Longtime USA TODAY baseball editor and columnist Hal Bodley explores just how essential baseball is to understanding the American experience. He takes readers into the Oval Office with George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton as the former presidents share their thoughts on the game, he looks at the changes that America's Greatest Generation ushered in, as well as examining baseball's struggle with performance enhancing drugs alongside America's war on drugs.An unabashedly celebratory explanation of America's love affair with baseball and the men who make it possible, this work sheds light on topics such as the role Jackie Robinson's signing with the Dodgers played in the civil rights movement, how baseball's westward expansion mirrored the growth of our national economy, labor strife, baseball families, the international explosion of the game, and even the myriad ways in which movies, music, and baseball are intrinsically tied. It is a must read for anyone interested in more fully understanding not only the game but also the nation in which it thrives.

    She wants a husband and a baby. A marriage made  in heaven, right? After attending five baby showers this past Spring alone, Danielle Williams is fed up with being single and childless while all her friends are swimming in kids. But she’s sworn off dating after just one too many loser boyfriends, so what’s a girl to do? Enter Mason Rutherford, the most eligible billionaire bachelor in the country. And he is dead set on remaining single forever. That is until his father demands he marry and produce an heir or be fired as the CEO of the family business. While it seemed like a good idea at the time, Danielle’s marriage arrangement with Mason Rutherford has now blossomed into dangerous territory. With his father’s disapproval and her heart on the line, can Danielle keep up the charade long enough to find marital bliss? How to Wed a Billionaire is the first book in my Wedding Charade Series. If you love Fake Wedding Romances, this is the series for you!

    But it doesn't take long before Emily realizes this is no ordinary assistant’s job... Escape with this SIZZLING HOT Romance! This Seductive Alpha Billionaire Romance Series box set includes ALL 4 BOOKS--the complete series, with a HEA! One-click it now and save big! You’ll fall hard for Emily and Spencer’s passionate love story! FROM SPENCER'S OBSESSION (BOOK 1): Emily Anne Prescott is a shy and introverted college student who has just landed the internship of her dreams—assistant to the heartbreakingly gorgeous and filthy rich CEO of Ford Enterprises, Spencer Ford himself. But it doesn't take long before Emily realizes this is no ordinary assistant’s job. From the moment Spencer Ford’s icy blue eyes lock onto hers, she knows there’s no escaping the captivating pull of her sexy and alluring billionaire boss. But as much as Emily is tempted by Spencer's come-ons…there's a problem: she's newly (and accidentally!) engaged to her high school sweetheart. How will she deal with her growing feelings for Spencer without sacrificing her own values and hurting the man that loves her? Is it even possible? Spencer Ford is a wealthy and powerful billionaire with a dark past. A past that’s kept him from the one thing he craves the most. The one thing that money can’t buy: a deep and passionate connection that ignites his soul. But he’s tormented by painful memories that won’t let him move on. Instead, he fills his days with business meetings and mindless, impersonal sex because it’s easier than letting a woman get too close. Until, that is, he meets Emily Prescott—the beautiful and brilliant college student who has everything he’s been looking for and more. She brings out a part of him that he thought was gone forever and he can’t help but let his guard down around her. He wants her. All of her. But there’s just one catch: she won’t give in. And that makes him want her even more. When secrets are revealed, will their insatiable attraction be enough to keep them together or will it force them apart? READ THE ENTIRE SERIES NOW--WITH A GUARANTEED HEA! ***The Spencer's Obsession series is a sensual, must-read romantic and roller coaster adventure New Adult Contemporary Romance / Billionaire Romance by hot new Author Kaycee Kline. *** WARNING: This book series contains adult content and is meant for 18+ readers only.

