Wild Pitch

By Mike Lupica

Book Overview

This is what happens when a washed-up one-time pitching phenom and all-around jerk gets a second chance-and discovers that none of it is exactly what he expected it to be. Showtime Charlie Stoddard now occupies himself at card shows, one-night stands, and nearby watering holes. His ex-wife still talks to him, but keeps her distance (about 3,000 miles); his son won't even do that-all in all, a life filled with peaches and cream. And then a decidedly unorthodox therapist starts working on his arm, and Charlie begins to dream again . . . especially now that the Boston Red Sox have lost two starting pitchers and seen their lead over the Yankees sliced in half. Can Charlie make it back to the bigs? Will he ever convince his ex-wife to take him seriously again? Will his son (the . . . well, never mind who he is-we've got to save something) even acknowledge his existence? Can the Red Sox-dare we say it?-shake off the collective curses of the Bambino, the Buckner, and Bucky-expletive-Dent? Stay, as they say, tuned, as Lupica unfolds his smartest, most outrageous, most surprising novel yet, a story filled with the glories and absurdities of the national pastime, and further proof that "Lupica's fiction is the funniest thing going" (Orlando Sentinel).

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0399149279
• ISBN13: 9780399149276
• Release Date: September 2002
• Publisher: Putnam Adult
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.3" x 9.3"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Home Run

"Wild Pitch" is definitely Lupica's best sports novel. It starts a little slowly, but when Showtime Charlie Stoddard the 40-year-old comeback kid finally gets his start with the Red Sox, the story kicks into high gear.A whole array of colorful characters project Lupica's view of the game and those around it. Mo Jiggy, the gangsta rapper from "Bump and Run" who became a big time agent in "Full Court Press", is back for a cameo. The main voice of irreverence, however belongs to Pooty Shaw, the hard hitting catcher whose baseball millions have attracted an endless string of beautiful girlfriends with attitude. We also get to meet Booker Impala Washington, the limo driver who's really the brains behind the new Red Sox owner. The main story revolves around Charlie and his inscrutable trainer Chang, which will remind you a lot of Kevin Costner and Cheech Marin in "Tin Cup". As it builds to a close, you will realize that there's not enough time for a real sappy storybook ending. Lupica finds the perfect touch to wrap it up.There are a few bumps along the way. Lupica seems to insert a brand name on every other page giving you the feeling that you're watching those rotating ads in the ballpark, spinning at warp speed. There's a little too much baseball trivia, like three solid pages on the history of the left field wall at Fenway. The references to Elaine's and T.J. Tucker's make it read like a Dan Jenkins knock off at times, and the word games around the Grace MacKenzie character - Amazing Grace, goodnight Gracie, Grace under pressure - are a little too cutsie.All in though, it was a five star read.

Catch it

The only thing better than reading Mike Lupica's sports columns in the New York Daily News is reading his sports novels. "Wild Pitch", the latest in an impressive body of work, belongs on your bookshelf next to all the Dan Jenkins novels. After taking his readers on fun trips through pro football ("Bump and Run") and basketball ("Full Court Press")worlds, Lupica has created a terrific baseball adventure. Showtime Charlie Stoddard is a marvelous character, a baseball pitcher, ex-husband and father. "Wild Pitch" is a fastball and a curve. The book is funny and moving and contains a few surprises which you may or may not see coming.

Lupica Goes Yard

Mike Lupica has gone yard once again and this time the bases are loaded. Everybody loves a comeback and Lupica's account of Showtime Charlie Stoddard's return to glory is laugh-out-loud funny. This on and off the field glimpse of big time baseball is a breeze to read and the best I have read in 12 months. If you are looking for an entertaining read to get you through the fall and winter, pick up Wild pitch...it is Lupica's best!!

GRAND SLAM!!

Great heart - great insight - and really funny. Mike Lupica is a terrific writer. I've seen his photo and he couldn't have been a pro athlete. So he somehow has the gift of finding the soul of his subject. I'm a girl sports fan - and Mike has a way of making the world of sports accessible to me.I know what I'm giving to all the guys on my list for Christmas - Wild Pitch.

I love Lupica

Mike Lupica has become a writer that I can't wait until his next book comes out. Now I've read "Wild Pitch" and I have to wait again. It takes you deep into the sport of baseball, with his real knowledge of the game, his rich characters, and his great sense of humor.It's a wonderful read. If you're a sports fan, and I am, you'll really enjoy this one.