Game of My Life

With more than 600 victories and seven national championships, the Minnesota football program is one of the greatest in history. Legendary players like Bruce Smith and Bronko Nagurski helped the Gophers dominate Minnesota sports for the first sixty years of the twentieth century. This book provides a look at some of the most memorable players, coaches, and games of the last seventy-five years. From the Golden Era of 1934–41, which included five national titles, Sonny Franck and Bill Daley recall their most memorable games. The Gophers won another national title and went to two Rose Bowls in the early '60s under coach Murray Warmath and quarterback Sandy Stephens, who became the first black quarterback to earn All-America honors at a major college. Warmath remembers the second Rose Bowl as his most memorable game. Other memorable Gophers include future NFL legend Bud Grant, future NFL coaching great Tony Dungy, and current Denver Broncos player Eric Decker, all of whom are featured in Game of My Life Minnesota Gophers.

Theirs was a prolonged run of excellence like none other in sports history. From 1991 through 2005, the Atlanta Braves won fourteen consecutive division championships, a streak no team in professional sports has ever come close to approaching. Beginning with the unexpected worst-to-first miracle of 1991, the Braves commenced an era of sustained dominance that Major League Baseball never saw coming. From the wondrous run to the '91 pennant, to Francisco Cabrera's two-run single in the '92 NLCS that returned the Braves to the World Series, to Atlanta's first world championship in 1995, it's all here. Captured within these pages are those memories, retold firsthand by the players who delivered the Braves to the pinnacle of pro sports, including David Justice, Terry Pendleton, Ron Gant, Lonnie Smith, Jeff Blauser, Greg Olson, and Tom Glavine. But also chronicled in Game of My Life Atlanta Braves are the franchise's many dark years of mediocrity that set up such a magical run. Dating back to the Braves' move from Milwaukee, this newly revised book will catch up with Braves legends like Hank Aaron, Phil Niekro, Bob Horner, and Dale Murphy, as well as the more recent stars.

This book takes a personal look inside some of the biggest moments of Miami's greatest players as "The U" morphed from a football program nearly disbanded in the 1970s to a national power. Three-time All-American and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Ted "the Mad Stork" Hendricks shares his thoughts on single-handedly dominating the LSU Tigers in 1968. Current Georgia head coach Mark Richt recalls getting pelted with oranges in Gainesville in 1980, then taking over for an injured Jim Kelly and leading the Canes to a 21-20 win over the Gators in 1981. Alonzo Highsmith remembers all four of his touchdowns in Miami's first victory at Notre Dame in 1984, where he wanted to jump out of the stadium . . . and run over that leprechaun. Vinny Testaverde recounts the antics of Melvin Bratton and Alonzo Highsmith, who prank-called Brian Bosworth the morning before No. 1 Oklahoma invaded the Orange Bowl to take on the No. 2 'Canes, where Testaverde threw four touchdown passes in a 28-16 Heisman-clinching win. Gino Torretta describes the shot that knocked the wind out of him as he delivered the game-winning touchdown pass to Lamar Thomas in Miami's 19-16 "Wide Right II" victory. There are many more unforgettable moments in Game of My Life Miami Hurricanes that span different eras of Miami football, including conversations with former All-American Eric Winston, 1988 Orange Bowl MVP Bernard "Tiger" Clark, All-American wideout Santana Moss, and record-setting kicker Carlos Huerta. All share close and personal details of what they were thinking and feeling in the best games of their careers.

How did Earl Campbell prove that he was worthy of the Heisman? How did a Snickers bar help convince Ricky Williams to return to Texas for his senior year? What was Vince Young really thinking just before the 2006 Rose Bowl? In Game of My Life Texas Longhorns, fans will find the answers to these questions and many more as twenty of the greatest players relive the moment that shaped their college football career. Within these pages, Texas fans will finally get the chance to step into the game and onto the grass with their favorite Longhorns legends from past and present. Texas natives Michael Pearle and Bill Frisbie walk readers down memory lane to capture some of the most exciting, poignant, and fulfilling games ever played by the Horns. A must-have for any Horns fan.

Whether they wore white stockings or blue helmets, the baseball players of Chicago's North Side have always had great stories to tell. Now fans of this loveable franchise will finally get to hear from twenty-eight of the best players as they relive that singular moment which defined their Cubs career. In this newly updated edition of Game of My Life Chicago Cubs, veteran sportswriter Lew Freedman brings readers off the bench and onto the field with such greats as Billy Williams, Ernie Banks, Ferguson Jenkins, and more.

