This is a non fiction book, this book is a really good book and filled with true stories about people's life. My favourite story was the "Baseball Spirit" this is the story:
"The Baseball Spirit"
It was summer, and my parent sent me to spent time with my granpa for my 13th birthday. He had been diagonised with cancer the christmas before. I was in this rebellious stage, And i decided to bring my skateboard and sreluctkates and not spend much time with him. I knew some kids down the street, and i was going to hang out with them. I was a major baseball fan (I strongly favoured the Cardinals), So when i was packing, i slipped my baseball glove in my backpack too, thinking maybe i could play a little catch. I had planned everything. Dont get me wrong, I wasnt trying to be mean or anything; I love my grandparents, and i would b great to see my granpa. I was just not planning to hang out with him; but then, i never thought the spirit of baseball could bring 2 people together the way that it did that way that summer. I was on the computer at my granparents house and granpa asked me if i wanted to play catch. "sure" i said, reluctantly. We went outside to play catch, and at first i didnt think much of it, but with every throw, i realized that i was feeling more and more connected to him. I felt like i could've played catch with my granpa forever. Later that night, he showed me his Mark McGwire first then baseman's mitt and his Micky Mantle bat. I thought those were the coolest things in the world. On august 13, we went to a saint Louise Cardinal's game at Busch Stadium. While i was watching my heroes, like Fernando Vina, Albert Pujols, Jim Edmonds and Mark McGwire, my granpawas telling me all about his childhood heroes. Through that whole game, I felt even more connected to him. Toward the end of my time in Illinois, I found Granpa's book about Mark McGwire's historic 1998 season. He caught me looking at it so much that he decided i could keep it and he signed it to me: To:Caleb Mathewson From : Maynard Mathewson "MATTY" remember the summer of 2001 ~ Granpa... I didnt think much of the autograph then, but later i treasured it more than anything. That night I had to get ready to go home, and we decided to go outside and play catch for what turned out to be one last time. my granpa and i laughed and talked while i did my best imitation of the top major legue pictures, not knowing how much i would treasure this moment later in life. I came back to Illinois the next summer wih my family to see him. My grandpa was confined to his bed and barely able to walk. The cancer had spread to everybone in his body. The very last time i saw him was the last night i was there. I was in his room watching the Cardinals game on television with him. He struggled to sit up and said, "If anything happens to me, I want you to have my Mark McGwire first baseman's mitt and my Mickey Mantle bat." It meant so much to me, I cant even explain it. I could barely hold back my tears. 2 days later, his lungs filled up with fluid and on August 13 2002, Maynard Mathewson died at 1:00 am., exactly one year to the day of attending that Cardinals game with me, which was still so fresh in my memory. When i went to his funeral, on his casket there were 2 baseball caps. 1 was a Yankess cap and the other was the same St. Louis Cardinals cap that he wore to the Cardinals game that we attended together. Because of my grandpa and the love for the game that we shared, I know that I'll always have the baseball spirit in me. The bat, the glove and the book that he gave me are always with me to remind me that my grandpa, Maynard Mathewson, and I will forever be connected by the spirit of baseball and the summer we spent together
~Caleb Mathewson
This story has touched me and made me teary because it is a true story and how they connected to each other. There are many more fantastic true stories in this book but "The baseball spirit is my favourite story.
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