DAN LEVITT – AUTHOR, IN PURSUIT OF PENNANTS
The 1936 Yankees, the 1963 Dodgers, the 1975 Reds, the 2010 Giants—why do some baseball teams win while others don’t?
General managers and fans alike have pondered this most important of baseball questions. The Moneyball strategy is not the first example of how new ideas and innovative management have transformed the way teams are assembled. In Pursuit of Pennants examines and analyzes a number of compelling, winning baseball teams over the past hundred-plus years, focusing on their decision making and how they assembled their championship teams.
Whether through scouting, integration, instruction, expansion, free agency, or modernizing their management structure, each winning team and each era had its own version of Moneyball, where front office decisions often made the difference. Mark L. Armour and Daniel R. Levitt show how these teams succeeded and how they relied on talent both on the field and in the front office. While there is no recipe for guaranteed success in a competitive, ever-changing environment, these teams demonstrate how creatively thinking about one’s circumstances can often lead to a competitive advantage.
Hall of Fame GM Pat Gillick writes that In Pursuit of Pennants gives “the reader an inside look into the different cultures and challenges facing professional sports executives. Their management styles might differ, but the objective never changes: ‘Be a consistent winner.’”
The Moneyball strategy is not the first example of how new ideas and innovative management have transformed the way teams are assembled —smart organizations have always been searching for an edge. After World War I several clubs created the general manager position, and twenty years later the best teams all had GMs. In the 1930s the smartest front offices created farm systems, and in the 1940s Branch Rickey had the courage to tap the previously restricted African-American player pool. Several teams gained an advantage in the late 1960s by figuring out how to exploit the newly instituted amateur draft. A decade later, a few teams intelligently capitalized on free agency, finally granted to the players in 1976. In the 1980s, Toronto was at the forefront of creating an identifiable presence in the Dominican Republic, leading to a decade of contention and two championships. More recently teams have combined sophisticated video and high-speed computing.
In Pursuit of Pennants examines and analyzes a number of compelling, winning baseball teams over the past hundred-plus years, focusing on their decision making and how they assembled their championship teams. Whether through scouting, integration, instruction, expansion, free agency, or modernizing their management structure, each winning team and each era had its own version of Moneyball, where front office decisions often made the difference. While there is no recipe for guaranteed success in a competitive, ever-changing environment, these teams demonstrate how creatively thinking about one’s circumstances can often lead to a competitive advantage.
DANIEL-LEVITT.COM
JIM ROSS - WWE HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCER, BBQ CONNOISSEUR, FITE TV SPOKESPERSON AND NO. 1 OKLAHOMA SOONERS FAN
For over 40 years, Jim Ross "Good Ole J.R.". has been one of wrestling’s most influential figures, both as the most recognizable announcer in the wrestling business as well as an executive, referee and sometimes wrestler. J.R. is known to sports entertainment fans around the world as the “Voice of Professional Wrestling”. He also has supplied play-by-play commentary for boxing and mixed martial arts events. J.R. is also a member of the WWE Hall of Fame. As EVP of Talent at WWE, J.R. recruited some of the organization’s top talent including The Rock, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, John Cena, Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar. Working for WWE, WCW and Mid-South Wrestling, he has traveled the world and had a ringside seat for some of the most amazing moments in fighting sports.
From sports entertainment executive to two-time New York Times Bestselling Author, to enduring the struggle of Bell’s palsy and even playing the role of entrepreneur with his own barbecue sauce brand, J.R. has worn many hats. J.R. is a devout fan of pro wrestling, MMA, boxing and, of course, the Oklahoma Sooners football program.
J.R. is currently on the road sharing his life story and giving fans an inside look at the world of sports entertainment with The Ross Report podcast broadcast weekly on Podcast One to 500,000 to 2 million listeners per episode.
J.R. is the celebrity spokesperson, executive advisor for the mobile app FITE TV. FITE TV is a one-stop shop for viewing all sports within the fighting discipline globally including MMA, professional wrestling, boxing and traditional martial arts.
J.R. currently resides in Norman, OK with his wife, Jan.
WWW.FITE.TV
WWW.JRSBARBQ.COM
THE ROSS REPORT
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross, considered the greatest announcer in wrestling history, brings his incredible celebrity roster of friends, his insight and analysis of today's wrestling stars and storylines, and YOU to his weekly discussion of everything squared circle. Join in the fun as Good Ol' JR takes your calls, makes a few of his own, and spreads the wrestling love around the globe. To access the entire Ross Report archive, go to
Podcast One.
