The Pro Football Hall of Fame 50th Anniversary Book: Where Greatness Lives

by Joe Horrigan, John Thorn (Editor)

Overview

There is no question that football is indeed America's most popular sport, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame's 50th Anniversary book totally captures our passion for the game.

Having opened its doors in Canton, Ohio on September 7, 1963, the Hall will be celebrating its 50th anniversary year from 2012 to 2013, commencing with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival, a ten-day period in early August which culminates in the annual Hall of Fame Game. The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival draws close to a million fans each year.

The book has been crafted by Joe Horrigan, the Hall's VP of Communications/Exhibits, along with John Thorn, creator of Total Football, and the end result is a beautifully bound keepsake for any serious football fan.

The 50th Anniversary Book features essays by football writers, broadcasters, and celebrated players. Every living Hall of Famer will contribute a commentary on some aspect of the game and its history; each deceased member will be represented in a sidebar or pullout quote. In addition, the book features rarely seen photos and artifacts of some of the Hall's greatest treasures.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780446583961
Publisher:	Grand Central Publishing
Publication date:	07/31/2012
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	1,165,572
Product dimensions:	9.00(w) x 10.90(h) x 1.50(d)

About the Author

Joe Horrigan is a nationally recognized expert on the sport of football, and serves as the HOF's vice president for Communications/Exhibits.

John Thorn is a sports historian of long standing, and is the author of numerous sports books. He also serves as the official historian for Major League Baseball.

Editorial Reviews

The Pro Football Hall of Fame is now older than most pro football fans. Now celebrating its 50th year, this elaborate gridiron shrine in Akron has attracted millions of visitors to honor its 267 inductees. This coffee table hardcover celebrates the institution and the players, coaches, owners, and officials that it honors. This compilation is unique. In addition to essays by writers, broadcasters, and players, it contains commentary by every living Hall of Famer, from Herb Adderley to Gary Zimmerman; and each deceased member will be represented in a sidebar or a quote. The perfect pre-season primer gift.

Horrigan (vice president, communications & exhibits, Pro Football Hall of Fame) and Thorn (Total Football) have compiled this 50th-anniversary commemoration of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH. A beautifully laid out volume, it combines essays, quotes and photographs to recount the history of the game and the hall itself. Pictured in both black-and-white and color are well over 100 artifacts of the hall's collection, including programs, ticket stubs, contracts, official letters, play diagrams, advertisements, uniforms, equipment, and trophies. The 11 essays are written by prominent journalists, historians, and broadcasters, and are tied to each decade of pro football. Quotes from every one of the Hall's 267 members augment the photos and the text. VERDICT While the book does not aim to be an encyclopedic history of the game, it is informative, enjoyable, and thorough in its own way. Any fan would enjoy paging through this coffee-table volume.

Library Journal