Third Base for Life is the true story of twelve bungling and inept fourth grade boys from a small Jewish day school in Newton, Massachusetts who band together to challenge the top ten-year old baseball talent in the country at Cooperstown Dreams Park, one of the nation’s most prestigious youth tournaments. Every summer since 1996, ten thousand elite players from California to Florida visit Dreams Park in upstate New York to measure themselves against the very best. Major League Baseball’s annual draft is replete with players who at one time in their lives graced the diamonds of Cooperstown.

Third Base for Life is the first hand account of how an ordinary father who has not played baseball since Little League, manages to put together a group of kids from his son’s small religious school and somehow gain admittance into a tournament (and a world) where they simply do not belong. The story spans a year and half of the author’s life as he reluctantly gives into his son’s wishes and, against his better judgment, organizes a team of Jewish “Bad News Bears”. The ragtag group must learn to play baseball, come together as a team, face formidable opponents and deal with tragic illness. Ultimately, as they square off against other teams from across the country whose talent is light-years beyond theirs, the author and the boys learn that losing can bring gifts of its own while finding strength to confront one’s fears can be a reward in and of itself

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Born and raised in Boston, JOSHUA BERKOWITZ is an avid Red Sox fan. His days of playing baseball sadly ended with Little League, but fortunately Josh landed on his feet. He currently practices internal medicine on the north shore of Boston and enjoys spending time with his wife, Sheryl, and their two children, Gabriel and Shoshana. When not writing or seeing patients in the office, Josh cherishes spending time with his family. His passions include floating aimlessly on the Saco River in Maine, hiking with his Newfoundland pup and tossing a baseball with the kids.

Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Vantage Point (March 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1936467224
ISBN-13: 978-1936467228
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.2 x 8.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 10 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,055,724 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #536 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Coaching > Baseball
- #2879 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Sports & Outdoors > Baseball
- #20197 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Travelers & Explorers

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bill greene

Winning isn't everything--except for the Green Bay Packers!

June 4, 2012

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This book is not for everyone. But if you are interested in baseball, parenting, the need to encourage children to face their fears and chase their dreams, or how to find worthwhile lessons and experiences amid the ruins of defeat, to cherish memories of small victories and the blessings of cooperative efforts, then this book is for you.

The beginning sections explain how a fearless wife and an innocent ten year old son managed to convince a hesitant dad into what amounts to an impossible Don Quixote, tilting-at-windmills, mission impossible: and the dad finally agrees to bring an all Jewish team to Cooperstown Dream Park to compete against the top 160 under-ten baseball teams in the country! Out of the limited ranks of a small private school in Newton Massachusetts, they assemble a team willing to face their fears and sally forth with the vague hope of pulling off a David vs Goliath victory. The fact that several players don't even know the rules of the game makes their objective even more daunting for the Rashi Rams.

The initially reluctant dad, their coach, has only dim memories of playing third base in Little League, but is an avid Red Sox fan, and occasionally gets telepathic support from his patron saint of baseball, Sandy Koufax. More importantly, dad is motivated because he understands that "fear is a mind killer," a failing that sometimes got in the way of his own aspirations, but one that he will not allow to limit his son's ambition and dreams. The balance of the book details the relationships and cooperation that develops among the teammates, their parents, and the several fathers who volunteer as assistant coaches. There are many hurdles to be overcome, including illness, uncertainty, medical emergencies, not to mention, extremely formidable opponents. Plus, the need to frantically juggle players because there are only a couple sound ball players among the rag-tag group, only a single competent catcher, and pitchers whose fastballs rarely exceed 60 MPH. All told with tense play-by-play action enlivened with ever present humor!

Predictably, the Rams are heavily outscored in every game and maintain a spotlessly winless record even in the consolation game that pits them against the second worst team at Cooperstown. But in spite of a poor showing in wins vs losses, they leave the Dream Park for the better--with the confidence and satisfaction of having given it their best. Each player on the Rashi Rams learns that to get a hit you must step up to the plate AND swing the bat. They learn that helping each other, improvising solutions to catastrophes, and just hanging tough when everything is falling down around you, are achievements in themselves. And, each player can retain a memory of at least one small triumph attained and forever carry the pride and strength that comes from having gone up against the best, made a contest of it, and survived. It is happy book, positive, funny, and inspiring.

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Bonnie Cobert Millender

Moving Memoir!

April 18, 2012

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I loved Joshua Berkowitz's wonderful memoir "Third Base for Life"! It is a touching story of a father's devotion to his son and his determination to make his son's dream of playing in a baseball tournament at Cooperstown Dreams Park come true. Berkowitz does this by gathering together a group of boys from his son's Jewish Day School and turning them into a baseball team. He then arranges to have them participate in the Cooperstown tournament. Berkowitz's portrayals of the boys and their families are vivid and authentic. Each of the boys is unique in his own way but all are believable as typical ten year olds with all of their fears and bravado. The story of their journey from inept baseball players to contenders in a national tournament is filled with humor, drama and emotion. The reader is drawn into the intense atmosphere of the tournament and empathizes with the doubts and anxieties of both Berkowitz and the team. This is not just a story about 10 year olds playing baseball - it is an insightful social commentary about the interactions among the boys and the coaches, and the growth that each derives from the experience. I was genuinely moved by this book and recommend it to anyone who cares about "Fathers, Sons and Baseball"!

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Boston Reader

Very Enjoyable

September 21, 2012

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This is a great book for any mother or father who has ever coached a child in a sport. It is an easy read that gives you a sense of what coaching youth sports is all about. This book would make a great gift for a father or baseball fan.

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Arthur G. Kellerman

Third Base for Life; A Memoire of Fathers, Sons, and Baseball

May 6, 2012

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

As a former Little League Baseball and Youth Softball coach, I loved the way Josh relates to the boys on his team and also to the parents. The book is both warm and humorous. It must be wonderful for the kids on his team to read of their experiences so poignantly captured.

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adam glasgow

a perfect father's day gift

April 20, 2012

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

My disclaimer: Josh is my brother-in-law and I am in the book but.........
I was also an English Major in college and I have read a lot of books. Josh's is among the best. It is a warm and touching tale. It is also a quick and easy read. It has surefire appeal to fathers, sons, and anyone who ever played Little League. It is also an engaging read for anyone who enjoys baseball, relationships, and journeys of self exploration and personal growth. My strongest reccomendation is that the book will make you laugh and smile. You will be a happier person because of the few hours you spend with Josh's memoir. Trust me. Buy it. Read it. Don't delay.

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Richard Koba

Entertaining and touching

January 19, 2013

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

A fictionalized memoir of an ad hoc baseball team of 10-year-old boys from a Jewish day school playing at a Cooperstown tournament. Very enjoyable read.

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