The Ultimate New York Mets Time Machine Book

From their ignominious 40-120 debut in 1962, to the "Miracle Mets" of the shocking 1969 season, to the teams of Darryl Strawberry, David Wright, and Jacob deGrom, the New York Mets have in nearly sixty years become the city's other beloved baseball franchise, with its fan base stretching well beyond the New York suburbs. The Mets' rich history is told in over two dozen engaging chapters celebrating the highlights, as well as the low lights, of baseball's most lovable team--win or lose.

This book covers the entirety of franchise history, from their birth and struggles as the Highlanders to the bludgeoning bats of Murderer’s Row and the first Yankees dynasty to the juggernauts of the 1940s, 1950s and early 1960s, to the anomalous mediocrity that followed, to the championships and circus of the Steinbrenner, Jackson and Billy Martin era to, the run of crowns two decades later, to the years of frustration and missed opportunity through the second decade of the twenty-first century. However, how to make a book exceptional when champonships are routine, and scores of a team’s player are imortal? Emphasize a variety of players, teams, moments, events and contributors that made the Yankees unique in the annals of American sport, which this book ably does.

As the anchor titles in a new “Time Machine” Lyons Press baseball series, The Ultimate Cleveland Indians Time Machine presents a timeline format that not only includes the Indians’ greatest moments—including World Series appearances and individual achievements—but would focus also on some very unusual seasons and events, such as the team’s 20-134 season of 1899 (the absolute worst in baseball history), the "Crybabies" of 1940 (who received this nickname after complaining about their manager to such as extent that fans even turned on them), or the infamous “Ten Cent Beer Night of 1974” (when thousands of drunken fans stormed the field and forced the team to forfeit). Of course there are other events to recall, like 17-year-old Bob Feller making his debut and striking out 17 batters in 1936, or Albert Belle famously pointing at his muscle after a playoff opponent claimed (rightly) that he had corked his bat and one of his teammates sneaked into the umpire's room to steal it back so the umps could not find out that it was corked. There are dozens of impressive, wild, wacky and wonderful stories over the years regarding Indians history and Gitlin is the perfect person to write it with his trademark humor and thorough knowledge of Indians lore.

The Ultimate Chicago Cubs Time Machine presents a timeline format that not only includes the Cubs’ greatest moments—including their World Series appearance in 2016 and individual achievements—but also focuses on some very unusual seasons and events, such as the 1872 season when the Great Chicago Fire destroyed their stadium and uniforms. There are dozens of impressive, wild, wacky, and wonderful stories over the years regarding Cubs history, and Gitlin is the perfect person to write it with his trademark humor and thorough knowledge of team lore.

The Ultimate St. Louis Cardinals Time Machine presents a timeline format that not only includes the Cardinals’ greatest moments, such as their eleven World Series titles, but also such notable Cardinal achievements as Rogers Hornsby's two batting triple crowns, Dizzy Dean's 30-win season in 1934, Stan Musial's 17 MLB and 29 NL records, Bob Gibson's 1.12 earned run average (ERA) in 1968, Whitey Herzog's Whiteyball, Mark McGwire's single season home run record, and the 2011 championship team's unprecedented comebacks. The Cardinals have won 105 or more games in four seasons and won 100 or more nine times. Cardinals players have won 20 league MVPs, four batting Triple Crowns, and three Cy Young Awards. All these highlights and more comprise this essential book for all fans of the national pastime.

The Ultimate Boston Red Sox Time Machine presents a timeline format that not only includes the Red Sox's greatest moments—including its nine World Series wins and individual achievements—but focuses also on some very unusual seasons and events, such as the refusal of the New York Yankees to go up against them in the 1904 World Series, the derivation of its name, and of course the famous Curse of the Bambino. There are dozens of impressive, wild, wacky and wonderful stories over the years regarding Red Sox history and Gitlin is the perfect person to write it with his trademark humor and thorough knowledge of Red Sox lore.

The Ultimate New York Mets Trivia Book is a staple for anyone who loves baseball, sports trivia, and the Mets. You will be tested on your knowledge of mind-blowing facts from the early days of the franchise as well as the current era of Mets baseball led by the likes of Pete Alonso, Robinson Cano, and Michael Conforto. Within these pages, you will find answers to over 350 trivia questions as well as hundreds of interesting facts, including: What is the name of the Mets' mascot? Country singer, Tim McGraw is the son of former Mets pitcher, Tug McGraw. Who was the first manager of the Mets? Darryl Strawberry is one of only three MLB players to have played for all four former and current New York teams- the Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, and Giants. On September 21, 2001, 10 days after the deadly 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City, Mike Piazza hit a home run in the first professional sporting event in New York since the attacks. Whether you're a lifelong Mets fan or are simply looking to hit one out of the park on MLB Trivia Night at your local bar, The Ultimate New York Mets Trivia Book is a grand slam.

The New York Mets Encyclopedia provides the full and exciting story of modern-era baseball's most popular expansion-age franchise. From those lovable losers of 1962 and 1963, to the Miracle Mets of 1969 and 1973, and on to year-in and year-out contenders of the 1980s and 1990s, including the exciting 1999 squad, New York's National League Mets have written some of the most exciting and colorful pages in Major League history. This is the team that captured the hearts of New Yorkers and fans everywhere with their often-laughable antics under colorful and celebrated manager Casey Stengel, then only a half-dozen years later climbed to baseball's pinnacle under gifted yet tragic manager Gil Hodges. This colorful volume combines detailed and highly readable narrative history with archive photographs, rich statistical data, and intimate portraits of the teams most memorable personalities.