Fathers Day Ideas for Sports Fans 2026

June 13, 2026 stlsportspage St. Louis Cardinals 0

Sunday June 21 is Father’s Day. You still have time to order any of our sports merch: CLICK HERE.

Here are a few sports books that are out:

The Year St. Louis Became a Baseball Town: The Cardinals, Babe Ruth, and the 1926 World Series (Sports)

by Terry Lemons (Author)  Format: Hardcover
Relive the World Series upset that gave rise to St. Louis’s baseball obsession. This new book is a lot of fun. For the website: CLICK HERE.

With a legacy of 11 World Series wins, the culture of St. Louis intertwines with the Cardinals. It all started in 1926 with a legendary World Series upset against Babe Ruth’s Yankees. But what goes untold are compelling stories―like Ruth charming the city into what became a tradition of cheering opposing players―that made St. Louis fans go baseball crazy for the first time while early radio broadcasts helped turn the region into “Cardinal country.” These forgotten anecdotes made 1926 more than another championship. The victory transformed St. Louis into a baseball town, putting in place practices, traditions, loyalties, and an energy that have been passed down through time.

Terry Lemons, a St. Louis native, brings a reporter’s eye to recover faded memories that shine new light on the story that began in 1926. Check out “The Year St. Louis Became a Bseball Town” CLICK HERE.

50 Forgotten Cardinals: The short story of 50 lesser known and sometimes forgotten St. Louis Cardinals

by Will Saulsbery (Author), Tony La Russa (Foreword)  Format: Paperback

This history of the St. Louis Cardinals isn’t just about Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, and Albert Pujols. It’s also about players you’ve forgotten…

—and their stories deserve to be remembered.

A unique, hilarious, thoughtful, and quick look at the history of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team franchise. Author Will Saulsbery takes you on a journey from 1882 until today by way of some of the lesser known and forgotten baseball players in the history of the Cardinals. From names like Ice Box Chamberlain, Slim Sallee, and Rip Repulski to more recent names like Félix José, Ozzie Canseco, and Ryan Ludwick, Saulsbery ignores no decade and he walks you through baseball history.

Lifelong Cardinals fans, baseball history enthusiasts, fans of sports stories, and readers who love a nostalgic tale of sports history will absolutely love this book. Unlike traditional baseball books that focus on Hall of Famers, this book delivers in-depth looks at some players that have slipped through the cracks of history—yet helped build one of baseball’s greatest franchises.

If you love the Cardinals, baseball, or just sports history this is a journey into the stories you didn’t know you were missing. A perfect gift for the baseball lover in your life. For the book CLICK HERE.

The Finest in the Field®: A History of Baseball Through 50 Iconic Gloves

by Ed Wheatley and Johnny Bench | Mar 24, 2026

The gloves themselves are the stars in this rich history of baseball’s most memorable fielding moments, as curated from Rawlings’s unmatched collection.

Highlighting fifty gloves as touchstones of baseball’s most storied players and plays, this book pairs a gallery of sumptuous glove photography with essays to place each glove into its historical context. The treasury also features archival photos of the players, period advertisements, and other memorabilia.

Baseball’s history comes to life with famous gloves and famous moments. They include Christy Mathewson’s game used glove from the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s collection illustrating the model worn during the greatest pitching performance in World Series history in 1905; Jackie Robinson’s model glove worn during the years he broke baseball’s segregation barrier in 1947; and the model like Mickey Mantle wore in 1956 while making the catch to preserve the only World Series perfect game. Other gloves are immediately connected to plays so famous they have their own monikers: Willie Mays’s “The Catch,” Derek Jeter’s “The Flip,” and Ken Griffey Jr.’s “The Wall Banger.”

Throughout the book—which features every Gold Glove Award winner—are quotes from players and vignettes calling out special moments.

This book will be compelling to fans, players, historians, and collectors. Students of the game, from all generations, will now truly own a piece of baseball’s rich history. CLICK HERE

Bill Virdon: A Life in Baseball

by David Jerome (Author)  Format: Paperback

One of the most underrated players in baseball history, Bill Virdon went on to successfully manage four Major League teams. Rookie of the Year with the 1955 St. Louis Cardinals, he played center field for 10 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, next to right fielder Roberto Clemente. Virdon’s key plays clinched the Pirates’ victory over the New York Yankees in the 1960 World Series. He was instrumental in coaching the “Bucs” during the 1971 Series against the Baltimore Orioles, and later that year became their manager,

Virdon was American League Manager of the Year with the Yankees in 1974, and National League Manager of the Year with the Houston Astros in 1980. In 1984 he ended his MLB managerial career while with the Montreal Expos yet continued to coach through the 2002 season. This first-ever biography covers his remarkable career, with previously untold stories from Virdon and his wife, Shirley.

