W.P. Kinsella’s fantasy novel follows Gideon Clarke, who seeks to prove the existence of a mythical 1908 baseball game that allegedly lasted over two thousand innings between the Chicago Cubs and an Iowa all-star team.
Blending magical realism with historical elements, the narrative explores themes of memory, faith, and the enchanting power of baseball mythology, examining the blurred lines between reality and imagination.
This novel explores early 20th-century America through the intertwined worlds of baseball and jewelry design, centering on the career of legendary pitcher Christy Mathewson as seen through the eyes of an immigrant Jewish family.
Rich with themes of cultural assimilation, hero worship, and artistry, the novel deftly examines how baseball reflects American identity and the quest for perfection, both on the diamond and in the workshop.
Bernard Malamud’s classic novel follows Roy Hobbs, a baseball prodigy whose career is derailed by a violent act, only to reemerge years later as a mysterious and powerful slugger.
The narrative is a mythic exploration of heroism, temptation, and the corrupting nature of ambition, using the arc of Roy’s career as a powerful allegory for the American dream and the loss of innocence.
In this iconic work of magical realism, Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella hears a voice commanding him to build a baseball field in his cornfield. His act of faith summons the ghost of Shoeless Joe Jackson and other members of the disgraced 1919 White Sox.
The novel weaves together themes of reconciliation, fulfilled dreams, and the enduring allure of baseball as a symbol for spiritual renewal and connection across generations.
The first book in the Henry Wiggen series, The Southpaw chronicles the rookie season of a talented and cocky young pitcher as he navigates the professional ranks.
Told through Henry's authentic and colloquial voice, the novel offers a realistic and often humorous look at the pressures of the game, exploring themes of ambition, friendship, integrity, and the challenges of growing up.
This poignant sequel to The Southpaw follows star pitcher Henry Wiggen as he tries to protect his terminally ill and dim-witted catcher, Bruce Pearson, from being cut from the team.
The novel is a moving exploration of friendship, mortality, and compassion, using the setting of a major league season to examine the dignity of ordinary people and the unifying power of loyalty.
Set at a small liberal arts college, this novel centers on Henry Skrimshander, a gifted shortstop whose promising future is thrown into chaos after a single errant throw. The story explores the lives of five characters connected to the team, delving into themes of ambition, perfectionism, mentorship, and self-discovery.
Harbach uses baseball as a metaphor for the pursuit of excellence and the profound ways in which people cope with failure.
In this wildly satirical work, Philip Roth invents the Patriot League, a fictional third major league that was erased from history as part of a communist conspiracy. Narrated by a retired sportswriter, the novel chronicles the absurd exploits of the league's hapless team, the Port Ruppert Mundys.
Through outrageous humor and exaggeration, Roth uses baseball to critique American history, politics, and myth-making.
This historical time-travel novel follows modern-day journalist Sam Fowler, who is mysteriously transported from the 1980s back to 1869. He joins the Cincinnati Red Stockings, baseball’s first professional team, on their inaugural national tour.
The novel vividly immerses readers in post-Civil War America, exploring the origins of the professional game while weaving a story of identity, nostalgia, and romance.
Robert Coover’s experimental novel delves into the mind of J. Henry Waugh, a lonely accountant who creates an elaborate baseball league played with dice and charts. As the lines between his game and his real life begin to dissolve, the narrative explores obsession, faith, free will, and the human need to create order and meaning.
It is a profound meditation on creation, mythology, and the nature of reality itself.
Framed as a secret history of baseball, this novella tells the story of William “Blockade Billy” Blakely, a phenomenal rookie catcher in the 1950s whose talent is matched only by the dark secret he conceals.
King blends baseball nostalgia with suspense, exploring themes of hidden identity, the corruption of innocence, and the sinister undercurrents that can lie beneath wholesome Americana.
This novel centers on the intertwined fates of a phenomenal rookie slugger, Joe Castle, and a struggling veteran pitcher, Warren Tracey. Told from the perspective of the pitcher’s son, Paul, the story examines how a single, fateful pitch reverberates through the lives of three families for decades.
