Books in Sports MVPs series

Bryce Harper has been a baseball star since he was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated when he was 16 years old; the Washington Nationals drafted him at age 17. A focused, dedicated player, Harper has won numerous awards and has helped make the Nationals a relevant team, leading them to the playoffs several times. In simple language, this inspiring biography focuses on his unusual fast track to the major leagues, and discusses his interests and charity work. This book features full-color photographs, a fact sheet, and a timeline of his accomplishments.

Abby Wambach is the all-time greatest American womens soccer player in history. This book explores the life of a World Cup champion as well as her record-setting international career. From a youth soccer standout in Rochester, New York, to an international soccer icon, Wambach has amazed soccer fans for years with her signature headers and leadership on the US Womens National Team. From Olympic gold to World Cup glory, Wambachs career has seen it all, and this book takes a look at her storied career and the trophies shes collected along the way.

Relive the exciting early days of skiing when Snoqualmie Pass was the epicenter of the sport. Ski jumping tournaments attracted world-class competitors to Cle Elum, Beaver Lake on the Summit and the Milwaukee Ski Bowl. The Mountaineers' twenty-mile race from Snoqualmie to Stampede Pass, dubbed "the world's longest and hardest race," was a pinnacle of cross-country skiing. Alpine skiing began in private ski clubs and expanded in 1934 with the country's first municipal ski area, known as the Seattle Municipal Ski Park. And the sport peaked when the Milwaukee Ski Bowl at Hyak opened in 1938. With train access, a modern ski lodge, an overhead cable lift and free ski lessons from the Seattle Times, the Ski Bowl revolutionized local skiing. Lawyer and local ski historian John W. Lundin follows the historic tracks through the genesis of American skiing.

Four generations of Japanese Americans broke down racial and cultural barriers in California by playing baseball. Behind the barbed wire of concentration camps during World War II, baseball became a tonic of spiritual renewal for disenfranchised Japanese Americans who played America's pastime while illegally imprisoned. Later, it helped heal resettlement wounds in Los Angeles, San Francisco, the Central Valley and elsewhere. Today, the names of Japanese American ballplayers still resonate as their legacy continues. Mike Lum was the first Japanese American player in the Major Leagues in 1967, Lenn Sakata the first in the World Series in 1983 and Don Wakamatsu the first manager in 2008. Join Kerry Yo Nakagawa in this update of his 2001 classic as he chronicles sporting achievements that doubled as cultural benchmarks.

Football megastar Tom Brady led the New England Patriots to five Super Bowl victories as of 2017, and he earned four MVP titles along the way. He's been called one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. This engrossing book illustrates how Brady got to the top of his sport. Exciting game plays and interesting details, such as his workout routines, health regimen, and charitable efforts, reveal how he performs on the field and in his everyday life. High-action photographs, a timeline, fact sheet, and engaging text round out this accessible biography of a living football legend.

LeBron James joined the NBA out of high school and was immediately one of the most exciting players in basketball. His fascinating career has been full of titles and individual awards, from the NBAs most valuable player to Olympic gold medals and even NBA titles. This superstars career from Cleveland to Miami and back to his hometown Cavaliers has captivated sports fans, and this book chronicles the latest in King James illustrious career. Readers will love learning more about LeBron and what makes him special both on and off the court.

This inspirational book reveals how Sidney Crosby has skated his way straight to the top of hockey from a very young age. Just 19 when the Pittsburgh Penguins named him captain, "Sid the Kid" went on to lead his team to three Stanley Cup championships. He became the youngest player in National Hockey League history to reach 200 points, too. Sidney holds two Olympic gold medals and several MVP awards. Already considered one of the all-time greats, Sidney credits his success to hard work. The book includes dynamic full-color photographs, a fact sheet, and a timeline of Crosby's accomplishments.

Kick snow from your shoes and step into the warmth of the old Hoosier high school basketball gym, where farmers in overalls line the court and students heckle referees from planks above the bleachers. Revisit a unique era when nearly every town had a high school and its own basketball team. The gyms featured here no longer host high school games, but once they were home to the Ladoga Canners, the Mecca Arabs, the Roll Red Rollers, the Arlington Purple Breezes, the Warren Lightning Five and dozens more. Now they are elementary schools, community centers, fire stations, churches. Some are homes. Sadly, others are wasting away. But once again, the ball thuds in these gyms. The screams reverberate. The whistles blow. Join the Indianapolis Star's Kyle Neddenriep on this tour of one hundred former Hoosier high school basketball gyms.

Fans of LeBron James will love this captivating book. They'll learn how James has been a basketball star nearly his whole life. Sports Illustrated featured him on their cover when he was just 17 years old, and he joined the Cleveland Cavaliers right out of high school. James has had a stellar career with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat and he helped the Cavaliers finally bring a championship to Cleveland in 2016. James has also become known for his social activism. This book features full-color photographs, a fact sheet, and a timeline of his accomplishments.

Like many before him in the Bluegrass State, Michael Blowen, a former "Boston Globe" entertainment writer, fell in love with horses, specifically Thoroughbreds. The reality beyond the racetracks, he knew, was that each day a Thoroughbred was in the spotlight, for some of these distinguished athletes, their days were numbered. For that reason, he dreamed of finding a way to give them a dignified retirement after they completed their rigorous racing careers. When he opened the Thoroughbred retirement farm Old Friends in Kentucky in 2003, he never dreamed his idea would grow so big, so fast. Today, Old Friends is home to more than 130 horses, many of them stallions, as well as geldings, mares and one loveable miniature horse named Little Silver Charm. Join journalist and horse lover Rick Capone for the story of Old Friends and the horses that call the farm home.

Star athletes are not made overnight. They work hard to develop their game and persevere to get to the top. Few exemplify this combination of skill and determination as Aaron Rodgers, the Green Bay Packers quarterback. From underdog to starter to Super Bowl and League MVP, this biography takes readers along Rodgers' journey from all-around high school athlete, through college success, to becoming arguably the greatest quarterback in the game today. Action-packed images and testimony about Rodgers from coaches and others close to him further illuminate the story of the one of the most uniquely talented NFL players.