Calico Joe

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More About This Book

Overview

A surprising and moving novel of fathers and sons, forgiveness and redemption, set in the world of Major League Baseball…
 
 
Whatever happened to Calico Joe?
 
     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…
 
In John Grisham’s new novel the baseball is thrilling, but it’s what happens off the field that makes CALICO JOE a classic.

Editorial Reviews

From Barnes & Noble

It took just one pitch to change the lives of Cub slugger "Calico Joe" Castle and Mets hurler Warren Tracey. The paths of the rookie phenom and the hard-throwing, hard-partying pitcher converged in that terrible moment, but it is what they did in the months and years beyond that truly shaped their fate. A John Grisham novel bound to be a Father's Day gift.

— Sessalee Hensley

Kirkus Reviews
Only one player in Major League Baseball history has been hit and killed by a pitch, but bean balls—balls thrown near the head—have ended careers. Grisham's (The Litigators, 2011, etc.) novel imagines the act and its consequences. It's 1973, another magic baseball season. The National League East has six teams contending, among them the traditionally hapless Chicago Cubs, soon jinxed once again when its first baseman is injured. Now the Cubs must add a minor leaguer to the roster. That's Joe Castle, a kid from Calico Rock, Ark. Calico Joe immediately begins to set rookie records, leading the Cubs to the top of the standings. Watching from New York is Paul Tracey, a baseball fan as avid as only an 11-year-old boy can be. In fact, Paul's father pitches for the New York Mets, but Warren Tracey, "accustomed to getting whatever he wanted," is a jerk. Warren is a journeyman pitcher, solid in an occasional game, kicked around from one team to another, never an All Star. Warren also abuses his family, drinks and chases women. The novel unfolds from Paul's adult perspective, with flashbacks. The crucial plot point comes in a flashback when Calico Joe, putting up "mind-boggling" numbers over 38 games, meets Warren in Shea Stadium and hits a home run. During his next at bat, as part of some unwritten "code," Warren goes head-hunting and beans the young player. Calico Joe's career is over, and he drifts home to Calico Rock, partially paralyzed, speech impeded, to work as a groundskeeper rather than earning a plaque in baseball's Hall of Fame. Decades later, long estranged from his father, Paul learns that Warren is dying of pancreatic cancer, and he decides to force his father to confront what he did to Joe Castle. Interestingly, the novel's most fully formed character is Warren, and while the narrative and settings are solid, the story drifts toward a somewhat unsatisfying, perhaps too easy, conclusion. A reconciliation story, Hallmark style.
More Reviews (1) Fewer Reviews
Steven V. Roberts
John Grisham's legal thrillers are dense and hefty, full of twists and turns and tension. His latest novel, Calico Joe, is not like that at all. It's a sweet, simple story, a fable really. And like all fables, it has a moral: Good can come out of evil; it's never too late to confess your sins and seek forgiveness…if you believe in redemption—and who doesn't—you won't be disappointed. Grisham knows baseball as well as he knows crime.
—The Washington Post

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780385536073
  • Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
  • Publication date: 4/10/2012
  • Pages: 208
  • Sales rank: 74
  • Product dimensions: 5.82 (w) x 8.22 (h) x 0.88 (d)

Meet the Author

John Grisham
John Grisham
JOHN GRISHAM is the author of twenty-four novels, one work of nonfiction, a collection of stories, and two novels for young readers. He lives in Virginia and Mississippi.

Biography

As a young boy in Arkansas, John Grisham dreamed of being a baseball player. Fortunately for his millions of fans, that career didn't pan out. His family moved to Mississippi in 1967, where Grisham eventually received a law degree from Ole Miss and established a practice in Southaven for criminal and civil law. In 1983, Grisham was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives, where he served until 1990.

While working as an attorney, Grisham witnessed emotional testimony from the case of a young girl's rape. Naturally inquisitive, Grisham's mind started to wander: what if the terrible crime yielded an equally terrible revenge? These questions of right and wrong were the subject of his first novel, A Time to Kill (1988), written in the stolen moments before and between court appearances. The book wasn't widely distributed, but his next title would be the one to bring him to the national spotlight. The day after he finished A Time to Kill, Grisham began work on The Firm (1991), the story of a whiz kid attorney who joins a crooked law firm. The book was an instant hit, spent 47 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list, and was made into a movie starring Tom Cruise.

With the success of The Firm, Grisham resigned from the Mississippi House of Representatives to focus exclusively on his writing. What followed was a string of bestselling legal thrillers that demonstrated the author's uncanny ability to capture the unique drama of the courtroom. Several of his novels were turned into blockbuster movies.

