Sports books roundup

“Return of the King” by Brian Windhorst and Dave McMenamin, Grand Central, 288 pages, $28

When LeBron James rallied the Cavaliers back from a 3-1 deficit to Golden State in the NBA Finals last year, he not only delivered a long-awaited title to Cleveland, he also likely produced the defining moment of his great career. In “Return of the King,” Brian Windhorst, who first covered James in high school, and Dave McMenamin provide an account of James’ triumphant return home. Indeed, some of the best inside info comes at the book’s beginning, which details how and why James left Miami to go back to Cleveland in 2014. Both parties had to set aside bad blood from James’ infamous “Decision” news conference in 2010, when he spurned the Cavaliers to sign with the Heat. The authors write about how James struggled with David Blatt, an out-of-the-box choice as coach, leading to Blatt’s controversial dismissal last winter. How much was James involved in that? Cleveland reached the Finals again, but for the second straight year it looked like James would fall short. The Cavaliers, though, found inspiration, thanks in part to James being challenged by his coach, Tyronn Lue, and Warriors forward Draymond Green.

“Leo Durocher” by Paul Dickson, Bloomsbury, 368 pages, $28

You would be hardpressed to find an individual who lived a bigger baseball life than Leo Durocher. As a player, he was a shortstop for teams that included Babe Ruth’s Yankees and St. Louis’ famous “Gashouse Gang” in the 1930s. Then, as a manager, he helped usher Jackie Robinson to the big leagues; put a shaky rookie named Willie Mays on the path to success; and ultimately was blamed for the collapse of the 1969 Cubs. In his new biography, “Leo Durocher: Baseball’s Prodigal Son,” Dickson profiles a man who was constantly getting in trouble. Durocher, known as “Leo The Lip,” had a knack for ticking off virtually everyone he encountered, from teammates like Ruth to management (he was suspended for the 1947 season) to players he managed, such as Ernie Banks and Ron Santo. Durocher, who had 2,008 victories as a manager, wasn’t elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame until 1994, three years after he died. It was believed Durocher had enemies on the voting panel. Life, though, never was dull for Durocher, who was married four times and counted Hollywood stars as close friends. It all adds up to an entertaining book about a truly unique character.

“The Phenomenon” by Rick Ankiel and Tim Brown, Public Affairs, 304 pages, $27

What happened to Rick Ankiel is one of the more remarkable stories in baseball history. At age 21, he was a hard-throwing left-hander for the St. Louis Cardinals and on the fast track to becoming a superstar. But during Game 1 of the 2000 National League Division Series against Atlanta, Ankiel threw a wild pitch in the third inning. Something immediately went haywire, and he wound up throwing five wild pitches during the inning before being mercifully removed. That one pitch effectively ended Ankiel’s career as a pitcher. In his new memoir, Ankiel, along with writerTim Brown, vividly details how a pitcher with pinpoint control suddenly — and completely — lost it. Dealing with an anxiety condition widely known as the “yips,” Ankiel literally would shake at the notion of trying to throw a ball over the plate However, with his days as a pitcher numbered, in another amazing twist, Ankiel transformed himself into an outfielder at 25, going on to play seven more years in the majors. This riveting story will make you feel Ankiel’s anxiety about battling this mysterious affliction.