What If the Babe Had Kept His Red Sox? : And Other Fascinating Alternate Histories From the World of Sports

In this thought-provoking alternative view of history, Bill Gutman spins out the maybes and what ifs that might have followed if some of the most iconic sports moments of all time had gone another way. He imagines a world in which Lombardi returns a hero to take the helm of the New York Giants, resulting in a Packers team that never achieves dynasty status and a Giants team that stumbles to glory late in the decade, a world where Muhammad Ali can't struggle to his feet after a huge blow from Liston and winds up a floundering middle-weight who never makes it big, and yes, a world where Babe Ruth never dons Yankee pinstripes but stays in Boston and out of the record books. With a careful eye for detail and a handful of bold predictions, Gutman attacks the sports history books with gusto, outlining an alternate reality that will change the way fans look at sports forever. What if Babe Ruth had not been sold to the Yankees in 1920 and instead played his entire career in Boston? What if Muhammad Ali had lost or quit in his first fight against Sonny Liston? What if the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants had never moved to the West Coast? What if Vince Lombardi had become head coach of his hometown Giants instead of heading to Green Bay? How would sports history, and our perception of it, be different today? These are some of the questions asked and answered in this entertaining book of alternate history, the first book of its kind in the field of sports. It is sure to appeal to every thoughtful sports fan. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sportsbooks about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team. Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home. Sure to generate controversy, fifteen fascinating alternative histories from the diamond, gridiron, court, rink, course, and prize ring.

What if Babe Ruth had not been sold to the Yankees in 1920 and instead played his entire career in Boston? What if Joe Namath had decided to sign with the St. Louis Cardinals instead of the New York Jets? What if Muhammad Ali had lost or quit in his first fight against Sonny Liston? What if Bobby Riggs had easily beaten Billie Jean King in their epic tennis match? How would sports history, and our perception of it, be different today? These are the questions asked and answered in this entertaining book of alternate history, the first book of its kind in the field of sports. It is sure to appeal to every thoughtful sports fan. Considers fifteen alternative histories that might have occurred if different events had transpired at key turning points in professional sports, from what might have happened had Joe Namath signed with the St. Louis Cardinals instead of the New York Jets to Bobby Riggs's theoretical victory over Billie Jean King during their epic tennis match. Original. 10,000 first printing. The Boston Babe Clay gets crushed New York or bust Lombardi comes home Satch and Josh in '36 Thanks, but no thanks Arnie and Jack who? Trotting in the NBA The Magic number The Knicks reign The deal's off Shine on, superstar.