Diamondbacks Essential: Everything You Need to Know to Be a Real Fan! - Hardcover

"When you can throw 97 miles an hour and put the ball over the plate anytime you want, it's fun." --Randy Johnson

"If you only understood how great this is for me. It was better than anything I could've imagined." --Mark Grace, on winning the 2001 World Series

Andy Benes delivered the first pitch in Diamondbacks history on March 31, 1998, in front of 50,179 fans at Bank One Ballpark, and the team has continued to capture hearts across the Southwest ever since. As players such as Matt Williams, Jay Bell, Luis Gonzalez, Mark Grace, Curt Schilling, and Randy Johnson emerged onto the scene, the Diamondbacks became a presence almost overnight and ousted the mighty Yankees in one of the most exciting and memorable World Series in history. Grace and Williams have since retired, Schilling and Johnson went elsewhere via free agency, and Bank One Ballpark is now called Chase Field. But the D'backs continue to be a contender in the NL West with rising players such as Eric Byrnes, Chad Tracy, Conor Jackson, and Brandon Webb (and the return of 43-year-old Johnson for a second tour of duty).

All of these players are honored in Diamondbacks Essential, as are the franchise's greatest moments and memories. Whether you are looking to relive great memories of the past or simply looking to upgrade your knowledge, this book will satisfy your needs through countless anecdotes and insiders' stories; scores of trivia, lists, and statistics; and dozens of photographs.