Table of Contents
Introduction xi
1 For Love of the Game
A Baseball for Dad Patrick Thomson 2
No Crying in Baseball Michael O'Connor 7
Barter Up, Dad Anne Carter 11
The Only Way I Know Cal Ripken Mike Ryan 14
The Lost Ball Dan Connolly 20
Special Delivery from Michigan Neal Shine 24
A Binding Contract Don Wade 30
The Sermon on the Mound Orel Hershiser 34
It's Baseball Season Denise Turner 41
Watching the Next Mark McGwire? Woody Woodburn 44
My Finest Hour Dave Jan Dravecky Kett Gire 47
2 A Day at the Ballpark
My Quest for a Baseball Doug Lesmerises 54
Get Lost, Kid! Bob Batz 60
The Mad Hungarian's Fastball Dave Barry 64
The Impossible Dream Peggy Spence 68
A Proud Father Phil Arvia 71
The Whistle Story Bill Goldberg as told to Anita Gogno 74
A Three-Million-Dollar Grab Daniel Paisner 77
A Magical Moment Stephen Yudelson 82
A Little Faith Led to Miracle Catch Steven Moore 86
A Father and Son's Fall Classic Bob Greene 90
The Best Game I Never Saw Darrel Radford 95
3 Defining Moments
The Legend William G. Tapply 100
Living His Dream Dan Raley 107
That's Why Cod Made Tall Infielders Tommy Lasorda Ernie Witham 110
A Glove Story Woody Woodburn 112
The Heart of the Game Steve Minnick 117
My First Home Run Jeff Kidd 121
One Hit Makes All the Difference Doug Lesmerises 125
Catch of a Lifetime R. Gregory Alonzo 128
The Foul Ball Gary D'Amato 130
Hero for the Day Clive Cussler 133
Winning Isn't Everything Mary Owen 136
4 Heroes
Man of His Word Ralph Kiner 140
True Heroes Earn the Title Michael J. Feigum 147
The Big Friendly Cop Woody Woodburn 149
Meeting My Favorite Player Carol Costa 153
A True Hero Joe Haakenson 157
The Day I Met The Splendid Splinter Ted Janse 160
Hero of the Game Dan Connolly 164
The Last Game Linda Poynter 169
One Man, Alone Hal Bock 174
5 From the Dugout
A Batboy Looks Back Mark Stodghill 180
A Game of Life Jayson Stark 183
A Magical Baseball Player John McNamara 187
Dad's Field of Dreams Mike Royko 190
Who's Number One? Kenneth L. Montgomery 193
Big Leaguers' Little League Memories Alan Schwarz 195
Lessons in Living a Humble Life James Breig 198
Play Ball! Sharon Shearer Harsh 202
Roger Maris and Me Andy Strasberg 205
6 Heading for Home
My Father's Voice Jake Mannon Lois J. Mannon 212
Spring Sounds, Spring Dreams Paul Delia Valle 217
A Little League Mom Harry Del Grande 220
A Guide to Little League Parenting Ernie Witham 221
Yerr Out! Clark Cothern 225
The Cold Breeze of Baseball Dale Wannen 228
Bringing Up Son… and Father, Too Ellen Goodman 232
Something Wonderful Robert Remler 235
The Bravest Man Mickey Mantle Robert W. Creamer 238
A Game of Catch Rick Carson 243
A Father's Glove Philip Singenman 247
7 Field of Dreams
The Chase Jeffrey Flanagan 256
Hot Dog Heaven Steve Carlson 262
Home Free! David E. Morine 266
Trying to Fulfill a Dream Ken Rosenthal 274
The Second Time Around Richard Justice 277
Rediscovering My Dream Dom Amore 283
Days of Heaven Philip Ross 288
8 Wisdom of the Game
The Unforgettable Charlie Brown Alan Schwarz 296
Three Strikes of Life Michael Finley 300
My Uncle and Me Pat Jordan 303
Diapers and Diamonds Ron Reid 310
Life with Father Steve Salerno 311
Bringing Parents Up to Code Rick Reilly 317
The Boys of Bummer Dave Barry 321
The Power of Motivation Tommy Lasorda Ernie Witham 325
T-Ball and the Beaver Judge Keith J. Leenhouts 327
9 Bottom of the Ninth
Memories of My Hero Scott Pitoniak 332
Giant Killer! Kyle Moylan 335
A Cup for the Coach Joanne P. Brady 339
Back When Audrey Curran 340
Coming Out of Retirement Scott Pitoniak 342
A Childhood Memory Jeff Zillgitt 345
So Many Things to Love About America's Game Howie Stalwick 350
Still Dangerous Jack Myers 353
Full Circle Lawrence S. Ritter 357
Who Is Jack Canfield? 358
Who Is Mark Victor Hansen? 359
Who Are Mark and Chrissy Donnelly? 360
Who Is Tommy Lasorda? 361
Contributors 364
Permissions 374