Perfect Season

Kiley and Mansfield have co-authored this new book, which has been heralded variously as “an inspirational story of how faith, persistence, desire and brotherhood can make great things happen,” “recollections that the contributors all agree molded their lives while at the same time adding a valued quality of life for each of them,” “The story of young men coming of age in the sixties and how they continued the relationships throughout their lifetimes” and “those heady days of 1961...brought back to life from the unique perspective of the men on the field. I found it hard to put down and was left wanting more when I was finished.” Fontbonne University President emeritus Dr. Dennis C. Golden has written, “In 1961...legendary head football coach Mr. Joe Thomas, his staff and players committed themselves to actualizing their once-in-a-lifetime core value of becoming the first untied and undefeated team in Chaminade history.”

The 1987 NCAA championship football game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the University of Miami Hurricanes is often considered the most memorable championship game in all of college football history. Both teams were undefeated going into the game, but the Hurricanes were heavily favored, as they had demolished each of their opponents during the regular season. Penn State pulled off of the most surprising upsets on January 2, 1987, by handing the University of Miami team its only loss of the season. The Perfect Season, with help from the Penn State players involved, Missanelli retells the story not just of this championship game but also of Penn States entire season. Beginning with its Orange Bowl loss in 1985, Missanelli recounts the glorious 1986 season through the eyes of those Penn State athletes. The book also focuses on the medias buildup of the national championship, explaining why the University of Miami team was considered the villain in this battle.

Kenny Raines was a high school senior without a home life or a home. Jory Vaughn and Rayshawn Parks were best friends that were more like brothers. Grant and Lamar Kellaway were twin brothers that were more like best friends. They had one thing in common; their love of basketball and their superior talent for the game. All five freshmen ended up at Cal State Bakersfield where they took the college basketball world by storm. Coached by the one time NBA great, Todd Anderson, they had a season like no other . . . a Perfect Season.

In 1964, the Evansville College Purple Aces raced undefeated through the Indiana Collegiate Conference, posting a perfect 24–0 regular-season record and winning the College Division NCAA championship. The skeleton of this season exists in newspaper archives and in books that capture the on-court action, but the flesh and blood has never been written—until now. This is the story of Russell Grieger, a starting guard, and his observations, feelings, reactions, and struggles of that season. It provides a game-by-game look into the team, showcasing Grieger's teammates, Coach Arad McCutchan, and Evansville's love for the Aces. The Perfect Season is an insider's inspiring story of a team whose motto—"If you're going to go, go big time or don't go at all"—inspired them to achieve their dream.

The San Francisco 49ers entered the 1984 season determined to erase the memory of their three point loss to the Washington Redskins in the NFC Championship Game the year before. Nineteen games later, they had not only won the Super Bowl, they had redefined NFL history by becoming the first team to win 18 games in a single season. Led by Hall of Fame head coach Bill Walsh and future Hall of Fame players Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott, and Fred Dean, the 1984 San Francisco 49ers finished the season with just one defeat. A Nearly Perfect Season: The Inside Story of the 1984San Francisco 49ers chronicles the story of one of the greatest teams in NFL history. Through in-depth research and extensive interviews, Chris Willis details every aspect of this memorable season, from the preseason training camp through Super Bowl XIX. Inside stories from the 49ers are brought to life in colorful detail, including Joe Montana’s penchant for stealing teammates’ bikes during camp, the players’ pre-game superstitions, and what went on in the 49ers’ locker room before Super Bowl XIX. In addition, Chris Willis had complete access to Bill Walsh’s game plans and meeting tapes, revealing the intense preparation the coach and his staff went through to give their team the greatest chance for success on the field. Featuring original interviews with more than 30 players from the team—including Dwaine Board, Roger Craig, Fred Dean, Keith Fahnhorst, Riki Ellison, Guy McIntyre, and Keena Turner—and interviews with the coaches and the general manager, this book provides a fascinating behind-the-scenes account of a season to remember.

Imagining a year in which the New York Mets never lose a single game, this idealistic resource identifies the most memorable victory in the team's history on every single day of the baseball calendar season, from late March to late October. Ranging from games with incredible historical significance and individual achievement to those with high drama and high stakes, the book envisions the impossible: a blemish-free Mets season. Evocative photos, original quotes, thorough research, and engaging prose and analysis add another dimension.

162-0: Imagine a Twins Perfect Season imagines that season by identifying the most memorable victory in Twins history on every single day of the baseball calendar season, from late March to late October. Ranging from games with incredible historical significance and individual achievement to those with high drama and high stakes, this book imagines the impossible: a blemish-free Twins season. Evocative photos, original quotes, thorough research, and engaging prose and analysis all highlight 162-0.

In a series that imagines the impossible, each book plays out a flawless season for a particular team, identifying the most memorable real-life victory on every single day of the baseball calendar and including archival photos, original quotes and thorough research.