More than 50 million Americans play fantasy sports. Another 200 million play fantasy cricket in India alone. Yet until now, no one has written a comprehensive account of how this phenomenon evolved from spontaneous ideas decades ago into the multi-billion-dollar global industry it is today.
Larry Schechter, author of the 2013 Amazon bestseller Winning Fantasy Baseball, spent 18 months tracking down and interviewing the pioneers who built this industry from scratch. His new book, “The History of Fantasy Sports: And the Stories of the People Who Made It Happen”, tells their stories—and according to early reviews, it’s not the dry historical tome you might expect.
The Untold Stories Behind a Cultural Phenomenon
“Simply fascinating read from start to finish,” wrote the Midwest Book Review. That assessment comes from someone who doesn’t even play fantasy sports, suggesting Schechter succeeded in making the entrepreneurial stories accessible beyond the typical fan base.
The book digs into how entrepreneurs transformed casual games into legitimate businesses. These weren’t tech moguls with venture capital backing—they were obsessed fans who saw potential where others saw a hobby. Through dozens of interviews with key players and industry founders, Schechter uncovered stories that are equal parts inspirational, funny, and revealing about American business culture.
“Despite spending my entire career in the industry, I was enlightened by all the interviews and countless stories throughout the book,” said Paul Charchian, who served as President of the Fantasy Sports Trade Association from 2009 to 2020.
Beyond Football and Baseball
While most people associate fantasy sports with football and baseball, the industry has expanded far beyond traditional team sports. Today there are fantasy versions for basketball, hockey, soccer, cricket, bull riding, bass fishing, and even the Iditarod. What connects all these variations is the same entrepreneurial spirit that launched the original fantasy sports concepts decades ago.
Book reviewer Mark Stevenson noted that “unlike most sports history books, this is fun to read”—a deliberate choice by Schechter, who avoided the academic research paper format in favor of narrative storytelling.
A Different Kind of Sports Book
The book captures what drove these entrepreneurs: passion, obsession, and genuine love for their games. Many started with humble beginnings, running operations from home offices or spare bedrooms, before building multi-million-dollar enterprises. Their stories reveal how niche communities can grow into mainstream markets when the right people refuse to give up on an idea.
For the millions who participate in fantasy leagues each season, this comprehensive history offers context for the platforms and formats they use every week. For everyone else, it’s a case study in how American entrepreneurs can create entirely new markets from nothing more than an idea and determination.
The book is now available for purchase on Amazon, where readers can find additional details and reviews. Representatives note that it makes an ideal gift for the millions who play fantasy sports or for anyone interested in entrepreneurial success stories.