It is a powerful story about forgiveness, hero worship, and the complex bonds between fathers and sons.
Set in 1947, this historical novel follows Joseph Burke, a traumatized World War II veteran hired by Dodgers manager Branch Rickey to serve as a bodyguard for Jackie Robinson during his groundbreaking rookie season.
Parker blends a taut crime narrative with the historical drama of baseball's integration, exploring themes of courage, racial hatred, and personal redemption in post-war America.
The story follows Luther “Dummy” Taylor, a real-life deaf pitcher for the New York Giants, who travels to Cuba in 1911 to coach and play. There, he becomes entangled in the island’s political turmoil and falls for a local revolutionary.
The novel combines rich historical detail with political intrigue, exploring themes of cross-cultural connection, perseverance, and moral courage.
This sprawling family saga centers on the Chance family in Washington state, whose lives are shaped by baseball, the Vietnam War, and religious faith. The father, Papa Chance, is a gifted minor-league pitcher whose career is cut short by injury, a fate that haunts his athletically talented sons.
Baseball serves as a powerful, unifying thread in this profound novel about faith, family, and the search for meaning in a turbulent world.
Blending magical realism and baseball lore, this novel tells the story of John Barr, a baseball superstar with a mysterious past and almost supernatural talent. As he leads the New York Mets on a pennant drive, his presence forces his teammates and manager to confront their own hopes and failings.
The narrative explores themes of destiny, redemption, and the nature of greatness.
This novel captures the inner thoughts of Billy Chapel, a legendary 37-year-old pitcher, as he throws what might be the final game of his career. Between pitches, he reflects on his life, his love for the game, and his relationship with the woman he loves.
It is an intimate and introspective story about dedication, aging, and the poignant intersection of professional ambition and personal fulfillment.
The Pitcher follows Ricky Hernandez, a talented Mexican-American boy who dreams of becoming a baseball star despite poverty and personal hardship. Guided by a reclusive former Major League pitcher, Ricky learns about discipline and determination.
The novel explores themes of mentorship, overcoming adversity, and the transformative power of pursuing one’s dreams against the odds.
A pioneering work of baseball fiction, this novel follows A.B. Berkowitz, a female sportswriter covering a fictional major league team. Written with sharp humor and insider knowledge, the book satirizes the macho world of professional baseball in the 1980s.
It explores themes of sexism, professional ambition, and the complex dynamics between athletes and the media.
In this historical mystery set in the 1920s, journeyman ballplayer Mickey Rawlings is playing for a barnstorming team in the South when a talented Black pitcher is lynched. Rawlings feels compelled to investigate, uncovering a web of racial prejudice and corruption.
The novel uses the backdrop of early baseball to explore themes of social injustice, courage, and moral responsibility.
Told through a collection of letters, newspaper clippings, and telegrams, this novel documents the funny and touching friendship between Joey Margolis, a wisecracking Jewish boy from Brooklyn, and Charlie Banks, a star third baseman for the New York Giants, during World War II.
The novel explores themes of found family, mentorship, and resilience, highlighting how human connection can transcend adversity.
This humorous and insightful novel follows a dysfunctional major league team mired in a collective, month-long batting slump. When the team hires a psychiatrist to get inside their heads, the players' anxieties, rivalries, and superstitions come to the forefront.
The story is a witty exploration of the psychology of failure, teamwork, and the fragile egos of professional athletes.
This novel follows Ryan Buck, a talented but troubled baseball player navigating personal redemption, strained family relationships, and ambition in the competitive world of professional sports.
Set against the backdrop of minor league baseball, the narrative explores themes of identity, self-discovery, and resilience, delving into the emotional and psychological complexities behind athletic achievement.
Set in the Deep South during World War II, this novel follows Danny Boles, a young shortstop playing for a minor league team in Georgia. His life is changed when he befriends a giant, reclusive teammate who is revealed to be Frankenstein’s monster.
