It can be really hard to find a good book about your favorite athlete.

In the past, someone would write a book about what they loved with nothing more than a hope that, just maybe, their book would find an audience. Today, giant bookstores figure out what kinds of books people buy the most, then find authors to pump out books on those subjects. The result, of course, is that bookstores are chock full of books that sound interesting but aren’t really any good.

This is especially true about sports books. For every carefully researched thought-provoking book about a beloved sports icon there are five hastily commissioned “memoirs” of whoever just had a good season and/or is about to become a free agent. Hell, there’s one of these on bookstore shelves right now about Albert Pujols. It was written by his agent.

Anyway, the point is, if you want to find a good biography about your sports heroes, you have a dig a little. Lucky for you, I’ve already done some digging and put together this list of 9 Classic Sports Biographies Every Fan Should Read. I would never claim this list is in any way definitive, but I think it’s a solid start for the serious sports fan. Feel free to make your own recommendations in the comments section below.

9. They Call Me Coach, by John Wooden

John Wooden was one of the most successful coaches of all time, in any sport. He coached the UCLA Men’s Basketball team to 10 championships in 12 years, including an unprecedented 7 in a row. What’s really great about They Call Me Coach is that, unlike most books written by coaches today, he doesn’t sound like he’s auditioning for public speaking gigs at corporate retreats by comparing his teams to corporations and the job of a coach to that of a CEO. Instead, he offers up his heartfelt philosophy about life and basketball for anyone who cares to listen.

8. Days of Grace, by Arthur Ashe

Arthur Ashe wasn’t special just because he won 3 Grand Slam events in his career, or because he was the first tennis player of African decent to win a major tournament. What made Arthur Ashe special was the way he won throughout his career—with a kind of class and sportsmanship that helped break down racial barriers in the stuffy upper crust world that used to be professional tennis. His grace and class carried over into his work as an anti-apartheid activist in the 1970s and 80s. He finished his memoir, Days of Grace just a week before dying of AIDS in 1993. Mike Tyson read the book while in prison and was so moved that he got a tattoo of Ashe on his left bicep.

7. When Pride Still Mattered: Lombardi, by David Maraniss

There is no figure in the history of pro football more mythical than Vince Lombardi. Hell, they named the Superbowl trophy after him. So you would think that writing a biography about the real Lombardi—the one who, despite being an extremely devout Catholic, hardly had the demeanor of a saint—might be difficult. But David Maraniss is able to present a fantastic, nuanced picture of a very complex man who became a legend.

6. The Game, by Ken Dryden

Ken Dryden is a member of Canadian Parliament. He graduated from Cornell University with a BA in history in 1969, and from McGill University with a degree in law in 1974. Of course, he also won the Stanley Cup as goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens in 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979. So, I guess you could say Ken Dryden is not your typical professional athlete. It should be no surprise, then, that his hockey memoir, The Game, is not your typical sports biography. It is so good, in fact, that Sports Illustrated places it at #9 on their list of the 100 greatest sports books of all time.

5. Out of Their League, by Dave Meggysey

St. Louis Cardinals linebacker Dave Meggysey never really fit in during his years in the NFL, but until he published his memoir in 1970 no one knew the half of it. He shocked NFL players, officials, and fans alike with his insider’s account of the brutality, drug use, and blatant racism that went on behind closed doors. And he is credited with being one of the first people to talk about the “dehumanizing” experience of the modern professional athlete, whose entire life’s work can be bought and sold on a whim.

4. Seabiscuit: An American Legend, by Laura Hillenbrand

Coming in at #4 is the only biography on this list that’s not about a human being. It is also the only biography on this list to has inspired a wildly popular film of the same name. But behind the popularity of the film is a true story about a horse that really did come out of nowhere during the Great Depression to captivate the sporting world. Book critics heaped loads of praise upon author Laura Hillenbrand for her remarkable ability to recreate the drama of historical events without having been a witness—which of course is what makes this book so enthralling, even for those who don’t know the first thing about “The Sport of Kings.”

