A Nice Tuesday

by Pat Jordan

In A Nice Tuesday , Pat Jordan chronicles his decision to reclaim the failed potential of his youth. A young baseball pitcher of inordinate promise, Jordan had been one of the Milwaukee Braves first “bonus babies.” His struggle through the minor leagues and ultimate failure to play in the majors, eloquently chronicled in A False Spring, defined his youth. At fifty-six, Jordan realizes that “this trivial thing” has also defined his life and decides to make a comeback. He whips himself back into playing condition and convinces an independent minor-league team, the Waterbury (Connecticut) Spirit, to let him return to the mound one last time. In this memoir, Jordan lays bare his midlife quest with honesty and humor, making A Nice Tuesday about much more than baseball.

Genres: Baseball, Sports, Nonfiction

342 pages, Paperback

First published April 15, 1999

Reviews

[Brian]

Enjoyed this book very much. There is a level of self-reflection that I think Jordan touches at, but doesn't reach, some threads he doesn't follow all the way to their frayed ends. But he makes a good faith effort. The narrative is very rich and rewarding. Really a worthwhile and enjoyable read, and a book that has a few things to teach. Jordan hits some real profound notes towards the end when his experience with his dogs threatens to disintegrate his will and his life. The result of this crisis is really profound, and his adjustment of his expectations and obsessions as a result show the real limits of the control we can assert on our existence, and the necessity to accept things that cannot be changed. Rather than the pat insight that that is so often presented as, Jordan's experience shows the profound difficulties that they present from time to time, and the virtue of perseverance, if it is one, shines in the end.

[Jon Moeller]

Just finished this book- It should be re-titled
"My Midlife Crisis and Trying to Relive My Life to Find Purpose with No Luck Other Than the One Inning I Pitched in Indy Baseball". Maybe that title is too long.
I was more disturbed that the author was more distraught over giving one of his dogs away than being alienated by all five of his children to hook-up with Meg Ryan's mom.
Don't waste your time reading this.
New Title- "My Mid-Life Crisis and My Search for Purpose in Meaningless Things" by Pat Jordan

[Susan Dennis]

I cannot remember where this book came from. I was cleaning off my bookshelf when I found it and decided to give it a look over before I sold it. It just refused to be 'looked over'. It demanded to be read so I did. It's a really readable memoir. Jordan, a freelance writer and once minor baseball player, candidly and interestingly writes about his life. And, it makes a very compelling story. He's not extra ordinary and neither are the other people in his life. (As it happens, he is married to Meg Ryan's mother but since they (Meg and her mother) are estranged, she is barely mentioned.) It was just a good book.

[Mark]

I really wanted to like this book, but didn't. The author is admittedly self-absorbed. Just not a good story.

[David]

Is Pat Jordan almost too honest about his life in this book?😂 He comes off as kind of a prick at times! And he'd probably tell you that at times, he was. He's the kind of guy that if you're friends with, then you love him, but if you only know him peripherally, then you probably think he's a jerk. This book isn't full of OUTRAGEOUS stories or hilarious anecdotes. It does have some of that. But Jordan's writing is so good that just him going on about everyday stuff is really enjoyable. He sprinkles his life stories since 'A False Spring' throughout his baseball comeback struggles and triumphs and it's all great. Some people might prefer a more likable subject to read about, but they won't get a more honest one.

[Ellison]

When a FIFTY SIX-YEAR-OLD write who used to pitch in the minor leagues sees a movie star may pitch in an Independent League baseball game he thinks, "If he can do it, I can do it." Since there is not much story in that he has to share every other tedious other thing in his life such as divorce, intimacy, swearing, parenting, DOGS!, and friends. LUMBERING SLOG!

Also see: 'When You Can't Come Back', 'The 33-Year-Old' and the Oldest Rookie'.

[Kaylee]

Competently written but the main character is not someone I could stomach being around. It feels like an entire book written by one of those guys who played a sport in high school and are convinced they would go pro if they had worked a little harder. If this is your kind of thing, more power to you, but at times I found myself wanting to scream from the rage this book ignited within me.

[Jeremy]

Pretty decent but no "False Spring." When I reviewed "Alone Against the North," I mentioned the author was an asshole but completely oblivious and views himself as the hero. This book has a little of that but the author is an old man and is in the process of becoming self-aware

[Rick]

Pat Jordan is an insufferable, narcissistic, self absorbed, dolt. After reading this book you’ll know him, but you won’t like him.

[Steve Simrin]

Good but does not compare to False Spring, which IMHO is the best baseball book I have read.

[Bjkeefe]

As with A False Spring , sad but good. But this one has some happy and funny parts, too.

[Jay French]

In his earlier book, Jordan talked about being a stubborn youth. Here, he describes being a grizzled veteran. Still stubborn. Humorous, though. Buried the lede on his step daughter till mid-book

[Scott]

A wonderful follow up to "A False Spring". We catch up with author Pat Jordan decades later as a 50 year old making a comeback of sorts in professional baseball. Keeps you aware of life's possibilities.

The two books make great back-to-back reading!

[Leigh H]

A Nice Tuesday Indeed

Thank you to Pat Jordan for revealing yourself in this amazing book. It was an eye opener into the heart and mind of my true love. I am looking forward to a False Spring.

[Paul Secor]

A 3 1/2 star book, but I'll go the extra half star for its honesty.

[Benjamin Kahn]

Although not a perfect book, there were a lot of powerful, moving things in this book. It was most excellent.

[Janelle Leigh]

a book about baseball. what could be better? it has course language, but i adored it.