Philadelphia Flyers at 50

Book excerpt: Published to mark the club's 50th season in the National Hockey League, The Philadelphia Flyers at 50 sets a new standard for contemporary sports history. It tells the story of a remarkable hockey club with passion and detail. On the ice, in the dressing room and behind the scenes, this 600-page large-format illustrated book documents how the Flyers and their fans have maintained the passion that is their hallmark through great successes, valiant losses and even withering tragedies. Building on his 1996 best-seller Full Spectrum, writer Jay Greenberg invested three years interviewing 263 people who have told the team's story with pride and candor, revealing, in some cases for the first time, factors that shaped the franchise. Trades, retirements, injuries, untimely deaths, tough decisions and shift-by-shift game action combine to reveal what it means to be a Flyer. "It's an honor to wear this logo," said current captain Claude Giroux. "Being a Flyer meant everything to me," said Mark Recchi, a feeling echoed by Cup-winner Andre Dupont when he said, "They gave me a chance to be part of history." Includes a message from owner Ed Snider who passed away on April 11, 2016, as well as profiles of 50 Flyer heroes and descriptions of the club's 50 most important wins and significant events This comprehensive book has it all.