Wherever I Wind Up
My Quest for Truth, Authenticity, and the Perfect Knuckleball
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
The perfect gift for baseball fans, now with a new epilogue by author R.A. Dickey, winner of the 2012 Cy Young award.
"An astounding memoir—haunting and touching, courageous and wise."—Jeremy Schaap, bestselling author, Emmy award-winning journalist, ESPN
In 1996, R.A. Dickey was the Texas Rangers’ much-heralded No. 1 draft choice. Then, a routine physical revealed that his right elbow was missing its ulnar collateral ligament, and his lifelong dream—along with his $810,000 signing bonus—was ripped away. Yet, despite twice being consigned to baseball’s scrap heap, Dickey battled back. Sustained by his Christian faith, the love of his wife and children, and a relentless quest for self-awareness, Dickey is now the starting pitcher for the Toronoto Blue Jays (he was previously a star pitcher for the New York Mets) and one of the National League’s premier players, as well as the winner of the 2012 Cy Young award.
In Wherever I Wind Up, Dickey eloquently shares his quintessentially American tale of overcoming extraordinary odds to achieve a game, a career, and a life unlike any other.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Most professional baseball players pen a memoir after they retire. But pitcher R.A. Dickey who spent four seasons with four different Major League Baseball teams and is MLB's only active knuckleballer boasts a story compelling enough to be told forthwith. A heralded 1996 first-round draft choice, Dickey's $810,000 signing bonus with the Texas Rangers was yanked after doctors discovered the right-handed pitcher was missing an ligament in his right elbow. Thus began a dramatic up-and-down journey through the professional ranks, sustained by Dickey's determination, as evidenced by the book's proverbial Latin epigraph, "Dum spiro, spero" "While I breath, I hope." He and co-author Coffey (The Boys of Winter) write with startling candor not only about the game Dickey's fellow players, steroids in baseball, his disdain for rookie hazing , but also about his tumultuous upbringing being a victim of sexual abuse as an 8-year-old at the hands of his babysitter, growing up in Nashville with an alcoholic mother, sleeping in vacant houses as a teenager, and becoming a Christian. Dickey credits his faith with overcoming myriad trials both personal and professional, but it never feels as if he's preaching. Once an English-lit major and now a starting pitcher for the New York Mets, the author emerges as one of baseball's good guys, and someone who can write as well as he pitches. Dickey has set a new standard for athlete autobiographies. Color photos.
Customer Reviews
Great book
I started reading this book because of my interest in baseball, but I also ended up stumbling upon something very inspiring. I found it to be very honest to the struggles of mankind, and something that was very encouraging to my faith, and to my passion to succeed in the everyday struggles of life. Great work, RA and I look forward to your 2013 season with the blue jays.
Well written and courageous
When we hear of the exorbitant salaries paid to actors, rock stars, top athletes and other celebrities, we may lack sympathy when their personal life becomes chaotic. We have come to expect personal disfunction as part of the course and it is possible that we dismiss their struggles as self-inflicted.
Along comes R.A. Dickey and in attempting to master his knuckleball pitch must confront his past. Bad things have happened in his childhood and he must overcome the affects of these or go nowhere in his life. This is a story of courage and uncompromising persistence. Despite undeniably great talent, he seemed destined to alternate indefinitely between the major and minor leagues before becoming too old to play in either. He realises that the success of his professional life is inextricably linked to the success of his personal life. This is his epiphany.
It is refreshing when anyone highly successful in the sporting field is so articulate on the written page. The subtitle for the book is “my quest for truth, authenticity, and the perfect knucklball.” There is humour in this but it effectively summarises the author’s priorities in life. Clearly it has application to anyone who has grown up with some dysfunction in their formative years and this touching story is an inspiration that will bring hope to many.
Wherever I Wind Up
Loved it! Can't wait to see you pitch for my beloved Blue Jays. May God be with you always!