<p>More than any other sport, baseball has been identified with America—its values, dreams, lessons, and losses. Most of all, baseball is connected to the American childhood. In Before the Glory, the game’s living legends, maverick players, and stars of today tell the stories of their childhood and coming of age with the innocence and candor of youth. From Bill Mazeroski growing up in a shack without heating or electricity, to Ron LeFlore becoming addicted to drugs at the age of twelve, to David Wright winning a food-fight in the school cafeteria, Before the Glory is not simply baseball, it is life. It is poverty, segregation, innovation, integration, survival, war, peace, love, hate, villains, and heroes—all as seen through the eyes of everyday children who happened to have the desire and ability to rise to the top of America’s greatest sport. Hall of Famers, retired MLB players, and current stars, including David Wright, Justin Morneau, and Brian Roberts  agreed to be interviewed especially for this book and share, in their own words, their perspectives on the challenges of childhood, family life, and reaching goals. This book is an inspiration to young and older fans alike. Foreword by Brooks Robinson. Includes an 8-page color insert.</p>

Before the Glory: 20 Baseball Heroes Talk About Growing Up and Turning Hard Times into Home Runs

Herschlag, Rich

Staples, Billy

Biographies & Memoirs

BillyBall 2009: The Road to the Phillies-Yankees World Series

<p>When authors Billy Staples and Rich Herschlag are asked to write a baseball column for The Trentonian, they decide to put their own stamp on it. Covering primarily Philadelphia and New York, they forego the dirt and seek out baseball's role models, well known and not so well known. They sidestep the steroids and find the stories of courage, dedication and humanity the mainstream press so often misses. Shortly after the All-Star break, another storyline develops. In Philadelphia, the 2008 World Champions are beginning to reemerge. Up the turnpike in New York, the Yankees are showing shades of their former selves from a decade earlier. One by one, division rivals fall by the wayside, and on October 25 only the Yanks and Phils remain standing. The Phillies-Yankees World Series is a battle of baseball titans. For Staples and Herschlag who in their first full year get to cover it from field level it is the ultimate reward for doing it their way.</p>

Sports & Outdoors

Baseball

iUniverse

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Books by Staples, Billy