Baseball Goats

Most baseball fans know what links Fred Merkle, Fred Snodgrass, Mickey Owen and Bill Buckner. It's a pantheon of public failure. They would be harder put to say what links Eric Byrnes, Tony Fernandez, and Babe Ruth, though these players made misplays every bit as egregious. In this smart, highly readable history of scapegoating, John Billheimer identifies the elements that combine to condemn one player to a life sentence while another gets a wrist slap for the same offense. As it turns out, the difference between a lower-case e in some forgotten box score and a lifetime of ignominy can hinge on a number of factors, including timing, geography, reputation, misunderstanding, media bias, and just plain bad luck.

Throughout the history of the United States' national pastime, great players have thrilled fans with home run blasts, dazzling pitching performances, and skillful defensive work in the field. This title explores achievements of baseball's greats from over 100 years of Major League competition. The title features exciting stories, engaging photographs, informative sidebars, honorable mentions, a glossary, and an index. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. SportsZone is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

"How do you pick baseball's GOATs? Is Sandy Koufax the greatest pitcher to take the mound? Is Ted Williams the greatest pure hitter the game has seen? It comes down to stats, history, and hunches. Read more about some of the legends of baseball and see if you agree that they're the greatest of all time"--

"Goat" is the term for a baseball pro who blows it big-time in a crucial situation--such as Bill Buckner's misplayed grounder in the '86 World Series that cost the Boston Red Sox the pennant. Other famous "goats" include Babe Ruth, Jose Canseco, and Roger Clemens. 46 illustrations.

"How do you pick baseball's GOATs? Is Sandy Koufax the greatest pitcher to take the mound? Is Ted Williams the greatest pure hitter the game has seen? It comes down to stats, history, and hunches. Read more about some of the legends of baseball and see if you agree that they're the greatest of all time"--

A fuzzy, green creature is spotted dancing with fans on top of the Philadelphia Phillies' dugout. Crew members chase after a wacky chicken on the San Diego Padres' field. A mischievous seal is caught trying to steal the San Francisco Giants' home plate--literally! Baseball fans love to watch and applaud the playful antics of colorful mascots. Join the fun and learn all about the wackiest baseball mascots!

Sometimes baseball's best player is in the dugout, not on the diamond. Get the details about the best coaches in baseball from college to the pros. Who's got the stats and the championships to be called legend? Who has inspired the most players both on and off the field? Turn these pages to find out!