Andrew Maraniss

Appearing Courtesy of The Arizona Daily Star

New York Times best-selling author Andrew Maraniss writes sports-and history-related nonfiction, telling stories with a larger social message. His new book,"Singled Out," is a biography of Glenn Burke, the first openly gay Major League Baseball player and inventor of the high-five. 

His first book, "Strong Inside," received the Lillian Smith Book Award for civil rights and the RFK Book Awards' Special Recognition Prize for social justice, becoming the first sports-related book ever to win either award. His young readers adaptation of "Strong Inside" was named one of the Top Biographies for Youth by the American Library Association and was named a Notable Social Studies Book by the Children's Book Council.

His acclaimed second book, "Games of Deception," was a Sydney Taylor Honor Award recipient, Junior Library Guild selection and Notable Social Studies Book.

Maraniss is a contributor to ESPN's sports and race website, TheUndefeated.com and is a visiting author at the Vanderbilt University Athletic Department, where he manages the Sports & Society Initiative. He was media relations manager for Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays during the team’s inaugural season of 1998.

Maraniss was born in Madison, Wisc., grew up in Washington, D.C., and now lives in Nashville with his wife, Alison, and two young children. 

Visit website |

Awards: Lillian Smith Book Award, RFK Book Awards' Special Recognition Prize, Sydney Taylor Honor Award

Play Ball: Risk, Equity, and Social Justice

Sports involves much more than playing ball. Athletes face and resist societal issues of equity and social justice. Three award-winning authors of memoir, biography and fantasy provide unique perspectives on the risks and challenges that go far beyond the game.

Stocker Foundation Children/Teen Stage (Seats 1000)
Sun, Mar 7, 2021, 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Children / Teens
Watch broadcast

Panelists: Andrew Maraniss, Neal Shusterman, Gene Luen Yang
Moderator: Tracy Smiles

One Strike and You're Out

Andrew Maraniss will discuss his newly published book, "Singled Out," and the challenges faced by Dodger outfielder Glenn Burke, baseball's first openly gay player. He was pressured into leaving the sport after only three years.

Arizona Daily Star Stage (Seats 1000)
Sun, Mar 7, 2021, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Children / Teens
Watch broadcast

Panelist: Andrew Maraniss
Moderator: Caitlin Schmidt