I'm going to get the Josh Hamilton book for my HS Senior for Christmas and am looking for a good baseball book for my 13 year old.
Any ideas?
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Heart of a Champion by Carl Deuker. Even I couldn't put it down. My younger son...not really a reader at 13...loved it. Any of the books by this author are great.
quote:Originally posted by biggerpapi:
I'm going to get the Josh Hamilton book for my HS Senior for Christmas and am looking for a good baseball book for my 13 year old.
Any ideas?
Without a doubt the Josh Hamilton book (Beyone Belief) is a must read for all hs/college aged kids....whether you are a Christian are not, the book is a road map of how to screw up your life....I would buy one for every kid at the local HS if I could afford it.
BigPapi, if you're looking for even more ideas for your senior, here are a few that either I, my current HS junior or one of his friends loved...
The Last Best League by Jim Coilins (son actually read it in 9th grade and liked it)
The Bullpen Gospels by Dirk Hayhurst (discussed at length in another thread...very enjoyable)
Open by Andre Agassi...not baseball, but much applies. Absolutely compelling.
Have a merry and a happy...
The Last Best League by Jim Coilins (son actually read it in 9th grade and liked it)
The Bullpen Gospels by Dirk Hayhurst (discussed at length in another thread...very enjoyable)
Open by Andre Agassi...not baseball, but much applies. Absolutely compelling.
Have a merry and a happy...
MHC77, I read all three of the books you mentioned and agreed they are all well done.
Here are a couple more I enjoyed:
"Home, Away" by Jeff Gillenkirk. A novel that might be a bit mature for 13, but it is a powerful book about the relationship between a father and son. And, the realistic depictions of life in baseball at all levels (college, minors, winter league, mlb) was much appreciated.
"Senior Season" by Dan Shaughnessy. The well-known sports writer details his son Sam's final year of high school baseball. Really enjoyed this one, as did my son who read it when he was 15.
Here are a couple more I enjoyed:
"Home, Away" by Jeff Gillenkirk. A novel that might be a bit mature for 13, but it is a powerful book about the relationship between a father and son. And, the realistic depictions of life in baseball at all levels (college, minors, winter league, mlb) was much appreciated.
"Senior Season" by Dan Shaughnessy. The well-known sports writer details his son Sam's final year of high school baseball. Really enjoyed this one, as did my son who read it when he was 15.
Certainly Josh Hamilton is an example of how to screw up your life. But for me the real story is how to reclaim your life. How to redeem yourself. And how your faith can allow you to do that. There are many people out there than have and can use Josh as an example of over coming life's struggles.
I remember talking to scouts about Josh when he was in HS. He went to Athens Drive HS in Raleigh. Everyone of them would say "Make up off the charts." "The All American boy." Josh was the kid that would look you in the eye and say "Yes sir." "No sir." He was the humble kid that everyone loved.
I remember being at a local hitting facility and was throwing bp in a cage. In the cage right next to ours was Josh getting in some reps as well. When he took a break he watched the guys I was throwing to and he just hung out and talked to the guys just like another HS player even though he was a MILB player at the time and had signed for a huge bonus. When I say this guy was a great kid I am telling you he was top shelf in every way.
I remember watching him play Durham Jordan in a big game his Sr year. He was pitching and running it up there 94 95 from the left side. In the 7th he hit a bomb to win the game for his team. Everyone was going crazy. Josh just ran the bags and never showed up anyone. During that game he was the guy shagging foul balls when his team was hitting. How good of a hitter do you have to be to throw mid 90's from the leftside and NEVER one thought was given to him pitching at the pro level?
When Josh was out of the game and trying to get back in the game he went to the Durham Bulls Park and they allowed him to take some BP. He had been totally out of the game for awhile. Swing after swing produced balls flying out of the stadium. Everyone just stopped and watched in awe. The Rays MILB players were simply in awe of this guy.
I have been around this game for many years. I have seen some outstanding talented players. NO ONE was even in his league. As a HS senior this guy was put together like a ML player. He ran a 6.5 60. He had tremendous instincts in the field and on the bags. He had an absolute cannon. He hit balls that didnt come down and he barrelled up everything. He simply was the natural. You knew it from the time you laid eyes on him. How good is he? How many players could have been totally out of game. Put themselves through what he put himself through. Get hurt like he did in that car accident. Come back and be the player he is today? I mean its mind boggling how good he is.
Now some might not like what I am going to say here but I am going to say it anyway. God had a plan for Josh. There is no way he would have the impact on peoples lives not only in the game but the average person out there if everything would have went as planned. Gods plan was played out. And God is using Josh and working through him. I believe that was Gods plan all along.
Yes his story is a story of how one can screw up their life. But the bigger story is how God can restore a life. And he can use others as a way of teaching all of us.
I know some will take offense at my post. If the mods want to delete it thats fine with me. But I wont apologize for telling it like I see it.
I remember talking to scouts about Josh when he was in HS. He went to Athens Drive HS in Raleigh. Everyone of them would say "Make up off the charts." "The All American boy." Josh was the kid that would look you in the eye and say "Yes sir." "No sir." He was the humble kid that everyone loved.
