For those who have followed PW's coverage of the sports publishing industry over the years, the one constant has been the absolute hegemony that baseball books have enjoyed, regardless of season. Spring has always brought a plethora of baseball books, but readers were as likely to be inundated with tales of the national pastime in the months before the holiday season, with baseball's postseason conveniently perched in October. But this season books about football—both NFL and college—are dominating publishers' lists. What accounts for the change?
Baseball's national pastime status is, well, a relic of the past. Most sports pundits today concede that football became #1 in the hearts of Americans some time ago, but baseball was not easily dislodged as the top dog of sports publishers. “Let's face it,” says David Hirshey, senior v-p/executive editor at HarperCollins, “it's easier to read wearing a baseball cap than a football helmet. Baseball has always been considered America's most writerly sport, maybe because a guy named Doubleday allegedly invented it, but now that football has replaced it as the national pastime, it makes sense that we're seeing a blitz of football books, some of which will no doubt be equally worthy of the literary Hall of Fame.”
“The baseball genre's appeal,” says Mitch Rogatz, publisher of Triumph, “is owing to an older, more cerebral base that favors in-depth books on favorite players or teams. While the football category has plenty of in-depth, analytical titles, it seems to be driven by fans' more unvarnished, emotional connection to the sport and its current stars or heroes.”
“Baseball's popularity is built on two things,” says Stephen Powers, senior editor at Wiley, “nostalgia and statistics. Only now is the NFL developing both, which will drive book sales.”
Time will tell if this is a continuing trend or a flash in the pan.
NFL East, Publishing Beast
The GM: The Inside Story of a Dream Job and the Nightmares That Go with It by Tom Callahan (Crown)
There's lots of juicy stuff for Giants' fans here, including revelations about coach Tom Coughlin and erstwhile coach Bill Parcells, and the GM himself, Ernie Accorsi, the man who got the Giants to the Super Bowl and drafted Eli Manning. “[The GM] is a biography of a job—a job that the average fan aspires to in a different way than, say, dreaming of quarterbacking a Super Bowl game.” —Rick Horgan, v-p/executive editor
50,000 first printing; major online campaign; print/radio ads
I Dream in Blue: Life, Death, and the New York Giants by Roger Director (HarperCollins)
The spirit of Frederick Exley's classic A Fan's Notes lives in this book by one of the Giants' most obsessed fans. “Roger Director's memoir is written from the perspective of the everyman, albeit an obsessed, funny, slightly insane everyman, who, like Fred Exley before him, has managed to transform his passion into literary entertainment.” —David Hirshey, senior v-p/executive editor
40,000 first printing; major promotion/publicity
War Without Death: A Year of Extreme Competition in Pro Football's NFC East by Mark Maske (Penguin Press)
A close look at the tough NFC East by the Washington Post sports columnist. “Mark Maske has written the Moneyball of professional football.” —Janie Fleming, associate editor
Publicity in NFL East cities
Greatest Team Ever: The Dallas Cowboys Dynasty of the 1990s by Ron St. Angelo and Norm Hitzges (Thomas Nelson)
All about those Jimmy Johnson—led Dallas teams of the '90s. “This is one of the finest football books ever and is highlighting arguably one of the finest teams in the NFL ever.” —Geoff Stone, editor-in-chief
50,000 first printing; extensive Dallas publicity
NFL Inspiration
The runaway bestseller success of Tony Dungy's Quiet Strength (Tyndale) has brought other NFL inspiration titles to the forefront:
Don't Bet Against Me by Deanna Favre and Angela Elwell Hunt (Tyndale, Oct.)