3. Muhammad Ali: His Life and Times, by Thomas Hauser

This book presents an oral history of Muhammad Ali’s life told through the stories and perspectives of over 150 different observers, including those who knew Ali best—like his father, his cornermen, and the man who introduced him to boxing, police officer Joe Martin. At least one other excellent Muhammad Ali has been published, buy this one is considered to have been the first definitive work about the life of one of the most important sports figures of the 20th century.

2. Sandy Koufax: A Lefty’s Legacy, by Jane Leavy

Sandy Koufax played for the LA Dodgers in the mid 60s and may be the best pitcher in the history of baseball. At worst, he’s probably in the top 5. But what really made him so important was that he became a hero for people during a time of great tumult and strife. After all, the 60s was the decade of the Civil Rights movement and protests against the war in Vietnam. Of course, being proudly Jewish, Koufax was most of all a hero to other Jewish people who had never really had one of their own to look up to in the sporting world. But, as this book recounts, there was something about the pride he took in his identity and success that made everyone look up to him.

1. Babe: The Legend Comes to Life, by Robert W. Creamer

He’s the best player in the history of America’s Pastime and the subject of countless legends. To say the least, writing an accurate history of George Herman Ruth’s life is a herculean task. That’s why no one had been able to do until Robert Creamer did it in 1974. Creamer breaks new ground by cutting through the folksy aura surrounding the Great Bambino to separate once and for all fact from fiction. For example, did the Babe really “call his shot” in the 1932 World Series? Read the book and find out.

Rather than consisting of a constant flow of players moving up and down a basketball court or hockey rink, baseball’s roots are situational, with the memorable moments being defined not so much by the actions themselves as they are by the anticipation of the moment and the moments leading up to it. This has long been a criticism of the sport, but there is a flip side to the detractors’ argument. During a high-tension game, especially come October, those moments hang in the air for a lifetime. They share company with assassinations and war declarations in that their recollections are often prefaced with “Where were you when…?” They are unique in a fashion that no other sport can replicate, and every year we hold out hope that we’ll be privy to another such moment. In anticipation of Game 1 of the 2010 World Series, here are 9 such moments, recent and distant.

9. Joe Carter’s Walk Off Home Run – Blue Jays vs. Phillies 1993

In one swing of the bat, Joe Carter’s legacy transformed from “perennial All-Star” to “World Series Hero.” Up 3 games to 2 over Philly, the Jays were losing 6-5 when Carter stepped up to the plate with one out and the always-threatening Ricky Henderson and not-very-threatening Paul Molitor on base. With the count 2-2, Joe cranked it out of the park, becoming only the second player ever to win the World Series with a walk-off home run, a feeling that is probably unrivaled in the world of sports.

8. Kirk Gibson’s Home Run – Dodgers vs. A’s 1988

Perhaps the second most iconic World Series moment in the past 30 years, this one had underdogs on a two different levels. First, the Dodgers were trailing Game 1 4-3 in the 9th, setting the stage for a memorable comeback should the Dodgers pull off the W. However, add the fact that Kirk Gibson was suffering from two(!) leg injuries and a stomach virus, and you’ve got a Disney feel-good sports movie in the making. Of course, Gibson wouldn’t be on this list if he didn’t deliver. With two outs and a man on first, Gibson cracked a 3-2 slider over the right field wall to hand Game 1 to the Dodgers 5-4 on their way to a 4-1 World Series victory.

7. Don Larsen’s Perfect Game – Yankees vs. Dodgers 1956

There are complete games, there are no-hitters, there are perfect games, then there are perfect games in the World Series, which would be the royal flush of baseball pitching accomplishments. Add to the magnitude of the accomplishment the cast of characters involved (Larsen himself, Yogi Berra, Jackie Robinson, Pee-Wee Reese, Mickey Mantle, Gil Hodges, Casey Stengel, Whitey Ford, and legendary play-by-play man Vin Scully) and this game had all the trappings of a legend regardless of the pitching achievements. There have been 20 perfect games in baseball history. The fact that Larsen was able to toss one of them in game five against the best-of-the-best Dodgers after getting shellacked in game two shows not only unshakable poise, but superhuman ability, as well.

