Tales From The Minnesota Twins Dugout

Imagine a story in which a young man grows up so close to a major-league ballpark that he can see the stadium lights from his front yard. He pretends to be the team’s star during neighborhood ball games and fantasizes about one day playing for his hometown team. Stop imagining. Kent Hrbek made those childhood dreams come true. In this newly revised edition of Tales From the Minnesota Twins Dugout, the Twins superstar himself relives his journey from homegrown dreamer to international superstar. Along the way, he recounts all the unforgettable moments from on the field and in the locker room that make the Twins one of baseball’s most beloved franchises. Hrbek played fourteen seasons for the franchise, helping the club win two World Series titles. His jersey has been retired by the Twins, hanging alongside the likes of Tony Oliva, the hitter he emulated as a child. It is a fairytale story. But it’s only one part of this newly revised edition of Tales From the Minnesota Twins Dugout. Within these pages, readers will find the story of players’ hopes, realities, and unforgettable moments. Enjoy the humorous tales of pranks pulled by Hrbek and his zany teammates, taste the victory as the Twins take home two World Series titles. Savor the story of the hometown hero who remains to this day fiercely loyal to his Twins. A must-have for any Minnesota fan. Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

In Tales from the Minnesota Twins Dugout, this fan favorite looks back at his playing career in Minnesota. Many stories revolve around the championship seasons of 1987 and 1991. Hrbek also shares his memories of the late Kirby Puckett and of his close friendship with third baseman Gary Gaetti. Kent Hrbek’s Tales from the Minnesota Twins Dugout is a humorous, insightful, and at times heartbreaking story of one of the most memorable eras in team history, from one of Minnesota’s very own.

Big first baseman Hrbek and teammates like Gary Gaetti, Tom Brunansky, and late Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett played the game of baseball with a passion seldom seen in modern sports. This work chronicles the good--and sometimes the bad--times from the Minnesota Twins' dugout.

Longtime Kansas City Royals radio broadcaster Denny Matthews relives the club's great moments and proud tradition through never-before-told anecdotes and memories.

The Detroit Tigers Old English “D” is one of the most recognized symbols in sports. A team rich with legends and history, the Tigers have endured in the hearts of fans and continue to up the ante of competition against rivals like the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox. The Tigers have been a constant presence in the MLB playoffs for the last four years. Three of those years resulted in ALCS appearances, and in 2012 the Tigers captured the ALCS title that sent them to another exciting World Series. Now fans of this indomitable franchise can relive the passion and excitement that has come to define the Tigers in this newly updated edition of Tales from the Detroit Tigers Dugout. Veteran sportswriter Jack Ebling brings to life a vision of what drives the Detroit Tigers franchise. Ebling highlights baseball stars, managers, and games that have come to define the Tigers over the years. Readers will experience the excitement of four World Championships, five other World Series appearances, and so much more. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports—books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team. Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

The famed Boys of Summer -- a.k.a. the Brooklyn Dodgers -- were some of baseball's best and funniest players. The group included Hall of Famers Duke Snider, Roy Campanella, Gil Hodges, Pee Wee Reese, and Jackie Robinson, the game's first black player. For the first time, Carl Erskine, another member of that legendary team, relates memories about his Dodger days. The result is a delightfully interesting trip through the world of 1950s baseball. Among Erskine's tales are his dealings with the immortal Branch Rickey, his view from the Dodger bench of Don Larsen's perfect game, and his firsthand experiences when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier.

To baseball fans of today, the name “Dodgers” is synonymous with Hollywood, the warm California sun, and names like Tommy Lasorda, Kirk Gibson, Steve Garvey, and Orel Hershiser. The Dodgers mean much more than that to fans of baseball history, however. Namely, these fans remember the famed “Boys of Summer,” otherwise known as the Brooklyn Dodgers, a team that included some of the most storied players in baseball history, such as Hall of Famers Duke Snider, Roy Campanella, Gil Hodges, Pee Wee Reese, and Jackie Robinson. Although they eventually moved out west, the Brooklyn Dodgers provided some of the greatest moments the game has ever seen and some of the greatest personalities to ever take the field. Carl Erskine, another member of that legendary team, relates memories about his days with the Dodgers in a book full of true stories and revealing anecdotes. The result is Tales from the Dodgers Dugout, first published in 2004 and newly updated to provide a delightfully interesting trip through the world of baseball in the 1950s. Among Erskine’s many tales are his dealings with immortal team official Branch Rickey, his view from the Dodgers bench during Don Larsen’s perfect game in the 1956 World Series, and his firsthand experiences when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier and became the first black player in Major League Baseball history. During his frequent speaking engagements, people often ask Erskine if all of his stories are true. His standard response has been, “Yes, I couldn’t possibly make them up the way they actually happened.” Now fans can read all of those great stories in Tales from the Dodgers Dugout.

Larry Andersen, Richie Zisk, and Joe Simpson made sure that everywhere bewildered manager Rene Lachemann went during the 1982 season, some Jell-O was sure to follow—from his hotel bathroom sink, tub, and toilet (filled to the brim) to a postgame can of beer. Jay Buhner, one of the stars in the Seattle Mariners’ 1995 “Refuse to Lose” season, maintained the team's proud, prank-filled history well into the ’90s with his “blurping”—vomiting on command. It’s a good thing Mariners players had senses of humor, because for many years the play on the field wasn't going to keep their spirits high, as the team lost a combined 202 games over their first two seasons. Twelve consecutive losing campaigns later, they finally posted a winning record in 1991. Four years later, they won their first division title and then their first playoff series. This reissue of Tales from the Seattle Mariners Dugout, now newly revised, chronicles Seattle's rise from a hopeless and hapless franchise in the 1970s and ’80s to a proud team in the 1990s that went on to capture three division championships and earn four playoff appearances. It’s a must-read walk down memory lane for every fan of the team. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports—books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team. Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.