Saw it on display on a table at PN, and took it. A gem. Ballard goes back to 1970, in Macon, IL, and looks at the baseball team. Managed by an unlikely coach, a nonconformist who allowed the players to call their own practices, their own signals, their own games, the team makes a run at the Illinois state championship before being disqualified (and that by the initiative of its school's principal, who di dnot like the coach). In 1971, the team goes back to the state championship, and loses the final game. Along the way, the young men develop an abiding respect and love for their coach.
Ballard then finds the men, grown up, and traces their life's trajectory. Two did play pro ball, and one is in the majors, as a coach (or was, in 2010).
Well written, nicely paced, thoroughly enjoyable. My only complaint: it ended too soon; I could've read another hundred pages.
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