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Your Perfect Game anecdotes/opinions/stories wanted for forthcoming book.

BS Blue Skies10+ posts
Hi Baseball Webbers,

I’ve just sold a book proposal to write a book on the history and impact on baseball by Perfect Game USA for McFarland Publishing—a project I’ve been intensely interested in for several years. I’d like to appeal to everybody on this site—players, parents, coaches at all levels, scouts—just about anyone who has interesting stories/anecdotes on their experiences with PG—to email or write me about those experiences (addresses below). I’m after a balanced, honest look at PG and how they’ve impacted the landscape of baseball, both on the college and pro levels. If you’d prefer that your name not be used in the book, please let me know and your confidentiality will be respected.

Also, a portion of the book will be devoted to how select/travel teams have impacted baseball in the past couple of decades. Another section will deal with how recreational leagues such as Little League have affected baseball in the past few years. Any comments/opinions/stories-anecdotes you may have about summer teams/recreational teams will likewise be appreciated in this area.

To be upfront, my own view of PG is a very positive one. That doesn’t mean that I intend on writing a “fluff” or “pr” book on PG. I’m after an honest, accurate appraisal of an organization that has made a significant impact on the game of baseball.

I may want to interview more in-depth some of the responders by phone, or, if close to where I live, in person. Please indicate on your response if you would be willing to be interviewed and give me your contact info. Also, I’m the writer-in-residence at the University of Toledo and the university has graciously allowed me to use students (for class credit) to help me in my research. As it turns out, one of my students is Mike Leyland, the nephew of Detroit Tigers’ manager, Jim Leyland, and Mike was highly interested in helping me with the interviews and I signed him up immediately. Also assisting me is another student, Chris Wells, an excellent researcher. Both young men are highly knowledgeable baseball fans as well as being serious, dedicated students. Either myself, Chris or Mike will be contacting those who volunteer to be interviewed in-depth.

To check me and my work out, you can see some of my stuff on my website at www.lesedgerton.com.
Any and all opinions and stories are appreciated! Thank you.

You can send either emails to:
Email: (address all in lower case): butchedgerton@comcast.net
or, via snail mail to:
Les Edgerton, 4941 Maple Ridge Drive, Ft. Wayne, IN 46835.

Please email me at the above address if you would, rather than PMing me here--appreciate it!

Thank you!
Les
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itsinthegameitsinthegame5,000+ posts
You can call me anytime. And I couldnt care less about anonymity when it comes to this subject.

I love to spout my opinions - and tell stories - but only if they are TRUE.

My experiences with Jerry - and his organization - probably pale in comparison to others - but it has been about 5 years worth now - with 2 boys playing in a whole bunch of PG stuff.


As for the "Frank Martin" garbage innuendo (which he just deleted off this thread - as these rats are so apt to do)- you need to keep that in mind as you write the book. You need to keep in mind the garbage entities and garbage individuals that are ticked off that a real organization came in and got the job done.

I think you need to keep that in mind - more than anything else - and be on the guard for the "Frank Martins" of the world - before you even attempt to draw the outline of the book.

I hope you know what I mean.

Good luck.
Last edited by itsinthegame
BS Blue Skies10+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by itsinthegame:
You can call me anytime. And I couldnt care less about anonymity when it comes to this subject.

I love to spout my opinions - and tell stories - but only if they are TRUE.

My experiences with Jerry - and his organization - probably pale in comparison to others - but it has been about 5 years worth now - with 2 boys playing in a whole bunch of PG stuff.


As for the "Frank Martin" garbage innuendo (which he just deleted off this thread - as these rats are so apt to do)- you need to keep that in mind as you write the book. You need to keep in mind the garbage entities and garbage individuals that are ticked off that a real organization came in and got the job done.

I think you need to keep that in mind - more than anything else - and be on the guard for the "Frank Martins" of the world - before you even attempt to draw the outline of the book.

I hope you know what I mean.

Good luck.


Hi It'sinthegame,
I know exactly what you mean. I didn't see the post, but can imagine what it might have said. I'm very aware that there will be people who will report negative experiences and I also know the motivations many times behind those. While the book isn't to be a "fluff piece" it will still be honest in its portrayal. No organization is perfect and Jerry has never pretended his is. He's offered over and over again to put me in contact with those who have a negative view and has never tried to paint anything but an honest picture of what PG is and does. That said, I've known Jerry and the folks at PG for several years now and have nothing but the very highest admiration for him and his family and staff. He's a rare man these days with the kind of integrity he possesses and I have never seen anything from him and all the folks at PG but a genuine desire to help kids and that's what I'm interested in reporting on--that attitude and how they've changed the landscape of baseball. I personally believe what PG has done is unparalleled and one of the biggest stories in baseball. Most of the folks on this site are very aware of PG, but there are an awful lot of people elsewhere that don't know and I want to let those people know about this remarkable resource and of their place in baseball. This book isn't to be a hatchet job of any kind, believe me!

You invited me to contact you and I gratefully accept. Would you email me your contact info please?

BTW, you mention Jim Boutin's book in your signoff. You may be interested to know that my uncle Bill Edgerton is mentioned in "Ball Four" several times as he was on that 1969 Pilots team as well. Bill and I grew up together (he's my dad's brother) and he's a year older than I am.

Again, thanks for your comments and believe me, I am not interested in digging up any dirt--real or imagined--on PG.

Blue skies,
Les
BumBum1,000+ posts
I believe PG's impact on the sport is its ability to provide a venue for athletes to showcase their skills, athletes who otherwise may be stuck in Forgottenville, USA entirely unscouted. This helps level the playing field for top-level players who happen not to be from Texas, California and Florida.

This being America, competition is a good thing!
Last edited by Bum

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