I remember being at a local hitting facility and was throwing bp in a cage. In the cage right next to ours was Josh getting in some reps as well. When he took a break he watched the guys I was throwing to and he just hung out and talked to the guys just like another HS player even though he was a MILB player at the time and had signed for a huge bonus. When I say this guy was a great kid I am telling you he was top shelf in every way.
I remember watching him play Durham Jordan in a big game his Sr year. He was pitching and running it up there 94 95 from the left side. In the 7th he hit a bomb to win the game for his team. Everyone was going crazy. Josh just ran the bags and never showed up anyone. During that game he was the guy shagging foul balls when his team was hitting. How good of a hitter do you have to be to throw mid 90's from the leftside and NEVER one thought was given to him pitching at the pro level?
When Josh was out of the game and trying to get back in the game he went to the Durham Bulls Park and they allowed him to take some BP. He had been totally out of the game for awhile. Swing after swing produced balls flying out of the stadium. Everyone just stopped and watched in awe. The Rays MILB players were simply in awe of this guy.
I have been around this game for many years. I have seen some outstanding talented players. NO ONE was even in his league. As a HS senior this guy was put together like a ML player. He ran a 6.5 60. He had tremendous instincts in the field and on the bags. He had an absolute cannon. He hit balls that didnt come down and he barrelled up everything. He simply was the natural. You knew it from the time you laid eyes on him. How good is he? How many players could have been totally out of game. Put themselves through what he put himself through. Get hurt like he did in that car accident. Come back and be the player he is today? I mean its mind boggling how good he is.
Now some might not like what I am going to say here but I am going to say it anyway. God had a plan for Josh. There is no way he would have the impact on peoples lives not only in the game but the average person out there if everything would have went as planned. Gods plan was played out. And God is using Josh and working through him. I believe that was Gods plan all along.
Yes his story is a story of how one can screw up their life. But the bigger story is how God can restore a life. And he can use others as a way of teaching all of us.
I know some will take offense at my post. If the mods want to delete it thats fine with me. But I wont apologize for telling it like I see it.
Great post, coach...agree 100%. I think it was His plan too...and what a great plan.
Coach May
Please don't misunderstand my earlier post, the redemption is what makes the story so great....the how quickly/easily things got off track is what makes it so important for this generation of "it's not that big of a deal" generation to read.
I love everything about the Josh Hamilton story and admire the way he lives out his faith and makes no excuses or attempts to cover up the mistakes he's made.
The world needs more genuine Christian men for our children to follow (you can delete that too if you'd like!)
Please don't misunderstand my earlier post, the redemption is what makes the story so great....the how quickly/easily things got off track is what makes it so important for this generation of "it's not that big of a deal" generation to read.
I love everything about the Josh Hamilton story and admire the way he lives out his faith and makes no excuses or attempts to cover up the mistakes he's made.
The world needs more genuine Christian men for our children to follow (you can delete that too if you'd like!)
Coach-
I've always loved your post in the year or so I've been following this site. I've always said I wished my two boys could play for you one day. I must say, this may be the best one yet!! This one is spot on and HE is the reason things went the way they did. Thanks for reminding me tonight who is in control!!!
I've always loved your post in the year or so I've been following this site. I've always said I wished my two boys could play for you one day. I must say, this may be the best one yet!! This one is spot on and HE is the reason things went the way they did. Thanks for reminding me tonight who is in control!!!
cocdawg I am honored that you would say something like that. I certainly appreciate those kind words.
Thanks for the ideas. I've read "Senior Season" and my older son is reading the "Bullpen Gospels."
I'll look into the others. Thanks!
Also...Coach May...you're the best.
I'll look into the others. Thanks!
Also...Coach May...you're the best.
Hey, I'm kinda new to this site, so I haven't caught up on all the old posts (yet,) but here's one y'all should look at if you aren't already familiar with it:
"Heads Up Baseball"
by Ken Ravizza & Tom Hanson
http://www.amazon.com/Heads-Up...80215/ref=pd_sim_b_5
Great posts on Josh.
Did anyone catch the "This is your Life" show from his high school? It was done a couple years ago, but was recently re-broadcast. I'm gonna try to set the TIVO to catch it if they air it again...
"Heads Up Baseball"
by Ken Ravizza & Tom Hanson
http://www.amazon.com/Heads-Up...80215/ref=pd_sim_b_5
Great posts on Josh.
Did anyone catch the "This is your Life" show from his high school? It was done a couple years ago, but was recently re-broadcast. I'm gonna try to set the TIVO to catch it if they air it again...
I have read The Last Best League and Bullpen Gospels. Each were very interesting in their own right. I would certainly recommend these books for older kids, more the upper level HS/college-aged. If I had read these books at a young age I don't think I could have fully understood everything going on and the meaning behind a lot of the occurences in the books.
I haven't read the Josh Hamilton book but I would like to. And I haven't read Dan Shaughnessy's book because I am friends with his son and honestly feel it might be a bit odd to read a book about him. His father is a great writer though, and Sam is a cool and interesting guy.
I haven't read the Josh Hamilton book but I would like to. And I haven't read Dan Shaughnessy's book because I am friends with his son and honestly feel it might be a bit odd to read a book about him. His father is a great writer though, and Sam is a cool and interesting guy.