It began quietly enough with a pulled hamstring. The first baseman for the Cubs AAA affiliate in Wichita went down as he rounded third and headed for home. The next day, Jim Hickman, the first baseman for the Cubs, injured his back. The team suddenly needed someone to play first, so they reached down to their AA club in Midland, Texas, and called up a twenty-one-year-old named Joe Castle. He was the hottest player in AA and creating a buzz.
In the summer of 1973 Joe Castle was the boy wonder of baseball, the greatest rookie anyone had ever seen. The kid from Calico Rock, Arkansas dazzled Cub fans as he hit home run after home run, politely tipping his hat to the crowd as he shattered all rookie records.
Calico Joe quickly became the idol of every baseball fan in America, including Paul Tracey, the young son of a hard-partying and hard-throwing Mets pitcher. On the day that Warren Tracey finally faced Calico Joe, Paul was in the stands, rooting for his idol but also for his Dad. Then Warren threw a fastball that would change their lives forever…
I could not put this book down. I was engrossed in the father/son relationship as well as the story of Joe Castle You know what is coming and the suspense of it keeps you turning the pages. Warren is a hard character to like even at the end when the chance for redemption comes. Grisham is best known for his legal thrillers, but I have liked his non-legal thrillers just as much. You do not need to be a baseball fan to enjoy this novel. This will make a great gift book! It goes on sale April 10th.
Thanks Joe Gallagher and Doubleday Publishing Group, I have two copies available. Sorry, US addresses only. No PO Boxes.
If you would like to be entered for a copy, please leave a comment and tell me if you are a baseball fan, if you have a favorite team and/or player. My daughter is a huge baseball fan and has a goal to see a game at every major league field. Tell me which major league fields you have visited.
Two winners will randomly be drawn on April 1st.
3 Bears
This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from Joe Gallagher and Doubleday and in no way influenced my review of this book. These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.