How was basketball born? Why is the area in the paint and around the free throw circle known as the key? When did the NBA begin play? What team was arguably the worst NBA squad ever? Who was the highest drafted college player who never played a single game in the NBA?

This book provides over 100 questions and detailed answers concerning the traditions, rules, and history of basketball. Organized by the sport's three eras--its birth through 1945, the NBA from 1946 through 1999, and the game today--it answers questions about the sport at all levels, from college games to the Olympics. A bonus chapter provides a who, what, when, where, why, and how of basketball--the perfect resource to settle arguments or to answer challenging trivia questions.

Why is a football field sometimes called a gridiron? Who are some of the best left-handed quarterbacks ever? Who was the first Black quarterback to win a Super Bowl? Why do players form a huddle when plays are called? When did quarterback sacks become an official statistic? What is the record for the most passes thrown by a quarterback in a game?

This book provides a slew of questions and in-depth answers concerning the traditions, rules, records, and history of pro football (and more). From the early days of football to the hugely popular game seen today, Wayne Stewart answers questions even the most knowledgeable fan may have pondered. Whether the topic is quarterbacks or coaches, famous firsts or memorable moments, if a Who, What, When, Where, Why, or How? question is on your mind, this is the book for you.

A small area of western Pennsylvania around Pittsburgh has produced almost 25 percent of the modern era quarter- backs enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That percentage is wildly disproportionate to the number of superstar quarterbacks any one state might claim, let alone a mere sliver of a state--an area representing just one-fifth of one percent of the total country.

The list of the greats starts with George Blanda, the old man of the game, and continues with the incomparable Johnny Unitas, followed by Broadway Joe Namath, Joe the Comeback Kid Montana, Dan Marino, and Jim Kelly.

Their stories, feats, and statistics are brought to life in America's Football Factory through riveting anecdotes, extensive research, and exclusive interviews with their coaches, friends, family, and peers. Readers will appreciate getting to know these athletes as people, not merely as football heroes. Stewart also explores the many theories as to why one part of the nation has churned out so many greats.

Hall of Famers Raymond Berry and Mike Ditka lavished praise on the first edition of this book. Any fan of my era, of my friend Johnny Unitas, or, for that matter, any fan of football in general should enjoy Wayne Stewart's book, said Berry.

Ditka, himself a Western Pennsylvanian, wrote in the book's introduction, You can't get much better than the primary six men featured in this book. He's correct--upon their retirement, all six of the book's featured quarterbacks were in the top 12 for touchdown passes, and five of them were in the top 10.

America's Football Factory also features other greats from the Pittsburgh vicinity, including Johnny Lujack, Babe Parilli, and Marc Bulger, and the area's best high school programs for producing quarterbacks are also discussed.

This book covers the entire 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates season from spring expectations through a season of destiny culminated by the wildest, most lopsided World Series ever-one which saw a team get battered by outrageous scores, yet prevail over the dynastic Yankees. Profiles of stars such as Roberto Clemente, 1960 Cy Young winner Vern Law, season MVP Dick Groat, and Yankees including Series MVP Bobby Richardson and Mickey Mantle are included.

What a wild ride that season was: stunning comebacks were routine for the Bucs; Casey Stengel mis-management probably cost the Yankees the Series; Mantle sobs over his most disappointing baseball experience ever; what should arguably be considered as the most important home run ever takes place with Bill Mazeroski's walkoff, Series-winning blast; a forgotten hero in Hal Smith is also discussed.

There's more: Yankee pitcher Ralph Terry heroically speaks of the Mazeroski home he served up...Clemente's bitterness over his lack of recognition...Danny Murtaugh's managerial skill was a key...Roy Face's 1959 mastery and his importance in 1960...much humor and colorful characters surrounded this team, mainly focusing on slugger Dick Strangeglove Stuart, a horrible defensive first baseman who once received a standing ovation for snagging a hot dog wrapper which blew across the field toward him...the pitching staff and the defense (especially Clemente and Bill Mazeroski) also are heavily featured.

The author interviewed almost every living Pirate, making this book and the miraculous 1960 season spring to life. Read it and re-live the 1960 Bucs.

Divided into three sections, this unusual handbook, now in its third edition, offers Routine Calls, which deal with scenarios and rules that typically come up in games and deal with clear-cut rules--fair and foul, strike zone questions, and the like.

The next section, Basic Situations, deals with umpiring matters and rules that are just a bit more unusual or, for the casual fan, obscure. Interference and obstruction calls, for example, don't come up too often, but they remain standard stuff involving rules that umps and many fans know quite well.

In the final section, Obscure Rules and Situations, you will be presented with what many baseball people call knotty problems. Here, you will be asked questions involving the complex infield fly rule and other arcane matters. This section, then, is the ultimate test of your umpiring skills and knowledge.

Most of the situations in You're the Umpire come from real games, such as the time a fastball from Randy Johnson killed a bird in flight and what the umps did regarding that pitch, but some scenarios are made up to illustrate specific points or rules. Test yourself against your friends or against the iconic baseball rulebook. It's a challenge and it's fun.

