My Bat Boy Days: Lessons I Learned from the Boys of Summer

On the evening of March 28, 1956, Steve Garvey's father, a Greyhound bus driver in the Tampa Bay area, asked his young son if he'd like to accompany him as he drove the Brooklyn Dodgers to a spring-training game with the New York Yankees. For Garvey, a baseball card collector and an aspiring Little Leaguer, the opportunity stretched beyond his wildest imagination and marked the beginning of a legendary career and life in baseball.

Garvey spent five years (1956-1961) as a bat boy, mostly for the Brooklyn Dodgers and briefly for the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers. The fact that he would go on to become a first baseman with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and one of the most successful players of his era, is like something out of a Hollywood script. My Bat Boy Days is his moving collection of indelible memories, fascinating profiles, and lessons learned -- about the game and about life -- from heroes such as Jackie Robinson, Sandy Koufax, and Mickey Mantle.

My Bat Boy Days is for the generation of fans who remember the Boys of Summer and for the generation who grew up watching Steve Garvey play for the love of the game. Garvey's story is perfect for sharing with children and grandchildren who are just now getting to know and love the game.

Steve Garvey is the reigning National League "Iron Man" with 1,207 consecutive games played. Garvey spent eight years as the cornerstone of the Los Angeles Dodgers "fabulous four" infield, leading the Dodgers to a World Series title in 1981. After signing with the San Diego Padres in 1983, Garvey led the team to the organization's first World Series in 1984. Garvey is a ten-time MLB All-Star and four-time Gold Glove Award winner. He holds the record for the highest career fielding percentage by a first baseman and was the first player in the history of baseball to field an errorless season at first base.