Review by Booklist Review
Sam Ward is a 32-year-old career minor leaguer called up for a September cup of coffee with the Chicago Cubs. Ernie Kolcka is a veteran umpire who'll end a lengthy career with the season's final game between the Cubs and the Phillies. The winner of the game will go on to the play-offs; the loser goes home. Circumstances coalesce to entangle Ward and Kolcka. Sore arms and injuries force the Cubs to pitch Ward despite his lack of experience. Meanwhile, Kolcka is asked to fix the game by the man who saved his life during the Korean War. As the game progresses, we experience the action both from the mound with Ward and from behind the plate with Kolcka. As the lead shifts, each man reconsiders his life and ponders the future. Bouton, former big-league pitcher and the infamous author of Ball Four (1970), the first tell-all, behind-the-scenes baseball expos{{‚}}e, handles the scenes from Ward's perspective. Asinof, best known for Eight Men Out (1963), an account of the 1919 Chicago Black Sox scandal, presents Kolcka's view. As drama, this is as predictable as Rocky; as a thoughtful study of two men facing a personal crossroad, though, it works well. Both characters have severely damaged their key relationships in order to pursue their careers; both are forced to examine their obsessions and priorities through the course of the game. This is a readable and reasonably entertaining baseball thriller that will profit from the Bouton name on the title page. (Reviewed Apr. 1, 1994)0670852147Wes Lukowsky
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
It's the last day of the baseball season at beautiful Wrigley Field. The Phillies and Cubs are all tied up; the final game will determine who makes the playoffs. It's also the last game for 60-year-old umpire Ernie Kolacka, who is due to retire. But an old friend has just pleaded with Kolacka to repay a debt of honor incurred during the Korean War; by doing so, he will ensure a Cubs loss--and make $200,000 along the way. Kolacka's ``victim'' will be Cub pitcher Sam Ward, a 32-year-old rookie knuckleballer who's as flaky as his favorite pitch. Though opposites in many respects, Ward and Kolacka have a lot in common: their love of the sport; their single-minded pursuit of their major league dream; their fading marriages. Inning by inning, with balks, ejections and called third strikes, Kolacka steadfastly repays his debt, until the game goes to the top of the ninth. The Cubs lead 5-4, but the Phillies have the bases loaded, the count is 3-2 with the most important pitch of the season on the way--and Sam Ward is about to save Ernie Kolacka's soul. This inspired collaboration melds the humor of Bouton's Ball Four and the darkness of Asinof's Eight Men Out . It's an exciting read with an ending that will make fans stand up and cheer. 75,000 first printing; $75,000 marketing campaign; author tour. (June) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
On credentials alone, this book is essential for readers of popular fiction. Bouton is a former Yankee pitcher, permanent enfant terrible, and author of Ball Four plus Ball Five (1981), one of the zaniest true-life adventures in baseball ever written. Asinof is author of Eight Men Out (1963), the definitive account of the Black Sox scandal of 1919. They alternate chapters, and perspectives, on a game that will determine whether the Chicago Cubs will go to the League Championship Series. Bouton tells it from the viewpoint of the pitcher, Sam Ward, the league's oldest rookie. Asinoff tells it from the viewpoint of umpire Ernie Kolacka, a man too honest to succeed in the game; now calling his last game before forced retirement, he is under immense pressure to throw the game. The close-up, inning-by-inning view of the workings of the game will remind true fans of Daniel Okrent's Nine Innings (Ticknor & Fields, 1985). This is a terrific story about two men who love and need baseball as well as a suspenseful story about one important game. Strongly recommended for all public libraries. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 2/1/94]-Marylaine Block, St. Ambrose Univ. Lib., Davenport, Ia. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by School Library Journal Review
YA-It's the last game of the season and the Cubs and Phillies are battling it out to decide which team will make the playoffs. Sam Ward, a 32-year-old rookie, takes the mound for the Cubs, his first start in the major leagues. A lot rides on his performance, for this game will determine whether the sacrifices he and his family have made for him to follow his dream have been worth the price. Umpiring the game, his last before forced retirement, is 60-year-old Ernie Kolacka, whose career is the one aspect of his life that he regards with any pride. Kolacka is torn by divided loyalties when a longtime friend pleads with him to call the game in favor of the Phillies. Bouton and Asinof, writing in alternating chapters, give two utterly different viewpoints-pitcher and umpire's-from the hours preceding the big game through its final inning. A thoroughly satisfying book, providing insight into baseball as well as telling an exceedingly good story.-Pamela B. Rearden, Centreville Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
What better venue for the story of two hard-luck underachievers than the baseball field, where anyone can try to attain the American dream? Sam Ward, at age 32 possibly the oldest rookie in baseball, has been called up from the minors by the Chicago Cubs to pitch against Philadelphia as the teams vie for a spot in the National League playoffs. This is the seventh time Ward has been sent to the majors for a short stint, and it may be his last chance to prove that he is of big-league caliber. The greatest obstacle to this dream is not his inconsistent knuckleball or the Phillies' line-up, but head umpire Ernie Kolacka, now calling the last game of his 38- year career. Twenty-four of those years were spent disappointingly in the minors, where he felt like an innocent man in prison, but he waited for his release with dignity and did not scab when the major league umpires went on strike. Kolacka has never even bent the rules to favor the home team, but today he must orchestrate a Phillies victory in order to repay a debt to a Korean War buddy in gambling trouble. During the fateful nine innings, Ward pitches the game of his life, but Kolacka quickly becomes a master at making crooked calls look like fair play. The field is shared by wisecracking players, umpires, and fans--all of them familiar caricatures who aren't nearly as zany as the authors think. Ward and Kolacka are the memorable characters here; they sacrificed their marriages and never signed million-dollar contracts, persevering out of love of the sport. Their story demonstrates that the man of principle is the true hero of baseball. Asinof (Eight Men Out, not reviewed) and Bouton (Ball Four, 1970) have written a pleasant diversion for an off-season Saturday afternoon. (First printing of 75,000; $75,000 ad/promo; author tour)
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Review by Library Journal Review
Review by School Library Journal Review
Review by Kirkus Book Review
