As a journeyman catcher for Detroit and later for Baltimore he had a unique vantage point for observing just what it is that makes some batters successful while others of equal or greater ability go hitless game after game. His observations led to questions-many of which had never been asked before-about hitting, about how to maximize your power, and about many of the old rules of thumb everyone had always accepted as given.Taking full advantage of the latest videotape and photographic technology, Lau vigorously pursued the answers to these questions, spent countless hours experimenting with different techniques, and analyzed the hitting styles of hundreds of batters. Gradually, he realized the mechanics and keys of good hitting and his system of teaching evolved.A natural teacher, Lau, used his knowledge to improve the batting averages of the Orioles, the A's, the Royals, and the Yankees. And through his work with individual players, such as Hal McRae and George Brett, he earned a reputation as one of the most respected and effective hitting instructors in the game. Few people knew more about hitting than Charley Lau, and no one was better qualified to show you how to become a consistent hitter. Lau passed away in 1984.

    3 after Babe Ruth and No. 7 before Mickey Mantle. The three Alou brothers hit consecutive groundouts in the same inning. Sparky Anderson was the only manager to win World Championships in both leagues. Sammy Sosa once shined shoes for 35 cents a pair. These choice morselsand others like themare found in The Baseball Catalog: Millennium Edition, baseball expert Dan Schlossbergs highly acclaimed work on America's national pastime. Turn these pages to find out which announcer signaled a home run by yelling, "Open the window, Aunt Minnie, here it comes!" Learn how corncobs helped Paul and Lloyd Waner become Hall of Famers. Read about the only man to pitch a perfect game in relief . . . what Joe Medwick said when he met the Pope . . . why Hank Aaron was once called out for hitting a home run . . . and how Jake Jones was given a triple on a foul ball. It's all here: from the origins of the game through the advent of divisional play, wild-card winners, interleague competition, and realignment. This new edition of The Baseball Catalog will entertain trivia buffs well into the new millennium. Every aspect of the game is covered, from the hot dog to the hot corner: nicknames, quotations, origins, superstitions, traditions, trades, rules, umpires, memorable moments, spring training, plus postseason and All-Star highlights. The Baseball Catalog is Dan Schlossbergs all-inclusive tribute to the good old days of Americas favorite sport.

    

    

    By providing students with this important foundation, this title offers a fresh approach to teaching American culture while expanding fluency.

    As Larry Gerlach points out in The Men in Blue, these arbiters transform competitive chaos into organized sport. They make it possible to "play ball," but nobody loves them. Considering the abuse meted out by fans and players, why would any sane person want to be an umpire? Many reasons emerge in conversations with a dozen former major league arbiters. While nobody loves them, they love the game. Gerlach has elicited entertaining stories from these figures under fire--about their lonely travels, their dealings with umpire baiters, battles for unionization, breaking through the color line, and much more. From Beans Reardon, who came up to the National League in 1926, to Ed Sudol, who retired in 1977, here is a witty and telling portrait of baseball from the boisterous Golden Age to the Jet Age of Instant Replay.