Teams Books

William Brown's history of the Montreal Royals is a must read for anyone with a love of baseball. I had been searching for information on the story of this organization since my father told me about the Royals that he followed growing up 6 blocks from Delormier Downs in Montreal's East End in the 40's and 50's.
Mr. Brown's tells the history of professional baseball in Montreal from its beginnings in the 1890's up until the Royals demise in 1960. As the #1 farm team for the Brooklyn Dodgers many future stars passed through Montreal on their way to the major leagues including Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella and Duke Snider to name a few and William Brown has told their story from a fans perspective. The book includes numerous photos drawn from his personal collection in addition to the archival sources. I highly recommend this facinating bit of baseball history.

The city of Montreal is famous for more than the Canadiens hockey team and smoked meat: in 1946 the city was home to Jackie Robinson while he played for the city's International League club, the Royals. William Brown's book covers the history of the Royals from their early Eastern League years in the 1890s through to their end in 1960. While typical of the popular-history genre, the book is exceptionally well researched and informative.
Brown's story of the Royals is enhanced by photographs of the long-gone Atwater Park and Delorimier Downs stadiums that hosted the team. His story is further enhanced by the insights of people who saw or partook in Royals games.
Ken Singleton's foreword underlines Robinson as the central figure not only to this book, but the history of blacks in baseball. Understandably, then, Robinson's exploits as a Royal are central to the book: he graces the cover and merits an entire chapter of his own.
Readers will note with intrigue the number of other baseball legends who passed through Montreal as part of the Royals: Managers George Stallings, Ed Barrow, Rabbit Maranville; and players Robinson, Roy Campanella, Don Newcombe, Tommy Lassorda; even Roberto Clemente suited up for the team. The book is a light read sure to entertain baseball fans young and old alike. It is well worth buying.

Always a baseball fan, I picked up this book randomly on an obscure shelf at the library because I did not know too much about the Negro Leagues. This book was EXCELLENT! From here, I read many other books about the Negro Leagues. Although geared more for the academic than the casual reader, I still highly recommend it.

This is an absorbing look at Hilldale club, a Philadelphia based black team. It also tells the story of how black baseball got started and prospered during the 1920s. There was a great deal in here in which I was not aware of before. Lots of great pix too! Highly recommended.

In my study of modern work systems I have often found that the top-performers are characterized by those that communciate well. Rick Maurer's feedback Toolkit is a very simple model to better communications in the workplace. Most of it is simple common sense, but the bottom line is that these simple solutions are still not being used in many organizations today.

The book is easy to read, and written step by step. No one could miss the meaning in this book. After I read it, and highlighted everything that was contradictory to what was happening in my organization, I slipped it under my bosses door. No doubt positive change is coming!

Don't judge a book by the number of pages- this short guide is a wonderful gem. Extremely practical how-to's, and how-not-to's, for giving and receiving feedback. Many organizations espouse feedback as critical to organizational learning and performance-- the skills gained from reading The Feedback Toolkit may actually make it so.

Mr. Santo certainly had his work cut out for him. Defining Cub greatness? I would have thought it only warranted a pamphlet or perhaps a column. I think the title should have been more like "defining Cubs great efforts, but disappointing results across the eras" no?

This item is an absolutely must have for all Cubs fans. There is something here for everyone. The long-time diehards will relive highlights from the careers of Cubs greats and the 'newbie' Cubs fans will meet the legends for the first time. Best of all, this book is brought to you by one of the legends himself... Ron Santo.

A Few Who Made A Difference: The World War II Teams of the Military Intelligence Service is the testimony of Karl W. Abt, who served in three of America's teams of servicemen, fluent in the German language, who were assigned to gather information from German captives and civilians on the street during the final year of the war. Black-and-white photographs and maps supplement this unique recounting of a military tour of duty within an enemy nation on the verge of collapse. Karl Abt has personally gone to extensive lengths to research the history and background corresponding to his narrative, so as to give as broad a view as possible of the service presented by those who used their foreign language skills to protect their home country of America. A highly recommended primary source shedding light on an oft-overlooked aspect of World War II military history.

As a WWII historical enthusiast, I thoroughly enjoyed this very interesting and unique view of the European conflict. Many accounts have been told from the foxhole and from the generals' desk. This chronicle is told by a "citizen soldier" chosen because of special language skills to be a part of military intelligence. Don't expect a Hollywood rendition - this is a down to earth telling of the tale.

A gem of a book that boils down decades of research on team effectiveness and human dynamics into an interesting, useable format. The book offers valuable exercises, self-assessments, simple models, and processes designed to build highly productive teams. How refreshing!

An excellent primer for managers and future leaders in organizations. Specific, positive, practical - its all in a nutshell ready for implementation. David C. Wigglesworth, Ph.D. President Research Associates International [...]

Item sent quickly and in good condition. Very satisfied with vendor. Would use again.

A lot of college football programs talk about having tradition but the University of Michigan IS tradition. The University of Michigan has the most wins and highest winning percentage of any college football team in history. The Wolverines also boast the nation's largest stadium where on any given Saturday in autumn you can rub elbows with 110,000 of your closest friends. Continuing their great series of Game Day books focusing on different college teams, Triumph books presents Game Day Michigan Football, a look at some of the greatest coaches, players, games, and moments in Michigan football history.

The book begins with a foreword by legendary former Michigan coach Bo Schembechler and then delves into some of the great history of the program from the birth of the winged helmets to the composing of one of the nation's most recognizable fight songs, "Hail to the Victors". Ohio State fans will be disappointed to learn that it was the Michigan Marching band that first performed the script spelling of Ohio way back in 1932.

