Kris Rutherford: 4 books

At the close of the nineteenth century, railroad expansion in Texas at once shrank the state and expanded opportunities, including that of Texas League Baseball. Previously, the major cities monopolized Texas minor-league ball, but with the rails came small-town teams without which the league may have...

Galveston survived the Great Depression with a healthy dose of baseball, boll weevils and bootleg business. Farmers like future Galveston Buccaneers star Buck Fausett fled the insect infestation of North Texas for the city's sunny shores along with throngs of visitors eager to visit Sam Maceo's clubs...

Blake Creekmore just cost his middle-school basketball team its shot at the district championship—and hes not even on the team. Blake would much rather be at a Boy Scout meeting than any sporting event. He convinces his best friend Dustin, the schools star athlete, to join him in an afternoon on the...

Chad Griffin can't hit a baseball to save his life. When he steps up to home plate, he usually leaves after the umpire shouts, "Strike Three!" He always bats in the same spot for the Rangers—ninth—the worst hitter on the team. Even worse, he falls short of his dad's high expectations. But when the...