It was Thanksgiving Day, 1962. The Detroit Lions handed Green Bay its only loss during the Packers' championship season. But the Lions didn't just beat Vince Lombardi's team-they sacked All-Pro quarterback Bart Starr a league-record eleven times. All-Pro defensive lineman Roger Brown recorded six of those sacks, and he describes this most memorable game in Game of My Life Detroit Lions. Since their founding as the Portsmouth Spartans in 1929, the Detroit Lions have carried the hearts and souls of some of the NFL's most loyal fans. Now supporters of this storied franchise will go into the locker room and onto the turf with over twenty Lions legends in Game of My Life Detroit Lions. Sportswriter Paula Pasche opens the doors to players' private remembrances of how it was and how they reacted to the spotlight. Readers will hear tales from Hall of Famers, Pro Bowlers, and fan favorites such as Charlie Sanders, Mel Farr, Shaun Robinson, Doug English, and so many more. Within these pages, Detroit gridiron greats offer glimpses of the National Football League in the 1950s, the 1960s, and right up through the present day. More than fifty years of Lions' experience is represented in this collection of tales told by the men who lived through some of the most memorable moments in franchise history.

In Game of My Life New York Yankees, everyone from stars to supersubs offers personal stories revealing the obstacles they had to overcome in order to succeed on sports' biggest stage. Some of the biggest names to ever don the pinstripes are captured in personal portraits here, from Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera to Don Mattingly, Reggie Jackson, Ron Guidry, and all the way back to Yogi Berra and Tommy Henrich. Along with taking readers behind the scenes of the greatest moments in Yankees history-from Bucky Dent's home run to David Wells's perfect game-the book offers a glimpse of what helped the stars reach their peak. Jorge Posada made up for the dream his father lost as a political prisoner in Cuba. Ron Guidry hunted from the time he was a boy to help his hard-working father put food on the table. Award-winning writer Dave Buscema, who covers the Yankees on a regular basis, paints a personal picture of the Yankees' biggest stars, and captures the joy of those who rose from obscurity to history. The game accounts spark memories of the most exciting moments in Yankees history. The players' personal stories show that, for many of them, the game of their life was often about more than just a game.

For the city of Cleveland and the fans of the Browns, it's not just a football team: it's a way of life. From rabid fan clubs all around the country to fans around Northeast Ohio wearing the colors of the brown and orange, time stops when the Browns take the field each week. The team joined the NFL in 1950 and won a championship in their first year in the league, and went on to win three more, the last of which was 1964 when they shutout the Baltimore Colts 27-0 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. Since then fans have been waiting, through good years and bad, for the glory to return to the Browns franchise. They have had to endure the harshest of defeats, losing three times to the Denver Broncos in the 1980's on the doorstep of playing in their first Super Bowl. They also had to live out the nightmare of their franchise being ripped away during the 1995 season, as then owner Art Modell moved them to Baltimore in one of the most shocking moves in NFL history. This book will give you an idea of the fanfare and the love that former players and fans have for the Cleveland Browns. Read as Bernie Kosar, Ozzie Newsome, Don Cockcroft, Eric Metcalf, and other beloved players remember the glory days, with exciting trips to the postseason. You'll understand after reading this just how much Cleveland loves its football team, and how the players feel the same. 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.

Famous games and players have been the hallmark of the New York Rangers from their NHL debut in 1926 to the present day. From Frank Boucher and the original Blueshirts to Jaromir Jagr, the Rangers have thrilled their fans with some of the most memorable performances in hockey history. In this newly revised edition of Game of My Life New York Rangers, John Halligan and John Kreiser share the recollections of over twenty of the most famous names in Rangers history as they discuss the most memorable games in their careers. Boucher describes the Rangers' first game; Clint Smith remembers what it was like to win the Stanley Cup in 1940; Mark Messier and the stars of the 1994 team share their memories of the games that ended the fifty-four-year Cup drought; Wayne Gretzky talks about his final NHL game; and Jagr describes his feelings about setting team scoring records. It's the best kind of anecdotal history, in which the people who made history are the ones doing the telling. Game of My Life New York Rangers takes readers inside the mind of each player and behind the doors of the locker room to reveal what really happened, and how it affected the people who were involved in some of the most memorable moments in New York hockey history.

