The Shift
The Business of Baseball at the Youth-High School and Professional Level
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Prime members: New to Audible?Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
The Shift
Buy for $6.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Matt Gajtka
-
By:
-
Walter Beede
About this listen
From The Shift:
In my early years as a college coach, while out recruiting several local American Legion and Senior Babe Ruth tournaments, I began to hear about these “AAU” travel baseball tournaments. This was truly the very beginning of hearing that term, travel baseball. I was told these teams were made up of the best players from all over New England. As I began to scout and evaluate athletes at these various tournaments, it was clear they were. Attending travel baseball tournaments suddenly became part of my recruiting. As both a college head coach and a father, I could see my sons were going to be exposed to a different path than I had been. What I did not know is that events were already taking place that would make their baseball journeys, and the journeys of so many millions of boys, radically different than the one I experienced.
The business of baseball has grown to become a four-billion-dollar industry. Young athletes and their families have become commodities for venture capitalists and larger, nationally known franchise travel programs. The hamster wheel of baseball is perennial and shows no signs of slowing down. On top of that, the MLB and college baseball worlds have changed dramatically, and those changes have affected youth baseball at all age groups. This is The Shift, where “for the love of the game” has given way to an exclusive world of wealth and greed. Learn about it from someone who has lived it as a coach, mentor, and most importantly, as a father.
©2022 Walter Beede (P)2022 Walter BeedeListeners also enjoyed...
-
The Process
- A Family's Guide to Developing College Ready Recruits from Little League through High School
- By: Walter Beede
- Narrated by: Brad Parsons
- Length: 4 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 37
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 36
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 35
Written by former a NCAA head coach and most importantly a baseball dad, The Process shares with you what it takes to get there from little league ages through high school. Walter is a baseball dad who played and coached for the last 40 years and helped develop both of his sons to play in college and helped his son Tyler play for the San Francisco Giants. Having lived through the entire process as a student athlete, college head coach, and father, Walter knows what matters most for your child.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Amazing insights to youth baseball and beyond
- By Scott Storey on 06-29-24
By: Walter Beede
-
The Recruiting Process
- A Baseball Recruiting Guidebook for High School Players and Their Families
- By: Walter Beede, Butch Baccala
- Narrated by: Matt Gajtka
- Length: 2 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 1
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 1
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 1
It's easy to get overwhelmed in a sea of travel ball schedules, competition, triumphs, and failures before you get there. After all, the road toward getting recruited is a long and bumpy one. With that in mind, make sure you get your information right with The Recruiting Process: A Baseball Recruiting Guide for High School Players and Their Families by Walter Beede and Butch Baccala. Written to help student-athletes navigate through the entire process—this guide serves to supplement your understanding of the different divisions you can play in.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A Great Addition to The Process
- By R. P. on 10-25-22
By: Walter Beede, and others
-
Fun over Fear
- Myths and Realities of Youth Baseball. Ages 3-9
- By: Walter A. Beede
- Narrated by: Frank Gerard
- Length: 2 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 23
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 23
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 23
As the parent of two sons who went on to play baseball in college as well as a former head baseball coach at the NCAA level, I want to share alternatives with parents that will allow their children to avoid the anxiety and stress that many face within the overstructured and overorganized world of travel baseball. The hamster wheel of travel ball is a business model and not a baseball development model. For kids, baseball should be all about one thing—having fun! We play it as kids, watch and listen to it as adults, and pass down our love of it through generations.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Tons of things I didn't know before
- By hudlocke on 05-20-22
By: Walter A. Beede
-
The Matheny Manifesto
- A Young Manager's Old-School Views on Success in Sports and Life
- By: Mike Matheny, Jerry B. Jenkins
- Narrated by: Mark Deakins
- Length: 5 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 869
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 763
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 759
Mike Matheny was just 41, without professional managerial experience and looking for a next step after a successful career as a Major League catcher, when he succeeded the legendary Tony La Russa as manager of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2012. While Matheny has enjoyed immediate success, leading the Cards to the postseason three times in his first three years, people have noticed something else about his life, something not measured in day-to-day results.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
If your a youth coach, get this book
- By Brady on 12-11-15
By: Mike Matheny, and others
-
Baseball Genius
- By: Tim Green, Derek Jeter
- Narrated by: Aden Hakimi
