50 Moments That Defined Major League Baseball

This book recounts the 50 most incredible and iconic moments that shaped baseball as it moved from the Dead Ball Era, through World War II, and on to the modern era. Author Rocco Constantino also shares interviews with over 40 former Major League Baseball players, providing fresh insight and perspectives to these unforgettable moments.

Rocco Constantino

Acknowledgments Foreword: Jeff Montgomery, MLB All-Star Introduction Chapter 1: Noteworthy Debuts, Pioneers, and Baseball Firsts Hank Aaron: Number 1 of 755 Ken Griffey Jr.: The Kid Debuts Derek Jeter and Joe Torre: The Start of a New Dynasty The First All-Star Game: The "Game of the Century" Pumpsie Green: Years Overdue, Integration in Boston Chapter 2: Magic Numbers Pete Rose: The 4,000-Hit Club Ted Williams: .406 the Hard Way Walter Johnson: Closing the 400 Club Roberto Clemente: Ending on 3,000 Lou Gehrig: 5,084 Days Chapter 3: Masterful on the Mound Sandy Koufax: The Dawn of the Phenom Dave Stieb: No More Close Calls Tom Seaver: The Franchise's Best Fernando Valenzuela: Fernandomania Nolan Ryan: An Early Flash from the Express Chapter 4: Incredible Feats and Unbreakable Records Hippo Vaughn and Fred Toney: The "Double No-Hitter: Joe Sewell: Baseball's Unbreakable Record Paul Molitor: Appreciating DiMaggio's Streak Mariano Rivera: 1,000 Games in Pinstripes Greg Maddux: Prolonged Excellence on the Path to 350 Chapter 5: Tragedy, Trials, and Tribulations Ray Chapman: Tragedy in the Batter's Box J. R. Richard: A Flamethrower Extinguished Thurman Munson and Bobby Murcer: Honoring the Captain Tony Conigliaro: A Boston Miracle, a Boston Tragedy Darryl Kile: A Tale of Two Legacies Chapter 6: Passing down Tradition and Influencing the Pros Chapter 7: The Immortals Murderers' Row: A Pitcher's Worst Nightmare Smoky Joe Wood: Robbed of Immortality Jackie Robinson: Gaining Acceptance as an All-Star Babe Ruth: Topping 50 Mickey Mantle: Changing the Game from Both Sides of the Plate Chapter 8: Baseball's Weird, Wild, and Colorful Characters Bob Uecker: Mr. Baseball versus Juan Marichal Reggie Jackson and Billy Martin: Boiling over in Boston Mark Fidrych: "The Bird" Captivates the Sport Pascual Perez: Inciting a Riot George Brett: The Pine Tar Game Chapter 9: Historic Home Runs Hank Aaron: 715 with Class and Dignity Mike Schmidt: 500 for the Win Mel Ott: McGraw's Boy Belts Number 511 Chapter 10: Hall of Famers' Last Hurrahs Carl Yastrzemski: From Williams to Yaz Willie McCovey: Stretch's Last Home Run Grover Cleveland Alexander: The Underrated Immortal Rogers Hornsby: A Last Display of Pure Power Chapter 11: The New Millennium The Montreal Expos: Expanding Baseball's Borders Tim Lincecum: Topping Christy Mathewson Albert Pujols: A Pace Matched by No Other Roger Clemens: The Turncoat Rocket Chapter 12: Baseball Odds and Ends Pete Gray: A Winner Never Quits The 1988 Baltimore Orioles: Overcoming Futility Ron Santo: A Hall of Famer after All Pete Reiser: Last Rites Chapter 13: Extra Innings Bibliography Index About the Author