A. J. Hawk can isolate the game of his life, the 2006 Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame, not because of individual statistics, but because of what the game represented. "I think the fact that it was the end of an amazing four years-four big Bowl wins; three Michigan wins; lots of victories in those four years; and an amazing group of teammates and coaches-is why it felt like the game of my life," Hawk said. Jan White has a different reason for the game of his life: He scored his first touchdown as a Buckeye, playing a position he didn't necessarily want to play. "It became a footrace I was determined to win," White says of his 72-yard reception from Rex Kern against Northwestern in 1968. Whoever they are and whatever the reason, there always is "the" game in a player's memory bank. The folks, whose stories are chronicled in Game of My Life Ohio State Buckeyes, tell you why a certain game was the best, providing the detail, the color, and the emotion that only a player can share. Football fans, most especially those card-carrying members of Buckeye Nation, will be enlightened and entertained by these stories. Buckeye greats such as Archie Griffin, Cris Carter, Mike Lanese, and Bob Hoying relive their legendary moments-from the sidelines to the huddle, from the depths of impending defeat to the pinnacle of glory. It just doesn't get any better.

Alabama's football legends recall their greatest moments in this newly updated edition of Game of My Life Alabama Crimson Tide. From Harry Gilmer and his excellent play in the 1946 Rose Bowl to Antonio Langham's heroics in the 1992 game against Florida that led the Crimson Tide to the Sugar Bowl, Alabama has had more than its share of great games, great players, and great moments, including its win over Clemson in the 2015 national championship. In Game of My Life Alabama Crimson Tide, Tommy Hicks takes readers behind the scenes and onto the field with some of the greatest Crimson Tide players ever. Fans will discover the simple advice and prediction head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant gave his team before the 1967 Auburn game won by quarterback Ken Stabler's famous "run in the mud." Ken Stabler, Mike Shula, Brodie Croyle, Lee Roy Jordan, Cornelius Bennett, Billy Neighbors, Woodrow Lowe, Joey Jones, Bobby Humphrey, Greg McElroy, and many others all share their memories of the most defining, poignant, and heart-stopping games they ever played in. Game of My Life Alabama Crimson Tide highlights some of the games and moments that have added to the tradition of Alabama football.

Dating back to the Gas House Gang of the 1930s and up to the club's most recent World Championship in 2006, being a Cardinal has meant a style of play, a level of dedication, and a pride in being a member of a special group. This newly updated edition of Game of My Life St. Louis Cardinals exhibits not always the best game of someone's career, but rather, the moment that stands out the most.

Game of My Life Texas A&M Aggies describes, in colorful detail, the single-favorite game of some of Texas A&M's greatest football legends. While each of these stars has different memories, they all certainly have a place in Texas A&M's football history. Discover all the details surrounding these monumental moments-the unique aura of each game; where A&M stood at the time, both athletically and socially; plus a biographical sketch of each Aggie legend, including where he is now. Hear from A&M linebacker Dat Nguyen, the team's all-time leading tackler, about the 1998 Big 12 Championship Game, plus such games as A&M's 20–16 win over Bear Bryant-led Alabama in the 1968 Cotton Bowl. Jarrin' John Kimbrough talks about leading the Aggies to their only national title in 1939 with a 14–13 defeat of Tulane in the 1940 Sugar Bowl. Other standouts include defensive end Ray Childress, quarterback Kevin Murray, linebacker Ed Simonini, quarterback Bucky Richardson, and running back John David Crow.

Several prominent players who have worn the legendary Redskins' helmet share their fondest single-game experience and memories. Sam Huff, Billy Kilmer, Larry Brown, Pat Fischer, Len Hauss, Mike Bass, Roy Jefferson, Ron McDole, Ken Houston, Diron Talbert, Don Bosseler, "Bullet" Bill Dudley, Joe Jacoby, Rick Walker, Joe Washington, Jeff Bostic, Joe Theismann, Ken Harvey, Mike Nelms, Doug Williams, and Dexter Manley are among the former players profiled in this unique book. It provides an in-depth look into the men and games that helped shape and build the legendary Washington Redskins' seventy-five-year franchise.

