Encyclopedia of Major League Baseball Teams

The Encyclopedia of Major League Baseball Teams tells the story of major league baseball through the histories of the 121 teams that have comprised the six leagues officially recognized by Major League Baseball. From obscure franchises, like the Troy Trojans and the Newark Peppers, to illustrious teams, like the New York Yankees and the Cincinnati Reds, to the Florida Marlins and Colorado Rockies, the story of major league baseball unfolds through colorful narratives of the major league teams. Here are the dramas and hilarious moments in the history of each team - the move to a new city, the sale from one owner to another, the riot-provoking fights and the clownish incidents, plus the key developments on and off the diamond. These moments are interwoven with sharply observed profiles of the team owners, managers and players who embodied the spirit - and subsequently shaped the public's perception - of the franchise. Characters range from the professional basketball player who never played a major league game (yet was kicked out of one) to the club owner who used his clout to keep a subway stop from being built near the ballpark of his cross-town rival. Sidebars serve up entertaining anecdotes and little-known facts about the teams, and more than 100 photographs illustrate the book.