- Length: 5 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 110
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 99
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 97
Jalen DeLuca loves baseball. Unfortunately his dad can't afford to keep him on the travel team. His dad runs a diner and makes enough to cover the bills, but there isn't enough to cover any extras. So Jalen decides to take matters into his own hands, and he sneaks into the home of the New York Yankees' star second baseman, James Yager, and steals a couple of balls from his personal batting cage. He knows that if he can sell them, he'll be able to keep himself on the team.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
great listening for the whole family
- By Kathryn on 03-19-17
By: Tim Green, and others
-
The Science of Hitting
- By: Ted Williams, John Underwood
- Narrated by: Angelo Di Loreto
- Length: 2 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 106
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 87
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 86
Ted Williams was arguably the greatest pure hitter who ever lived. A lifelong student of hitting, he sought advice from every great hitter - and pitcher - he met. Drawing on that advice, as well as his own legendary life in baseball, Williams produced the all-time batting classic, The Science of Hitting. Using its detailed and concise coaching, players of all skill levels will learn how to improve their fundamentals and gain keen insights into the finer points of hitting.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Excellent take on hitting
- By Josh Watson on 07-22-24
By: Ted Williams, and others
-
The Process
- A Family's Guide to Developing College Ready Recruits from Little League through High School
- By: Walter Beede
- Narrated by: Brad Parsons
- Length: 4 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 37
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 36
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 35
Written by former a NCAA head coach and most importantly a baseball dad, The Process shares with you what it takes to get there from little league ages through high school. Walter is a baseball dad who played and coached for the last 40 years and helped develop both of his sons to play in college and helped his son Tyler play for the San Francisco Giants. Having lived through the entire process as a student athlete, college head coach, and father, Walter knows what matters most for your child.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Amazing insights to youth baseball and beyond
- By Scott Storey on 06-29-24
By: Walter Beede
-
The Recruiting Process
- A Baseball Recruiting Guidebook for High School Players and Their Families
- By: Walter Beede, Butch Baccala
- Narrated by: Matt Gajtka
- Length: 2 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 1
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 1
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 1
It's easy to get overwhelmed in a sea of travel ball schedules, competition, triumphs, and failures before you get there. After all, the road toward getting recruited is a long and bumpy one. With that in mind, make sure you get your information right with The Recruiting Process: A Baseball Recruiting Guide for High School Players and Their Families by Walter Beede and Butch Baccala. Written to help student-athletes navigate through the entire process—this guide serves to supplement your understanding of the different divisions you can play in.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A Great Addition to The Process
- By R. P. on 10-25-22
By: Walter Beede, and others
-
Fun over Fear
- Myths and Realities of Youth Baseball. Ages 3-9
- By: Walter A. Beede
- Narrated by: Frank Gerard
- Length: 2 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 23
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 23
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 23
As the parent of two sons who went on to play baseball in college as well as a former head baseball coach at the NCAA level, I want to share alternatives with parents that will allow their children to avoid the anxiety and stress that many face within the overstructured and overorganized world of travel baseball. The hamster wheel of travel ball is a business model and not a baseball development model. For kids, baseball should be all about one thing—having fun! We play it as kids, watch and listen to it as adults, and pass down our love of it through generations.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Tons of things I didn't know before
- By hudlocke on 05-20-22
By: Walter A. Beede
-
The Matheny Manifesto
- A Young Manager's Old-School Views on Success in Sports and Life
- By: Mike Matheny, Jerry B. Jenkins
- Narrated by: Mark Deakins
- Length: 5 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 869
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 763
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 759
Mike Matheny was just 41, without professional managerial experience and looking for a next step after a successful career as a Major League catcher, when he succeeded the legendary Tony La Russa as manager of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2012. While Matheny has enjoyed immediate success, leading the Cards to the postseason three times in his first three years, people have noticed something else about his life, something not measured in day-to-day results.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
If your a youth coach, get this book
- By Brady on 12-11-15
By: Mike Matheny, and others
-
Baseball Genius
- By: Tim Green, Derek Jeter
- Narrated by: Aden Hakimi
- Length: 5 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 110
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 99
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 97
