Bøger udgivet af Jim Maggiore

This book has appeal for not only the denizens of Binghamton, but for all New York Mets fans as well. Approximately 66% of the current New York Mets roster passed through Binghamton and the book also compares the rebuilding job of Sandy Alderson with the strategy used by Frank Cashen in building the 1986 World Championship New York Mets team. In 2013 manager Pedro Lopez guided the Binghamton Mets to a franchise-record 86 wins as his team captured the Eastern Division Championship of the Eastern League. In the playoffs, however, his team failed to win a single game. In April 2014, at the team's Welcome Home Dinner, Lopez proudly endorsed the theme of "Six More Wins." From that night on, that mantra became the team's goal and focus. On September 12th, 2014, behind the outstanding pitching of Steven Matz and the timely hitting of Jayce Boyd, the B-Mets fulfilled Pedro's dream, achieving that sixth playoff win to bring home the Eastern League Championship. This book not only documents the storybook 2014 season, but also uses the 2014 Binghamton Mets as a backdrop for the hopes of New York Mets fans everywhere, as well as a metaphor for the comeback story of the Greater Binghamton Area. Known as the "Valley of Opportunity" a century ago, the community has seen more than its share of misfortune in the past few decades, ranging from corporate downsizing to devastating flooding. Just as the Binghamton Mets have rebounded from numerous losing seasons before 2013, the Greater Binghamton Area is on the road to recovery. New York Mets fans also have resurgent thoughts, as the pipeline from Binghamton to Flushing continues to flourish. 2014 B-Mets Dilson Herrera, Steven Matz, and Kevin Plawecki are scheduled to arrive at Citi Field in the near future, combining with the talents of such former Binghamton Mets as Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler, and David Wright to raise hopes for a renaissance at Citi Field.

During its 100 years of hosting minor league baseball, Binghamton has been an affiliation of either the Yankees or the Mets for 57 years and the names of the players who have passed through Binghamton and are members of its shrine read like a Who's Who of baseball in New York City, including such notables as Edgardo Alfonzo, Clete Boyer, Whitey Ford, Lefty Gomez, Bobby Jones, "Wee Willie" Keeler, Thurman Munson, Joe Pepitone, Bobby Richardson, Ralph Terry, and Tom Tresh. Some of the other shrine members profiled in the book who achieved national fame in the game include "Wild Bill" Hallahan, Ken Harrelson, Tommy Holmes, umpire and broadcaster Ron Luciano, and Bill Virdon. Over 748 players who have played in Binghamton have gone on to play in the big leagues, with the majority of those playing in the Big Apple! This book profiles the members of Binghamton's Baseball Shrine and also discusses the history of baseball in Binghamton, from the Crickets, to the Bingos, to the Triplets and the current day Double-A team, the Binghamton Mets. The book is full of amusing stories, including the day Ralph Terry strutted like a peacock in Cooperstown, the day Johnny Blanchard hung up the phone when talking with George Weiss, and the day the fiancé of Lefty Gomez flushed his engagement ring down a toilet! Testimonials include: Ralph Terry, star pitcher for the Yankees in the 1960's: "I was 18-years-old when I arrived in Binghamton or my first year in pro ball, with a duffel bag in one hand and a game of Scrabble(R) in the other. This is where it all began and I remember it fondly." Steve Kraly, pitcher for the 1953 World Champion New York Yankees: "I am proud to have called the greater Binghamton area my full-time home since 1956, after I completed my second tour of duty with the Triplets. You'll travel along the historic crossroads of both Binghamton and baseball as you read this book and I trust that a smile will be your companion."