In the winter of 1956, Phillip Hoose was a gawky, uncoordinated 9-year-old boy just moved to a new townβSpeedway, Indianaβand trying to fit into a new school and circle of friends. Baseball was his passion, even though he was terrible at it and constantly shamed by his lack of ability. But he had one thing going for him that his classmates could never haveβhis second cousin was a pitcher for the New York Yankees. Don Larsen wasnβt a star, but he was in the Yankeesβ rotation. And on October 8, 1956, he pitched perhaps the greatest game that has ever been pitched: a perfect game (27 batters up, 27 out) against the Brooklyn Dodgers in the World Series. It forever changed Philβs life. Perfect, Once Removed, recalls with pitch-perfect clarity the angst and jubilation of Phil Hooseβs 9th year. To be published on the 50th anniversary of The Perfect Game, it will be one of the best baseball books of 2006.
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