50 Moments That Defined Major League Baseball

(Hardback)

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Description

Baseball is a game of incredible moments, awe-inspiring feats, and dramatic finishes. But not all of these events actually impacted the game itself or the players still to come. Moments such as Lou Gehrigs last Opening Day appearance, the very first All-Star game, or Mickey Mantles first game to hit home runs from both sides of the plate are iconic not because they were game-changing plays, but because they affected the course of baseball history. In 50 Moments That Defined Major League Baseball, Rocco Constantino provides a fresh history of the national pastime by recounting the most extraordinary and iconic momentsboth renowned and obscurethat shaped the game as it moved from the Dead Ball Era, through World War II, and on to the modern era. Events include Jackie Robinsons first All-Star Game, Babe Ruths 50th home run in his first season as a Yankee, Hank Aarons first career home run, and many more. Highlighting these moments are Constantinos exclusive interviews with over 50 former Major League Baseball players, managers, and umpires, as they candidly share their memories and provide commentary on these impactful events. Many of the players interviewed played in the World Series or an All-Star Game, including Rod Carew, Fred Lynn, Shawn Estes, and Jeff Montgomery. 50 Moments That Defined Major League Baseball features rarely seen historic photographs of baseball immortals and modern photos of todays stars. With two bonus chapters that include first-hand entertaining anecdotes from baseball icons and moving statements about those who helped them reach the sports pinnacle, this book is an engaging read for baseball fans and historians alike.

Reviews

The year in baseball has been an exciting one for Midwesterners, with both the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians in the World Series this year. If you want to learn more about baseball, CDPL has a great new book, 50 Moments That Defined Major League Baseball, by Rocco Constantino. This history is a collection of baseball memories including chapters on unbreakable records, historic home runs, the 'immortals' of baseball and more. * Journal Review *
[This type] of [book is] great for sparking debate among friends and may honestly generate some disputes that are never settled.... Constantinos book is well written, greatly detailed and he presents concise arguments as to why each of these moments should be considered one of the games 50 greatest ones. * Gregg's Baseball Bookcase *
This book provides a fresh history of the game by recounting the most exceptional and memorable moments over more than a century. Author Rocco Constantino attempts to identify the 50 moments that changed the game or marked the beginning or the end of an era. This compilation of great moments in baseball history has a bit of everything and some unexpected candidates make it into the book. Perhaps, the best feature of the book is the photos ... very memorable photos.... Though there are many books that contain lists of the top events or moments of any sport, this book was a refreshing change in that many of the moments listed were not ones that one would expect.... This book is recommended for any baseball fan who wishes to learn more about important events in the sports history. The short passages make it a good choice for younger readers or those who prefer to read a book in bits and pieces. The unusual choices and reasoning behind them will make for debates about which moments to include in the top 50 that defined major league baseball. This is one of those books that one can keep after reading for later reference and makes for a good addition to ones baseball book library. * The Inside Game: The Official Newsletter of SABR's Deadball Era Committee *
An excellent collection of short, interesting stories and anecdotes, often told In a new light and always entertaining. Recommended easy summer reading for baseball fans. * Ft.Myers & Southwest Florida *
One of the cool things about 50 Moments that Defined Major League Baseball is the number of perspectives you get. You dont just read the story from the stars perspective. You get a point of view from his teammates, his rivals and others who got to see it happen. There are great stories and quotes that emanate from Roccos inquiries to former major leaguers, who may not get asked these questions often, but have lots to share. -- Mark Simon, ESPN Stats & Information / ESPN.com
As a major league umpire I have had the privilege of being on the field for many great moments in our national past time. As I read Rocco Constantinos book, I was reminded how rich the history of Major League Baseball is. Whether you are a baseball historian or a casual fan, I believe you will enjoy this collection of the great moments in baseball history. -- Ted Barrett, MLB Crew Chief, #65
Constantino has done a fine job of highlighting 50 stories about baseball, but the beauty of the book is that in reading those 50 you get a wonderful picture of the entire sport, its magnificent history, and why Americans love it so. -- Bruce Chadwick, baseball historian

Author Bio

Rocco Constantino is an NCAA athletics administrator at Bloomfield College and baseball historian. He is also a freelance writer, most recently as a featured columnist for Bleacher Report and Baseball Hot Corner.