The novel creatively blends historical fiction, baseball, and classic horror to explore themes of friendship, loneliness, and what it means to be human.
A classic of young adult sports fiction, this novel tells the story of Roy Tucker, a rookie pitcher from a small town who joins the Brooklyn Dodgers. He experiences the highs of sudden stardom and the devastating lows of a career-threatening injury.
The book offers a timeless and realistic portrayal of the virtues of perseverance, teamwork, and character in the face of adversity.
Shane Hunter is a promising high school pitcher and the son of a wealthy, demanding father. After a family tragedy throws his life into turmoil, Shane must confront his anger and guilt while taking on new responsibilities.
The novel uses baseball as a framework to explore themes of resilience, class, and the difficult moral choices that shape a young person’s character.
In another Mickey Rawlings mystery, the rookie player finds himself investigating a murder during the 1912 World Series at the newly opened Fenway Park. Soos blends a compelling whodunit with rich historical detail, capturing the atmosphere of early 20th-century Boston and the excitement of a classic Giants-Red Sox matchup.
Danilo Bacigalupo, a talented baseball player, grapples with guilt and redemption following a tragic on-field accident that kills another player. Set against the backdrop of America's pastime, the narrative interweaves themes of forgiveness, personal struggle, and spiritual renewal, exploring how one man’s quest for meaning can transcend the game.
This novella, which later became the prologue to DeLillo's masterpiece Underworld, captures a single historic moment: Bobby Thomson’s “Shot Heard ’Round the World” in 1951.
The story is told from multiple perspectives—including J. Edgar Hoover and Frank Sinatra in the stands—weaving together themes of American identity, the Cold War, and the interconnectedness of personal and national histories.
In this alternate history novel, baseball's color line is broken not by Jackie Robinson but by Bill Veeck signing a Black player to his minor league team in 1944.
The narrative imagines a world where integration happens earlier, exploring the transformative potential of sport in society and examining themes of racial justice, ambition, and the ideals of fairness in mid-20th century America.
Set in a small Vermont town in the 1950s, this coming-of-age story follows Ethan “E.A.” Allen, a boy whose life revolves around his family, his community, and his dream of meeting his hero, Red Sox slugger Ted Williams.
The novel uses baseball as a metaphor for hope, tradition, and aspiration, highlighting the impact sports can have in binding together families and towns.
The basis for the hit musical Damn Yankees, this novel tells the story of Joe Boyd, a middle-aged, die-hard fan of the lowly Washington Senators who makes a deal with the devil to become a young superstar and lead his team to victory.
This satirical fantasy explores themes of temptation, ambition, and the true meaning of success, offering a humorous commentary on America’s obsession with baseball.
Jack Faber is an elite baseball pitcher whose promising career is jeopardized by a traumatic injury, forcing him onto a difficult path of recovery and self-discovery.
The novel explores themes of perseverance, the mental struggles athletes endure, and the complexities of personal redemption within the hyper-competitive world of professional sports.
Gil Davison, a former minor league ballplayer, returns to his Michigan hometown to manage an amateur team and confront unresolved family tensions.
Set against the backdrop of the Stan Musial World Series for teenage players, the novel explores themes of redemption, second chances, and the complex relationship between fathers and sons, showing how community and sport can offer a path to healing.
Set in the segregated 1930s, this novel follows charismatic pitcher Bingo Long and his band of talented Negro League players who break away from their oppressive owners to form their own barnstorming team.
The story humorously yet poignantly explores themes of independence, camaraderie, and racial inequality, celebrating the resilience and joy of players who fought for dignity on and off the field.
In this installment of the Henry Wiggen saga, the star pitcher befriends a young "seamstitch," or baseball groupie, who has traveled across the country to see him.
The novel offers a gentle and insightful look at the human side of professional athletics, focusing on the small dramas and relationships that unfold over a season and exploring themes of fame, loyalty, and empathy.
