"The legendary Willie Mays shares the inspirations and influences responsible for guiding him on and off the field in this reflective and inspirational memoir. "It's because of giants like Willie that someone like me could even think about running for President." -President Barack Obama Widely regarded as the greatest all-around player in baseball history because of his unparalleled hitting, defense and baserunning, the beloved Willie Mays offers...

"In 1973, baseball was in crisis. The first strike in pro sports had soured fans, game attendance had fallen, and America's team the Yankees had lost more games and money than ever. Baseball was facing a bust. Yet, five of baseball's greatest figures saved the sport and returned it to its pedestal as America's pastime. Powerhouse Hank Aaron surprised the nation by beating Babe Ruth's home run record in the face of racist threats. George Steinbrenner...

"Jackie Robinson heroically broke the color barrier in 1947. But how--and, in practice, when--did the integration of the sport actually occur? Bill Madden shows that baseball's famous "black experiment" did not truly succeed until the coming of age of Willie Mays and the emergence of some star players--Larry Doby, Hank Aaron, and Ernie Banks--in 1954. And as a relevant backdrop off the field, it was in May of that year that the US Supreme Court unanimously...