The Eastside Kid (Paperback)

I first stopped playing baseball at the age of twelve, but left on a high note. I was forced to quit due to a wrist tumor formed by throwing curve balls at a young age. But my passion and love for the game continued to form an inner spirit that clawed at my heart for thirty five years, and later in life, I found baseball once again and attacked it with a vengeance. I am full-throttle, green-light; take no prisoners now, as I share my story from 1957 to 2007. My story begins on the eastside of Brockton, Massachusetts, and leads to my present baseball experiences. Being an eastside kid has had a very special meaning for me and other real eastside kids. It's not that we were tough - I guess it was the true grit, the attitude, and the loyalty to the friends at the sandlots, your teammates, neighborhoods, and the idea of belonging to each other, which I easily adapted to as similar experience in the military. There are battles; comebacks, disabilities, and an inside look at how baseball beats in my heart.
My dream is to make a difference, to set the example, and to inspire others to enjoy this game of baseball. I could always look into my opponent's eyes and relay instant messaging, saying, "I and you are one," just as Sadaharu Oh once side. (He was the MLB Babe Ruth of Japan.) Now I understand and believe his thoughts.
My love for this game has been so rewarding. Baseball as I said is my heartbeat, my passion is for the game, and I am the kid from the eastside. So follow the seams of the baseball and watch the ball bounce from bat to glove, and experience baseball through my eyes and listen to my heartbeat. My passion is alive and well, and always ready for another game.