The Bullpen Gospels: Major League Dreams of a Minor League Veteran (edition 2010)

Two new baseball books have arrived at our library. Bottom of the 33rd, by Dan Barry and The Bullpen Gospels by Dirk Hayhurst.

The Bullpen Gospels has been called, “One of the best baseball books ever written.” and “Hilarious, poignant, a really enjoyable read.” It’s a New York Times Bestseller, so it must be good. And perhaps it is funny, to those who have lived the life of a minor league ballplayer. But it wasn’t funny for me.
Read the rest of my review at: http://booksmoviesandgames.wordpress.com/2011/07/28/double-play-two-new-baseball... ( )

I won this book in a contest and didn't have any expectations about it but I absolutely loved it! In this biographical work, Dirk Hayhurst takes you through the last few years of his baseball career in the minor leagues when he starts to question whether it’s worth it to spend another year fighting to stay in the minors just to keep his dream of playing in the big leagues alive.
In between his moments of introspection, Hayhurst vividly describes the good, the bad and the ugly of life in the minors. He hilariously describes the shenanigans of his teammates, members of that particular breed of savages also known as baseball players. I couldn’t help laughing out loud while reading, much to the consternation of my fellow bus riders.
This book made me realize that not every player instantly becomes a major leaguer with multi-million dollar contracts. Most guys have to work at it and many never make it at all. Also, there’s no glamour in the life of a minor league player, it’s hours of bus travel, bad food and sometimes even worse accommodations.
All in all, you don’t have to be a baseball fan to enjoy this book. Hayhursts’s account is much more than a book about baseball. It’s a book about choices, personal identity, friendship and family. It’s a book about life. ( )

If he pitches as well as he tells yarns, Hayhurst's a natural for the Hall of Fame ( )

I can't say it's "the best baseball book ever written", but it is an entertaining read.