Nathaniel “Crybaby” Isbister, a washed-up former professional baseball player, finds himself entangled with a bizarre Christian cult and its traveling baseball team.
With sharp humor and emotional insight, this novel from a Canadian author explores themes of redemption, failure, and the search for meaning in the strange corners of life, using baseball as a backdrop for a quirky journey of self-discovery.
High school junior Ryan Ward is mesmerized by his new classmate, Josh Daniels, a star athlete with a blazing fastball and a fiery temper. As their friendship develops, Ryan begins to see a darker, more manipulative side to Josh, forcing him to confront difficult questions about loyalty, integrity, and courage.
The novel uses the pressure of sports to explore complex moral dilemmas.
During a lull in the fighting in the spring of 1864, Union and Confederate soldiers secretly agree to a truce to play a series of baseball games in the wilderness of Virginia.
This novel explores the unexpected camaraderie that develops between enemies, examining themes of humanity, honor, and the unifying power of sport amid the brutality of the Civil War.
Legendary sportswriter Frank Deford’s novel explores the modern world of baseball through the relationship between an old-school manager, Howie Traveler, and his talented but arrogant star player, Jay Alcazar.
The narrative delves into the moral complexities of fame, privilege, and personal responsibility, offering an insightful commentary on entitlement in contemporary sports culture.
In the town of Mudville, it has rained for 22 years, ever since a championship baseball game was left unfinished. When the rain finally stops, 12-year-old Roy McGuire and his friends try to revive the town’s baseball tradition and heal an old rivalry.
This imaginative children's novel explores themes of friendship, community, and the healing power of sports.
In this classic children's book, a young baseball player named Sylvester Coddmyer III gains the mysterious ability to hit a home run every time he comes to bat. The novel explores themes of self-belief, teamwork, and the importance of enjoying the game, illustrating how confidence can transform performance both on and off the field.
This historical novel fictionalizes a secret 1935 baseball game between a team of Major League all-stars led by Babe Ruth and a team of Negro League legends featuring Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson.
The story provides a powerful examination of America’s segregated past, highlighting the immense talent of Black athletes and the injustice that kept them out of the majors.
A classic of hard-boiled baseball fiction, this novel provides a gritty, unglamorous look at the life of a career minor leaguer in the 1940s and 50s.
Following the struggles of protagonist Mike Kutner, Asinof exposes the harsh realities of the reserve clause, low pay, and the relentless pressure to succeed, offering a stark contrast to the romanticized image of the sport.
In this speculative novel, baseball legend Ted Williams is cryogenically frozen and revived in the distant future. Given a new, healthy body, he must navigate a changed world while seeking meaning beyond his past accomplishments.
The narrative uses this unique premise to explore themes of identity, legacy, and humanity’s perpetual quest for purpose.
Set in New York during the 1920s, this novel follows Ruby Thomas, a teenage girl with a phenomenal pitching arm who rises from poverty to become a national sensation. Navigating a world of gangsters, vaudeville, and barnstorming baseball, Ruby challenges societal constraints on women.
The novel explores themes of perseverance, family, and survival in a vividly captured historical era.
Harvey Blissberg, a recently retired center fielder for the Providence Jewels, finds himself investigating the murder of a former teammate in the team’s locker room.
The first in a series of baseball mysteries, this novel blends a compelling whodunit with an insider’s look at the rivalries, pressures, and corruption within a professional sports environment.
This novel tells the story of nine generations of the Schneider family, tracing their connection to baseball from the sport's German immigrant roots in the 1840s to the modern era.
Each chapter focuses on a different family member and a different position on the field, creating a sweeping narrative that shows how baseball has mirrored and shaped American history, including issues of immigration, war, and integration.
After her father's sudden death, eighth-grader Molly Williams copes with her grief by trying out for the boys' baseball team, armed with a knuckleball her father taught her.
The story thoughtfully explores themes of resilience, family, and finding courage in unexpected places, highlighting how sports can provide a sanctuary for healing and self-discovery.
