New Releases by Dan Shaughnessy

"Drawing on unprecedented access and personal experiences that would not be possible for any reporter today, Shaughnessy takes us inside the legendary Larry Bird-led Celtics teams, capturing the camaraderie as they rose to dominate the NBA. Fans can witness the cockiness of Larry Bird (who once walked into an All Star Weekend locker room, announced that he was going to win the three-point contest, and did); the ageless athleticism of Robert Parish; the shooting skills of Kevin McHale; the fierce, self-sacrificing play of Bill Walton; and the playful humor of players like Danny Ainge, Cedric Cornbread Maxwell, and M.L. Carr."--

Pedro Gomez of ESPN was a beloved figure in the world of baseball and his death from sudden cardiac arrest on Feb. 7, 2021, unleashed an outpouring of heartfelt tributes. He was 58, both a hard-nosed reporter and a smiling ambassador of the sport. These 62 personal essays soar beyond sports to delve into life lessons. Pedro, a proud Cuban American, was known for his dramatic reporting from Havana. Fully and fluidly bilingual, he did as much as anyone to bridge the wide gap that had existed between U.S.-born players and the Latin Americans now so important to the game''s vitality and future growth. He was also a family man who loved to talk about his three children, Sierra, Dante and Rio, a Boston Red Sox prospect.Pedro was universally known as a smiling presence who brought out the best in people. His humanity and generosity of spirit shaped countless lives, including one of his ESPN bosses, Rob King, who was so moved by Pedro''s advice to him--"Remember who you are"--that he printed up the words and posted them on the wall of his office in Bristol. King is one of a diverse collection of contributors whose personal essays turn Pedro''s shocking death into an occasion to reflect on the deeper truths of life we too often overlook. Part The Pride of Havana and part Tuesdays With Morrie, part The Tender Bar and part Ball Four, this is the rare essay collection that reads like a novel, full of achingly honest emotion and painful insights, a book about friendship, a book about standing for something, a book about joy and love. Former New York Times writer Jack Curry writes about Pedro''s passion for live music, and former Sports Illustrated writer Tim Kurkjian brings alive spring-training basketball games with executives like Sandy Anderson and Billy Beane and Pedro right in the mix. Detroit manager AJ Hinch and formers Texas manager Ron Washington both reveal that in their darkest hours Pedro gave them some of the best advice of their lives. Hall of Famers Dennis Eckersley, Tony La Russa, Peter Gammons, Ross Newhan, Tracy Ringolsby and Dan Shaughnessy are among the contributors. So are likely future Hall of Famers Max Scherzer and Dusty Baker. Pulitzer-Prize-winning Washington Post war correspondent Steve Fainaru, award-winning writers from Howard Bryant and Mike Barnicle to Tim Keown, Ken Rosenthal and Dave Sheinin also contribute. Rounding out the mix are current and former ESPN stars including Rachel Nichols, Shelley M. Smith, Peter Gammons, Bob Ley and Keith Olbermann. This is a book to rekindle in any lapsed fan a love of going to the ballpark, but it''s also a wakeup call that transcends sports. To any journalist, worn down by the demands of a punishing job, to anyone anywhere, pummeled by pandemic times and the dark mood of the country in recent years, these essays will light a spark to seize every opportunity to make a difference, in your work and in the lives of people who matter to you.

Francona explores his tenure in Boston, examining how the beleaguered Red Sox reached incredible highs and equally incredible lows under his management, including several championship victories.

Seeing baseball played at Fenway is an experience like no other for Red Sox fans and rivals alike because the park reminds us of what baseball used to be. Fenway may not offer fans the best seats or even adequate parking, but when game-goers walk through the park''s gate, the smell of hotdogs and roasted peanuts, the sight of Fenway''s brilliant green grass and the roar of the Fenway faithful overwhelms the most jaded of baseball enthusiasts, even Yankee fans. At Fenway celebrates the rich history of Fenway Park home to the Boston Red Sox. Told through the wit and perceptions of Dan Shaughnessy, sports columnist for the Boston Globe and one of New England''s most admired sportswriters, At Fenway is the writer''s hometown tribute to the park how growing up with Fenway and the Red Sox affected his life and the lives of the many die-hard fans living in "Red Sox Nation." Author of The Curse of the Bambino, Shaughnessy takes readers on a walking tour of the fabled park itself, exploring every nook and cranny that makes Fenway unique. He traces the early history of Fenway from the day owner John I. Taylor broke ground for its construction in 1911 to the building material that went into the making of Fenway''s "Green Monster" wall. In addition, Shaughnessy introduces readers to some of the unrecognized figures who keep Fenway''s cherished traditions alive, including Helen Robinson, who has operated the park''s switchboard for more than half a century, and head groundskeeper Joe Mooney, who "protects and defends the green, green grass of Fenway Park." A book that uniquely captures the spirit of Fenway Park and what it means to be a Boston Red Sox fan, At Fenway also explores the "good, bad, and ugly" moments that have nurtured Fenway''s love-hate relationship with fans. From the dark day of January 5, 1920, when Babe Ruth left the Red Sox to play for the Yankees, to the Red Sox''s 1967 Cinderella-story pennant victory; from Carlton Fisk''s 1975 World Series home run to the crowd-silencing homer Bucky Dent hit that clinched the Yankees'' 1978 playoff birth, At Fenway recalls the park''s greatest and worst moments and talks with the players who created them. Rumors that the Red Sox will close Fenway in a few years have already provoked outrage among the faithful. Closing Fenway will mark the end of an era, and Dan Shaughnessy captures this era in all its tragic glory. At Fenway will be read and cherished by Red Sox fans and all fans of baseball as it ought to be.