In 1996, Grisham returned to his law practice for one last case, honoring a promise he had made before his retirement. He represented the family of a railroad worker who was killed on the job, the case went to trial, and Grisham won the largest verdict of his career when the family was awarded more than $650,000.

Although he is best known for his legal thrillers, Grisham has ventured outside the genre with several well-received novels (A Painted House, Bleachers, et al) and an earnest and compelling nonfiction account of small-town justice gone terribly wrong (The Innocent Man). The popularity of these stand-alones proves that Grisham is no mere one-trick pony but a gifted writer with real "legs."

Good To Know

A prolific writer, it takes Grisham an average of six months to complete a novel.

Grisham has the right to approve or reject whoever is cast in movies based on his books. He has even written two screenplays himself: Mickey and The Gingerbread Man.

Baseball is one of Grisham's great loves. He serves as the local Little League commissioner and has six baseball diamonds on his property, where he hosts games.

    1. Hometown:
      Oxford, Mississippi, and Albemarle County, Virginia
    1. Date of Birth:
      February 8, 1955
    2. Place of Birth:
      Jonesboro, Arkansas
    1. Education:
      B.S., Mississippi State, 1977; J.D., University of Mississippi, 1981
    2. Website:
      http://www.jgrisham.com

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4
( 141 )

Rating Distribution

5 Star

(56)

4 Star

(35)

3 Star

(24)

2 Star

(16)

1 Star

(10)

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 141 Customer Reviews

  • Posted April 13, 2012

    With this piece of work he does manage to touch on

    With this piece of work he does manage to touch on your inner child, fantasizing of playing with greats as a child, on your favorite team. With this there is that splash of drama, wishing the book jacket is wrong and maybe things don’t turn out the way the inevitably seem to be heading.
    I love Grisham novels. (As an Ole Miss Alum I love how he always finds a way to put us in there). While this is a rather short piece (142 pages on Nook) it is a nice light read. Spring is here and with the air becoming crisp, this is a perfect lazy Sunday Morning/Afternoon read. Go to the park open the first page and be home in time to start dinner.
    If you are looking for something short a sweet to pass some time, I would recommend this book. If you want a heart stopping drama you may want to look elsewhere.

    11 out of 13 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 14, 2012

    Disappointed

    I like Grisham novels but i was disappointed at how short this story was. I am a life long Cubs fan and the story nicely captured the enthusiasm and dedication of Cubs fans and revived old memories of Cubs baseball. Memories of a very different baseball era than todays baseball. A very poignant story.
    At only 142 pages, $12+ is a little steep for the ebook.

    6 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 12, 2012

    Great Story

    As a died in the wool Cubs fan and former resident of a Chicago suburb, this book spoke to me in a way that may not be the same for others. I could see my Dad & I standing in line to buy tickets to games and hear the cheers of the crowd. Yet this book wasn't just about baseball but about people, relationships and some of the unrecognized challenges of life. I loved this book.

    5 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 11, 2012

    Great story!!!!!!!!!!

    Great story!!!!!!!!!!

    5 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 14, 2012

    Baseball fans ideal read

    This is a great book about baseball & a son's courage to help a failure of a father find pride & redemption for the first time in his pathetic life

    4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 15, 2012

    Great read!

    A story of the past and the present woven with heartache, pain and yes, redemption. Easily read in one sitting.
    Such an emotional journey, such a fitting ending.
    I love the game of baseball and have enjoyed reading John Grisham's books for years. Nice to have the two combined!

    3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 14, 2012

    Loved it!!!

    Well-written and has emotion in it for anyone....great story...quick read

    3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 13, 2012

    Great Baseball Story

    John Grisham is so good at telling a gripper of a story. I'm a baseball fan and I knew Tony Kubek from high school. You will think it is a true story ,but so tragic in the circumstances of the lives of the main charactures. Kind of liked to have seen Joe play for real. Short but sweet. If you liked Playing For Pizza you'll love this book too. Thanks Mr. Grisham

    3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 18, 2012

    Not up to his standards.

    I like and follow baseball but this was not a good read. I have read all of his books but did not enjoy this one.

    2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 15, 2012

    Another great Grisham story. I believe John Grisham is America'

    Another great Grisham story. I believe John Grisham is America's storyteller.