Taking a cue from the legendary TV game show Name That Tune, Wayne Stewart's Name That Ballplayer, now newly updated with a bonus section on active players in 2019, is a unique baseball quiz book. This is not just a list of questions followed by the answers. Each question offers the reader three pitches, or clues. Guess the identity of the player in question on the first clue and you've hit a homer. Guess right after the second clue earns you a double, and if you need all three clues to get the correct answer, award yourself a single. If you swing and miss on all three clues, you've struck out. After three outs, add up your score and move on to a new set of clues. Not only are the clues given in tiers, but the book's chapters run from extremely easy (e.g., identifying the likes of Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron) to much more obscure (where was Mickey Mantle born? what do you remember about Johnny Bench?). Perfect for any baseball fan, regardless of team allegiance

Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports--books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team.

Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

• Which team became the first one ever to have three of its players hit 40+ homers in a season?
• Who was the shortest man ever to appear in a big-league game?
• Which two brothers combined for more lifetime home runs than any other brother act?
• When Shane Bieber won the 2020 Cy Young Award, he became the fifth Cleveland Indian to capture that honor. Name three of the other four men to accomplish this.
• Which two men bashed more home runs while teammates than any other teammate combo?
• And many more!

This brief but readable biography tells the story of the most recognized figure in baseball--Babe Ruth. Besides vividly describing the highlights of Ruth's career, author Wayne Stewart examines the unprecedented impact Ruth had on the nature and future of the game. Ruth's ability to hit the long ball and the flamboyance of his off-field persona infused the game with a new excitement that rescued baseball from the negative effects of the 1919 Black Sox scandal. Making extensive use of interviews conducted by the author with members of Ruth's family and with players who knew Ruth, this biography is an engaging exploration of how Ruth helped shape modern baseball.

Babe Ruth is the most recognized figure in baseball and a true American icon. In this brief but readable biography, author Wayne Stewart engagingly describes the highlights of Ruth's career and deftly examines the reasons for the unprecedented impact Ruth had on the game. Ruth's ability to hit the long ball and the flamboyance of his off-field persona infused the game with a new excitement that rescued baseball from the negative effects of the 1919 Black Sox scandal. The author draws new insights into Ruth's life and career through interviews he conducted with members of Ruth's family and with other baseball players who knew him.

Readers are also provided with a quick reference chronology to Ruth's career, a bibliography of important print and non-print information resources on Ruth, a statistical appendix summarizing Ruth's on-field production by season, and a discussion of how Ruth has been depicted in books, movies, plays, and other media since his death. This biography will both explain and satisfy the continuing curiosity about Ruth among young basbeball fans who never had the opportunity to see him play.

Most sports watchers' projections for Alex Rodriguez's final stats rank him with men such as Lou Gehrig, Ted Williams, Babe Ruth, and Hank Aaron. A veritable baseball wunderkind, this Dominican-American ball player has broken records from the moment he stepped on the diamond. In this engaging biography author Wayne Stewart describes the highlights of A-Rod's record-setting career and examines the reasons for the unprecedented impact he has had on the game.

Recruited right out of high school in 1993, his first year in pro ball was a whirlwind with Rodriguez making not only his minor league debut, but getting his first taste of big-league ball as a Seattle Mariner--all by the age of just 18. Fast forward to 2000 when A-Rod signed a 10-year deal with the Texas Rangers calling for a total salary of $252 million, the most lucrative deal in baseball. In 2003 he became the youngest player ever to reach the 300 home run circle. Just two years later became the youngest player ever to reach the 400 home run strata. If baseball history is any indication, A-Rod's days of record-breaking performances are far from over. This fair-minded and well-researched biography traces A-Rod from his childhood growing up in Miami to his career with the New York Yankees. Personal interests, such as his donations of both time and money to such causes as the Boys and Girls Club, are covered in detail. Also included is a timeline, photographs, and career statistics, which will give the reader insight into Rodriguez's place in the history of the game as well as how he stacks up against baseball's all-time greatest players.

Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports--books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team.

Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

You're the Ref is divided into three exciting sections. Routine Calls deals with scenarios and rules which typically come up in games and deals with clear cut rules--out of bounds calls, holding, pass interference. Basic Situations deals with matters and rules that are just a bit more unusual or, for the casual fan, more obscure--illegal man downfield, for example, isn't a call you see every game, but it remains a rule that referees and many fans know quite well. In the final section, you can put your knowledge to the test. You'll be presented with what many football people call knotty problems. Here you will be asked questions involving the complex tuck rule, the difference between roughing and running into the kicker, and other arcane matters.

Most of the situations in this book come from real games, but some scenarios are made up to illustrate specific points or rules. You're the Ref is the ultimate test of your refereeing skills and knowledge.

You're the Ref, first published in 2011 and now newly revised, is divided into five exciting sections covering all three phases of the game--offense, defense, and special teams. From basic holding and pass interference calls to more complicated rules such as roughing the kicker, illegal touching and those governing fumbles, it examines just about every scenario that could unfold on a football field.

Most of the situations in this book come from real games--many that diehard fans will be sure to remember--so don your zebra stripes, grab your whistle, and take your position in the offensive backfield. After all, you're the ref

Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports--books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team.

Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.