Jalen DeLuca loves baseball. Unfortunately his dad can't afford to keep him on the travel team. His dad runs a diner and makes enough to cover the bills, but there isn't enough to cover any extras. So Jalen decides to take matters into his own hands, and he sneaks into the home of the New York Yankees' star second baseman, James Yager, and steals a couple of balls from his personal batting cage. He knows that if he can sell them, he'll be able to keep himself on the team.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
great listening for the whole family
- By Kathryn on 03-19-17
By: Tim Green, and others
-
The Science of Hitting
- By: Ted Williams, John Underwood
- Narrated by: Angelo Di Loreto
- Length: 2 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 106
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 87
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 86
Ted Williams was arguably the greatest pure hitter who ever lived. A lifelong student of hitting, he sought advice from every great hitter - and pitcher - he met. Drawing on that advice, as well as his own legendary life in baseball, Williams produced the all-time batting classic, The Science of Hitting. Using its detailed and concise coaching, players of all skill levels will learn how to improve their fundamentals and gain keen insights into the finer points of hitting.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Excellent take on hitting
- By Josh Watson on 07-22-24
By: Ted Williams, and others
-
Ninety Percent Mental
- By: Bob Tewksbury, Scott Miller
- Narrated by: Bob Tewksbury
- Length: 7 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 339
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 296
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 293
In Ninety Percent Mental, Bob Tewksbury shows listeners a side of the game only he can provide, given his singular background as both a longtime MLB pitcher and a mental skills coach for two of the sport's most fabled franchises, the Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants. Fans watching the game on television or even at the stadium don't have access to the mind games a pitcher must play in order to get through an at-bat, an inning, a game.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Unique and fascinating perspective
- By elizabeth on 04-11-18
By: Bob Tewksbury, and others
-
Moneyball
- The Art of Winning an Unfair Game
- By: Michael Lewis
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 10 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 5,975
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 5,178
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 5,177
Moneyball reveals a quest for something as elusive as the Holy Grail, something that money apparently can't buy: the secret of success in baseball. The logical places to look would be the giant offices of major league teams and the dugouts. But the real jackpot is a cache of numbers collected over the years by a strange brotherhood of amateur baseball enthusiasts: software engineers, statisticians, Wall Street analysts, lawyers, and physics professors.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Excellent Book, Outstanding Narration, Sloppy Edit
- By Dirk Turgid on 03-05-12
By: Michael Lewis
-
The Last Folk Hero
- The Life and Myth of Bo Jackson
- By: Jeff Pearlman
- Narrated by: JD Jackson
- Length: 22 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 411
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 369
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 369
From the mid-1980s into the early 1990s, the greatest athlete of all time streaked across American sports and popular culture. Stadiums struggled to contain him. Clocks failed to capture his speed. His strength was legendary. His power unmatched. Video game makers turned him into an invincible character—and they were dead-on. He climbed (and walked across) walls, splintered baseball bats over his knee, turned oncoming tacklers into ground meat.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
If you are a sports fan and over 35 years old, you have to listen/read this. Awesome!
- By betty sammons on 06-29-23
By: Jeff Pearlman
-
The Talent Code
- Greatness Isn't Born. It's Grown. Here's How.
- By: Daniel Coyle
- Narrated by: John Farrell
- Length: 6 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,700
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,415
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,406
Drawing on cutting-edge neurology and firsthand research gathered on journeys to nine of the world’s talent hotbeds - from the baseball fields of the Caribbean to a classical-music academy in upstate New York - Coyle identifies the three key elements that will allow you to develop your gifts and optimize your performance in sports, art, music, math, or just about anything.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Okay read. Won’t read a second time
- By Chad J Guidry on 08-18-20
By: Daniel Coyle
-
Heads-Up Baseball 2.0: 5 Skills for Competing One Pitch at a Time
- By: Dr. Ken Ravizza, Dr. Tin Hanson
- Narrated by: Michael Haytack
- Length: 7 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 63
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 49
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 50
Join more than 145,000 players and coaches who have found playing heads-up baseball helps them overcome the failure, frustration, and fear the game throws at you each day and instead play with confidence, consistency, and composure under pressure. Talent, strength, and great mechanics don't matter if you can't compete in games. Developed by working with elite players and coaches over the past 40 years, the strategies and tools in this audiobook (an "upgrade" to the classic 1994 edition) arm you with the approach you need to find out how good you can be at baseball.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Solid work. Good food for the brain.
