When Baseball Was Still a Game

When Baseball Was Still A Game uses over 150 photographs with short stories, facts, and captions to take the reader through a journey of Preacher Roe’s life. Preacher Roe is a 5-time National League All-Star and a 3-time World Series pitcher. He played during the golden era of baseball in the late ‘40s and the 50’s.

Preacher’s teammates included Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese, Duke Snider, Roy Campanella and Gill Hodges. Preacher played during the same era of Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle. He was one of the original "Boys of Summer" made famous by Roger Kahn in his book with the same title.

Preacher’s story starts in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains at his birthplace of Ash Flat, Arkansas. His journey begins to unfold in his early days pitching in the minors with the St. Louis Cardinals. It continues with his years with the Pittsburgh Pirates, to the height of his career pitching for the Brooklyn Dodgers. The journey ends with his subsequent retirement to West Plains, Missouri.

A story of an Ozark boy "done good" as told in Preacher’s Ozark vernacular. Preacher uses his folksy story telling to allow readers a glimpse behind the scenes of past baseball heroes, historical baseball games and historical events. His stories include comments on the then controversial integration of the Negro League into the American and National Leagues, baseball unions, and current steroid uses. Preacher shares his personal stories of a potentially career ending skull fracture and his infamous "spitball" pitch.

Preacher Roe is a 5-time National League All-Star and a 3-time World Series pitcher. He played during the golden era of baseball in the late ‘40s and the 50’s. In 1945 he led the National League with 148 strikeouts. The Dodger Hall of Famer became one of the greatest pitchers of the era and received the "Pitcher of the Year" title by The Sporting News for his 22-3, National League record of .880 while in Brooklyn.

Preacher Roe currently lives in West Plains, Missouri. He has two sons – Elwin, who lives in Pineville, Missouri with his wife, Kay; and Tommy who lives in West Plains, Missouri with his wife, Saundra. Preacher has eight grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. His late wife was Mozee Clay Roe.

Sarah Preslar lives in Hardy, Arkansas. She has four children – Nicole; Tiffany; Jordan; and Morgan Weiland.