Wife of the Packer QB writes about her bout with breast cancer: “Deanna helps shed some light on some of the positive role models that the NFL has to offer.” —Carol Traver, senior acquisition editor/nonfiction
55,000 first printing; coast-to- coast national publicity tour
When It's Fourth and Long: Keeping the Faith, Overcoming the Odds, and Life in the NFL by Josh Bidwell (Harvest House)
The punter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers tells of his battle with testicular cancer. “The book is important because of the frank and honest way Josh traces his spiritual journey. Anyone who thinks that professional athletes don't struggle with issues of identity, connectedness, acceptance and eternity will appreciate the way Josh describes his internal questions and the ways he deals with them.” —Gene Skinner, editor
Select regional, local TV/radio, national print and Internet
Never Give Up: My Stroke, My Recovery & My Return to the NFL by Tedy Bruschi with Michael Holley (Wiley)
Patriot's linebacker Bruschi's recovery from a stroke inspired millions of fans. “Tedy is a devoted spokesperson for the American Stroke Association—a portion of the author's proceeds are going to the organization—and this book is part of his mission.” —Stephen Power, senior editor
150,000 first printing; national media
NFL Builders
Rozelle: Czar of the NFL by Jeff Davis (McGraw-Hill)
Pete Rozelle, as commissioner, made the NFL the sports juggernaut it is today. “The country didn't take notice of pro football until Pete Rozelle convinced the owners to put the league first and centralize its media distribution.” —Ron Martirano, editor
25,000 first printing; national print, online and radio tours
Dan Rooney: My 75 Years with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the NFL as told to Andrew E. Masich and David F. Halaas (Da Capo, Nov.)
The Rooneys are one of the founding families of the NFL. “For the first time, Dan Rooney shares the many stories about how his family-run Pittsburgh Steelers won five Super Bowl championships, how he pushed for the groundbreaking Rooney Rule, which ensures that minority candidates will be considered for head coaching vacancies in the NFL, and his other efforts in helping to shape the modern NFL into America's all-consuming passion.” —Kevin Hanover, v-p/director of marketing/acquiring editor
75,000 first printing; heavy Pittsburgh promo/publicit
The Players
The Bus: My Life in and Out of a Helmet by Jerome Bettis and Gene Wojciechowski (Broadway)
Everyone loves “The Bus,” one of the great Steeler running backs of all time. “It was clear from the minute Jerome walked in for our first meeting that his personal persona is very much like his public persona—humble, warm and straight-shooting.” —Becky Cole, editor
63,500 copies after five printings; nation-wide media saturation
Sayers: My Life and Times by Gale Sayers with Fred Mitchell (Triumph, Oct.)
The Bears' all-time greatest halfback remains a Chicago legend. “Gale Sayers symbolizes the best in football, in competitive sport, in life. He excelled like no other, in a special, less complex, no-nonsense era of sports and, in particular, football.”—Mitch Rogatz, publisher
30,000 first printing; Chicago book signings; radio/TV throughout the Midwest; national media
Brett Favre: A Packer Fan's Tribute by Tom Kertscher (Cumberland House)
The pride of Green Bay is off to an excellent start, which should boost this title. “Tom Kertscher has captured on the printed page the deep, 15-year bond that exists between Favre and his devoted fans.” —Mike Middleton, v-p/sales & marketing
7,500 first printing; heavy Wisconsin promotion; sports radio talk shows
Tiki: My Life in the Game and Beyond by Tiki Barber (Simon Spotlight Entertainment)
The loquacious former Giants running back and now Today Show participant seems to have an opinion about everything. “Tiki is the thinking man's football player. Not only does he offer smart, insightful and (at times) brutally honest commentary on the game itself in his book, he examines what it takes to persevere in the face of adversity.” — Tricia Boczkowski, editorial director
100,000 first printing; national publicity/promotion; book signings
The Teams
Green Bay Packers: The Complete Illustrated History by Don Gulbrandsen (Voyageur/MBI)
“There is no other full-color, complete illustrated history of the Green Bay Packers on the market. Even the most devoted cheesehead will find something new and fascinating in this book.” —Josh Leventhal, editor
40,000 first printing; heavy Wisconsin bookstore/media appearances
The Blueprint: How the New England Patriots Beat the System to Create the Last Great NFL Superpower by Christopher Price (St. Martin's/Dunne, Oct.)