- By Jeff Cooper on 01-02-21
By: Dr. Ken Ravizza, and others
-
Straight Shooter
- A Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes
- By: Stephen A. Smith
- Narrated by: Stephen A. Smith
- Length: 8 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 1,640
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 1,473
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 1,466
Stephen A. Smith has never been handed anything, nor was he an overnight success. Growing up poor in Queens, the son of Caribbean immigrants and the youngest of six children, he was a sports-obsessed kid who faced struggles, from undiagnosed dyslexia to getting enough cereal to fill his bowl. As a basketball player at Winston-Salem State University, he got a glimmer of his true calling when he wrote a newspaper column arguing for the retirement of his own Hall of Fame coach, Clarence Gaines.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Trash🗑
- By Maurice Davis on 01-25-23
By: Stephen A. Smith
-
Mental Toughness for Young Athletes
- Eight Proven 5-Minute Mindset Exercises for Kids and Teens Who Play Competitive Sports
- By: Troy Horne, Moses Horne
- Narrated by: Moses Horne
- Length: 3 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 108
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 86
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 86
Moses and Troy Horne here. Your mental-toughness guides! We know exactly how you feel. If you are reading this, you probably have a young athlete who struggles with in-game stress and maybe even sports performance anxiety. That is why this version was mostly written by Moses. As of the time of the writing of this book, Moses Horne is a 15-year-old elite athlete who can talk directly about the triumphs and struggles of working toward being mentally tough. This is the only book that I know of with input from an actual young athlete.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Great for the young elite athlete
- By Rhonda Connally on 04-22-21
By: Troy Horne, and others
-
The Challenger Sale
- Taking Control of the Customer Conversation
- By: Matthew Dixon, Brent Adamson
- Narrated by: Matthew Dixon, Brent Adamson
- Length: 5 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,037
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 787
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 778
The need to understand what top-performing reps are doing that their average performing colleagues are not drove Matthew Dixon, Brent Adamson, and their colleagues at Corporate Executive Board to investigate the skills, behaviors, knowledge, and attitudes that matter most for high performance. And what they discovered may be the biggest shock to conventional sales wisdom in decades.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Bellow average book
- By Elias Karráa on 08-11-19
By: Matthew Dixon, and others
-
Ball Four
- The Final Pitch
- By: Jim Bouton
- Narrated by: Jim Bouton
- Length: 18 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,859
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,623
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,619
When Ball Four was published in 1970, it created a firestorm. Bouton was called a Judas, a Benedict Arnold and a “social leper” for having violated the “sanctity of the clubhouse.” Baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn tried to force Bouton to sign a statement saying the book wasn’t true. Ballplayers, most of whom hadn’t read it, denounced the book. It was even banned by a few libraries. Almost everyone else, however, loved Ball Four.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Three Ten Year Updates Give Bouton a 5th Star
- By Byron on 08-09-12
By: Jim Bouton
-
Mental Toughness for Young Athletes (Parent's Guide)
- Eight Proven 5-Minute Mindset Exercises for Kids and Teens Who Play Competitive Sports
- By: Troy Horne, Moses Horne
- Narrated by: Troy Horne
- Length: 3 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 240
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 213
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 214
Troy Horne here. Your mental-toughness guide! I am here to help parents understand how to help your young athlete navigate this mental-toughness journey. I know where you are, and I know how to help you help your young athlete find their mental toughness.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Poorly written, poorly performed
- By S. DeZeeuw on 03-31-21
By: Troy Horne, and others
-
The Baseball Player’s Guide to Hitting Like a Pro
- Science Based Techniques to Master the Fundamentals and Mental Side of Hitting
- By: Roy Lingster
- Narrated by: Warren Sandwell
- Length: 2 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 54
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 47
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 47
Every good hitter is fighting a battle.... Do you know what yours is and how to turn it to your advantage on the field? Three out of every four appearances at the plate result in an out. You probably know this...so why are you doubting your skills? To hit like a pro, you need to think like a pro - and that means mastering a specific mental attitude as well as your physical technique.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Very Helpful for My Son