6. Bill Mazeroski’s Home Run – Pirates vs. Yankees 1960

Bill Mazeroski’s accomplishment gets overlooked in the annals of World Series history because a) he wasn’t as big a name as many of the other players on this list, save for maybe Kirk Gibson, and b) it was a long time ago, and memories tend to fade, especially when they’re memories created by a player like Bill Mazeroski. However, that ends now. Stepping up to the plate in the bottom of the ninth of game seven, he cracked a solo shot that became the first-ever home run to end the World Series. This feat would be equaled by Joe Carter, who actually ended the series with a home run in game six, but that one day in October 1960, Bill’s home run gave immense pride to the other 14 people in the world with the last name “Mazeroski.”

5. Reggie Jackson’s 3 HR Game – Yankees vs. Dodgers 1977

In game six of the 1977 World Series against the Dodgers, Reggie Jackson demanded he be given a nickname for his postseason exploits, not through words, but through actions. He cranked three home runs (all off of the first pitch, each one off a different pitcher). This after he homered in games 4 and 5 as well. With this distinction, he was crowned World Series MVP, the first player to have the honor bestowed upon him for two different teams. Needless to say, the Yanks took the crown thanks to Jackson’s silver swing and Reggie retired as Mr. October, having hit 10 home runs in an astonishing 27 World Series games, also amassing 24 RBI’s and a .357 average. Mr. October, indeed.

4. Carlton Fisk’s Extra Inning Homer – Red Sox vs. Reds 1975

In the bottom of the 12th inning of game six of the 1975 World Series between the Red Sox and the Reds, Carlton Fisk hit home run to give the Red Sox a 7-6 victory. Those are the dry facts. Ultimately, game seven was won by the Reds, giving them the crown. However, through a fluke, the image of Carlton Fisk waving the ball fair as it shot down the left field line is one of the most enduring images of the sport. The cameraman had been instructed to follow the ball, not the player, but one cameraman had been distracted by a rat running nearby and was unable to follow the ball’s path, forcing him to cover Fisk’s reaction. With the drama that Fisk brought to the moment, cameramen duties are now split with at least one always tracking the player’s reaction, for reasons that are totally understandable.

3. Willie Mays’ Over-the-Shoulder Catch – Giants vs. Indians 1954

When your accomplishment is simply known through the ages as “The ______”, you probably did something right. And Mays did something very, very right with “The Catch.” With the score tied 2-2 in the top of the 8th of the World Series, Vic Wertz cracked a deep fly to center field of the Polo Grounds, an infamously deep ballpark. In many parks, this fly would have been a homer, but as it was, the lightning-fast Mays was able to fly back and make a characteristic over-the-shoulder snag. A strong-armed throw to nail the tagging basemen at first and second was unnecessary, as they had gone ahead without tagging, having assumed the ball was out of Mays’ reach. Whoops. The runner on second was only able to get to third after sprinting back to retag and was left stranded on third. The Giants took the game and the series, and Mays solidified himself as perhaps the best defensive center-fielder of all-time.

2. Babe Ruth’s Called Shot – Yankees vs. Dodgers 1932

The fact that this moment is shrouded in mystery only adds to the legacy. In this writer’s opinion, there isn’t much room for discussion. He stood up to the plate, pointed to the center field bleachers, then hit a home run to the center-field bleachers. The man is Babe Ruth, and he has earned the benefit of the doubt. If this was Ruben Sierra, then yes, maybe we would require Zapruder-like analysis, but Ruth has earned this much faith from baseball fans.

As for the play, it was the fifth inning of game three of the 1932 World Series. The Yanks were up 2-0 in the series. Ruth hit his homer to take the Yanks up 6-5 in the game, then Gehrig followed up with a solo shot to seal the game at 7-5. The next day, the Yanks completed the sweep and took home the title and one of the best legends in all of sports.

1. Bill Buckner’s Error – Red Sox vs. Mets 1986

Detailing this play is a little like giving an introduction to Muhammad Ali. He missed a ground ball that cost the Red Sox the World Series. Sort of. Many casual fans don’t realize that this play took place at the end of game six, allowing the Mets to tie it up and win game seven. What most fans remember is Buckner charging Mookie Wilson’s grounder, allowing the ball to roll under and, consequently, the winning Meets run to score. If he fields that ball properly, the Sox keep going in extra innings as their two-run lead in the tenth had been matched by the Mets courtesy of three two-out singles, so it’s just as arbitrary to say that the Sox pitching got them in this jam and Buckner failed to get them out. This gravity of this moment has been diminished somewhat by Boston’s two recent Championships, much to Buckner’s delight, I’m sure.

