Just Like Me Volume 1

Author : Kelly G Park

Book Type : Non-Fiction

Baseball Almanac's favorite read of 2021 When the Pros Played on the Sandlot Did you ever wonder what “your” childhood heroes’ childhood was like? I did, so I decided to find out. Just...

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ISBN/ASIN: 9781620064016

Baseball Almanac's favorite read of 2021

When the Pros Played on the Sandlot

Did you ever wonder what “your” childhood heroes’ childhood was like? I did, so I decided to find out.

Just Like Me: When the Pros Played on the Sandlot is the first book to tell the story of professional baseball players’ memories of playing baseball and softball as kids. What I found is a collection of stories from the Pros you and I can directly relate whether we were the best player on the team or simply the kid that could blow the biggest bubblegum bubble, I listened in amazement as these pros told stories that could have come from our childhood; stories of playing pick-up games, begging our parents for that brand new glove and what to do when you’re on deck and “mother nature” calls. In the player’s own words, you will be taken to the ball fields of the professional player’s youth and come to realize that you experienced some of the same joys and heartaches as the Pro and, in the end, realize that the Pro’s experiences are just like your own both on and off the ball field.

Players interviewed for this book include Hall of Famers, Negro League, and All American Girls Professional Baseball League stars and fan favorites from Major League Baseball. Each player has recounted many amazing stories growing up playing baseball and softball, stories of amusing and impactful events that shaped both their adult life and professional baseball career.

by Kelly G. Park
Page Count: 232
Trim Size: 6 x 9
Publish Date: August 26, 2020
Imprint: Sunbury Press
Genre: Sports, Biography

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Unique baseball knowledge that you won’t find on the backs of cards!

Just Like Me gathers the reflections of several retired professional baseball players about their youth and coming-of-age in the sport of baseball. It features the baseball and life experiences of mostly older players like Boog Powell, Fergie Jenkins, White Herzog, and Lou Piniellea, but also includes some more recent pro players like Lou Whitaker and Willie Blair. Adding variety to the stories is the fact that players are from both the MLB and Negro Leagues. Interestingly, two female players Lois Youngen and Katie Horstman are also featured. Both played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (yes, the one in A League of Their Own) and added unique perspectives to the book. All the content was presented in a pleasant conversational tone.

The book is organized nicely by various topics –one individual topic per chapter with information from each player. There isn’t any transitional material to start or end chapters. That is good because the conversational tone isn’t broken up, but might make the topic changes a bit jarring for some readers. I would have liked a little primer leading into the players’ responses, but it certainly didn’t have a hugely negative effect on my reading.

If you’re into baseball, Just Like Me will have you thinking about your old playing days and will definitely have you pining for Opening Day. In the meantime, finish the book and enjoy all the unique baseball knowledge that you won’t find on the backs of cards.