- By Amanda Shertzer on 06-07-22
By: Roy Lingster
-
The Arm
- Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Thing in Sports
- By: Jeff Passan
- Narrated by: Kevin Pierce
- Length: 12 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 656
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 580
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 579
Yahoo's lead baseball columnist offers an in-depth look at the most valuable commodity in sports - the pitching arm - and how its vulnerability to injury is hurting players and the game, from Little League to the majors.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A MUST READ for every youth baseball parent and coach
- By Casey Fitzsimons on 05-29-16
By: Jeff Passan
Related to this topic
-
Boys Among Men
- How the Prep-to-Pro Generation Redefined the NBA and Sparked a Basketball Revolution
- By: Jonathan Abrams
- Narrated by: Mirron Willis
- Length: 11 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 86
-
Performance3.5 out of 5 stars 81
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 81
When Kevin Garnett shocked the world by announcing that he would not be attending college - as young basketball prodigies were expected to do - but instead would enter the 1995 NBA draft directly from high school, he blazed a trail for a generation of teenage basketball players to head straight for the pros. That trend would continue until the NBA instituted an age limit in 2005, requiring all players to attend college or another developmental program for at least one year.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Bad pronunciation
- By K. Spearman on 07-03-16
By: Jonathan Abrams
-
Homegrown
- How the Red Sox Built a Champion from the Ground Up
- By: Alex Speier
- Narrated by: George Newbern
- Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 77
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 70
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 70
The 2018 season was a coronation for the Boston Red Sox. The best team in Major League Baseball - indeed, one of the best teams ever - the Sox won 108 regular season games and then romped through the postseason, going 11-3 against the three next-strongest teams baseball had to offer. As Alex Speier reveals, the Sox’ success wasn’t a fluke - nor was it guaranteed. It was the result of careful, patient planning and shrewd decision-making that allowed Boston to develop a golden generation of prospects - and then build upon that talented core to assemble a juggernaut.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Great read if you like the Red Sox or baseball ops
- By Amazon Customer on 01-11-20
By: Alex Speier
-
The Extra 2%
- How Wall Street Strategies Took a Major League Baseball Team from Worst to First
- By: Jonah Keri
- Narrated by: Lloyd James
- Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 217
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 181
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 182
In The Extra 2%, financial journalist and sportswriter Jonah Keri chronicles the remarkable story of one team's Cinderella journey from divisional doormat to World Series contender. By quantifying the game's intangibles, they were able to deliver to Tampa Bay an American League pennant. This is an informative and entertaining case study for any organization that wants to go from worst to first.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
No Strategies or Insight
- By Victor Luera on 10-11-12
By: Jonah Keri
-
The Baseball Whisperer
- A Small-Town Coach Who Shaped Big League Dreams
- By: Michael Tackett
- Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain
- Length: 8 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 38
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 32
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 32
Clarinda, Iowa, population 5,000, sits two hours from anything. There, between the cornfields and hog yards, is a ball field with a bronze bust of a man named Merl Eberly, a baseball whisperer who specialized in second chances and lost causes. The statue was a gift from one of Merl's original long-shot projects, a skinny kid from the ghetto in Los Angeles who would one day become a beloved Hall of Fame shortstop: Ozzie Smith.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Great book!
- By zane Butler on 08-13-21
By: Michael Tackett
-
Players
- The Story of Sports and Money - and the Visionaries Who Fought to Create a Revolution
- By: Matthew Futterman
- Narrated by: George Newbern
- Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 47
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 43
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 43
For fans of Michael Lewis, the astounding untold story of how professional sports transformed, in the span of a single generation, from a cottage industry into a massive global business. In the cash-soaked world of contemporary sports, where every season brings news of higher salaries, endorsement deals, and television contracts, it is mind-boggling to remember that as recently as the 1970s elite athletes earned so little money that many were forced to work second jobs in the off-season to make ends meet.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Starts slow...