He may have been caught cheating, but Bill Belichick is the coach other coaches try to emulate. “Despite SpyGate, the Patriots are still a remarkable franchise with a unique history, and The Blueprint digs deep into both the history of the team and its rise over the years.” —Peter Wolverton, associate publisher/executive editor
25,000 first printing; New England publicity and bookstore signings
Patron Saints: How the Saints Gave New Orleans a Reason to Believe by Alan Donnes (Hachette/Center Street)
Since Hurricane Katrina, the Saints are one of the few things to go right for New Orleans. “Patron Saints is the story of New Orleans' recovery, told by the people who made it happen. It's a testament to the American spirit.” —Sarah Sper, associate editor
50,000 first printing; national TV/radio
Breaker Boys: The NFL's Greatest Team and the Stolen 1925 Championship by David Fleming (ESPN Books)
This is the saga of the (almost forgotten) 1925 Pottsville Maroons, who were not only NFL champions but defeated Notre Dame and the legendary Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. “If Seabiscuit had worn cleats, he would have been a Pottsville Maroon.” —Michael Solomon.
15,000 first printing; promotion in ESPN the Magazine and on ESPN.com; major ceremonies in Pottsville, Pa., on October 10—12.
Black & Blue: A Smash-Mouth History of the NFL's Roughest Division by Bob Berghaus (Clerisy Press)
The Packers, Bears, Lions (joined by the Vikings in 1961) form the only NFL division to stay intact throughout its history. “What's particularly fascinating about the NFC North is the way the teams reflect the culture of the area in which they play. There's something very Midwestern about them—stoic, efficient, less glamorous than the teams on the coast.” —Jack Heffront, editorial director
5,000 first printing; major promo/publicity push in Green Bay, Wis.; Chicago; Minneapolis; Detroit
Rockin' the Rockpile by Jeffrey J. Miller (ECW Press)
This is a colorful history of one of the original franchises of the old AFL, the Buffalo Bills. “Every single game and its complete stats are included, as well as a where-are-they now section.” —Jack David, publisher
6,000 first printing; co-op placement at B&N; print and broadcast media; Buffalo area book signings
College Football—Helmeted Americana
The first sign of fall happens at the end of August when in 90-degree heat young college football players begin banging heads across America. It's as American as apple pie and as important as Opening Day in baseball and the Super Bowl in February. And don't think publishers haven't noticed all those stadia filled with 100,000 fanatics who may want to buy a book about their favorite team for Christmas.
“College football is such a time-honored tradition, and one that lends a rhythm to fans' lives,” says Jennifer Barth, v-p/executive editor, HarperCollins. “It also offers a more intimate connection to the game than the NFL—as well as a 'purer' version of the sport itself—and to the players. And I don't think it's a stretch to suggest that it fosters a sense of community, of belonging to something bigger than oneself.”
Why America's love affair with teams like the Crimson Tide, Trojans and Fighting Irish? “One, pageantry,” says Pete Wolverton of St. Martin's/Dunne, “two, the rivalries; and three, the fact that one loss could end a season generates a remarkable intensity for every game.”
This fall's list consists of winners (Carlisle defeating Army in a belated revenge for Wounded Knee), losers (Villanova as it restarts its football program), heroes (Dwight Eisenhower and Omar Bradley) and icons (Bear Bryant and Joe Paterno).