By 1935 the Babe’s ability and talent had dwindled dramatically and he was in fact interested in managing the Yankees rather than playing for them.  However, owner Jacob Ruppert had no intentions of firing manager Joe McCarthy.  Ruppert would offer the head coaching job of the Yankees top minor league affiliate the Newark Bears to Ruth but Babe’s wife and business manager at the time recommended that he reject the offer, which he did.

Babe Ruth without question was one of the best hitters of all time.  If you include his high quality of pitching in his early years, there is no doubt that he is the greatest all around baseball players of all time.

Here is a clip of Babe Ruth’s 60th Home Run in 1927

Notable Birthdays

Marshall Faulk: NFL – Born February 26th 1973 (age 37) in New Orleans, Louisiana

Tim Thomas: NBA – Born February 26th 1977 (age 33) in Paterson, New Jersey

Emmanuel Adebayor: Soccer – Born February 26th 1984 (age 26) in Lome, Togo

Total Pro Sports – Tonight will mark the 25 year anniversary of the MLB All-Star Game (unless you want to be stingy and exclude the 1988 event, which was canceled due to rain).  The fans in St. Louis will be jacked to see hometown hero Albert Pujols taking part in his third derby, as will many others who believe that he is one of the greatest power hitters of all time.  At 351 home runs currently at the age of 29, Pujos still has a long way to go before catching the likes of Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth.

Whether or not he gets there is up for debate at the moment, but if I had a special time machine (I’m still working on it), and could bring the ten best home run hitters of all time into a stadium for a one night event, Pujos would make my cut.

That’s where we will kick off this top ten list of best home run hitters of all time:

10. Albert Pujols - He has been in the event before, but has never had raised the trophy in the end.  That isn’t going to stop us from including him on this list.  This guy can swing a bat, and with the way he is hitting home runs these days, the name Albert Pujols may become one that is forever etched in baseball history.

9.  Josh Hamilton – I know some of you may be asking yourselves, “Is this guy serious?”  Yes I am!  Did you happen to miss what he did last year at the derby?  If you did and still aren’t impressed, then maybe you just don’t like to see dingers.  Hamilton’s round of 28, and 13 in a row, were unheard of.  He made the final summer classic at Yankee Stadium even more memorable.

8.  Alex Rodriguez – Not the biggest fan of this guy, but someone with as many home runs (570) at that age (33) has to make this list.  Even is he has been getting a little assistance every now and then.

7.  Sammy Sosa – Here is another guy I despise (and unfortunately he is not the last), but he has incredible numbers (60- career homers) and has won a derby before.  That came in 2000 when he put on a strong display of 26 total homers.

6. Frank Robinson – He never had the opportunity to play in one of these events, but Robinson was definitely home run derby material.  With 586 career home runs, there is not reason not to invite him.

5. Willie Mays – Fourth on the all-time home runs list with 660, Mays was another big hitter who missed out on the derby.  His 52 in 1965 is especially impressive.

4.  Barry Bonds – The final foe on the list.  I’d rather not include the guy, but how can I do such a thing.  Tops in single season (73) and career (762), Bonds was one of the most entertaining ever when it came to putting on air shows.

3.  Ken Griffey Jr. – His swing may be the sweetest to ever play the game, but the real key here is timing.  If I was to use my time machine to nab Griffey, it would be mid to late ’90s Griffey.  Those were the days.

2.  Hank Aaron – The career home runs leader, Hank was no stranger to the long ball.  Some will say he was the best at getting the ball out of the park, and with 755 career dingers, how can you argue?

1. Babe Ruth – If there were home run derbies back in his days, people would still be talking about it to this very day.  The whole competition would likely have been renamed after him.  The trophy would be a giant trophy shaped as his head.  The Babe is my pick to win this Derby of all time greats.