- By John on 08-09-16
-
Until It Hurts
- America’s Obsession with Youth Sports and How It Harms Our Kids
- By: Mark Hyman
- Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain
- Length: 5 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 34
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 28
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 28
Every year, more than 3.5 million children under age 15 require medical treatment for sports injuries, nearly half of which are the result of simple overuse. Journalist Mark Hyman investigates the evolution of youth sports from mere games to full-on quests to turn children into tomorrow's superstar athletes by pushing them beyond physical and emotional limits. Opening up a crucial discussion about the perils of youth-sports culture today, Hyman offers the solutions and answers we need.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Are We Pushing Young Athletes Too Far?
- By Susie on 01-04-13
By: Mark Hyman
-
Boys Among Men
- How the Prep-to-Pro Generation Redefined the NBA and Sparked a Basketball Revolution
- By: Jonathan Abrams
- Narrated by: Mirron Willis
- Length: 11 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 86
-
Performance3.5 out of 5 stars 81
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 81
When Kevin Garnett shocked the world by announcing that he would not be attending college - as young basketball prodigies were expected to do - but instead would enter the 1995 NBA draft directly from high school, he blazed a trail for a generation of teenage basketball players to head straight for the pros. That trend would continue until the NBA instituted an age limit in 2005, requiring all players to attend college or another developmental program for at least one year.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Bad pronunciation
- By K. Spearman on 07-03-16
By: Jonathan Abrams
-
Homegrown
- How the Red Sox Built a Champion from the Ground Up
- By: Alex Speier
- Narrated by: George Newbern
- Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 77
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 70
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 70
The 2018 season was a coronation for the Boston Red Sox. The best team in Major League Baseball - indeed, one of the best teams ever - the Sox won 108 regular season games and then romped through the postseason, going 11-3 against the three next-strongest teams baseball had to offer. As Alex Speier reveals, the Sox’ success wasn’t a fluke - nor was it guaranteed. It was the result of careful, patient planning and shrewd decision-making that allowed Boston to develop a golden generation of prospects - and then build upon that talented core to assemble a juggernaut.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Great read if you like the Red Sox or baseball ops
- By Amazon Customer on 01-11-20
By: Alex Speier
-
The Extra 2%
- How Wall Street Strategies Took a Major League Baseball Team from Worst to First
- By: Jonah Keri
- Narrated by: Lloyd James
- Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 217
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 181
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 182
In The Extra 2%, financial journalist and sportswriter Jonah Keri chronicles the remarkable story of one team's Cinderella journey from divisional doormat to World Series contender. By quantifying the game's intangibles, they were able to deliver to Tampa Bay an American League pennant. This is an informative and entertaining case study for any organization that wants to go from worst to first.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
No Strategies or Insight
- By Victor Luera on 10-11-12
By: Jonah Keri
-
The Baseball Whisperer
- A Small-Town Coach Who Shaped Big League Dreams
- By: Michael Tackett
- Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain
- Length: 8 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 38
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 32
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 32
Clarinda, Iowa, population 5,000, sits two hours from anything. There, between the cornfields and hog yards, is a ball field with a bronze bust of a man named Merl Eberly, a baseball whisperer who specialized in second chances and lost causes. The statue was a gift from one of Merl's original long-shot projects, a skinny kid from the ghetto in Los Angeles who would one day become a beloved Hall of Fame shortstop: Ozzie Smith.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Great book!
- By zane Butler on 08-13-21
By: Michael Tackett
-
Players
- The Story of Sports and Money - and the Visionaries Who Fought to Create a Revolution
- By: Matthew Futterman
- Narrated by: George Newbern
- Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 47
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 43
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 43
For fans of Michael Lewis, the astounding untold story of how professional sports transformed, in the span of a single generation, from a cottage industry into a massive global business. In the cash-soaked world of contemporary sports, where every season brings news of higher salaries, endorsement deals, and television contracts, it is mind-boggling to remember that as recently as the 1970s elite athletes earned so little money that many were forced to work second jobs in the off-season to make ends meet.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Starts slow...
