By Josh (9 Inning Know It All):
When guys talk about their glory days playing baseball they always make it sound so amazing. The grass was always green and soft, the sun always shined and opposing fans rained down compliments because of how inspired they were by that player’s greatness. That isn’t close to what reality is. In fact when I played in high school I remember balls jumping at my face because of holes in the infield, water logged balls that were hard to even throw to first base, and my own teammates heckling me worse than any fan ever could.
Understanding what baseball is really like is hard for a lot of fans, which is a part of the reason why I loved the book “The Bullpen Gospels” by Dirk Hayhurst. This book gives an amazing perspective of the ‘darker’ side of baseball that only the players and coaches get to see.
Now let me be clear that this book is not for everyone. This book is honest and is not a PG rated book, but then again neither were any of the bus trips I took with my teammates to games. If you want to keep thinking that baseball is DOUBLE RAINBOW amazing than I would recommend you avoid this book.
Hayhurst does an amazing job of not only telling you the story of his experiences but including the reader in a way that makes them feel like they are sitting in the bullpen with the guys sharing stories or sitting on the bus just hoping to rest for a little while.
Throughout the book Hayhurst talks about the mindset he had as he played in the minors for the first couple years of his career. This honest evaluation of his mindset is something many people can relate to whether it’s in baseball or in the regular world. Although this book is a baseball book it is also a book about the transformation of an individual.
Baseball players often define themselves by the game they play, but in “The Bullpen Gospels” the reality that defining your life as a baseball player isn’t fulfilling. It lacks the depth for a person to feel like they are accomplishing anything.
Having been the team photographer for the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes for a few years I’ve seen the fun side of minor league baseball, as well as the hidden parts of the game. I’ve seen tempers flare in the clubhouse, players giving up on an entire season, and the look of disappointment as a player gets released or demoted.
This book captures more of the reality of baseball than most casual fans will ever understand and that is why I recommend every baseball fan take the time to read this book. It is well worth the time and money to see what life is really like for the guys fighting to achieve that allusive dream of being a major league player.
If you are interested in reading interviews with other players and what their experience has been like in baseball check out my interviews with Josh Parr and Adam McConnell.
Beyond the Game with Josh Parr
Beyond the Game with Adam McConnell
Beyond the Game with Marc Gallegos