All You Can Be: Learning & Growing Through Sports (Signed by Kerry Wood)

Triumph Books, 2012-05-03. Hardcover. Like New. 11x10x0. Former major league pitcher and Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame inductee Kerry Wood's tribute to growing through sports. Illustrated by Chicago Public Schools students. Signed by Kerry Wood in black Sharpie on front pastedown thus: "Kerry Wood | 34." Signature unconditionally guaranteed to pass any COA examination. Notably, "Wood made his first appearance in the major leagues on April 12, 1998. In his fifth career start, on May 6, he threw a one-hit, no-walk, 20-strikeout shutout against the Houston Astros in Wrigley Field, tying Roger Clemens' record for strikeouts in a nine-inning game and breaking Bill Gullickson's single-game rookie record of 18 strikeouts in 1980. Wood allowed only two baserunners: Ricky Gutiérrez on an infield single and Craig Biggio who was hit by a pitch with a count of one ball and two strikes. (Biggio had led the league in that category each of the previous three years.) Only seven balls reached fair territory. The Astros went on to lead the league in on-base percentage, and all of the regulars were in the lineup, including the four who finished the season batting over .300. The performance garnered a game score of 105 – the highest number ever calculated for a pitcher in a nine-inning game. Wood finished the 1998 season with a 13–6 record; despite missing the last month of the season with elbow soreness, he easily won the National League Rookie of the Year award." 44 pp. 11" x 11". Tight, unmarked copy with minimal shelf wear. Priced dust jacket with small closed tear to top of back panel. Photographs of or additional information about this item are available on request. All inquiries answered promptly.