- By John on 08-09-16
-
Until It Hurts
- America’s Obsession with Youth Sports and How It Harms Our Kids
- By: Mark Hyman
- Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain
- Length: 5 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 34
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 28
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 28
Every year, more than 3.5 million children under age 15 require medical treatment for sports injuries, nearly half of which are the result of simple overuse. Journalist Mark Hyman investigates the evolution of youth sports from mere games to full-on quests to turn children into tomorrow's superstar athletes by pushing them beyond physical and emotional limits. Opening up a crucial discussion about the perils of youth-sports culture today, Hyman offers the solutions and answers we need.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Are We Pushing Young Athletes Too Far?
- By Susie on 01-04-13
By: Mark Hyman
-
You Herd Me!
- I'll Say It If Nobody Else Will
- By: Colin Cowherd
- Narrated by: Colin Cowherd
- Length: 7 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 506
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 459
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 457
In this age of billion dollar athletic marketing campaigns, “feel good” philosophy with no connection to reality, and a Sports Media echo chamber that’s all too eager swallow whatever idiotic notion happens to be in vogue at the moment, it’s tough to find people who aren’t afraid to say what they’re really thinking.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Great book, Repeats majority of themes from radio
- By Troy on 01-20-14
By: Colin Cowherd
-
The QB
- The Making of Modern Quarterbacks
- By: Bruce Feldman
- Narrated by: Corey M. Snow
- Length: 10 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 105
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 88
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 92
The QB tells the story of the interlocking paths of the most fascinating characters involved in this secretive world, examining how advanced analysis has taken root in football. Manziel's portrait is the most intimate look at him yet, detailing all his talents and antics. In The QB, the stories of these men illustrate how high the stakes of the quarterback's game really are, taking readers on a compelling journey into the heart of America's beloved game.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Interesting and entertaining
- By R. Koehler on 02-25-15
By: Bruce Feldman
-
Tanking to the Top
- The Philadelphia 76ers and the Most Audacious Process in the History of Professional Sports
- By: Yaron Weitzman
- Narrated by: Yaron Weitzman
- Length: 9 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 183
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 155
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 154
When a group of private equity bigwigs purchased the Philadelphia 76ers in 2011, the team was both bad and boring. Attendance was down. So were ratings. The Sixers had an aging coach, an antiquated front office, and a group of players that could best be described as mediocre. Enter Sam Hinkie - a man with a plan straight out of the PE playbook, one that violated professional sports' Golden Rule: You play to win the game.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Great history of tanking by Sixers
- By Alan Bernstein on 03-11-23
By: Yaron Weitzman
-
Raise a Fist, Take a Knee
- Race and the Illusion of Progress in Modern Sports
- By: John Feinstein, Doug Williams
- Narrated by: John Feinstein
- Length: 10 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 92
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 82
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 80
Based on dozens of shocking interviews with some of the most influential names in sports, this is the urgent and revelatory examination of racial inequality in professional athletics America has been waiting for. With an encyclopedic knowledge of professional sports, and shrewd cultural criticism, John Feinstein uncovers not just why, but how, pro sports continue to perpetuate racial inequality.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Another Feinstein triumph
- By Glenn Canning on 12-06-21
By: John Feinstein, and others
-
Scribe
- My Life in Sports
- By: Bob Ryan
- Narrated by: Bob Ryan
- Length: 11 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 83
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 73
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 75
Ever since he joined the sports department of the Boston Globe in 1968, sports enthusiasts have been blessed with the writing and reporting of Bob Ryan. Tony Kornheiser calls him the "quintessential American sportswriter". For the past 25 years, he has also been a regular on various ESPN shows, especially The Sports Reporters, spreading his knowledge and enthusiasm for sports of all kinds.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
No my idea of a memoir
- By Michael Friedman on 12-19-14
By: Bob Ryan
-
Saban
- The Making of a Coach
- By: Monte Burke
- Narrated by: Barry Abrams
- Length: 12 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 452
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 398
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 397
As the head coach of the University of Alabama's football team, Nick Saban is perhaps the most influential - and controversial - man in the sport. Unpredictable in his professional loyalties, uncompromising in his vision, and unyielding in his pursuit of perfection, the highest-paid coach in college football has changed the face of the game. His program-building vision has delivered packed stadiums, rabid fans, legions of detractors, countless NFL draft picks, and a total of four championships.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Narrator is awful.
