The Baseball Code -- Gary L. Watts

<p>In the tradition of <em>Tuesdays with Morrie </em>and <em>The Karate Kid, The Baseball Code </em>is a story about the passing on of wisdom from generation to generation, from father to son, from teacher to student, from coach to player. It is a story about goodness; about why we tell the truth and why sometimes we don't; about always doing your best; about playing fair and putting the team first; about understanding that giving up what you want isn't the same as losing and that sometimes a sacrifice bunt is the right play.</p><p> </p><p>Terry Richards is a retired math professor, struggling with grief and loneliness after the loss of his wife. Noah is a ten-year-old boy down the street whose father has recently moved away. When Noah's baseball rolls into Terry's yard, their friendship begins with a simple game of catch and conversation. </p><p><br></p><p>Terry also recalls his conversations with his wife, as with bittersweetness he remembers their first date, their first argument, and the rose garden they planted together in the back yard. He thinks about his father and the talks they had playing catch after dinner. He knows that his dad not only taught him baseball but also taught him right from wrong and what it meant to have honor. He passes that wisdom on to Noah as he shares with him his love of the game. He calls those values, "The Baseball Code." </p><p><br></p><p>Like a <em>Field of Dreams </em>(<em>Shoeless Joe</em>) and <em>The Sandlot, The Baseball Code </em>is