The University of Maine has a long and storied athletic history, one that dates back to the Black Bears’ first program, the 1881 baseball team.

Thousands of players have earned the coveted “M” representing the state’s flagship university in the 126 years since and now there is a definitive resource that covers UMaine’s sports history.

UMaine alumnus Stuart Haskell (Class of 1956) of Old Town has chronicled all the highs and lows in a comprehensive sports almanac called, “The Maine Book, University of Maine Athletics 1881-2007.”

“What I really wanted to do in this project was to bring together, in one location, all of the pertinent information about Maine’s teams,” said Haskell, a Lincoln native and former UMaine athletic director (1982-87).

He spent the last six-plus years researching the book and methodically typing the information into his computer, getting great assistance from his daughter Caryn Ford, who works in the UMaine football office.

Haskell said because of society’s tendency to call modern teams the “greatest” or today’s heroes the “best,” his desire was to immortalize all the men and women who competed so hard and coached with such dedication at UMaine over the years.

“I wanted to do it before it was too late – too late for me and too late for many of the outstanding athletes and coaches in the history of Maine sports,” Haskell said.

Haskell is deeply rooted in UMaine athletics. He started there in 1966 as the business manager and later became assistant athletic director and eventually athletic director. He worked with many notable UMaine staff members such as Harold Westerman and the late Ted Curtis and Sam Sezak.

In 1970, Haskell compiled his first book, “Varsity Athletic Record Book, University of Maine, Orono,” detailing the history of UMaine’s varsity men’s teams.

This time, he didn’t want to leave anybody out.

“The Maine Book” includes 750 pages of information, listed alphabetically from archery through wrestling, two sports UMaine no longer offers.

For each sport, Haskell has listed the full names of every man and woman who earned a UMaine varsity letter, including seasons of participation and year of graduation, along with men who earned freshman letters when that system was in place from the 1920s into the 1970s.

With the valuable assistance of Debbie Ramp, Valerie Mitchell and the folks at the UMaine General Alumni Association, the book also includes the date of death for former athletes and coaches.

The almanac includes game and meet scores of virtually all varsity and freshman contests, names of coaches, most assistant coaches and team captains, and statistical leaders in many sports.

There also are conference standings for every season and the names of all-conference performers, along with individual team records in most sports. The book lists the names of All-Americans and those who played at the highest professional level.

There are more than 400 photographs of teams and individuals and several special sections about UMaine programs that help support athletics.

“This one is about as all-inclusive as you could get. It’s 750 pages and I could have added another hundred, easily,” said Haskell, who cited printing costs as the reason for not further expanding the volume.

“The Maine Book” also serves as the definitive resource for understanding the history of UMaine women’s sports, which began, in the modern era, with field hockey (1972).

Women’s basketball actually played games from 1920 to 1931, while field hockey’s first phase spanned 1923-1930. Archery (1925-30) and riflery (1920s) also had women’s squads or female team members.

“I wasn’t even aware [when writing the varsity book in 1970] that there had been varsity sports for women [in the 1920s and ’30s],” he said.

Haskell worked 30 to 40 hours per week researching and typing. His study included countless hours reviewing newspaper accounts, principally from the Bangor Daily News, on microfiche.

He submitted the book to the UMaine Department of Printing Services in sections, one sport at a time, as each was completed.

“I wouldn’t say I ever got discouraged because it was just so fascinating,” Haskell said of undertaking such a daunting project. “I got tired of the computer work at times.”

University Credit Union provided financial assistance for the book, which already has sold some 500 copies. It costs $34.95 and can be purchased at these locations: UMaine Bookstore (and on its Web site, www.bookstore.umaine.edu), Bear Necessities at Alfond Arena, the Alumni Association office at the Buchanan Alumni House on campus and at the Orono and Bangor branches of the University Credit Union.

Haskell said if 800 copies can be sold to cover all costs, the remaining proceeds will go into a need-based athletic scholarship fund administered by the University of Maine Foundation.

“The Maine Book” would make a terrific Christmas present or birthday gift for any UMaine fan, history buff, former Black Bear athlete, coach, staff member or alumnus – or relatives of those folks.

“I think it’s something people will keep for a long time and hand it down to their children or grandchildren,” he said.

“The Maine Book, University of Maine Athletics 1881-2007,” by Stuart Haskell, 750 pages, $34.95.

Available at: UMaine Bookstore (and on its Web site, www.bookstore.umaine.edu), Bear Necessities at Alfond Arena, the Alumni Association office at the Buchanan Alumni House on campus and at the Orono and Bangor branches of the University Credit Union.