The night of April 4, 1988 will forever live in the hearts of fans of Jayhawks basketball. On that night, the Jayhawks and their fans raucously celebrated the team's first national title since 1952. This game for the ages is one of 22 contests joyously recalled in this reissue of Steve Buckner's Game of My Life Kansas Jayhawks. For fans of the Kansas Jayhawks, Game of My Life is a fabulous stroll down memory lane in which several Jayhawks basketball legends detail the events that culminated in the game of their lives. Players from the 1988 NCAA Championship squad share their insights into the collective game of their lives, as well as the defeat of rival Oklahoma in the national championship game. Former players featured include Mark Turgeon, Drew Gooden, Steve Woodberry, Paul Pierce, Nick Collison, Rex Walters, Mario Chalmers, and Kirk Hinrich, along with former coach Larry Brown and many more legends.

How does it feel to play your last college game and land on the cover of Sports Illustrated? What was it like to be a part of the team that won the University of Kentucky's first national championship ever? Readers will find the answer to these questions and so much more in Ryan Clark's newly updated edition of Game of My Life Kentucky Wildcats. Clark takes readers into the arena and onto the court with this in-depth look at the legends of Kentucky basketball. Stars like Jamal Mashburn, Dan Issel, Kenny Walker, Derek Anderson, Walter McCarty, Richie Farmer, Jack "Goose" Givens, Louie Dampier, John Pelphrey, Travis Ford, and Brandon Knight are among the many players who share their stories. Some of the games described involve championships, while others have extraordinary personal meaning. Over thirty players share the moment that defined their college basketball careers. Without a doubt, Game of My Life Kentucky Wildcats captures the passion and spirit of the men who have made this team a legend for the last seventy years.

Since their founding in 1919, the Chicago Bears have carried the hearts and souls of football fans throughout the country. Now supporters of one of the NFL's most storied franchises will go into the locker room and onto the turf with over twenty Bears legends in Game of My Life Chicago Bears. In this newly revised edition, sportswriter Lew Freedman opens the doors to players' private remembrances of how it was and how they reacted to the spotlight. Big touchdowns, career-making moments, and championship glory shared all come to the surface for Bears of the past half-century. Readers will hear tales from Hall of Famers such as Dick Butkus, Gale Sayers, Mike Singletary, Stan Jones, and so many more. Within these pages, Chicago gridiron greats offer glimpses of the National Football League in the 1950s, the 1960s, and right up through present-day play. More than sixty years of Bears experience is represented in this collection of tales told by the men who lived through some of the most memorable moments in franchise history.

More than twenty former and current Philadelphia Phillies players share their fondest single-game experience and memories with author Bob Gordon. Many of the moments celebrate the extraordinary events that have shaped the Phillies' rich heritage. Curt Simmons, John Vukovich, Kevin Jordan, Del Unser, Doug Glanville, and Tug McGraw are just a few of the legendary Phillies stars who discuss the games of their lives. Even Phillie Phanatics I and II join in the fun. This book is the ticket for Philadelphia Phillies fans everywhere to travel back to many of the big games and moments that have shaped the team and franchise during its 131-year history in the City of Brotherly Love.

In Game of My Life Texas Longhorns, prominent Texas players of the past and coach Darrell Royal share their fondest experiences and game-day memories of the games they remember the most, largely in their own words, with authors Michael Pearle and Bill Frisbie. Longhorn greats take the reader on a journey back to some of the greatest games in Texas history. How did Earl Campbell prove that he was worthy of the Heisman? How did a Snickers bar help convince Ricky Williams to return to Texas for his senior year? What was Vince Young really thinking just before the 2006 Rose Bowl? In Game of My Life Texas Longhorns, fans will find the answers to these questions and many more as more than twenty of the greatest players relive the moment that shaped their college football career. Within these pages, Texas fans will finally get the chance to step into the game and onto the grass with their favorite Longhorns legends. UT grads Michael Pearle and Bill Frisbie walk readers down memory lane to capture some of the most exciting, poignant, and fulfilling games ever played by the Horns. A must-have for any Horns fan.

More than twenty former and current Pale Hose players share their fondest single-game White Sox experience and memories with the Chicago Tribune's Lew Freedman. Many of these moments have helped shape the White Sox's rich heritage in Chicago. Billy Pierce, Scott Podsednik, Mark Buehrle, Greg Walker, Bobby Jenks, Turk Lown, and Gerry Staley are but a few of the legendary stars who discuss the games of their lives. This book is the ticket for White Sox fans to travel back in time alongside many of their heroes to experience the moments that have shaped the South Siders during the team's 107-year history.

