The Eagles Encyclopedia [Hardcover]

Ray Didinger (Author), Robert Lyons (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 28, 2005

No team in Philadelphia pulls on the hearts and minds of its fans more than the Eagles. From Bert Bell to Earle 'Greasy' Neale to Andy Reid, from Sonny Jurgensen to Norm Van Brocklin, to Ron Jaworski, to Randall Cunningham to Donovan McNabb, the fans of the Philadelphia Eagles now have the complete history of the team in their hands. In these pages, we read about the greatest moments in Eagles history, and of the men who helped found the team and create modern football. The book brings to life Bert Bell, who bought the franchise of the defunct Frankford Yellow jackets and renamed the team after the symbol of Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal, and who later became the NFL's commissioner and invented the college draft.We follow the season-by-season play of the team, whose first winning record was the season when the Eagles and Steelers merged due to manpower shortages during WWII. And more than anything, we revel in the years of triumph: the Duffel Bag Dynasty, when the Eagles went to three consecutive NFL championship games, and won two back to back; the 1960 title victory against the Green Bay Packers; the first Superbowl appearance in 1980; and the magical opening of the 21st century, which has seen four consecutive NFC championship games and the team's return to the Superbowl. Written by "Football Hall of Fame" writer Ray Didinger and acclaimed local sports history Robery S. Lyons, "The Eagles Enyclopedia" is an indispensible year by year guidebook for every fan of one of football's most storied franchises.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The book is packed with detailed accounts of the greatest moments in the franchise's history." NFL.com

From the Publisher

The first comprehensive history of the Philadelphia Eagles

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Temple University Press (September 28, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592134491
• ISBN-13: 978-1592134496
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #738,090 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best money I ever spent!, October 2, 2005

By 

Richard Davis (West Chester, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Eagles Encyclopedia (Hardcover)

Ray Didinger has always been my favorite Philadelphia Eagles sports writer. I couldn't wait to read his articles. His stories made the whole game that much better. He knows the team, the history, and takes you into the locker room of every Eagles team and the key players that we all know and remember.

If the Eagles lost, he captured how we felt and expressed our thoughts for us, and when they won his writings made the celebration all the more fun.

Mr. Didinger is the ultimate authority on the Eagles and his style makes every story in this encyclopedia most enjoyable. As a die-hard Eagles fan this was the best money I've ever spent.

I especially love the stories about Chuck Bednarik and Tommy McDonald. Didinger also includes great insight behind the stadiums, Franklin Field, Vet Stadium and now the Linc.

It's all here, all the great postseason games, the strange and unusual things that have come and gone with the Eagles and he brings us right up to the present day Eagles lead by the heroic Donovan McNabb, Brian Dawkins, Brian Westbrook, and T.O. Chock full of statistics too.

And he descibes what it's like to be an Eagle's Fan, how crazy and passionate we are, like only he can. He knows this city, this team, these fans, our dreams, our frustrations and our hopes.

I can't say enough good things. It compliments the "The Complete History of the Eagles" DVD (which came out about a year ago). This book is a lively page-turner and a real treasure for us fans.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eagles Encyclopedia, October 16, 2005

By 

Lazar H. Kleit "Lazar" (Philadelphia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Eagles Encyclopedia (Hardcover)

Great book. Well conceived and well written. Excellent production. Every NFL franchise should have one.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, September 16, 2005

By 

Kenneth Haltom (Dover, DE United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Eagles Encyclopedia (Hardcover)

Ray Didinger and Robert S. Lyons have written an outstanding history of the Eagles in encyclopedia form. The book is well organized and written. It packed full of facts and data covering players, seasons and the front office. The book will bring the fan back alot of memories. I highly recommend it.