A Season in Purgatory: Villanova and Life in College Football's Lower Class by Tony Moss (Univ. of Nebraska)
Not everyone gets to play for a national champion. “Moss offers a highly informed story that resulted from extraordinary access to team coaches and players, and his book furthers the current national debate about the demands of sports on colleges and universities.” —Kate Salem, publicity manager
5,000 first printing; author appearances
Carlisle vs. Army: Jim Thorpe, Dwight Eisenhower, Pop Warner, and the Forgotten Story of Football's Greatest Battle by Lars Anderson (Random House)
It's 1912 on the gridiron, with Thorpe and Warner versus Eisenhower and Omar Bradley. “Lars takes a notable event and turns it into something memorable and moving and, I think, pretty extraordinary.” —Mark Tavani, editor
50,000 first printing; sports radio satellite tour
One Night, Two Teams: Alabama vs. USC and the Game That Changed a Nation by Steve Travers (Taylor)
An integrated USC gives a segregated Alabama a valuable lesson in American ideals. “Travers presents this particular game in 1970 as a metaphor for the profound changes in social history during the emancipation of the South.” — Meghan Devine, marketing director
5,000 first printing; author tour in L.A., San Francisco; national radio tour
Bear: The Hard Life & Good Times of Alabama's Head Coach by Paul “Bear” Bryant with John Underwood (Triumph)
Originally published in 1975, this Bryant autobiography is completely repackaged. “We felt the package, with the new, significant addition of the audio CD, demanded a more significant hardcover presentation, rather than a trade paperback.” —Mitch Rogatz, publisher
10,000 first printing; regional advertising and radio tour
50 Years of College Football: A Modern History of America's Most Colorful Sport by Bob Boyles and Paul Guido (Skyhorse)
The result of 15 years of intense research, this book has everything you ever wanted to know about college football. “Up-to-date through the 2006 season, this is the ultimate reference and gift book for the college football fanatic.” —Bill Wolfsthal, associate publisher
10,000 first printing; marketing to sports radio in 40 college football cities
Playing for Paterno: One Coach, Two Eras by Charlie Pittman, Tony Pittman and Jae Bryson (Triumph)
A father and son who played for Paterno recall their coach. “ 'JoePa' has been one of the most enduring, respected figures in all of college football, and the lessons he's taught to his players can now be passed on to so many fans.” —Mitch Rogatz, publisher
11,000 first printing; regional radio tour, book signings on game days at Beaver Stadium in Happy Valley, Pa.
Twelve Mighty Orphans: The Inspiring True Story of the Mighty Mites Who Ruled Texas Football by Jim Dent (St. Martin's/Dunne)
The author of the bestselling Junction Boys is back with another tale of Texas football. “Texas, orphans, a genius head coach [Rusty Russell]—truly an amazing story.” —Peter Wolverton, associate publisher/executive editor
40,000 first printing; major Texas media
Saturday Rules: A Season with Trojans and Domers (and Gators and Buckeyes and Wolverines) by Austin Murphy (HarperCollins)
Murphy is Sports Illustrated's go-to guy for college football. “Saturday Rules offers a behind-the-scene look at the highlights—and key personnel—of the 2006. It is also very funny.” — Jennifer Barth, v-p/executive editor
35,000 first printing; regional publicity, national radio, Internet campaign
Great Sports Reads
I Live for This!: Baseball's Last True Believer by Bill Plaschke and Tommy Lasorda (Houghton Mifflin, Oct.)
The man who bleeds Dodger blue tells all. “After a summer of discontent in sports, Lasorda's story—his real story—has never been more important.” —Susan Canavan, senior editor
100,000 first printing; major national media
Connie Mack and the Early Years of Baseball by Norman L. Macht (Univ. of Nebraska)
“This book offers material from irreproducible interviews and is illustrated with family photos never before published.” —Kate Salem, publicity manager
5,000 first printing
Harvard Boys: A Father and Son's Unlikely Adventures in Minor League Baseball by Rick Wolff and John Wolff (Skyhorse, Oct.)
