Russian-Jewish immigrant Eddie Gottlieb was one of the most powerful non-playing sports figures in Philadelphia from the 1920s until his death in 1979. A master promoter, Gottlieb - dubbed "the Mogul" for his business acumen - was influential in both basketball and baseball circles, as well as a colourful figure in his own right. A member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, Gottlieb founded, played, and coached for the legendary South Philadelphia Hebrew Association (SPHAS) basketball team in the 1920s and 1930s. Only 5' 8", Gottlieb was nevertheless a very good basketball player. But, it was behind the scenes where he excelled.He coached, helped form the National Basketball Association, and owned the Philadelphia Warriors franchise for many years. He signed Wilt Chamberlain to his first NBA contract. He also created the NBA's annual schedule of games for more than a quarter of a century. Outside basketball, Gottlieb's achievements included co-owning the Philadelphia Stars baseball team in the Negro Leagues and trying unsuccessfully to buy the Philadelphia Phillies. He was Philadelphia's leading sports booking agent from the 1920s into the 1950s for everything from sandlot baseball to semipro football to professional wrestling. Drawing upon dozens of interviews and archival sources, and featuring more than fifty photographs, "The Mogul" vividly portrays Eddie Gottlieb's pivotal role in both Philadelphia and American sports history....

The benchmark volume for any fan wanting to know all the facts about baseball's oldest continuous one-city, one-name team is back in a new edition. To help commemorate the Phillies move to a new ballpark in 2004, authors Rich Westcott and Frank Bilovsky have updated and expanded this indispensable work for the first time since 1993. The authors have revised existing player biographies and stats, and added profiles of new Phillies. Seventy-five new photos and a 16-page color insert bring the total number of illustrations to an amazing 600-plus. And longtime Phils' broadcaster Harry Kalas has contributed a new Foreword for the occasion.

The Phillies Encyclopedia,Third Edition, will recall all the highs and the lows of one of America's most storied baseball teams to oldtimers and a new generation of fans alike. From Baker Bowl days to Citizens Bank Park, from Chuck Klein to Jim Thome, it's over a century of baseball in a single book.

New features include:

*Over seventy new photographs
*Updated biographies of every Phillies Hall-of-Famer
*Updated stats on every player through the end of the 2003 season
*11 new seasons added
*Almost every chapter updated with new information on team history
*New player profiles...