     Plucky Fleet Street reporter Penny Green spots the clues which other people miss, but is anyone prepared to listen to a woman in 1880s London? From the splendour of Crystal Palace to an opium den in Limehouse, Penny must navigate her way through secrets and lies to uncover the truth of each case. Inspector James Blakely of Scotland Yard is by her side, but will he remain there? Read The Penny Green Series: Books 4-6 today to continue this entertaining Victorian mystery series. The Penny Green Mystery Series is set in 1880s London. The books can be read in any order: Book 1 - Limelight Book 2 - The Rookery Book 3 - The Maid's Secret Book 4 - The Inventor Book 5 - Curse of the Poppy Book 6 - The Bermondsey Poisoner Book 7 - An Unwelcome Guest Also available: The Penny Green Series: Books 1-3 (The Penny Green Series Boxset Book 1) The Penny Green Series: Books 4-6 (The Penny Green Series Boxset Book 2)

    Stuck in a rut, baseball was dying. Then Steinbrenner bought the Yankees, a second-division club with wife-swapping pitchers, leaving the House That Ruth Built not with a slam but a simper. He vowed not to interfere—before soon changing his mind. Across town, Tom Seaver led the Mets’ stellar pitching line-up, and iconic outfielder Willie Mays was preparing to say goodbye. For months, the Mets, under Yogi Berra, couldn’t get it right. Meanwhile, the A’s were breaking a ban on facial hair while maverick owner Charlie Finley was fighting to keep them underpaid. But beneath the muttonchops and mayhem, lay another world. Elvis commanded a larger audience than the Apollo landings. A Dodge Dart cost $2,800, gas was a quarter per gallon. A fiscal crisis loomed; Vietnam had ended, the vice president resigned, and Watergate had taken over. It was one of the most exciting years in the game’s history, the first with the designated hitter and the last before arbitration and free agency. The two World Series opponents went head-to-head above the baby steps of a dynasty that soon dwarfed both league champions. It was a turbulent time for the country and the game, neither of which would ever be the same again.

    People living happy lives, some not-so-happy lives, people in love, hopeless romantics, people dealing with heartbreak, the ones who believe life is better with a bit of whimsy, this book, hopefully, has a little something that resonates with everybody, lets the reader find the silver lining when needed and discover the joie de vivre even when times are hard.

    Eleanor is a young woman living alone who has experienced something terrible. Whatever tragedy she has been through, the reader only sees snippets of its impact until the very end of the story. Most of the novel focuses on Eleanor spending time trying to come out of her shell, helped by the unlikely IT guy from her office and an old man they both help one strange day.Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine was one of the 2017 New York Times’ “Books to Breeze Through This Summer.” Its charm and character makes it a riveting read that pulls at the heartstrings. A movie based on the book is in development as of May 2017, proving the book’s popularity and success.A Brief Look Inside:EVERY GOOD BOOK CONTAINS A WORLD FAR DEEPER than the surface of its pages. The characters and their world come alive, and the characters and its world still live on. Conversation Starters is peppered with questions designed to bring us beneath the surface of the page and invite us into the world that lives on.These questions can be used to...Create Hours of Conversation:• Promote an atmosphere of discussion for groups• Foster a deeper understanding of the book• Assist in the study of the book, either individually or corporately• Explore unseen realms of the book as never seen beforeDisclaimer: This book you are about to enjoy is an independent resource meant to supplement the original book. If you have not yet read the original book, we encourage doing before purchasing this unofficial Conversation Starters.

    

    With the previous season's failed playoff bid still as fresh as the paint job on the new Yankee Stadium, a 27th championship flag represented both the floor and the ceiling in the eyes of a squad. It was the last title for the "Core Four"—Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, and Andy Pettitte—who would each retire over the course of the next five years. It would be the lone title for Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, A.J. Burnett, and Nick Swisher, each of whom saw memorable peaks and valleys during their time in the Bronx. For CC Sabathia and Brett Gardner, it was their first championship, though the veterans were still in pinstripes as the latest generation of Yankees arrived for what they hope will be the next dynasty. Mission 27 is a thoroughly reported examination of an unforgettable season, packed with interviews with the full cast of key players, team executives, broadcasters, and more.