    2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 15, 2012

    Terrebad

    It was terrebadly horible

    2 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 15, 2012

    Another Great Story

    A+++

    2 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 4, 2012

    Familiarity with top names in 1970's baseball helps considerably

    Familiarity with top names in 1970's baseball helps considerably in the enjoyment of this story. You don't have to go too deep into the roster, but if you don't know who Rick Monday is you probably won't make it to the 7th inning stretch of this book. If you stick with it to the end you'll be rewarded with a nice, comfortable win. No bottom of the 9th, down by 3, 2-out, full count, bases loaded drama. But an enjoyable Sunday afternoon anyway.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 26, 2012

    The best book ever

    I absolutly loved it and i was sad that it ended

    1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 24, 2012

    I have purchased every book by John Grisham. This was the worst

    I have purchased every book by John Grisham. This was the worst, not sure I would recommend this to anyone. I thought he was my favorite author, not now.

    1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 19, 2012

    You gotta love baseball!

    Could not finish this book. So much accounting of play after play I just couldn't stay wth it after about 45 pages. Do not recommend unless you are way into the game ad history of bseball.

    1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted April 13, 2012

    more from this reviewer

    John Grisham is one of the most recognizable names in fiction to

    John Grisham is one of the most recognizable names in fiction today. He is well known for his legal thrillers, but has also written a number of novels outside of that genre. His latest - Calico Joe - fall into that category.

    Paul Tracey gets a call one day - Warren, the father he hasn't seen in years, is dying. Paul's reaction? "After a few minutes, I admit the truth - life without Warren will be the same as life with him."

    But this call does stir up old hurts, memories and unfinished business. We're taken back to Paul's childhood for the beginning of the tale. Warren made it to the big leagues - he was a pitcher for the Mets in 1973. He was also a womanizer, a hard drinker, a man with a temper and a man with a family who was happy to not have him home. Paul loved baseball as well. He played himself and could cite the stats on any team. When a young phenom named Joe from Calico Rock, Arkansas is called up to play for the Cubs, he takes the country (and young Paul) by storm. Never before has there been such a player. And then the Mets and the Cubs face off...

    Yes, Calico Joe is a sports story, but it's much more than that. It's the story of a father and son and redemption. I played ball when I was younger, so the sports stats didn't throw me at all and won't detract from the story for non sports readers. They really set the scene for the emotional strings that Grisham deftly pulls as he carefully builds the story of Calico Joe, young Paul and his father.

    Calico Joe is listed as a novel, but I thought of it more as story telling. I could picture myself listening to this one over the radio in days gone by or sitting listening to a retired player sharing a tale from the old days. As one character in the book says "But it doesn't matter: he loves to talk and tell stories....I am delighted to be here and happy to listen."

    As was I. A one sitting read and another home run from Grisham.

    1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 25, 2012

    Boring

    Not interesyting

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 25, 2012

    Not recommended

    Although a fan of Grisham, I can't honestly recommend this "novelette" In my opinion Grisham should stick to criminal and courtroom drama! Calico Joe is a slow moving, dreary, flashback riddled, pathos themed account of the short, tragic stardom of a baseball player and a father/son's dysfunctional relationship. It is livened up only with the authors generous use of what read like actual baseball innings and games, (with the exception of the heroics of Calico Joe).
    Teenagers might enjoy it much more that older readers.

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  • Posted May 21, 2012

    Eleven year-old PauI Tracey idolizes Joe Castle, the greatest-ev

    Eleven year-old PauI Tracey idolizes Joe Castle, the greatest-ever young player out of the Cub’s farm teams. Paul is also the son of Warren Tracey, an on again – off again – alcoholic, abusive, jealous New York pitcher. Paul dreads, yet looks forward to the day when his dad will face Joe Castle in a game; “My father versus my hero.” When Paul, who knows his father’s “old school” rules, sees cues that his dad is going to put Joe in his place, Paul knows what’s going to happen. The horror of that moment lingers with him all his life…until he hears that his estranged father is dying of cancer. That starts Paul on a journey to attempt to bring some peace to the wrong that was done in the summer of 1973.
    My husband has no fond memories of Little League although he wasn’t bullied about his play after every game by an abusive dad. Reading the story was fun because the Cubs mentioned, Kessinger, Banks, Monday, were the only team I followed in all the years I’ve lived in Chicago. Using the Cubs, with their loyal, always optimistic, always disappointed fans, for this story of sports triumph and tragedy was a perfect choice. Paul’s relationship with his dad is depressing. Joe Castle’s relationship with his family and small town supporters is heart-warming. Grisham somehow brings the two together and makes the resolution feel complete…although not “right” to this reader. The story is entertaining but unsettling; except for Joe Castle and his brothers – the characters didn’t charm me.
    Three Stars

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