 

 

 

Preacher Roe: The Life of a Professional Baseball Great from the Ozarks by David Jerome

Before baseball became big business, it was a game shaped by character, discipline, and craft. Preacher Roe played it that way. In his time, Elwin Charles “Preacher” Roe was one of Major League Baseball’s most respected left-handed pitchers. Born in Ash Flat, Arkansas, Roe built a twelve-season major league baseball career with the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, and, most notably, the Brooklyn Dodgers. Known for his intelligence on the mound rather than an overpowering delivery, he became one of baseball’s most effective and strategic pitchers. Renowned for his control, composure, and overall stamina, Roe earned the respect of teammates and opponents alike while avoiding the spotlight. However, his “reputation” for using the “spitball” did garner, perhaps, some overblown attention. This biography traces his journey from rural Arkansas to baseball’s biggest stages and into his life after the game in West Plains, Missouri. At the heart of Preacher’s story is Mozee Clay Roe, his devoted wife and lifelong partner, whose quiet strength and unwavering support shaped the man behind the uniform. More than a baseball biography, this is a story of perseverance, humility, and the values that defined one of the game’s most thoughtful competitors.

For the book: CLICK HERE.

 

 

All Roads Lead to St. Louis, A Guide to the Cardinals and Their Minor League Teams

by Rob Rains (Author), Sally Tippett Rains (Author), John Rooney (Foreword)  Format: Paperback

One year Sally and Rob Rains traveled to see all of the Cardinals U.S.-based affiliates plus spring training and the Arizona Fall League to put together this guidebook to help fans plan their own baseball trips. Whether it’s spring training; traveling to a minor league town or watching the Cardinals at Busch Stadium or on the road; wherever there is baseball, memories will be made.

“All Roads Lead to St. Louis; A Guide to the Cardinals and Their Minor League Teams” includes information about the teams, features on players, the histories of the ballparks, recommendations of restaurants, hotels and other tourist attractions in the areas -plus Adam Wainwright adds a few of his personal recommendations.

The Cardinals have long relied on their player development system as their primary pipeline for players. For Cardinals fans, making road trips to see those players when they are in the minors is a fun and worthwhile experience. The book is a great gift for Cardinals fans of any age, whether they will be traveling or not.

“If you like the Cardinals and knowing all about the cities that contribute to developing the Redbirds for the future, you will enjoy this book.” – Cardinals Broadcaster, John Rooney

“This book is great! It’s the essential spring training guide.” – Mike Trim, WPTV West Palm Beach

To buy the book: CLICK HERE.

 

 

 

Take Dad on a Trip!

If you are out of town, you could bring your dad to St. Louis for a Cardinals game. Here’s the link for tickets: CLICK HERE.

You could check out your favorite destination and Drury Hotels probably has a location nearby. And STL Sports Page readers always get a discount at Drury Hotels. Use the code: SPORTS or just book it online. CLICK HERE.

 

Dads love tools!

Norrenberns Lumber and Hardware has all sorts of tools.

The photo, below gives you an idea of some of the types of tools they carry. The prices may not be the same today as in the photo (or maybe they are). If you want to buy from a local, family-owned hardware store, check out Norrenberns.  They are located in Affton, 10500 Tesshire Dr, St. Louis, MO 63123, and they have the most helpful and nice employees you will ever meet. If you wonder if they have something you can call ahead: (314) 843-0700  For more information on Norrenberns: CLICK HERE.

Dads love to barbecue!

Rob Rains models our patriotic Fourth of July barbecue apron.

For more information about that: CLICK HERE.

Other companies who have supported us,  you could get a gift certificate or gift from:

Bissinger’s Handcrafted Chocolatier: CLICK HERE.

Viviano’s Festa italiano: CLICK HERE

Viviano’s Festa italiano would be a great place to have dinner with you father on Father’s Day, or you could get him a gift certificate. For their website: CLICK HERE

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