Titles by Rob Goldman

To any baseball fan, Nolan Ryan’s name still conjures up images of blistering 100-mile-per-hour fastballs and knee-buckling curveballs. During his 27-year career, “The Ryan Express” was named an eight-time All-Star and amassed seven no-hitters and more than 5,700 strikeouts—more than any other pitcher in major-league history. This comprehensive biography of Nolan Ryan follows the baseball legend’s journey from the start of his professional career in 1965 to his retirement in 1993. Hall of Famers, journeymen, clubhouse workers, coaches, and trainers offer their own unique take on Ryan in this book filled with never-before-told anecdotes and personal recollections and peppered with eyewitness accounts of his greatest games. In the pages of this history, readers will discover what made Nolan Ryan one of the most revered and respected athletes and citizens of his time.

Professional baseball player Tim Salmon opens up about his hardships growing up and how a grandmother's faith set the stage for his remarkable career with the Angels, a team with an ingrained culture of losing that became one of baseball's elite teams by the time he retired. Salmon recalls the exploits of teammates Garret Anderson, Chili Davis, Chuck Finley, and Jim Abbott, who symbolized the grit and spirit of a team struggling for an identity, and he discusses the players who provided comic relief, including Rex Hudler diving through the post game spread with nothing on but his cleats. As eyewitness to some of baseball's all-time greatest moments, Salmon poignantly recalls Cal Ripken Jr.'s legendary streak of 2,132 consecutive games from a fresh perspective. Also included are accounts of his classic confrontations with fearsome pitchers Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, and Roger Clemens.