The History of Fantasy Sports: And the Stories of the People Who Made It Happen

The History of Fantasy Sports is the first and only comprehensive history documenting a global pop-culture and multi-billion-dollar business empire. People love fantasy sports. That's why there are games for everything from football to wakeboarding to the Iditarod. It brings people together: fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, co-workers, and friends who otherwise might have drifted apart. It's a world where a plumber and the CEO of a major company sit at the same draft table, talking like best buddies.
That's why Barack Obama played fantasy football while running for president. That's why 40% of players in a survey stated they expect to keep playing until they die. But the full story of this massive social and entrepreneurial phenomenon has never been told-until now. In this first-ever complete history, Amazon bestselling author Larry Schechter reveals the hilarious, inspiring, and underdog stories behind it all.
After 18 months of exclusive interviews with the pioneers, tech disruptors, and everyday visionaries, you'll discover:. The real origin of fantasy baseball (no, it didn't happen on an airplane!). How a World War II hero helped spread fantasy football across the country. Five nuns in a Chicago convent co-managing a fantasy football team. A dedicated player with ALS finally winning his league after 39 years.
The surprising role Monica Lewinsky played in saving fantasy sports. And dozens more stories of obsession, innovation, and underdog success. This isn't a dry textbook-it's an entertaining, page-turning narrative celebrating passion turned into empire. Praised as "simply fascinating from start to finish" by Midwest Book Review and lauded by industry leaders for its depth and storytelling. Importantly, it is not a strategy or how-to guide, making it highly engaging for both die-hard fantasy players and general readers alike.
CRITICAL ACCLAIM:"Schechter condenses hundreds of years of history into an easy-to-read, entertaining narrative..."- Book Life (Publishers Weekly) "Impressively informative, exceptionally well organized... simply fascinating read from start to finish... especially recommended for library collections."- Midwest Book Review"Despite spending my entire career in the industry, I was enlightened by all the interviews and countless stories throughout the book."- Paul Charchian, President of the Fantasy Sports Trade Association (2009-2020) "This is the definitive history of fantasy sports.
Schechter brings remarkable detail to the then-and-now dynamic of fantasy..."- Joe Lemire, Sports Business Journal "This is a must-read for any passionate fantasy sports fan."- Tristan Cockcroft, ESPN.com Senior Fantasy Sports Writer "This is a fun look back at how fantasy sports has grown from its infancy into the absolute monster that it is today."- Michael Fabiano, Senior Fantasy Analyst for Sports Illustrated "What sets this book apart is its ability to bridge the gap between historical data and the human elements of the fantasy sports community.
This is a must-read."- Mark Mariani, CBS Sports and Turner Sports "Unlike most sports history books, this is fun to read."- Mark Stevenson, Book Reviewer "This book interested me because my husband, brother, father, and son have played and continue to play on fantasy sports teams.It's an amazing story about friendship, sports, business, and passion."- Sharon Orlopp, Author and Former Global Chief Diversity Officer, Walmart