets tough, and discovering the magic of friendship. From heart-pounding matches to helping younger players at the community ...

Does your daughter dream of lacing up her skates and racing across the ice? Does she love sports, adventure, and stories about girls who never give up? Then this is the book she has been waiting for. She Shoots, She Scores! is a collection of ten warm, inspiring stories about girls ages six to eight who discover the magic of hockey — and something even more important along the way: the courage to believe in themselves. Meet ten unforgettable young players: • Lily, who is too scared to let go of the boards — until a new friend shows her that falling is just part of the game. • Maya, ...

A Heartwarming Tennis Story for Girls Ages 6–8 — Full of Courage, Friendship, and the Joy of Learning Something New Does your daughter dream of trying a new sport but worry she won’t be good enough? Meet Maya — and watch her discover that every champion starts exactly where she does: at the very beginning. When Maya presses her face against a chain-link fence one sunny Saturday and watches a girl hit a bright yellow ball against a practice wall, she feels something click inside her. She wants to try. She wants to learn. She wants to play tennis. Across ten action-packed chapters, ...

Throughout the NCAA Tournament’s history, underdogs, Cinderella stories, and upsets have captured the attention and imagination of fans. Making March Madness is the story of this premiere tournament, from its early days in Kansas City, to its move to Madison Square Garden, to its surviving a point-shaving scandal in New York and taking its games to different sites across the country.