Chris Ballard

I was drawn to this title because it sounded so similar to Hoosiers - an underdog team from a small Midwestern high school takes on much larger schools in a David vs. Goliath matchup. My father grew up in small town Illinois and I still have relatives there. This story of two magical years of Macon high school baseball in the early 1970s was everything I imagined, and more. It’s also the story of the unlikeliest of coaches, unconventional English teacher Lynn Sweet, who brings the very show more best out of his students and his players.

I got a laugh out of the description of one play in the 1971 post-season. The first baseman had to make a play against a much larger batter who was barreling down on him. The first baseman amazed himself and his teammates by making a bare-handed catch and turning a perfect backflip upon impact with the runner. The Savannah Bananas and other Banana Ball teams do this multiple times a game. Who knew that the Macon Ironmen did it first?!

Baseball and sports fans in general are an obvious audience for this book. It may also be of interest to educators since it goes into detail about teaching methods, school administration, and small-town politics. show less

If someone were to ask me about my favorite movie genre, it would be, hands down, motivational sports dramas (and yes, Netflix has a category for that). I am a sucker for any type of sports drama, whether I've actually played or followed the sport in my life. Add a dedicated and supportive team of really good kids (while a bit rambunctious at times) and a coach that really is a LEADER? Doubly hooked.

With that taken into account, I was happily suprised to find Ballard's gem of a book which show more recounts the 1970 and 1971 baseball season for Macon High School. It's been compared to Hoosiers, which I get.

Macon is a small town, made up of farmers and in comes this English Teacher who just doesn't fit the crew cut, "yes sir" type of norm, and insists on doing his own curriculum. As a reader, I cheered Lynn Sweet, because he got through to the kids and they flourished under his classroom guidance. (As a school principal, I would have had some words, but deep inside, would have been rooting him on as well, by the way.)

He finds himself in charge of the baseball team. I wouldn't say coaching, because he really turned it back to the boys, and guided them, more than anything. He was their biggest cheerleader, their confidant, their friend, and the boys did everything right. It truly was magical.

Ballard links the story with an assortment of facts that I found equally intriguing. He most definitely did his research on this team, and I loved hearing about what happened to the players after the 1971 series.

A truly wonderful, heartwarming read. Not long, but enough to keep you up late at night (or maybe that's just me)! Loved it!!! show less

A very entertaining story about the Macon High School Baseball team, in Macon, Illinois, and two of their seasons in 1970 and 1971. How an unconventional coach and teacher was able to get his team to the state championship. Funny to look back and see how long hair and mutton chop sideburns seemed to upset some town citizens. We forget about that time period of the late 60's, early 70's when compared to what is going on in high schools.

A great nonfiction story of the tiny town of Macon, IL and their improbable run at a state baseball championship in 1971. A tiny school of 250 faces huge odds going against some of the large powerhouse teams before there were divisions in the state championship system. A coach that definitely did not fit the normal definition of coach. A team of only 13 or 14 that fought to do the impossible. If you like David vs. Goliath stories you'll love this story. Events that shaped the lives of these show more young men and the small town they lived in come alive and stay with these men for life. A great story. show less