Four Book Friday | Baseball! — Tina

Welcome to Four Book Friday, where I give a quick list of four books that fall under the same topic.

Since opening day is on Monday, I thought there was no better way to start off this segment than to go with baseball! (Insert person raising both hands in celebration emoji here). Baseball is my favorite sport to watch both on TV and live. The weather, the snacks, watching the world-series winning Cubs... I'm here for all of it.

As it turns out, there are some excellent baseball themed books, too.

Calico Joe | John Grisham

This book is an excellent choice for anyone who enjoys a good coming of age story. In Summer of 1973 Joe Calico (or Calico Joe) is a rookie and he shows more promise than anyone's seen in a long time. He quickly captures the heart of baseball fans everywhere. One of his biggest fans is Paul Tracy, the son of Mets pitcher Warren Tracy. Tracy is aging, angry, and often overrated. Warren eventually is slated to pitch against the young Joe Calico, and what happens next changes the course of both of their lives forever. The story is told from the viewpoint of Warren's son Paul and flashes between then and now. The story is excellent and is as well written as John Grisham's other books, despite it being a departure from usual genre. I read this back in 2015 and the story is still with me.

You Might Like This If: You're a fan of Grisham and/or baseball.

Moneyball | Michael Lewis

Moneyball is a modern classic. Michael Lewis is best known as a financial journalist, and he applies his expertise to baseball in Moneyball. Moneyball tells the story of the Oakland A's general manager, Billy Beane and his outside of the box application of advanced statistics to the game. I am by no means a statistician, but I still thought this was an interesting book to read.

You Might Like This If: You like getting behind the scenes of an underdog success story.

Satchel : The Life and Times of an American Legend

Satchel Page is one of the most interesting athletes ever. He came up during Jim Crow era and therefore wasn't able to go pro until well after his prime. Still, he is one of the greatest pitchers in the game and was known for his wild front foot kick, his longevity, and his showmanship.

You Might Like This If: You're interested in baseball history and/or and enigmatic figures (he played professional baseball until he was 47!)

The Cubs Way : The Zen of Building the Best Team in Baseball and Breaking the Curse

Alright. As a Chicagoan and a lifelong Cubs fan you have to let me have this one. Breaking the Curse was just released this week and was written by Sports Illustrated baseball writer and FOX Sports analyst Tom Verducci. I haven't read this yet, but it is on its way to my house :) Really though, if you are a baseball fan, you might enjoy reading about the Cubs insane season. Theo Epstein first broke the Red Sox's draught and then brought his talent to Chicago. Joe Madden is one of the most beloved coaches in baseball, and coaches his team with a transformational leadership style that keeps his players invested. The author interviewed Theo, Joe, and the rest of the players and writes about all of the elements that came together to produce an unforgettable season.

You Might Like This If: You're a Cubs fan. Literally, do not read this if you're not a Cubs fan because there's a 0% change you'll like it and I don't want to hear about it!

Find me me here!