Viking, 1996

Based on actual events during the turbulent, postwar baseball days of 1946, this captivating, darkly comic novel tells of a group of American players who, frustrated by their treatment at the hands of the major league owners, begin defecting to a Mexican baseball league.

- A 1996 New York Times Book Review Notable Book of the Year

- Nominated for 1997 Los Angeles Times Book Prize

“A hell of a fine novel. The characters are believably white, believably black, believably Mexican, believably male, believably female, believably human. This has to be the saddest and most joyous baseball novel since Bang the Drum Slowly.” — David Bradley, author of The Chaneysville Incident

“As sweet and rare and soul-satisfying as a triple play.” — Richard Russo, author of Empire Falls and winner of the Pulitzer Prize

“Not just a baseball novel; it is the best baseball novel that I have read. It is a book that delves deep into national myth ... a moving and significant story.” — The New York Times Book Review

“A novel one may speak about without apology in the same breath as The Natural, Bang the Drum Slowly and The Great American Novel.” — The Philadelphia Inquirer

“With the skills one normally associates with E.L. Doctorow and Gore Vidal, Winegardner has brought history to life. His book is golden.” — San Diego Union-Tribune

“It should take its rightful place among the best baseball novels ever written.” — USA Today

"One of our best-ever baseball books." — Kirkus Reviews

- Starred reviews in Library Journal, Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews.