The Perfect Pitch: The Biography of Roger Owens the Famous Peanut Man at Dodger Stadium

by Daniel S. Green

Book Overview

The story of Roger Owens, Dodger Stadium's famous Peanut Man, whose rise from hopelessness on L.A.'s inner-city streets to peanut-tossing fame in the baseball stands continues to inspire sports fans... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1932560297
• ISBN13: 9781932560299
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Llumina Press
• Length: 340 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.6" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Pure Baseball Joy

Roger Owens is a legend at Dodger Stadium — not for throwing out runners at home, for throwing peanuts to adoring fans for more than 60 years, since Dodger Stadium opened in 1962. This is his life’s story, and he is still on the job. He is an icon, a legend, a one-of-a-kind personal hero who beat the odds to become a beloved part of the Dodgers landscape. Don’t miss this humble tale from another age that bridges to today.

A super crowd pleaser

This story is too good to be true. It's about a mom and dad who have a son with a unique talent, a talent he doesn't discover until he's 19. Actually he's the eldest of nine kids and his name is Roger Owens. He grew up in poverty, dealing with a mother suffering from a mental breakdown. He even endured foster home abuse, since he and his siblings were sent away to foster homes for three years. After reuniting as a family, except his mom who was being treated, in 1956, Roger finds work to bring in grocery money. Soon, as a 15 year old he works as a soda vendor for the Dodgers at the L.A. Coliseum. In 1962, he follows the team to Dodger Stadium and begins his pioneering talent of trick tossed bags of peanuts under his leg and behind the back with amazing accuracy. It's a moving rags to riches success story and has lots of emotion, drama, action and even some romance. It has something for all readers of all ages. It also features two family miracles, their faith in God to overcome obstacles, and Roger's own rise to success as the Famous Peanut Man. A friend of mayors, celebrities, and everyday people, he is someone who is known throughout the world and seen as the best in the world at what he does, working hard for over 50 years to bring smiles to sports fans everywhere.

a delightful story of an underdog coming out on top

The Perfect Pitch is a biographical portrait of Roger Owens, the famous Peanut Man at Los Angeles' Dodger stadium. Owens has been expertly trick-tossing bags of salted peanuts to enthusiastic baseball fans for over 40 years. He began working as a peanut vendor at the age of 15. In 1962 he moved right along with the LA Dodgers into Dodger Stadium. His arsenal of throwing tricks (behind the back, overhand, underhand, between-the-legs) and general friendliness had made Owens into something of a celebrity, which was cemented in 1976 by an invitation to appear as a guest on The Tonight Show hosted by Johnny Carson. The eldest of nine children, Owens struggled in his youth with issues that many readers will be able to relate to. His mother's battle with a mental illness sent him and his siblings into foster care for some time. In his twenties, Owens was involved in a Jeep accident that nearly cost him his life. But even in the face of poverty and distress, Roger Owens never let it crush his optimistic and warm spirit. This is a delightful story of an underdog coming out on top, and you don't have to be a baseball fan to enjoy it. (Although baseball fans will love the detailed descriptions of the games). It is a story about real people persevering throughout the struggles of life. You can put yourself in Roger Owens' shoes and feel his excitement radiating from the pages. A moving tale with plenty of photographs, it is a fast paced and engaging story for all readers. Review by Gretchen Olson of BookReview.com.

An All-American Story: Baseball, Mom and...Peanuts!

This is the kind of story we don't get enough of in America today. On the surface, it's about a poor California boy who grows up battling adversity and, through determination and showmanship, makes a name for himself as a Dodger Stadium peanut vendor. But it's also about the healing power of family and friendship, and the importance of faith and a positive attitude. This kind of life story is getting harder to find, as society gets more hectic and we get more and more insulated from one another. How refreshing it is to read about a man who dedicated his life to connecting with people -- by tossing them a bag of peanuts -- in the classic setting of the old ballpark. It may sound corny, but we'll miss it when it's gone. Books like this can inspire us to maintain values and traditions that are sadly slipping away.

The Amazing Peanut Vendor Tells his story

You might be thinking to yourself...why would you want to read a book about a peanut vendor...but this isn't any ordinary peanut vendor, this is the famous Roger Owens who has thrown peanuts at Dodger games for the last 46 years and is still going strong.Roger's story is heartbreaking and uplifting. It is inspirational and engaging. He came from a very large family and spent a very tough childhood trying to find himself and help support his family who were very poor.His mother suffered from mental problems and Roger and his siblings were placed in different foster homes.Baseball and the LA Dodgers turned out to be Roger's saving grace. He began his long career at the Coliseum and moved with the Dodgers to Dodger Stadium in 1962 and he has been there ever since.Roger developed quite a following in the sports and entertainment world with his humor and special ability to throw peanuts behind his back and between his legs and hit his mark every time.Roger also experienced a life threatening jeep accident early in his career. Roger's nephew Daniel wrote this book about his uncle and it is indeed a labor of love.If you read one book about a peanut vendor make it this one.