H.G. Bissinger

Named Sports Illustrated' s best football book of all time and a #1 NYT bestseller, this is the classic story of a high school football team whose win-loss record has a profound influence on the town around them.Return once again to the timeless account of the Permian Panthers of Odessa -- the winningest high-school football team in Texas history. Socially and racially divided, Odessa isn't known to be a place big on dreams, but every Friday night from September to December, when the Panthers play football, dreams can come true.With frankness and compassion, Pulitzer Prize winner H. G. Bissinger unforgettably captures a season in the life of Odessa and shows how single-minded devotion to the team shapes the community and inspires -- and sometimes shatters -- the teenagers who wear the Panthers' uniforms.The inspiration for the hit television program and film of the same name, this anniversary edition features a new afterword by the author.

In The Classic Mantle, acclaimed sportswriter Buzz Bissinger tells the story of Mickey Mantle’s unforgettable career. Mantle has long been considered one of baseball’s most memorable figures—playing his entire 18-year baseball career for the New York Yankees (1951–68), winning 3 American League MVP titles, playing in 20 All-Star games, and winning 7 World Series. Today, more than 40 years after his retirement, he still holds 6 World Series records, including most home runs (18). Bissinger goes beyond the statistics to bring Mantle to life, and stunning photographs by Marvin E. Newman make this book a fitting tribute to Mantle’s career and his lasting impact on the sport of baseball. Praise for The Classic Mantle: “Even if you're a Yankee hater, you can't help but love this book—and Mickey Mantle.” —The Buffalo News