The Bullpen Gospels

September 15, 2010

Hayhurst's (www.dirkhayhurst.com) debut memoir recounts the author's experiences as a minor league pitcher working his way through the San Diego Padres organization. Mostly amusing and poignant but rarely hilarious or pithy, Bullpen Gospelsconveys through a series of anecdotes what it's like to be an earnest, self-effacing minor leaguer who wonders whether he's good enough for the majors. Actor Ray Porter's narration is engaging and lively; he expertly captures the vocal nuances of the wide variety of colorful characters in Hayhurst's tale, from no-nonsense coaches to a foul-mouthed grandmother. Recommended for adult baseball fans interested in digging into life in the minor leagues and learning what goes on behind the scenes when the cameras are off. [First published in April and now in its fifth printing, the Citadel Pr. pb was a New York Times best seller.--Ed.]--Douglas King, Univ. of South Carolina Lib., Columbia

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