The best analogy for Chris Coste’s autobiogaphy, “The 33-Year-Old Rookie: How I Finally Made it to the Big Leagues after 11 Years in the Minors,” is the author himself.
The former Philadelphia Phillies catcher didn’t have the flash of a Manny Ramirez and his book doesn’t have flash of a “Juiced.”
It’s not as fluid as a Ken Griffey Jr. and the writing isn’t as good as “Ball Four.”
But, boy does this book have heart. And soul. And grit.
So much so that it has a reference to David Eckstein.
At first glance, you think his book could use a bit more editing. That way it wouldn’t seem like he was batting .940 while he was stuck in the minors. Then you realize that like his swing, the extra coaching probably would have gotten in the way.
The story tells and sells itself.
It’s a trek that would give Frodo pause. There are stops in Fargo, Erie, Buffalo and Scranton.
There are false starts.
By the end of the book you can’t help but love Eric Wedge, Cory Lidle and Charlie Manuel, the guys from the big clubs who stood in Coste’s corner.
Yet, they all pale in comparison to Coste. He’s unfiltered and he’s, dare I say it, one of us.
Wouldn’t we pinch ourselves when we return to the dugout after our first home run?
Wouldn’t we be the ones sitting in the clubhouse, shocked at the paycheck we’ve just been given?
Wouldn’t we be the ones close to giving up after so many letdowns?
That’s the beauty of Chris Coste, his story and his book.
He’s someone who gets what it’s like not to have everything handed to us. To struggle paycheck-to-paycheck.
In the end, you want to read Chris Coste’s book because it’s the book you would have written had you made it to The Show.
Copy Editor Patrick Abdalla doesn't need performance-enhancing drugs to take a look at all things Major League Baseball. Whether it's arguing about the Hall of Fame, quizzing someone with a stat out of left field, discussing a good baseball book, or talking about "Field of Dreams," Pat always enjoys some infield chatter. 