The author chronicles his son''s senior year of high school baseball, the boy''s obsession with and talent for sports, and his efforts to keep his grades up while deciding what college to attend and avoiding problems until graduation.

A photographic history of Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, the oldest sports arena in the major leagues, including coverage of the 2004 World Series victory.

“A true insider’s perspective on the 2004 Red Sox” and their World Series win, from the bestselling author of Curse of the Bambino (USA Today). On October 27, 2004, the Red Sox won their first World Series Championship in eighty-six years—breaking the infamous Curse of the Bambino and giving diehard fans the thrill of a lifetime. Reversing the Curse preserves one of the greatest stories in sports history with an absorbing account of the team—a raggedy lineup of motorcycle-riding, whiskey-drinking rogues—and the key events that led to their incredible championship victory. A more epic sports saga could not have been invented: Here we have the curse that began with Babe Ruth; a team of comeback kids determined to prove their mettle; the perennial rivalry against the Yankees; and a historic win that was celebrated around the world. Dan Shaughnessy captures the Sox triumph in all its drama and euphoria with penetrating insight, a keen sense of history, and unparalleled insider access. With photographs by the Pulitzer Prize–winning photographer Stan Grossfeld, Reversing the Curse is the definitive record of a landmark moment in baseball history. “[Shaughnessy is] adept at capturing the mood, the emotion, the palpable feel of the Boston-New York showdown.” —The New York Times “In story after story of near-triumph, the book should delight the team’s most fanatically loyal followers.” —Publishers Weekly

Some believe that the ghost of Babe Ruth -- the most famous baseball player who ever lived -- is still watching over the game today. What would you say? It all started on January 5, 1920, a fateful day in baseball history, when the Boston Red Sox traded Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees for a mere pile of cash. That''s when, some say, the Red Sox''s reversal of fortune began. Before Ruth was traded, the Red Sox had been the best team in baseball, winning five of fifteen World Series. Since then, the Yankees have had twenty-six World Series to their credit. The Red Sox have come painstakingly close over those decades, but not close enough. Could it be that Babe Ruth took revenge on the team that traded him so long ago -- making the Red Sox wait a torturous eighty-six years before they would win another World Series? Baseball legend? Fate? Coincidence? Here''s the story of the Curse of the Bambino -- the greatest baseball legend ever told.

The Boston Red Sox''s loss to the New York Yankees in the 2003 playoffs has been called "the game of the century," evidence that the rivalry between the Red Sox and the Yankees was hotter than ever. In the wake of that defeat, author and Boston Globe sports columnist Dan Shaughnessy updated his bewitching story of the curse that laid over the Red Sox after they sold Babe Ruth to the hated Yankees in 1920. Here he sheds light on classic Sox debacles from the years before they broke the curse and finally reached the World Championship again—from Johnny Pesky''s so-called hesitation throw to the horrifying dribbler that slithered between Bill Buckner''s legs. Lively and filled with anecdotes, this is baseball folklore at its best.

Before the purpose-pitch that zips inches from the batter''s head, before greenfly autograph-seekers stalk hotel lobbies, before thousands of fans stand up and boo in 50,000-seat stadiums, before the proverbial dog days of summer and the pressure-packed moments of October . . . there is sweet spring. The long hello. Baseball''s early season. The words spring training have long held special power over baseball fans. They signal the arrival of fresh air and sunshine after a long winter devoid of bare feet and box scores. The chance to see the game up close and personal, in beautiful slow motion. No other sport undergoes this slow, glorious unfolding. And no other book captures baseball''s rite of passage in all its magic. Come on a wild ride through spring training''s many attractions and peculiarities, from Florida to Arizona, the National to the American League, the dugouts to Section D. Glimpse retirees in Hawaiian shirts singing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," million-dollar players taking it easy on the field and in the bars, young rookies flashing their skills, grizzled vets going through the motions, wide-eyed children dressed from head to toe in their favorite team''s garb. It''s all here, from Alligator Alley to Cactus Way, sit-ups to sunblock, home runs to hangovers -- a lively tribute to America''s favorite pastime in its purest, most wonderful form.

Traces the life of the legendary coach and describes his influence on the NBA, the Boston Celtics, and professional basketball

Now in paperback, Ever Green captures in words and vintage photos the special mystique of basketball''s greatest dynasty and celebrated its forty-five years of existence. Ever Green recounts the complete story of the Celtics, from the troubled early years through their amazing string of championships to the triumphs--and low moments--of the 1970s and 80s. Dan Shaughnessy records the team''s history in the voice of eveyrone from its stars and coaches to the beloved benchwarmers, the Celtic fans, and rival players. Those interview include Bob Cousy, Satch Sanders, Sam Jones, K.C. Jones, Tom Heinsohn, John Havlicek, Dave Cowens, M.L. Carr, Gene Conley, Hank Finkel, Kevin Mchale, Dennis Johnson, Danny Ainge, Larry Bird, and Red Auerbach.