In Game of My Life Tennessee Volunteers, several prominent Tennessee players of the past share their fondest single-game experience and memories, largely in their own words. In each case, it is the player who singles out the game, that moment in time, which to him is the most defining of his Volunteer career. They each talk about the cherished memories when they walked the campus as heroes of Tennessee football. More than a retelling of play-by-play action is involved in Game of My Life Tennessee Volunteers. Players reveal their emotions, their opinions, and their experiences in a unique way. Game of My Life Tennessee Volunteers spans the decades that together weave the story of Volunteer history and tradition. They are the finest moments of the men who have carried the orange and white torch in heroic fashion.

Recalling some of the greatest players in Red Sox history and some of their greatest games, author Chaz Scoggins traces back over 70 years, to the very start of the seminal Yawkey era, in Game of My Life Boston Red Sox. Beginning with Bobby Doerr, the Hall of Fame second baseman who joined the team in 1937, the book touches on players and their most memorable games from every decade, right up to those who finally experienced the exhilaration of winning that elusive World Series in 2004. Among the many players who recount the most memorable games in their Red Sox careers are Johnny Pesky, Dominic DiMaggio, Mel Parnell, Frank Malzone, Bill Monbouquette, Rico Petrocelli, Fred Lynn, Butch Hobson, and Bruce Hurst. Their recollections and stories linking eight decades of Boston Red Sox baseball and revealing many details unknown until now will undoubtedly awaken fond but probably long-forgotten memories of lifelong Boston fans themselves.

Featuring stories about Keith Hernandez, Davey Johnson, Michael Tyson, Keith Rosen, and more. New addition to the Game of My Life series. Paints a picture of Mets history. This Game of My Life book takes a personal look at the most significant moments of the Mets' best and most loved players, from journeymen to superstars. Their most unforgettable games make a picture of Mets history. The franchise changed from a failing (though loved) expansion team in 1962 to World Series Champions in 1969 and 1986 and then back to the bottom before meeting the Yankees in the 2000 Subway Series. After that, they changed again into the current and very promising team. Ron Swoboda, Wally Backman, Edgardo Alfonzo, Bobby Jones, and more describe their thrilling moments and paint a picture of the Mets based on their favorite memories of their time on the team. Current catcher Travis d'Arnaud leaves readers with his thoughts on his young career with the Mets, and journalist Michael Garry shares his perspective on this well-loved team.

In 1946, the Cleveland Rams, having just won the NFL championship, moved to sunny Los Angeles. The LA Rams experienced immediate success, making four NFL Championship Game appearances in six years-one of which they won. From Los Angeles, the team moved to St. Louis in 1995, only to return to Los Angeles again in 2016. Regardless of the city or the stadium that they've called home, the Rams have compiled a myriad of memorable moments and at times have drawn record crowds. In Game of My Life Rams, award-winning sportswriter Jay Paris offers accounts of many of these moments, through the words of the players who experienced them firsthand-as members of the Los Angeles and St. Louis–based teams. Those legends featured include Roman Gabriel, Jim Hardy, Vince Ferragamo, Jack Youngblood, Kurt Warner, Eric Dickerson, Tom Mack, Nolan Cromwell, Fred Dryer, Henry Ellard, Johnny Hekker, and more. A great gift for any fan of Rams football-past or present!

Since their founding in 1959, the San Diego Chargers have tackled their way into the hearts of devoted SoCal football fans. In Game of My Life San Diego Chargers, fans can immerse themselves in all the greatest moments in Chargers history. Die-hard Chargers fan and award-winning sports writer Jay Paris expertly chronicles all of the greatest Charger moments, including the team's thirteen playoff appearances, their heart-breaking loss in the 1995 Super Bowl, and their glory runs in the mid-2000s. Chargers fans can experience all the glory of their favorite team with first-hand interviews from over a dozen legendary players, including LaDainian Tomlinson, Dan Fouts, Ron Mix, Burt Grossman, Phillip Rivers, and Nick Hardwick. Each former great shares his most memorable game as a Charger, from the pregame jitters to the on-field glory, to the postgame locker room celebration. Game of My Life San Diego Chargers is the perfect gift for Chargers fans!

Orlando Cepeda breaks into the majors with a home run. Willie Mays drills four homers in a single game while sick to his stomach. Felipe Alou prays for a ninth-inning miracle with the National League pennant on the line. In Game of My Life San Francisco Giants, you'll experience the exceptional moments of fan favorites Will Clark, Rich Aurilia, Robby Thompson, and Rod Beck, as well as current stars like Tim Lincecum, described in their own words as only they remember them.