"These charming essays on baseball themes range from topics like first gloves--mine was a Rawlings Marty Marion model--to the tragic story of the Billy Southworths, father and son, to being relegated to right field or having troubles playing first base. These are tasty morsels."--Fay Vincent, former baseball commissioner
"Twenty wonderful writers--that's just enough for two full all-star teams--and two designated hitters."--Christine Brennan, USA Today sports columnist
Stefan Fatsis sends his "stunningly perfect, consummately perfect, why-would-anyone-use-anything-else? perfect" glove to be restored by the Glove Designer at Rawlings; Susan Perabo considers retiring from her imaginary career in the majors and assesses the likelihood of women finding actual careers on the baseball field; Sean Wilentz imagines a Cooperstown Fans' Hall of Fame, with its cowbells, frying pans, bedsheet banners, and more. And in one of the three previously published, now classic pieces in the collection, George Plimpton reflects on the slow demotion of aging or slumping players from pitcher to first base, to the outfield. United by the authors' fervent love of the game, these essays remind us of the unique role baseball plays in our national history and collective imagination.
A collaboration between SMU Press and the literary journal Creative Nonfiction.
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