Sports Fact & Book Rec of the Day 5/20/2007

5/20/1945:
One-armed outfielder Pete Gray gets two hits in the first inning for the St. Louis Browns, fueling a seven-run salvo that leads to a doubleheader sweep of the Yankees, 10-1 and 5-2, at Sportsman's Park. Batting leadoff against Atley Donald, Grey singles and scores the first run, then singles again to drive in the last run. An intense competitor despite his handicap from a childhood injury, Gray got his big break after earning MVP honors in the Southern Association at Memphis in 1944. Next year, when all the regular players have returned from the war, he'll be back in the minors; soon after, he'll leave the game for good.

Birthdays:
Hal Newhouser b. 1921
Stan Mikita b. 1940
Sadaharu Oh b. 1940
David Wells b. 1963
Liselotte Neumann b. 1966

An incredibly inspirational story of one man’s ability to change kids’ lives. Coach Bob Hurley works in one of the poorest, toughest schools in New Jersey, yet he has managed to inspire 100 percent of his students to go to college for the last ten years. Journalist Wojnarowski followed the school’s 2003-2004 season and documented the transformation of underachievers to successful athletes and students. A heart-swelling, unforgettable Cinderella story.

THE MIRACLE OF ST. ANTHONY: A SEASON WITH COACH BOB HURLEY AND BASKETBALL’S MOST IMPROBABLE DYNASTY, by Adrian Wojnarowski (Gotham, 2006)