A False Spring

In A False Spring, Pat Jordan traces the falling star of his once-promising pitching career, illuminating along the way his equally difficult personal struggles and quest for maturity. When the reader meets Jordan, he is a hard-throwing pitcher with seemingly limitless potential, one of the first “bonus babies” for the Milwaukee Braves organization. Jordan’s sojourn through the lower levels of minor-league ball takes him through the small towns of America: McCook, Waycross, Davenport, Eau Claire, and Palatka. As the promised land of the majors recedes because of his inconsistency and lack of control, the young man who had previously known only glory and success is forced to face himself.

Pat Jordan is the author of numerous books, including the memoir A Nice Tuesday, also available in a Bison Books edition. He is a regular contributor to the New York Times Magazine, among other periodicals, and his work has been included in Best American Sports Writing, Best American Mystery Stories, Best American Essays, and the Norton Anthology of World Literature.