Athlete biography sample
There is something about a great sports story that transcends audiences. Perhaps it’s because we are seemingly hardwired to root for an underdog, or fight to overcome the adversity in our own lives. Whatever the reason, inspiring sports stories — and inspiring sports biographies, in particular — are some of the most successfully sold books on the market. These fifty sports biographies, all of which are ranked by Amazon as the highest rated and bestselling of their kind, represent the very best that sports has to offer. From baseball to horse racing, the books on this list are a showcase of true stories that are bound to move and inspire readers of all ages, backgrounds, and athletic ability.
Baseball
I Never Had It Made
Jackie Robinson
In 1947, Jackie Robinson broke the color line in major league baseball when he was recruited by Branch Rickey to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Originally published in 1972 (the year Robinson died), this book is a full account of Robinson’s commitment to achieving justice for himself and others like him. His years as UCLA’s first four-letter athlete, his draft and subsequent court-martial during WWII, and experiences in the Negro Leagues and with the Dodgers are all in here. Robinson also offers inspiring anecdotes about sports figures he most admired, like Rickey and teammate Pee Wee Reese.
Link to Amazon
The Kid
Ben Bradlee, Jr.
Undoubtedly one of the best baseball players in history, Ted Williams was the last man to hit .400 in a season. He was also insecure, a flawed husband and father, a raging hothead, and aggressive towards the press. But Bradlee’s ambitious biography accounts for both the heroics and the darker side of a man Bradlee admits in the first pages to be his hero. Bradlee spent over ten years investigating the details of Williams’s 83 years, and even includes some disturbing tidbits about Williams’s death in 2002, such as when his head was severed and cryogenically frozen after his death. You and your students will love working on this Sports Figures Biography Report. This is a great tool to teach students how to research while also celebrating important people. It will also look great on your Bulletin Board and during the Super Bowl Celebration! Includes over 29 influential people to study. Includes: • Rubric • No-prep one page report • Legal size banner template • 8.5X14 banner template • Head toppers • Editable banners • Bulletin Board letters in color and black and white • Digital version for Google Classroom Note: ONLY the questions on the printed banners are editable. Includes the following athletes: • Andre the Giant – Professional wrestler • Danica Patrick – Stock race car driver • David Beckham – Champion soccer player • The Fabulous Moolah – Professional wrestler • Garry Kasparov – Chess grandmaster • Greg Louganis – Olympic gold medalist in diving • Ichiro Suzuki – Baseball player • Jackie Robinson – 1st African-American to play in Major League Baseball • Jeff Gordon – Champion stock car driver • Jesse Owens – Track & field gold medalist • Joe Louis – Longest reigning heavyweight boxing champion • Kacy Catanzaro – gymnast, obstacle course athlete • Katie Ledecky - Olympic gold medalist in swimming • LeBron James - 4-time basketball MVP • Lindsey Vonn – Champion Alpine skier • Lisa Leslie – 3-time basketball MVP • Mia Hamm – World Cup soccer champion • Michael Jordan – 5-time basketball MVP • Michael Phelps – Swimmer, most decorated Olympian • Michelle Kwan – Most decorated figure skater in U.S. history • Muhammad Ali – Boxing Champion, civil right activist • Peyton Manning – NFL quarterback • Roberto Clemente – One of 1st Latin American baseball stars • Roger Federer – Tennis champion • Serena Williams – Tennis champion • Simone Biles - Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics • Usain Bolt - Olympic gold medalist in track & field sprinting • Wayne Gretzky – Champion hockey player • Wilma These are just a sample of the many sports biographies we have in the library search tool which range from players to coaches. GV840.7‑857 Winter sports: Ice hockey, skiing GV861‑1017 Ball games: Baseball, football, golf, etc. GV1020‑1034 Motoring. Automobile racing GV1040‑1060.4 Cycling. Bicycling. Motorcycling GV1060.5‑1098 Track and field athletics GV1100‑1150.9 Fighting sports: Boxing, fencing, etc. GV1151‑1190 Shooting. Archery GV1195‑1198.995 Wrestling .
Lin Biographical Information