- By kenneth on 08-12-15
By: Monte Burke
-
The Breaks of the Game
- By: David Halberstam
- Narrated by: Brian Troxell
- Length: 17 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 316
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 278
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 277
A New York Times best seller, David Halberstam's The Breaks of the Game focuses on one grim season (1979-80) in the life of the Bill Walton-led Portland Trail Blazers, a team that only three years before had been NBA champions. The tactile authenticity of Halberstam's knowledge of the basketball world is unrivaled. Yet he is writing here about far more than just basketball. This is a story about a place in our society where power, money, and talent collide and sometimes corrupt, a place where both national obsessions and naked greed are exposed.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
This book is a must read for all NBA junkies.
- By Kyle on 06-13-18
By: David Halberstam
-
How Champions Think
- In Sports and in Life
- By: Dr. Bob Rotella
- Narrated by: Dr. Bob Rotella
- Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,385
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,187
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,176
From best-selling author Bob Rotella, America's preeminent sports psychologist, a groundbreaking guide to success in all aspects of life - not just sports - from business to relationships to personal challenges of every variety.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A good purchase.
- By H. Peterson on 04-24-19
By: Dr. Bob Rotella
-
Attitude
- Develop a Winning Mindset on and off the Court
- By: Jay Wright, Michael Sheridan, Mark Dagostino, and others
- Narrated by: Michael Sheridan
- Length: 10 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 206
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 178
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 175
In this behind-the-scenes look at the making of a champion, the coach of the Villanova University men's basketball team shares his competitive and cooperative philosophy along with lessons from his coaching career and the story of his personal road to success.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Nova Nation !
- By Anonymous on 11-16-17
By: Jay Wright, and others
-
Dollar Sign on the Muscle
- The World of Baseball Scouting
- By: Kevin Kerrane
- Narrated by: Patrick Kerrane
- Length: 12 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 50
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 46
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 46
Humorous case histories and profiles of great baseball scouts accompany a discussion of the trade secrets of baseball scouts, the economics of scouting, player development, and the history of the profession. In a new epilogue Kevin Kerrane explores the world of baseball scouting in the late 1990s.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Good for diehards, but dated and riddled w errors
- By Kindle Customer on 03-02-17
By: Kevin Kerrane
-
Curveball
- How I Discovered True Fulfillment After Chasing Fortune and Fame
- By: Barry Zito, Robert Noland
- Narrated by: Barry Zito
- Length: 7 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 159
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 140
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 140
In 2007, pitcher Barry Zito signed a seven-year, $126 million contract with the San Francisco Giants. At that time, it was the largest contract ever given to a pitcher. He was at the top of his game, in peak physical condition, and had the kind of financial security most people can only dream of. He was also miserable. And it began to show. Zito's career declined over the next few years until he hit rock bottom - watching from the bench as his team won the World Series in 2010. In Curveball, Zito shares his story with honesty and transparency.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
The Seeker
- By Gary T. on 11-14-19
By: Barry Zito, and others
-
Russell Rules
- 11 Lessons on Leadership from the 20th Century's Greatest Winner
- By: Bill Russell, David Falkner
- Narrated by: Rif Hutton
- Length: 4 hrs and 43 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 35
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 26
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 25
Bill Russell has been hailed as the greatest team player of the 20th century. As a five-time NBA Most Valuable Player, he is one of the most important basketball players ever, and with 11 championships as player and coach of the Boston Celtics, he is one of basketball's greatest winners. Russell Rules offers inspiring lessons on commitment, personal integrity, team ego, and craftsmanship that are as relevant to the entrepreneur or parent as they are to the athlete.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Clear & Concise but with Depth
- By Kenneth Downing on 12-18-23
By: Bill Russell, and others
What listeners say about The Shift
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- R. P.
- 12-29-23
Essential Reading for Baseball Families
Coach Beede is probably the best resource in the country for youth baseball players and their families. His love, knowledge, and experience, in the game, combined with his passion for helping others, makes him the go-to source for us as we attempt to guide our son through baseball and adolescence.
The Shift is a must read to understand where the youth game came from and where it is right now.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!