On this day in 1923, Yogi Berra was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He would become a baseball legend as a player and manager with the New York Yankees and Mets. But not his hometown team - the Cardinals.
My father grew up in rural Mississippi and listened to the Cardinals on radio.
In an interview with Amazon, Joe Grisham - another Mississippi boy - confirmed the South's connection to the Cardinals:
Q: What's your favorite baseball team?
A: St. Louis Cardinals. My father was a Cardinals fan, as was my grandfather. When I was a kid growing up in the rural south, everyone listened to the Cardinals on the radio. We seldom missed a game.
Doubleday is giving away a print copy of Grisham's new novel - CALICO JOE:
Whatever happened to Calico Joe?
It began quietly enough with a pulled hamstring. The first baseman for the Cubs AAA affiliate in Wichita went down as he rounded third and headed for home. The next day, Jim Hickman, the first baseman for the Cubs, injured his back. The team suddenly needed someone to play first, so they reached down to their AA club in Midland, Texas, and called up a twenty-one-year-old named Joe Castle. He was the hottest player in AA and creating a buzz.
In the summer of 1973 Joe Castle was the boy wonder of baseball, the greatest rookie anyone had ever seen. The kid from Calico Rock, Arkansas dazzled Cub fans as he hit home run after home run, politely tipping his hat to the crowd as he shattered all rookie records.
Calico Joe quickly became the idol of every baseball fan in America, including Paul Tracey, the young son of a hard-partying and hard-throwing Mets pitcher. On the day that Warren Tracey finally faced Calico Joe, Paul was in the stands, rooting for his idol but also for his Dad. Then Warren threw a fastball that would change their lives forever…
In an interview with Amazon, Joe Grisham - another Mississippi boy - confirmed the South's connection to the Cardinals:
Q: What's your favorite baseball team?
A: St. Louis Cardinals. My father was a Cardinals fan, as was my grandfather. When I was a kid growing up in the rural south, everyone listened to the Cardinals on the radio. We seldom missed a game.
Whatever happened to Calico Joe?
It began quietly enough with a pulled hamstring. The first baseman for the Cubs AAA affiliate in Wichita went down as he rounded third and headed for home. The next day, Jim Hickman, the first baseman for the Cubs, injured his back. The team suddenly needed someone to play first, so they reached down to their AA club in Midland, Texas, and called up a twenty-one-year-old named Joe Castle. He was the hottest player in AA and creating a buzz.
In the summer of 1973 Joe Castle was the boy wonder of baseball, the greatest rookie anyone had ever seen. The kid from Calico Rock, Arkansas dazzled Cub fans as he hit home run after home run, politely tipping his hat to the crowd as he shattered all rookie records.
Calico Joe quickly became the idol of every baseball fan in America, including Paul Tracey, the young son of a hard-partying and hard-throwing Mets pitcher. On the day that Warren Tracey finally faced Calico Joe, Paul was in the stands, rooting for his idol but also for his Dad. Then Warren threw a fastball that would change their lives forever…
In John Grisham’s new novel the baseball is thrilling, but it’s what happens off the field that makes CALICO JOE a classic.
To enter the giveaway,
1. Leave a comment about your favorite sports team.
2. This giveaway is open to US residents only ... but I'll giveaway a Hawaii "sports" prize to one international reader.
3. Comments are open through Saturday, May 19, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Sunday, May 20.
Mahalo,
Kim in Hawaii
I am not a big sports fan but being from GA. I have to root for the Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Falcons as well as the GA. Bulldogs. I love John's stories and have read many but Calico Joe caught my eye with just the Title. I have on my wish list and can't wait to read. Thanks for the opportunity to enter giveaway.
ReplyDeletemisskallie2000 at yahoo dot com
I'm a huge sports fan! From basketball, boxing, volleyball, football (soccer in US) and so on. I'm rooting for FC Barcelona. My favorite football player plays in that club. I love them for they treat their fans like their friends, plus they're really good! Having won a lot of tournaments and setting records in the world of football. :D
ReplyDeleteWell, being a San Diego native I'm fans of the Padres and the Chargers. Maybe someday we'll win a World Series or Superbowl, but it hasn't happened yet. When it does though, San Diego will be celebrating in the streets big time!
ReplyDeleteStrikes, lockouts, scandals, bounties, etc. have dimmed my enthusiasm for sports. So can only say that my favorite teams are from the 50s when seemingly decent human beings played well and earned their hometown allegiance.
ReplyDeleteOur Pittsburgh Steelers are my favorite. They are followed by Penn State's football team. Then the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey. And lastly the Pittsburgh Pirates - unfortunately the baseball team has been lacking in recent years due to pay caps.
ReplyDeleteargh the blogger ate my post. Ok, The Pittsburgh Steelers are my favorite with Penn State football next. Then the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team and lastly the Pittsburgh Pirates - they haven't been doing too well in the past years.
ReplyDeleteaaaaaaaaa so sorry. It told me there was an error and it didn't show up.
ReplyDeleteI love all sports, but the Seattle Mariners are my favorite team.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite sports team is the Chicago Cubs.
ReplyDeleteI love the Yankees and the NY Rangers.
ReplyDeletenot much of a baseball fan myself though grew up with the champion pirates of the 70's & will happily root for them when they play decently (hoping for that over .500 season soon) ;)
ReplyDeleteBaseball is my favorite sport!
ReplyDeleteWe love UCONN women basketball. For other sports, I just go with my hubby who loves all Michigan pro sports.
ReplyDeleteI love most sports. but since it's baseball season, my favorite team is the Texas Rangers.
ReplyDeleteNew England Patriots
ReplyDeleteI don't follow sport unless you count the Olympics. So Go, Aussies, Go.
ReplyDeleteAUSSIE, AUSSIE, AUSSIE.
OY, OY, OY.
I love the Yankees and the Rangers. But I don't watch every game and cheer like a good fan would. :)John Grisham writes some amazing stories and I've got this one on my TRL. Thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeleteCarol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com
My favorite team, for all sports, is the LSU Tigers! Geaux Tigers!
ReplyDeleteWe are HUGE St. Louis fans here!! Cardinals, Rams, and Blues!! More on the football and hockey side, but we live in a baseball town, so gotta have the Cardinals too!
ReplyDeleteMel
bournmelissa at hotmail dot com
Ok I have to go with my hometown favorites (even though their season has left a lot to be desired), the Minnesota Twins!
ReplyDeleteI blame my husband, he played baseball through high school and in amateur league up till a couple years ago. So it was him in his baseball uniform that caught my eye, and then I learned to appreciate the sport =)