Numbelievable: The Dramatic Stories Behind the Most Memorable Numbers in Sports History (Hardcover)

by Michael X. Ferraro; John Veneziano (Author)
Key Phrases: big red horse, win streak, World Series, Super Bowl, Red Sox (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Nothing shapes the way we think about sports and athletes more than numbers. And that's why sports fans are drawn to them, especially those that signify something special or out of the ordinary. Numbelievable showcases the most extraordinary numbers in all of sports, making it a compelling and highly entertaining look at the numbers that sports fans cherish the most.

From the Publisher
"The crème de la crème can step it up and post incredible statistics in the pursuit of winning. They find a way to get to the winner's circle, to give that extra little push to do the extraordinary. ...Many of these were record-breaking performances. Some of them shattered marks that existed for years and years, and a few of them topped numbers that were considered unreachable until special athletes had other thoughts."--Dick Vitale

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Triumph Books (October 25, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572439904
• ISBN-13: 978-1572439900
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 9.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #673,444 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's About Time!, October 18, 2007

By	Sal Ryder (Hoboken, New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This is by far the best book I've read that compiles all the sports numbers that I've misquoted over the years and finally puts it all out there in an interesting and compelling fashion. We all know the basics; Maris' 61*, Earnhardt #3, DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak. But this book really highlights the little known numbers behind the game that we tend to forget about it or simply didn't know. Well done.

4.0 out of 5 stars This is the one, December 20, 2007

By	A. Christopher (Asheville, NC United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Turns out there are a few different books out there that delve into the wonder of sports numerology. But this is the only one that skillfully negotiates the balance between sports geek trivia and common facts. This is the book for Everyman. (Guys, I wouldn't recommend giving it to your girlfriend or wife, but rest assured you'll be able to get her to read your copy.) You know why you have that No. 18 decal on your SUV (I'm feeling you), but do you know the story of Martina Navratilova's 86-1 season? And what's the story with Philadelphia? The Phillies had the ignominious distinction of losing their 10,000th baseball game this summer, but who outside of Philly knew that decades ago the 76ers made "losers" history, too? As a lifelong sports fan (but far, far, far from being a geek), this is the book I've long waited for to help me be conversational with sports geeks.

4.0 out of 5 stars By The Numbers, November 6, 2007

By	Dean Ellis (New Orleans, LA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

What many sports books lack is perspective; they get lost beneath the hype of their own premise. What one looks for as a true fan of sports history is what REALLY happened, not what we remember, or what we have been told to remember. This book takes those well-remembered moments and not only places them in the perspective of the time they occurred, but brings us all the forgotten particulars of the actual event. The midget Eddie Gaedel, for example, did not walk in the winning run of a vital game (he appeared in the first inning of the second game of a meaningless doubleheader); Roger Maris had other great seasons besides 1961, and Wilt the Stilt's historic 100-point game was aided by a remarkable 28 for 32 at the free throw line. Written with authority and humor, this book has the "je ne say hey" that all true sports buffs crave. It seems the perfect solution to the annual "what should I get Dad this year for Christmas" quandary.