Writers including Sherman Alexie, Lynda Barry, John Owen, and Larry Colton write their reflections on baseball
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This collection of essays by diverse writers (most of whom are from the Pacific Northwest) captures the whole baseball experience. Novelist Sherman Alexie reflects on his tortured Little League career on an Indian reservation, cartoonist Lynda Barry recalls Seattle's long-gone minor league park, essayist Robert Leo Heilman, author of Overstory: Zero, reports on an American Legion baseball tournament. In all, nine writers (of course) step up to the plate and hit 'em all over the park.
Nine accomplished writers on baseball as it is played in the Northwest, and as it has played out in their lives, in a collection edited by Seattle Post-Intelligencer writer Marshall (Reconciliation Road, 1993). Several of these personal essays could be used by English teachers to illustrate the perils of overworking metaphors (baseball is life)--and to prove how hard it is to bring freshness to a subject more overworked than the sore-armed ace of a bad pitching staff. In fairness, even the best hitters fail two-thirds of the time, and the batting average on this collection is about as good as Ken Griffey Jr.'s (.303 in 1996). Griffey's name comes up often as the region's premier professional ballplayer, but these pieces are mostly about baseball on a much lower level: playing or coaching Little League or softball, or bonding over baseball with a child, a father, or friends. The two solid hits are barely about baseball at all: novelist Sherman Alexie wondering, in ``The Warriors,'' why he was so uninterested in the Native American girls who played on his Little League team, and Lynda Barry explaining, in ``What Pop Fly Gave His Daughter,'' why she stole her father's baseball glove, anticipating his imminent abandonment of his family. Typical of the whiffs in this nine-writer line-up is Bryan Di Salvatore's ``Team Photo,'' which describes why his Missoula, Mont., softball team reflects most aspects of the universe, then declares impatience with writers turning baseball ``into something hallowed and fraught with meaning.'' Di Salvatore will not be happy with most of his Home Field teammates. Every serious fan, player, and Little League parent knows how closely baseball resembles life. And every writer considering putting such thoughts on paper should think about how much of baseball is about striking out--a lesson verified by this collection. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
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hardcover. Condition: USED_VERYGOOD. Hoggatt, Tina (illustrator). Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!. Seller Inventory # S_411617974
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Seller: Abacus Bookshop, Pittsford, NY, U.S.A.
hardcover. Condition: UNSPECIFIED. Hoggatt, Tina (illustrator). 1st edition. 8vo, 214 pp., With contributions by Sherman Alexie, Lynda Barry, Larry Colton, Bran Di Salvatore, Timothy Egan, Robert Leo Heilman, John Douglas Marshall, Holly Morris & John Owen. Seller Inventory # 048075
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Seller: Mike's Baseball Books, Chula Vista, CA, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: USED_VERYGOOD. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. Hoggatt, Tina (illustrator). 1st Edition. Has an inscription from one of the writers, Robert Leo Heilman. This is a nice collection of baseball writings from the West. From women's softball, to beautiful old Sick's Stadium in Seattle, to Little League Days on an Indian reservation, an interesting collection of stories. Has a black remainder mark on the bottom of the pages. Both the non price clipped Dust Jacket and the book are in very good condition. I have many other baseball collections and anthologies and more than 170 signed baseball books in stock. Discounts are available on multiple purchases on the same order. Inscribed by Author(s). Seller Inventory # ABE-11580614823
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Seller: Wonder Book, Frederick, MD, U.S.A.
Condition: USED_ASNEW. Hoggatt, Tina (illustrator). Like New condition. Very Good dust jacket. A near perfect copy that may have very minor cosmetic defects. Seller Inventory # B12A-03424
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Seller: Bob's Book Journey, Austin, TX, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: USED_FINE. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. Hoggatt, Tina (illustrator). First Edition. Mint condition!. Seller Inventory # 006273
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Seller: Elaine Woodford, Bookseller, Durham, NC, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: USED_ASNEW. Dust Jacket Condition: As New. Hoggatt, Tina (illustrator). 1st Edition. 1st ed, 1st prt. Nine writers "at bat". A must for baseball lovers. Seller Inventory # 023135
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Seller: Virginia Martin, aka bookwitch, Concord, CA, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: USED_FINE. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. Hoggatt, Tina (illustrator). Octavo, hardcover, fine in near fine red amd beige pictorial dj. First printing. Giftable. Nine all star writers, including Sherman Alexie, Bryan Di Salvatore, Larry Colton--show how baseball is a bit different in the West. There's more to baseball than the Yankees and B raves--there's family, heart and community. This is local baseball on home fields. 214 pp. Book. Seller Inventory # 6624
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Seller: Southampton Books, Sag Harbor, NY, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: USED_ASNEW. Dust Jacket Condition: Like New. Hoggatt, Tina (illustrator). First Edition. First Edition, First Printing. Not price-clipped ($21.95 price intact). Published by Sasquatch Books, 1997. Octavo. Book is like new. Dust jacket is like new. 100% positive feedback. 30 day money back guarantee. NEXT DAY SHIPPING! Excellent customer service. Please email with any questions or if you would like a photo. All books packed carefully and ship with free delivery confirmation/tracking. All books come with free bookmarks. Ships from Sag Harbor, New York. Seller Inventory # 175859
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Seller: Far Fetched Books, Leavenworth, WA, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: USED_FINE. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. Hoggatt, Tina (illustrator). 1st Edition. First printing of first edition with complete number line (5-1). Flat SIGNED By Egan and Alexie. Unmarked, unclipped, extremely bright, exceedingly tight, crisp, unread copy in superb condition. This copy is flawless! Archival mylar covered dust jacket. Carefully bubble wrapped and ships in sturdy box. Signed by Author. Seller Inventory # 1726
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