Baseball story for sports parents: 2nd chances give hope

July 11, 2012

Before you dream about having your son play professional baseball, you may want to think twice.

Being a minor or major league player is a tough road. And after reading The Ball Player, by Clay Snellgrove, I was reminded once again that behind all the glitz and glory of pro sports is a world of cutthroat competition.

I have a good friend whose two sons made it to the pros. It was a life of moving, going back and forth between minor and majors, being traded, not knowing where you would be from one day to the next. It’s not for the fainthearted.

And this book is a stark reminder of the harsh realities that accompany fame and success in the world of sports.

This one’s for you, parents

This book is for you parents, if you enjoy a good read about life in the pros. Because of some adult situations and language, I do not recommend it for children, but even if you are not a big baseball fan, you will find the story line compelling.

This is a story of boyhood friends growing up, each going a different way. It is a story of a young man feeling responsible for his friend’s death. It is a story of a player so desperate to succeed that he sold out his body in his fight to make it to the big leagues. It is a story of finding the right woman and then wondering if baseball will keep them apart.

But most of all, it is a story of second chances. In this ball player’s second chance, he became the player he really wanted to be,the one he fell short of first time around.

That’s what appealed to me most about The Ball Player. Second chance stories give us hope because every one of us messes up.

The Ball Player is a good summer read.

Meet Clay Snellgrove

Author Clay Snellgrove was born in Atlanta, Georgia and grew up in Kentucky and Indiana. Clay participated in several sports during his youth but focused on baseball during his years at Lafayette Jefferson High School. He attended Middle Tennessee State University on a baseball scholarship, receiving a degree in Business Administration. He left college as the school’s all-time hits leader and broke the same record for the Ohio Valley Conference.

Drafted in the 24th round of the 1997 professional baseball draft by the San Diego Padres, Clay spent six season playing minor league baseball. His career was highlighted by three all-star selections and a batting title.

Aside from writing, Clay runs Bases Loaded, a baseball and softball school for kids. He also works as an Emergency Medical Technician.

Yes, this is a paid review. But I stand by my promise to only review books that I think sports parents and/or their children will enjoy.

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