{"product_id":"stories-of-forgotten-sports-idols-and-other-ordinary-mortals-by-gordon-shepherd-9781667874722","title":"Stories of Forgotten Sports Idols and Other Ordinary Mortals","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a collection of stories for sports fans and lovers of historical fiction. The stories feature different sports idols from the twentieth century, like Babe Ruth, Jim Thorpe, Jack Dempsey, and Mickey Mantle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOthers showcased in these stories—Smoky Joe Wood, Tony Lazzeri, Pancho Gonzales, and Larry Doby—are no longer household names but continue to be esteemed by aficionados of their sports and eras of play. Some of the book's erstwhile stars—John Meyers, Charles Bender, George Von Elm, and Carl Mulleneaux—are scarcely remembered by anyone at all. In their day, all were deliriously cheered and idolized by American sports fans.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhile the book's fictional stories include descriptions of games, contests, or sporting events, they also humanise their characters to appeal to literate readers of every kind, even those who are not knowledgeable sports fans. The stories' narratives focus primarily on mentors, friendships, and the connection of sports to both the aspirational ideals and discriminatory contradictions of American culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eStories of Forgotten Sports Idols and Other Ordinary Mortals\u003c\/em\u003e by Gordon Shepherd and Gary Shepherd is a compelling exploration of these themes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46715104493804,"sku":"9781667874722","price":32.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/22965233482781.jpg?v=1754384019","url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/products\/stories-of-forgotten-sports-idols-and-other-ordinary-mortals-by-gordon-shepherd-9781667874722","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}