In the small town of Magrit, Minnesota, in 1947, the local cereal company sponsors an all-female baseball team called the Sweethearts as a publicity stunt. The novel follows the team through its inaugural season, exploring the lives and aspirations of the women in a post-war America.
It is a charming and insightful story about friendship, community, and changing gender roles.
A professional baseball player approaches the pivotal final season of his contract, navigating the immense pressures to perform both on and off the field.
As he balances athletic ambition with personal relationships and ethical dilemmas, the novel explores themes of identity, redemption, and the challenging realities of fame and expectation in modern sports culture.
Nate “Chec” Rinaldi, a high school baseball pitcher, deals with the pressure of being his team's ace while grappling with the return of his estranged father, a disgraced ex-pro. The novel explores themes of forgiveness, family bonds, and the challenge of living up to expectations, both on the mound and in life.
The small town of Dillontown must win a single baseball game against a team of developers to save their historic field from being replaced by a shopping mall. The town’s hopes rest on a reclusive baseball prodigy and a mysterious newcomer who teaches them about strategy, teamwork, and the deep traditions of the game.
The novel highlights baseball’s symbolic power to unify a community.
After an injury permanently sidelines his pitching career, high school freshman Peter Friedman must reinvent himself. He finds a new passion in photography while navigating the complexities of friendship and a strained relationship with his grandfather, a former professional photographer.
The novel is a touching and funny story about adapting to life’s unexpected changes.
While on a hike with her family, nine-year-old Trisha McFarland gets lost in the Maine woods. To combat her fear and loneliness, she imagines that her hero, Red Sox closer Tom Gordon, is with her, protecting her. This psychological thriller uses baseball as a powerful symbol of hope and resilience in a primal struggle for survival.
Danny Lopez, a teenager of mixed Mexican and white heritage, spends a summer with his father's relatives, struggling to fit in. He finds an outlet for his identity crisis on the baseball field, where his incredible pitching arm speaks for itself.
The novel is a powerful exploration of identity, culture, and the search for belonging in modern America.
Eighteen-year-old Michelle “Mitch” Scott, a talented baseball player, defies expectations by trying out for her high school’s all-male varsity team.
The novel explores themes of gender equality, perseverance, and the challenges of breaking barriers in the competitive world of sports, capturing the personal and team dynamics that result from her courageous decision.
This gritty novel captures the world of low-level minor league baseball in the 1950s. It follows Stud Cantrell, a hard-drinking player-manager for the Graceville Oilers, as he tries to lead his team of misfits on an unlikely championship run while dealing with temptations and moral compromises.
The book is an authentic portrayal of the ambition and desperation of life on the fringes of the sport.
Michael Arroyo is a 12-year-old pitching phenom from the Bronx who dreams of leading his team to the Little League World Series. But he is guarding a secret: since his father died, he and his older brother have been living on their own.
The novel explores themes of perseverance, immigration, and family, showing how courage on the field is mirrored by courage in life.
Felix Piloto, a young Cuban immigrant, runs away from home and sneaks onto a minor league baseball team's bus, hoping to find his father, a legendary Cuban player who defected years earlier. The novel is a heartwarming story about family, identity, and the power of baseball to connect generations and cultures.
This alternate history novel follows John “Jack” Spalding, who has the ability to travel across parallel timelines. He uses this gift to try and repair his relationship with his father, interacting with different versions of baseball legend Ted Williams along the way.
The story is a creative exploration of father-son dynamics, regret, and the profound impact of our choices.
Set during spring training in Arizona, this novel explores the interconnected lives of the players, coaches, families, and hangers-on of a fictional major league team.
Told from various perspectives, the story peels back the curtain on the world of professional baseball, revealing the ambition, vulnerability, and secrets hidden beneath the surface of the game.
Gil Renard is a down-on-his-luck knife salesman whose life revolves around his hero, a star player for the Boston Red Sox. When the player falls into a slump, Gil's obsession spirals into a dangerous fanaticism. This psychological thriller explores the dark side of sports fandom and the fine line between admiration and madness.