    Very Good conditions. May have soft reading marks and name of the previous owner.

    But for the baseball cognoscenti, there are just a few "must-have" classics: BALL FOUR by Jim Bouton. THE LONG SEASON by Jim Brosnan. WILLIE'S TIME by Charles Einstein. And SEASONS IN HELL by Mike Shropshire, which was a hilarous first-person account of Mike's travails serving as a daily beat writer covering the hapless 1972 Texas Rangers. Now, in The Last Real Season, Shropshire captures the essence of a different time and different place in baseball, when the average salary for major leaguers was only $27,600...when the ballplayers' drug of choice was alcohol, not steroids...when major leaguers sported tight doubleknit uniforms over their long-hair and Afros...and on July 28th, 1975, the day that famed Detroit resident Jimmy Hoffa went missing, the Detroit Tigers started a losing streak of 19 games in a row. On the day that the Tigers blew a 4-run lead in the bottom of the ninth, Shropshire recalls: "I drank three bottles of Stroh's beer in less than a minute and wrote that 'Jimmy Hoffa will show up in the left field stands with Amelia Earhart as his date before the Tigers will win another game.'"And so it goes. Filled with just the kind of wonderful baseball stories that real fans crave, this is the funniest baseball book of the year.

    Pete Van Wieren’s legacy began in 1976, when he and a young Skip Caray were hired to call Atlanta Braves games. During the next three decades, "the Professor" and Caray became the voices of a team known nationwide as America's Team courtesy of Ted Turner's SuperStation TBS. In this heartfelt autobiography, Van Wieren shares his memories of thrilling moments in Braves history, such as the 1995 season when the Braves won the world championship; the pitching mastery of Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz; the heartbreak of the 1996 World Series loss to the Yankees; and Atlanta's unprecedented run of 14 consecutive division titles.

    An account of what it was like to grow up a White Sox fan in a Cubs nation, this title covers the history of the organisation, from the heartbreak of 1967 and the South-Side Hit Men to the disco demolition and the magical 2005 season when they became world champions.

    Even though the past two years have witnessed the Red Sox' finally putting an end to the Curse of the Bambino and the White Sox' bringing a championship to the South Side of Chicago for the first time in eighty-seven years, the sad truth is that the 2005 and 2006 seasons may be remembered as much for the league's scandals and blockbuster free-agent signings as they are for historic accomplishments on the field. Something has gone horribly wrong with the game, and according to Schmidt, it's time to do something about it.Clearing the Bases is a much-needed call to arms by one of baseball's most respected players. Drawing on his experiences as a third baseman, a manager, and, most recently, a fan, Schmidt takes on everything from skyrocketing payrolls, callous owners, and unapproachable players to inflated statistics, and, of course, ersatz home run kings. With bold and spirited counsel, Schmidt offers his own prescription for restoring integrity to the game and bringing baseball back, once and for all, to its rightful place.More than just an old-timer's screed against the modern game, however, Clearing the Bases goes beyond the BALCO investigation and never-ending free-agent bonanzas that dominate the back pages. It also examines all that's right -- and what still needs work -- with our national pastime, including interleague play, expansion, and, most surprisingly, better all-around hitters.Riveting, wise, and illuminating, Clearing the Bases is a Hall of Famer's look at how Major League Baseball has lost its way and how it can head back home.

    The station manager who hired him was the first to recognize his considerable on-air talent, and helped start what has become a legendary radio career. Often compared to Howard Stern, Carton has hosted a series of highly rated shows, and in 2007 he joined WFAN, where he and Boomer Esiason host an eponymous show every morning for four hours out of a studio in New York City.In this debut book, Carton invites the reader to join him as he recounts tales from his suburban youth, defends his long-held love affair with the New York Jets, reminisces about the shenanigans of some of the highest paid and most celebrated athletes playing today, and reflects on his work as one of radio’s craftiest, most hilarious personalities ever to get behind the microphone.