Mike Lupica, noted sports writer and author of 13 books, including "Summer of '98" and "Bump and Run", has written a beauty of a novel ostensibly about baseball, but actually about much more.
Showtime Charlie Stoddard was once the best pitcher going, but blew his arm out and now occupies himself with card shows, one-night stands, and bars. He still pines for his ex-wife and hasn't spoken with his son for 12 years. After one of his one-night stands, with a particularly "athletic" lady, he ends up going to see an unorthodox therapist who starts working on his shoulder. The next thing he knows, he's dreaming again.
The Boston Red Sox had a huge lead but they've lost two starting pitchers and their lead has dwindled severely. Can Charlie actually make it back to the show? Will his ex-wife ever take him seriously again? Can he patch things up with his son (and wait till you find out who his son is!)? Can the Red Sox ever shake off the collective curses of Babe Ruth, Bill Buckner, and Bucky Dent?
I enjoyed this as much as any baseball novel I've read in quite a while. I'm a die-hard Yankees fan and I actually found myself rooting for Charlie and the Red Sox in this book! That says a lot! I give it a definite "thumbs-up!"

Released on Saturday, November 16, 2002 at Pastazzio's Pizza in Addison Circle in Addison, Texas USA.

Left on sidewalk table in front