HarperCollins, MLBAM publish e-book on Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson

New York, NY - April 10, 2013 – Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, and MLB Advanced Media, L.P. (MLBAM), the interactive media and Internet company of Major League Baseball, today announced the release of Fortitude: The Exemplary Life of Jackie Robinson, an enhanced e-book with multimedia capabilities jointly produced for iPad, Kindle and Nook.

Fortitude marks the second title in the new MLB.com PLAY BALL BOOKS series, published in collaboration with Ecco/HarperCollins. Award-winning reporter and columnist Lyle Spencer, who has written about Major League Baseball and professional sports since 1971, authored Fortitude with contributions from additional MLB.com reporters. Since joining MLB.com in 2005, Spencer has covered the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The e-book features more than 20 minutes of interactive video, including rare archival footage, career highlights and interviews with, among others, Rachel Robinson, Sharon Robinson, Hank Aaron, Ralph Branca, former U.S. President George W. Bush, Henry Louis Gates, Tommy Lasorda, as well as thoughts through the years from Willie Mays and many more.

Basketball Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was born the day after Robinson made his historic Major League debut in 1947, wrote the e-book’s foreword, a heartfelt reflection on the impact Robinson had on his life. It reads, in part:

“Jackie Robinson was one of those giants in my life. His drive and commitment to becoming a superior athlete inspired me to work harder and push myself past what I thought were limits to heights I otherwise might not have dared to reach. He taught us that we can do better.”

Fortitude follows the release of Defending the Title, issued just before Opening Day, which covers the complete story of the San Francisco Giants 2012 World Championship season, as well as a history of great dynasties. The agreement between Ecco and MLBAM calls for the production of a new e-book at regular intervals throughout the baseball season and the off-season. MLB.com reporters and columnists will be authoring the e-books and MLBAM is supplying video, stats and other production assets.

“Our partnership with Ecco/HarperCollins in this new venture symbolizes our commitment to producing content for fans that is distinctive and memorable, in a format that blends great writing, historical footage and multimedia capabilities to bring Jackie’s era and his achievements to life,” said Dinn Mann, executive vice president, content, MLBAM.

“Books about baseball that combine great writing, outstanding design, unique and engaging video, photos and inspiring subject matter – a twenty first century publishing home run,” added Daniel Halpern, President and Publisher of Ecco.

Fortitude: The Exemplary Life of Jackie Robinson is available for download, along with Defending the Title, via MLB.com/playballbooks/fortitude and directly at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and Apple.com/itunes.

Source: Press Release