Gary Kaschak

A fiercely candid memoir of football, fame, and consequences from a New York Jets legend Wesley Walker's brightest moments were a blur. At least, that's what spectators and opposing players saw as Walker racked up receiving yards and All-Pro honors. The New York Jets had taken a chance on him with a second-round draft pick, and he rewarded that faith over the following 13 seasons by becoming a franchise legend. The darker moments came later, in the form of debilitating pain and countless surgeries to repair persistent, progressing damage from those years on the gridiron. Once an electrifying presence, Walker was left reckoning with the physical and emotional toll professional football had taken on him. In this expansive memoir, Walker reflects on the pivotal moments, challenges, and characters that shaped his NFL career, while not shying away from exploring the profound cost of his success. He opens up about his college years at Cal, lasting relationships with Jets teammates, a meaningful post-playing career as a school teacher in Kings Park, and his commitment to showing up for his community. Walker's many stories and heartfelt perspective make this a timely, essential read for New York Jets faithful and conscientious football fans.

No origin story of the New York Mets is complete without Ed Kranepool. The lefty first baseman known as "Steady Eddie" made his major-league debut at age 17 during the team's inaugural season and would eventually depart, nearly two decades later, with his name written throughout the franchise's record books. In this definitive autobiography, Kranepool shares a remarkable life story, including early years playing stickball in the streets of the Bronx, the growing pains the Mets endured as an expansion club, his offseasons working as a New York stockbroker, and of course the miracle 1969 season that ended in an unforgettable World Series victory. He also opens up about the personal miracle which came 50 years after that famous championship: a lifesaving kidney transplant made possible by a Mets fan donor. A month after the surgery, Kranepool threw out the first pitch at Citi Field and boldly offered his services as a pinch hitter. Affable, open, and brimming with knowledge of the game, this thoroughly New York tale will delight baseball fans in Queens and beyond.

No origin story of the New York Mets is complete without Ed Kranepool. The lefty first baseman known as "Steady Eddie" made his major-league debut at age 17 during the team's inaugural season and would eventually depart, nearly two decades later, with his name written throughout the franchise's record books. In this definitive autobiography, Kranepool shares a remarkable life story, including early years playing stickball in the streets of the Bronx, the growing pains the Mets endured as an expansion club, his offseasons working as a New York stockbroker, and of course the miracle 1969 season that ended in an unforgettable World Series victory. He also opens up about the personal miracle which came 50 years after that famous championship: a lifesaving kidney transplant made possible by a Mets fan donor. A month after the surgery, Kranepool threw out the first pitch at Citi Field and boldly offered his services as a pinch hitter. Affable, open, and brimming with knowledge of the game, this thoroughly New York tale will delight baseball fans in Queens and beyond.

Born with a rare hip disease that goes undiscovered until he is six years old, Tom Tunison faces years of bed rest, wheelchairs and crutches. Forced intomaking life-changing adjustments, the once active boy begins watching New York Yankees telecasts during his recovery, forming an unlikely bond with Yankees rookie catcher, Thurman Munson. Fascinated with Yankees history, its Hall of Fame players and baseball statistics, Tunison begins a lifelong commitment and study of Munson's career that is sidetracked suddenly with the untimely death of his hero- a tragedy that propels Tunison onto a course of action full of heart-breaking tragedy, heart-warming triumph and personal discovery. In a journey laced with incredible "coincidences," Tunison blends trust, faith and an inner-voice as his guide all the way to the hallowed grounds of Cooperstown.

For boys and girls growing up playing baseball in the 50s and 60s, one player stood out above all others--Mickey Mantle. Millions of kids copied his batting stance, ran the bases like he did, and pretended to be him on the sandlot, schoolyards and Little League fields all across the country. But for one young boy that fantasy went far beyond just pretending and believing--convincing himself that indeed, he was, Mickey Mantle. My Name was Mickey Mantle is a coming-of-age story highlighting the naivety of youth, the trials and tribulations in growing up, and the realization that our bigger-than-life heroes may not be heroes at all. With far-reaching implications spread over 50 years, My Name was Mickey Mantle takes the reader on an engaging and sometimes unbelievable journey from the sandlots of Binghamton, New York, and ending on the hallowed grounds of the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown.