{"product_id":"bear-down-the-true-story-of-a-man-a-town-and-two-words-9781808409745","title":"Bear Down: The True Story of a Man, a Town and Two Words","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBefore \"Bear Down\" became a fight song, a stadium tradition, and a rallying cry, it was the final message of a twenty-two-year-old young man.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJohn Byrd \"Button\" Salmon grew up in the copper mining town of Bisbee, Arizona surrounded by hard men, border conflict, political unrest, baseball legends, and a community being transformed by forces far beyond its canyon walls.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSmall in stature but impossible to overlook, Button carried that toughness with him to the University of Arizona. He became a football player, baseball catcher, student leader, and eventually president of the student body- a young man admired as much for his character as for what he accomplished on the field.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThen, in October 1926, everything changed.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAfter a devastating automobile accident left Button fighting for his life, legendary Arizona coach J.F. \"Pop\" McKale visited his hospital room night after night. On the evening before Button died, McKale asked whether he had a message for his teammates.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eButton did.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"\u003cstrong\u003eTell them...tell the team to bear down.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe words did not die with him.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDrawing from newspapers, yearbooks, archival records, legal documents, and firsthand recollections, \u003cstrong\u003eBEAR DOWN\u003c\/strong\u003e uncovers the remarkable world that shaped Button Salmon-- and traces how one young man's final message became an enduring University of Arizona tradition.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMore than a sports biography, \u003cstrong\u003eBEAR DOWN\u003c\/strong\u003e is a sweeping work of narrative nonfiction about family, Bisbee, courage, tragedy, loyalty, and the mysterious way a few simple words can outlive the person who spoke them.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOne man. One town. Two Words. A legacy that has endured for a century.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Phil Buehler\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 09\/08\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781808409745\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 220\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.02lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.56d","brand":"Phil Buehler","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53459234390197,"sku":"9781808409745","price":29.74,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/files\/9781808409745.jpg?v=1791297858","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/bear-down-the-true-story-of-a-man-a-town-and-two-words-9781808409745","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}