What are the best sports related books you've read?
 

I'm curious to what the CP masses have to say about books written concerning sports. What are your favorites? What book surprised you? Is there a book you couldn't put down until done reading?

Let's keep it simple to your top 3 favorites.

Thinking off the top of my head it would be:

1) I am Third
2) The Bronx Zoo
3) Moneyball

None

Ball Four by Jim Bouton. It's ancient (written about his 1969 season as a pitcher for the Seattle Pilots), but it's the most entertaining sports book I've ever read. It's a diary of the season.

Another excellent book is Instant Replay by Jerry Kramer. He was an offensive lineman with the Packers during the Vince Lombardi years.

I've only been able to skim through it thus far, but I'll say This is Russia: Life in the KHL by former Austrian goalie Bernd Bruckler. It's like the Wild West applied to pro sports.

Matt Christopher books were awesome to read as a kid.

My favorite though.... ahhhhh, I hate to admit this, but it's that Pioli/BB/Patriots jizz-fest book called "War Room." I loved that book.

Hollywood Hendersons bio.

Too many to really narrow it to 3....but here goes:

1) The Summer Game- Roger Angell
2) Baseball is A Funny Game- Joe Garagiola
3) The Umpire Strikes Back and The Fall of the Roman Umpire by Ron Luciano

In the old days I loved reading the Bronc Burnett Series by Wilfred McCormick. They would be too corny or too "wholesome" for readers today.

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Can I Keep My Jersey by Paul Shirley.
The History of ESPN.

Sweetness, the book on Walter Payton was good.

The Game by Ken Dryden
Journeyman by Sean Pronger

They Call Me Assassin.

it's about jack tatum.

Friday Night Lights. Well before it was a movie and tv series.
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Unbroken
Ty Cobb Biography
Honus Wagner Biography

3 of my favs.

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The Smart Money. Author is a runner for sports bettors in Vegas. Shows how much BS the casinos throw at people in order to keep your money.

Even Big Guys Cry. Alex Karras.

The Art of the Draft by Scott Pioli. Its right there with We Play to Win the Game by Herm Edwards

Turning The Thing Around by Jimmy Johnson.

He's a very unique coach, IMO. That book is why I always admired him.

My Losing Season by Pat Conroy. About his experiences playing basketball for a small college in the south during the late 1960s. Freaking great read, and I finished it in one sitting.

I don't like basketball, btw.

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