HEART OF THE GAME: The Education of a Minor-League Ball Player [Hardcover]

Paul Hemphill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 17, 1996

Follows a year in the life of minor league baseball player Marty Malloy, an undersized but competitive infielder whose love for the game, eagerness to learn, and indifference to money distinguishes him from his major league counterparts. 15,000 first printing.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In 1994, the year major league baseball tried to survive the battle between "Billionaire owners and millionaire players," Hemphill (Too Old to Cry) followed a young second baseman with the minor league Durham Bulls. His subject was Marty Malloy, raised in rural Florida and lucky to have a father who was a high-school coach. Malloy was fortunate to be in the Atlanta Braves farm system, where excellent coaching is provided to athletes who are prospects for the Braves, and he took advantage of that opportunity by working hard at fielding (at which he was already superb) and hitting (at which he was good). Readers follow him through his hitting streaks and his one long slump, as the Bulls win the second half of the split season. Hemphill, himself a former minor leaguer, picked an ideal subject, a young man with drive and heart.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Georgia-based writer Hemphill (Leaving Birmingham, LJ 8/93), along with many fans, thinks that the purest baseball is being played in the minor leagues, away from the big money, greed, and egoism of the Majors. He follows a year in the life of Marty Malloy, a short, scrappy second baseman in the Atlanta Braves organization. Hemphill does a fine job of capturing the essence of the sport. A good choice for most libraries.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; First Edition edition (April 17, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684811723
• ISBN-13: 978-0684811727
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,079,473 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books on minor league baseball., March 30, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: HEART OF THE GAME: The Education of a Minor-League Ball Player (Hardcover)

Paul Hemphill did a super job,writing about Marty Malloy and the Durham Bulls. This book ranks as one of my all time favorites along with David Lambs, Stolen Season

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, true baseball book, February 17, 2000

By 

"effjaysullivan" (Dover, N.H.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: HEART OF THE GAME: The Education of a Minor-League Ball Player (Hardcover)

As a Boston Red Sox fan, I can lay as great a claim as anyone to loving baseball. Only in recent years (by virtue of the Double-A Eastern League's Portland SeaDogs) have I been able to get into minor league ball, as well. This book - and Malloy - captures everything great about the game, and it has prompted me to follow his career, as well as that of minor league superstar Tony Graffannino, a physically gifted and talented keystoner, who was always one step ahead of Malloy in development. This book captures the heroism of hard work, and that tragedy so poignantly seen in baseball: hustle goes a long way, but there's no substitute for God-given talent. Great writing, all around. One of those books you wish you never had to finish.

One objection, though: Hemphill refers to the "Peanuts" catcher as Linus, when we all know it's Schroeder.

4.0 out of 5 stars This book gives the reader a great "feel" for the minors!, September 7, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: HEART OF THE GAME: The Education of a Minor-League Ball Player (Hardcover)

Paul Hemphill does a very good job chronicaling Marty Malloy's year in the low minor leagues. All too often we think of only the "romance" of playing baseball - the glory, the headlines, and the money. That is the major leagues. This book shows us the other side - and shows it well.

Since reading this book a year or so ago, I've been following Malloy's career. After many struggles, he made it to the majors on September 6, 1998. To top it off, he hit a home run in his very first game for the Atlanta Braves. Way to go Marty!