This collection brings together the best baseball fiction of one of America's greatest humorists.
Through his classic "You Know Me Al" stories and other tales, Lardner used the unvarnished, colloquial voice of semi-literate ballplayers to satirize the egos, greed, and folly of athletes, offering a sharp and witty look at the human side of America's pastime.
This novel follows "Pee Wee" O'Day, a man whose life is defined by his past as a batboy for a minor league team and his obsession with a long-lost baseball signed by Babe Ruth. It is a complex story about memory, family secrets, and the ways in which baseball lore becomes intertwined with personal identity and redemption.
Joey Gallagher, a young baseball player, must overcome his fear of stealing bases while also dealing with family troubles and a new, unfriendly neighbor. This children's story emphasizes themes of resilience, teamwork, and facing one's fears, presenting valuable lessons about sportsmanship and personal responsibility.
Nick Garcia, a gifted 12-year-old catcher, carries the hopes of his team and his Cuban immigrant family as he vies for a spot in the Little League World Series. The novel explores themes of sportsmanship, friendship, and the pressures young athletes face, highlighting the intersection of personal dreams and contemporary social issues.
Jason Thibodeaux, a journeyman catcher for the San Francisco Giants, faces a crisis of conscience when he must choose between his team’s pennant race and his son, who has been arrested back home in Florida.
The novel explores the challenging balance between professional ambition and parental responsibility, using baseball as a backdrop for life's most difficult choices.
A serial killer is targeting star pitchers in the major leagues, and the only clue is a bizarre signature left at each crime scene. This gripping thriller blends suspense and dark humor, exploring themes of obsession and the dark undercurrents of sports culture, where the intense competition for fame can fuel both heroism and violence.
Ryan Walsh, a dedicated Chicago Cubs fan, is dealing with the recent death of her father when she meets Nick, a boy struggling with his own challenges, at Wrigley Field. Their developing relationship is set against the backdrop of a hopeful Cubs season, exploring themes of grief, resilience, and the healing power of friendship and shared passion.
Teenage sportswriters Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson are covering the World Series when they stumble upon a major secret involving a star rookie pitcher. The novel combines a suspenseful mystery with an insider’s look at high-stakes sports, exploring themes of media ethics, integrity, and the immense pressure placed on young athletes.
Jack Callahan, the star pitcher of his team, quits baseball after the sudden death of his older brother. Wracked with guilt, Jack must find his way back to the game he loves with the help of his friends and a surprising new mentor. The novel is a thoughtful exploration of grief, friendship, and the courage required to overcome personal tragedy.
Baseball player Jax Fielder’s life is upended by the attack on Pearl Harbor, forcing him to choose between his career and serving his country in World War II. The narrative explores themes of duty, sacrifice, and redemption, examining how the choices made in difficult times shape a person’s identity and destiny.
David Robbins is a struggling baseball player confronting self-doubt and personal loss when he is unexpectedly thrust into a critical game. The novel explores the inner struggles athletes face under pressure, highlighting themes of resilience, self-discovery, and the transformative power of determination in the face of adversity.
In this beloved children's novel, a young Chinese girl named Shirley Temple Wong immigrates to Brooklyn in 1947. She struggles to assimilate until she discovers baseball and its new hero, Jackie Robinson.
The story uses baseball as a powerful symbol of American identity and a bridge between cultures, exploring themes of friendship, acceptance, and patriotism.
Billy Baggs, a talented farm boy in rural Minnesota, must balance his duties on his family’s struggling farm with his passion for baseball. The first book in a trilogy, it explores the classic American themes of rural life, family obligation, and the pursuit of a personal dream against difficult odds.
This historical novel is set in 1946, when a Mexican millionaire lured dozens of Major League players south of the border to his new, integrated league.
The story follows several real-life figures, including Mickey Owen and an aging Satchel Paige, as they navigate the clashing cultures, big money, and political intrigue, creating a vibrant portrait of a forgotten chapter in baseball history.