Everything a young player needs to enjoy the greatest game in the world! It's been called the greatest game on earth; but perfecting it takes time, patience and practice. In The Baseball Book, Kevin Briand tells kids everything they need to know to master the art of this classic sport. With clear, concise text and step-by-step photography, Briand leads his readers through the proper techniques in several skill areas including throwing and receiving, ground balls and fly balls, pitching and catching, hitting and baserunning, and team drills. Rounding out this comprehensive approach is a chapter on warm-up and stretching. For players eager to get started on the road to the majors, Briand lists Canada's baseball leagues and associations. He also offers a chapter on choosing the proper equipment. A perfect introduction to a timeless game, The Baseball Book will help baseball beginners become baseball players.

KEVIN BRIAND was born in Montreal, Quebec. From the very beginning Kevin was athletic and fell in love with the great Canadian game -- hockey. By chance Kevin was asked to substitute at his brother's baseball game, and he reluctantly agreed. After that first experience at bat, facing off with the pitcher and hitting his first ball, a double to left-centre, he was hooked and soon realized that he was by far a better baseball player than hockey player! Kevin was chosen to play on the provincial all-star teamand in 1989 he was also selected by Quebec to play in the Select Championship, a tournament in which each province's best player, under the age of 18, is chosen to play. From that tournament Kevin was drafted as the pitcher on Team Canada at the World Junior Championship. Kevin then accepted a scholarship to attend the National Baseball Institute in Vancouver, BC. where many players including Big Leaguers Corey Koskie, Rob Butler, Jason Dickson, and Denis Boucher played. After his first year he was picked by Team Canada to play for its Olympic Squad at the President's Cup tournament in Chinese taipei. Shortly afterwards however,Kevin experienced some problems with his pitching arm which ended his playing career. Still eager to pursue a future in baseball Kevin accepted the position of Pitching Coach for the team, which in turn led to a position as a scout for the Toronto Blue Jays. After grauating with a Bachelor’s degree from Simon Fraser University Kevin took a position in the front offices of Baseball Canada in Ottawa, while also teaching pitching, hitting, infielding and outfielding classes to kids aged 12-18 at a local indoor baseball facility. After many rewarding years in Ottawa, and several highlights, such as being the General Manager of the Bronze medal team at the Pan Am Games, he was hired to his current position of Manager of Amateur Baseball for the Toronto Blue Jays. One of his main responsibilities includes running instructional baseball camps for kids. A role which has brought him the greatest rewards and a new appreciation for the game and has also re-inforced to Kevin how important it is for young players to learn the basic fundamentals of baseball early in order to play and become their best. Kevin lives in Toronto with his wife Birute and on August 21, 2001, they had their first child, Richard. Kevin guarantees that if Richard does like baseball when he is older he will have every opportunity to learn the basic fundamentals of baseball and have fun doing it.

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