We Got To Play Baseball

We Got to Play Baseball is a remarkable collection of favorite memories from 60 Hall of Famers, All Stars, veteran ballplayers, managers, coaches, umpires and others directly involved in Major League Baseball. Their stories range from the 1950s to current day. "As a teammate, Gregg was a terrific story teller and always fun to be around. Baseball is filled with wonderful stories and Otter has done a great job of pulling them together into one place. He asked his many friends in the game to contribute their story and the result is a fun, enjoyable book that provides us with insights into the world of the big leaguers that aren't often shared." - Cal Ripken, Jr., Hall of Famer "With this collection of stories, Gregg has brought back a lot of fantastic memories and reminded me how much fun a major league clubhouse can be." - Jim Abbott, Major League pitching star There is nothing like a good baseball story - and nothing like hearing a good baseball story from an actual player who was there. Gregg Olson knew even in his playing days that the clubhouse culture was unique, and he has given fans a true inside look with "We Got to Play Baseball," gathering his own stories and the stories of many others. Fans will love reading about players' pranks, travel high jinks and much more." - Ken Rosenthal, FOX Sports About the Authors: The 1989 American League Rookie of the Year, All-Star closer Gregg Olson pitched in the Major Leagues and is now a scout for the San Diego Padres. Ocean Palmer teaches corporate leadership and played amateur ball. They are working on the sequel. Publisher's Website: http: //sbpra.com/GreggOlsonandOceanPalmer

“My storey is about my life. I was born in 1939, and my family literally broke apart when I was “little”. I do not recall ever living in a home with my mother and father together. There were several years I spent in foster care; and then living with Mom and then Dad, bouncing back and forth a couple of times, until I was a junior in high school. My father moved, but I didn’t. I spent my final year in high school living with a local family, thanks to a basketball coach who took special interest in me. I spent some of my time growing up being a juvenile delinquent; petty theft, shop-lifting, drinking, smoking and other such irresponsible activities. I made a decision to change my life after my freshman year in high school, and went to live with my father, whom I already knew was a strict disciplinarian and a very controlling individual. But, I got the chance to start my life over again at age 15. I made the most of my new start, and I want to tell my story!”

They dig through tons of coal to find a single diamond. They spend countless hours traveling miles and miles on lonely back roads and way too much time in hotels. Their front offices expect them to constantly provide player reports and updates. So much of their time is spent away from family and friends, missing birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. Their best friend is Rand McNally. Always asking the question, "CAN HE PLAY?" Such is the life of a professional scout. CAN HE PLAY? collects the contributions of 26 members of the Society for American Baseball Research on the subject of scouts, including biographies and historical essays. The book touches on more than a century of scouts and scouting with a focus on the men (and the occasional woman) who have taken on the task of scouring the world for the best ballplayers available. In CAN HE PLAY? we meet the "King of Weeds," a Ph.D. we call "Baseball's Renaissance Man," a husband-and-wife team, pioneering Latin scouts, and a Japanese-American interned during World War II who became a successful scout--and many, many more. The legendary Tom Greenwade and the development of the New York Yankees scouting system, interviews with former players Johnny Pesky and Fernando Perez about being scouted, and much more.

James L. Lipscomb pays homage to the Negro community, now extinct, that existed in Coeymans, New York in the first half of the twentieth century. The residents were largely migrants from Virginia and Carolinas in search of a better life. Lipscomb introduces you to the people of the Negro community with engaging profiles that brings the community to life again. Lipscomb traces his childhood history as he began working outside the home at age nine, became an accomplished house painter at twelve, and eventually moved beyond Coeymans to pursue an education at Howard University and later at Columbia University School of Law. While disclosing experiences that included adjusting to cultural change and academic challenges while attending law school and serving as a poll watcher in Mississippi where he was afraid to use the bathroom at night, Lipscomb also details the struggles of the times as America endured major societal changes.

The Melt Down (a Supernatural force and an emotional force) was witnessed by my stepdad and I. I perceived it to be a message from God. The Evil Crow that I witnessed was also witnessed by my brother Mike. Satan's Demon Spirit was confirmed by the priest when I was locked up for six months in DeKalb County Jail. You, the reader, will have to distinguish between the Supernatural and the Natural. I know in my heart that whatever happens in life is God's Will. Things happen for a reason. I challenge my audience to decipher in their own minds, whether or not the unbelievable is believable. I believe the Melt Down was God pulling on my right arm and I also believe The Evil Crow, not to mention Satan's Demon Spirit was Satan pulling on my left arm. You can be sure my book, Realism, will give you a profound decision as to what really occurred in my Supernatural Realm. If nothing else my book, Realism, will show you and enlighten you as to how powerful God's spiritual realm actually is and how God is most masterful in everything He does.

The hit 1992 film A League of Their Own made the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League famous. But the players' stories remain largely untold. The 600 women who played for the AAGPBL through the 1940s and 1950s enjoyed a rare opportunity to lead independent lives as well-paid professional athletes. Their experiences in the league led many to education and careers they never imagined. As teachers, coaches and role models, they strove to broaden the horizons of girls and young women. Many continued to be involved in athletics, supporting the efforts leading to Title IX and the women's sports revolution. Today, they are dedicated to preserving the history of women in baseball and creating opportunities for girls to play.

California's Girl is the story of a young girl growing up on the beach in Southern California during the 1960s and '70s. It is told through journal entries, short stories, poetry, and associated recollections. It begins with an idyllic childhood in a small beach town on the California coast. It details the lifestyle unique to the beach culture. A timeless span of innocence, bursting with the joy of life, surrounded by sand and sea. Adolescence arrives during an era of rebellion and social upheaval. Through the high school years, lessons are learned, and the complexity of life is examined. Reality begins to erode the fantasies of childhood. The first kiss, the first heartbreak, the loss of innocence, and the emergence of personal identity are seen through the eyes of a young girl. The beginning of one life's journey, when choices are made that will ultimately affect the unforeseeable future. A young girl does the best she can, makes mistakes, and savors the triumphsa microcosm of the human experience.

"Whenever I hear someone mention the year 1996, I immediately think of that magical baseball season in which a special group of young men won forty-three consecutive baseball games. But it was so much more than just those forty-three games. It was the culmination of years of hard work and dedication to both the game they loved and the teammates they competed with. I feel truly blessed to have been a part of their journey." -Tim Dowdy, Former New Hope Baseball Coach "The spring of '96 was a magical time that I will never forget. It was a three-month period in which the stars aligned and took us on an unforgettable ride." -Carey Edwards, Former New Hope Baseball player "I went to my knees near the third base line as the ball began to get closer and closer to the ground. As a sixteen-year-old, all I could think about was how I had just let my team down. My name was going to be in the record books, the only pitcher with an L next to his name. Suddenly, my feet went numb as I stood up in disbelief. I saw what had just happened but didn't believe it. I still have never seen another catch like that!" -Scott Kappler, Former New Hope Baseball Player