A father relives his minor league days through his son. “A remarkable look at both how minor league baseball has changed over the years and also how the sport continues to tie generations together.” —Mark Weinstein, senior editor
20,000 first printing; major media during World Series launch
Breaking Through: John B. McLendon, Basketball Legend and Civil Rights Pioneer by Milton S. Katz (Univ. of Arkansas)
First bio of the trailblazing black coach to win three consecutive titles with Tennessee State. “What a giant! McLendon learned basketball from its inventor—James Naismith—and taught the game and life lessons to thousands of players—black and white—over a half century of coaching and fighting for civil rights for all.” —Larry Malley, director
3,000 first printing; ads and signings
First Class Citizenship: The Civil Rights Letters of Jackie Robinson, edited by Michael G. Long (Times Books)
First publication of letters to Ike, Nixon, J.F.K., L.B.J. “It was electric to read Robinson's correspondence with Martin Luther King, because I could hear the distinctive cadence of each man's voice coming off the page.” —Paul Golob, editorial director
75,000 first printing; panel events in New York City and Washington, D.C., with notable historians and literary figures
Equal Play: Title IX and Social Change, edited by Nancy Hogshead-Makar and Andrew Zimbalist (Temple Univ., Dec.)
“This book provides all of the critical documentation involving the [1972] bill's passage and implementation as well as essays [by sports journalists] about its impact and abiding importance.” —Gary Kramer, publicity manager
2,000 first printing; national publicity/promotion
Five O'Clock Lightning: Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and the Greatest Baseball Team in History, the 1927 New York Yankees by Harvey Frommer (Wiley, Oct.)
When games started at 3:30, the Yankees were hitting bombs by 5 p.m. “There's a reason Gehrig would say he was the luckiest man. This book shows why.” —Stephen Power, senior editor
50,000 first printing; sports radio in top markets
Bo's Lasting Lessons by Bo Schembechler (Grand Central/Business Plus)
The late Michigan coach's words of wisdom. “Schembechler was one of the great motivational leaders of our time, and his leadership legacy is one that has influenced an entire generation of football players, executives, coaches, parents and more.” —Rick Wolff, editorial director
100,000 first printing; publicity by former players (Dan Dierdorf, Tom Brady, Desmond Howard, etc.)
The NASCAR Family Album: Stories and Mementos from America's Most Famous Racing Families by H.A. Branham (Chronicle)
Stories, photos and racing history. “No one knows NASCAR like Herb Branham. Race fans are going to love this book.” —Brian Arundel, editor
100,000 first printing
Undertaker's Son: Life Lessons from a Coach by Richard “Digger” Phelps with Jack Colwell (Lyons Press)
The autobiography of the former Notre Dame coach. “This is a frank and eminently readable discussion of his life and what he learned growing up. All proceeds from the book go to his Katrina project.” —Tom McCarthy, executive editor
75,000 first printing; national media
My View from the Corner: A Life in Boxing by Angelo Dundee with Bert Randolph Sugar (McGraw-Hill)
The trainer of Ali, Foreman and Leonard reveals all. “What it was like to be closer than ringside for the worldwide phenomenon that was Muhammad Ali.” —Ron Martirano, editor
30,000 first printing; national print/radio/TV
Jack Nicklaus Simply the Best! by Martin Davis (American Golfer)
The most dominant golfer of the last half of the 20th century comes to life in photographs. “There are over 600 photos in the book—many never before published, plus four double gatefold spreads, three single gates and one extraordinary gatefold that spans 5½ feet.” —Martin Davis
120,000 after two printings; natonalwide book tour
Sports Illustrated: The Basketball Book by the editors of SI (SI Books, Oct.)
“SI has been covering basketball closely for more than 50 years, so we had a wealth of remarkable stories and photographs to form the foundations of a book that celebrates the game.” —Rob Fleder, executive editor
237,000 first printing; national TV/radio/print campaigns
Harry Caray: Voice of the Fans by Pat Hughes and Bruce Miles (CD included) (Sourcebooks, Nov.)
The CD will bring Harry back for millions of his fans. “The book and its corresponding audio bring Harry into your living room—and what Cubs, Cards or White Sox fan wouldn't give to hear Harry call one more game.” —Todd Stocke, v-p/editorial director
20,000 copies; heavy Chicago publicity
|
