Calico Joe

Calico JoeA surprising and moving novel of fathers and sons, forgiveness and redemption, set in the world of Major League Baseball Whatever happened to Calico Joe? It began quietly enough with a pulled hamstring. The first baseman for the Cubs AAA affiliate in Wichita went down as he rounded third and headed for home. The next day, Jim Hickman, the first baseman for the Cubs, injured his back. The team suddenly needed someone to play first, so they reached down

A surprising and moving novel of fathers and sons, forgiveness and redemption, set in the world of Major League Baseball...

Whatever happened to Calico Joe?

It began quietly enough with a pulled hamstring. The first baseman for the Cubs AAA affiliate in Wichita went down as he rounded third and headed for home. The next day, Jim Hickman, the first baseman for the Cubs, injured his back. The team suddenly needed someone to play first, so they reached down to their AA club in Midland, Texas, and called up a twenty-one-year-old named Joe Castle. He was the hottest player in AA and creating a buzz.

In the summer of 1973 Joe Castle was the boy wonder of baseball, the greatest rookie anyone had ever seen. The kid from Calico Rock, Arkansas dazzled Cub fans as he hit home run after home run, politely tipping his hat to the crowd as he shattered all rookie records.

Calico Joe quickly became the idol of every baseball fan in America, including Paul Tracey, the young son of a hard-partying and hard-throwing Mets pitcher. On the day that Warren Tracey finally faced Calico Joe, Paul was in the stands, rooting for his idol but also for his Dad. Then Warren threw a fastball that would change their lives forever...

In John Grisham's new novel the baseball is thrilling, but it's what happens off the field that makes CALICO JOE a classic.

Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Doubleday Books
Published: 04/10/2012
ISBN: 9780385536073
Pages: 208
Weight: 0.85lbs
Size: 8.30h x 5.80w x 0.90d

Review Citations: Booklist 03/15/2012 pg. 18
Shelf Awareness 04/13/2012
Kirkus Reviews 04/01/2012
Entertainment Weekly 05/04/2012 pg. 75
BookPage 04/01/2012

Accelerated Reader Quiz #/Name: 151750 / Calico Joe
Reading Level: 5.9 / Interest Level: Upper Grade / Point Value: 7