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One Shot at Forever: A Small Town, an…
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One Shot at Forever: A Small Town, an Unlikely Coach, and a Magical Baseball Season  (edition 2013)

by Chris Ballard

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2019133,991 (4.34)6
In 1971, a small-town high school baseball team from rural Illinois playing with hand-me-down uniforms and peace signs on their hats defied convention and the odds. Led by an English teacher with no coaching experience, the Macon Ironmen emerged from a field of 370 teams to become the smallest school in Illinois history to make the state final, a distinction that still stands. There, sporting long hair, and warming up to Jesus Christ Superstar, the Ironmen would play a dramatic game against a Chicago powerhouse that would change their lives forever.… (more)
Member:lostbooks
Title:One Shot at Forever: A Small Town, an Unlikely Coach, and a Magical Baseball Season 
Authors:Chris Ballard
Info:Hachette Books (2013), Paperback, 288 pages
Collections:Your library
Rating:*****
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One Shot at Forever: A Small Town, an Unlikely Coach, and a Magical Baseball Season by Chris Ballard

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» See also 6 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 9 (next | show all)
This is a great story of a small town baseball team that made an improbable run at the Illinois high school baseball championship in 1971, in the days when small schools and big schools played each other in the postseason. It's also a story of how a young teacher/coach transformed his players, students, and, to some degree, the town of Macon, IL.

I grew up in Decatur and Champaign, so it was an added bonus for me that Macon is close to Decatur and Lynn Sweet's family settled in Champaign. Fred Schooley, one of Sweet's Champaign friends, taught and coached at Champaign Central when I went there. It was a pleasant surprise to find him in the story. Macon also played at Champaign Central's McKinley Field, which is where Central's baseball team still plays.

Highly recommended for people who like a good sports story, especially those who live in Central Illinois. ( )
  tsmom1219 | Feb 24, 2022 |
A teriffic book about small towns, high school sports and the culture wars of the Vietnam Era. ( )
  JNSelko | Aug 30, 2019 |
A great story of overcoming the odds. ( )
  FormerEnglishTeacher | Jun 18, 2018 |
Small town, high school baseball, and the state championship run. This had to be one of my favorite baseball books now! ( )
  capiam1234 | Jun 12, 2017 |
A nice quick read. I would have loved to play for their coach. He sounds like a great guy. ( )
  Hassanchop | Jul 4, 2016 |
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In 1971, a small-town high school baseball team from rural Illinois playing with hand-me-down uniforms and peace signs on their hats defied convention and the odds. Led by an English teacher with no coaching experience, the Macon Ironmen emerged from a field of 370 teams to become the smallest school in Illinois history to make the state final, a distinction that still stands. There, sporting long hair, and warming up to Jesus Christ Superstar, the Ironmen would play a dramatic game against a Chicago powerhouse that would change their lives forever.

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Tantor Media

An edition of this book was published by Tantor Media.

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