Joy in Mudville: A Little League Memoir »

Greg Mitchell is the bestselling author of such nonfiction books as Tricky Dick and the Pink Lady: Richard Nixon vs. Helen Gahagan Douglas; The Campaign of the Century: Upton Sinclair's Race for Governor of California (winner of the Goldsmith Book Prize); and with Robert Jay Lifton, Hiroshima in America and Who Owns Death? His articles have appeared in The New York Times and other publications. He lives in Nyack New York.

Joy in Mudville chronicles the author's time as manager of his son's Little League team, and explores the many issues surrounding this seemingly simple situation: the relationship between father and sons, coaches and players, kids of different races and backgrounds all playing the same game. Mitchell also reflects on his own childhood baseball and Little League experiences. In the end, Mitchell and his son Andy's team go from losers to champs, and everyone takes away life lessons that far outweigh the ecstatic pleasure of a winning season. Published in time for Father's Day, the book will surely strike a chord as it touches on some of the most American of subjects: Dads and baseball.

Publishers Weekly

It happens every spring--fathers coaching their Little League children as if they were top-roster players for the Yankees and Braves instead of a group of 10-year-olds. As Mitchell (The Campaign of the Century) describes in this book about his coaching stint in Nyack, N.Y., the season actually begins with the winter draft. From this point through the playoffs, he treats readers to an exciting glimpse of the psychological, emotional and strategic considerations inherent in running a team. Mitchell writes with wit and humanity of the balance between the good of his son versus that of the group, between playing to win and making players feel good. Many of the predictable dramas--such as the games between Mitchell's squad and a hyper-prepared team helmed by an uptight coach--are here, as well as coaches' shrewder tricks, like enlisting assistants whose sons are good ballplayers. If Mitchell comes off as a little obsessed, there is more than enough self-aware humor and erudition (he is as likely to quote John Cheever as Yogi Berra) to make up for it. He also includes a number of worthy digressions from his own baseball past, as well as social topics like the dearth of African-Americans playing youth baseball. Mitchell spends more time describing the game than characterizing the kids, but what goes on in his head is as interesting as anything that happens on the field. (Mar.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|