Los Angeles Times Encyclopedia of the Lakers

From Paula Abdul, former Laker Girl, to Zeke from Cabin Creek, a.k.a. Jerry West, the Encyclopedia of the Lakers is a thorough history of the team. Compiled to celebrate the team's 50th anniversary in 1998, the Encyclopedia follows the franchise from its founding as the Minnesota Lakers (from the ashes of the Detroit Gems, trivia buffs take note), its move to Los Angeles in 1960, its glory years in the 1980s, and the hard times in the 1990s. Every Laker, from Kareem to Wayne Yates, is featured in a capsule biography, as are other members of the Laker family--broadcaster Chick Hearn, performer Dancing Barry, and "First Fan" Jack Nicholson. There's also plenty of storytelling--like the day Mark Landsberger spilled a chocolate shake on his jersey and had to play in purple, gold, and brown; or the time when owner Jack Kent Cooke placed balloons in the rafters at the Forum to celebrate their win over the Celtics in the 1969 NBA finals and had to donate them to a children's hospital when the Lakers lost; or the chaotic press conference where Pat Riley was named coach. Detailed statistics on each player and every season, 1948 to 1998, round out this useful book. A great accessory for any Lakers fan. --Sunny Delaney