From there its on to meet some of the school's greatest players. Heisman trophy winner Tom Harmon, Bob Chappuis, Bump Elliott, Dan Dierdorf, Rick Leach, Anthony Carter, Desmond Howard, Charles Woodson, Braylon Edwards, and many more are profiled. And of course we can't leave out former President Gerald Ford who was the team's MVP in 1934. Michigan's greatest teams are featured as well. There is the "point a minute" teams of Fielding H. Yost in the early 1900's, the 1947 national champions, The 1970 - 1974 teams of Schembechler who compiled an astounding record of 50-4-1, and the undefeated national championship team of 1997.

Greatest Games? How about the 1969 upset of undefeated Ohio State who coach Woody Hayes referred to as his greatest team, or Tim Biakabatuka's single-handed dismantling of the Buckeyes with 313 yards rushing in 1995, the wolverines astounding fourth quarter comeback from a 21 point deficit to beat Minnesota in 2003, Anthony Carter's last second TD on the final play to beat Indiana in 1979, or the thrilling OT defeat of Michigan State in 2004.

The Rivalries, the great plays, even the Little Brown Jug is all here in a book that is simply indispensable for the Michigan Football fan all in an attractive hardcover book loaded with brilliant color photos. Triumph Books proves again why they are a leader in sports publishing.

Reviewed by Tim Janson

Got this book for my son-in-law and could hardly put it down myself. Great pictures and information. Easy reading, easily find information wanted. This was the perfect gift for my Notre Dame fan.

There really is something magical about Notre Dame Football. Eve growing up as a Michigan Football fan I realized this. Part of it came from growing up in a Catholic family. We'd often visit my grandparents on Saturday afternoons and my grandmother always had the Notre Dame football game on on her radio. The fact that Notre Dame is not in a conference has provided them with the kind of national appeal that other programs don't have. Game Day Notre Dame Football is one of Triumph Books' Game Day series featuring the greatest players, games, and moments in Notre Dame Football history.

The numbers are staggering: 7 Heisman Trophy winners, 21 national championships, 179 first team All-Americans. With those stats it's no wonder that Notre Dame has been a football powerhouse since the beginning of the 20th century and the days of the legendary coach, Knute Rockne. It was Rockne who was responsible for developing the modern passing game where previously the pass had been a novelty.

Most people are aware of two of the most famous campus landmarks at Notre Dame. First the Golden Dome which was built after a fire destroyed the main building in 1879 and the 132 foot tall Touchdown Jesus. But there are other great landmarks including "We're No. 1 Moses" and "Fair Catch Corby" that are detailed in this great book. It's no wonder the Notre Dame campus is considered one of the most beautiful in the nation.

Great players abound in Notre Dame's history. Heisman winners Leon Hart, Johnny Lujack. Paul Hornung, and Tim Brown stand side-by-side with other legends like George Gipp, The Four Horsemen, Joe Montana, Alan Page, and Joe Theismann. Gipp, of course, has become the stuff of folklore. Gipp led the team in rushing and passing in 1918, 1919, and 1920 but died from complications of strep throat in 1920. Eight years later in 1928 Rockne, the story goes, gave his famous "win won for the Gipper" speech just before the team was set to play the powerful Army team. Notre Dame's team was weak that year, coming in to that game with only a 4 - 4 record, but inspired by Rockne's speech, the team went out and pulled the upset.

Other great games are highlighted as well including the win over Oklahoma in 1957 which ended the Sooners record-breaking 47 game winning streak, the "game of the century" 10 - 10 tie with Michigan State in 1966, the 1978 dismantling of Texas in the Cotton Bowl, and the 1993 upset of #1 ranked Florida State.

As with all the fantastic Game Day books from Triumph it is a beautiful, heavy, hardcover book with fantastic photography and comments from former Notre Dame players and coaches. A great book about a great football program!

Reviewed by Tim Janson

This book is a must read for all Badger football fans! It is a well-written tribute to the great football players that have graced Camp Randall over the past several years!

Drawing from the photos and writings of award-winning authors and photographs at Athlon Sports, "Game Day: Wisconsin Football" showcases University of Wisconsin football teams in general, and what it means to be a Badger football fan in particular. Packed from cover to cover with entertaining and informative anecdotes of past and current players, the stories behind Wisconsin football rivalries and traditions, detailed histories of some of the greats players, coaches, teams, and moments in Wisconsin's collegiate football, lists of the most successful seasons, recaps of the most exciting games every played, as well as year-by-year team performance statistics. Profusely illustrated throughout in full color, "Game Day: Wisconsin Football" will be read with interest and appreciation by the legions of Badger fans -- and should be considered 'a must' for all Wisconsin school and community library collections.

As a PSU Alum, a faithful reader of Jordan Hyman's columns in the Daily Collegian during my years at Penn State and a fellow writer, this brought me right back to my voice-losing afternoons and evenings at Beaver Stadium supporting my beloved Nittany Lions. Kudos to Jordan Hyman on capturing th eessence and spirit of the greatest college football program in the nation.

The author here does an outstanding job capturing the essence of Nittany Lions football in a series of short stories, told through the eyes of some of State's most famous players/coaches to ever enter Happy Valley.

Kudos to Mr. Hyman, for attaining all the great stories inside the book. This is a must have for any Penn Stater and any college football fan in general, for that matter.