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Called Up: Stories of Life and Faith from the Great Game of Baseball
During eight seasons of major league baseball, pitcher Dave Dravecky learned more than the importance of getting ahead in the count or wasting a pitch when he had the batter in the hole with an 0-2 count. Baseball taught him lessons he could apply to his life and his relationship with God. That's what Called Up is about. In this fast-moving and compelling book, Dravecky retells classic baseball stories and introduces readers to some of baseball's greatest players---and characters. Taking you inside the game, his insights will prompt you to think. You'll actually feel the tension, for instance, as you relive the final three outs in Sandy Koufax's electrifying no-hitter against the Chicago Cubs in 1965. And as you consider the huge odds Koufax faced, you'll be encouraged about your own performance in this pressure-cooker world. In life, unlike baseball, no one pitches a no-hitter---and thanks to God's grace, you don't have to. Filled with well-researched stories and spiritual insights, along with hilarious quotes from the players, Called Up also tells you * Branch Rickey's secret ambition to integrate Major League baseball * how Jackie Robinson's faith sustained him in 1947, the year he broke the color barrier * why freezing Ted Williams' body so he can one day be resurrected doesn't make sense * the wit, wisdom, and spiritual truths behind Yogi Berra's sayings * Dravecky's all-time, all-century, best-ever All-Star team * the challenges Dravecky faced living out his Christian faith in front of his teammates God doesn't waste any pitches when it comes to teaching you about life from the game of baseball. You'll love the breezy stories, the quick applications, the timeless thoughts and funny quotes in Called Up. Are you ready for the first pitch? Good---because the umpire is yelling, 'Play ball!'
256 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 1, 2012
I’ve never seen a “golden pass,” the identification card given after retirement to major league baseball players who spent at least 10 years playing in the “big leagues” and allows them to see games free of charge in any major league baseball market or stadium. Former major leaguer Dave Dravecky talks about receiving one in Called Up: Stories of Life and Faith from the Great Game of Baseball, in spite of the fact that his career was attenuated by cancer and broken bones after about eight years of major league service. Dravecky knows that, according to the rules, he didn’t deserve the golden pass, but notes that it was given to him by baseball as an attempt to help him with his grief over losing his arm. He compares his undeserved receipt of the “golden pass” as like the grace that gives believers a golden pass to heaven.
If you don’t like such a comparison, you’re certainly not going to like Called Up, even if you’re a baseball fan. I liked it because Dravecky took this idea of grace seriously. He didn’t gloss over those who testified about Christ but did terrible things to themselves or others and he didn’t fail to share about outright rascals who finally realized that God loved them in spite of their pasts and wanted to provide for them if they would let down their pride and allow God to work. I liked the book because there was a level of authenticity in most of the stories and a genuine caring about colleagues (Christian or non-Christian) that he was writing about (or dictating to his co-author, Mike Yorkey). I was glad to hear about Mickey Mantle’s testimony to Bobby Richardson about being forgiven and Bo Belinsky’s (I was a huge Los Angeles Angels fan back at the time Bo threw his no-hitter—even saw a Mamie Van Doren movie just because she and Bo had dated) ironic comment about discovering God in Las Vegas of all places. Yet, I found myself bothered by a sense of smugness when it came to the unhappy end of Joe DiMaggio. Oh, I can’t contradict the suggestion that Joltin’ Joe was probably cold and greedy (perhaps, from insecurity) because we read it in so many different sources. It’s just that the chapter on DiMaggio came across with a judgmental aspect that I didn’t see in the rest of the book. It was a lot like a pastor/preacher or evangelist who goes a little over the edge in trying to convince the congregation. Unfortunately, I also felt the same way about the chapter on Pete Rose. Neither chapter seemed to have the same kind of compassion as the rest of the book.
But, the most joyful part of the book for me (except for the aforementioned good news about Mantle and Belinsky) were the quotes. Dravecky assembled some wonderful malapropisms from baseball’s best. A sampling of my favorites would include: “And Kansas City is at Chicago tonight, or is that Chicago at Kansas City? Well, no matter, Kansas City leads in the eighth, 4-4.” (Jerry Coleman, former San Diego Padres announcer), “The doctors X-rayed my head, and found nothing.” (Dizzy Dean, former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher and CBS TV baseball announcer when I was a kid), “The better he gets, the better he’s going to be.” (Kirby Puckett, former Minnesota Twins ballplayer, speaking about Torii Hunter), “All of his saves have come in relief appearances.” (Ralph Kiner, former New York Yankees great and announcer), “How can a guy win if you don’t give him any runs?” (Bo Belinsky, former L.A. Angels pitcher after losing 16-0), “Best player ever? I’d have to go with the immoral Babe Ruth.” (Johnny Logan, former Milwaukee Braves shortstop), and, of course, you knew it had to be there, “Nobody ever goes there anymore—it’s too crowded.” (Yogi Berra—former Yankee great).
Nice anecdotes, heartfelt moments and baseball stories make this a nice little volume for people who already know that God is more than a “Great Dodger in the Sky” and guys like me who think baseball season means constantly listening to or going to a major league ball game. And now that I can go to Wrigley Field, it’s all the better.
If you don’t like such a comparison, you’re certainly not going to like Called Up, even if you’re a baseball fan. I liked it because Dravecky took this idea of grace seriously. He didn’t gloss over those who testified about Christ but did terrible things to themselves or others and he didn’t fail to share about outright rascals who finally realized that God loved them in spite of their pasts and wanted to provide for them if they would let down their pride and allow God to work. I liked the book because there was a level of authenticity in most of the stories and a genuine caring about colleagues (Christian or non-Christian) that he was writing about (or dictating to his co-author, Mike Yorkey). I was glad to hear about Mickey Mantle’s testimony to Bobby Richardson about being forgiven and Bo Belinsky’s (I was a huge Los Angeles Angels fan back at the time Bo threw his no-hitter—even saw a Mamie Van Doren movie just because she and Bo had dated) ironic comment about discovering God in Las Vegas of all places. Yet, I found myself bothered by a sense of smugness when it came to the unhappy end of Joe DiMaggio. Oh, I can’t contradict the suggestion that Joltin’ Joe was probably cold and greedy (perhaps, from insecurity) because we read it in so many different sources. It’s just that the chapter on DiMaggio came across with a judgmental aspect that I didn’t see in the rest of the book. It was a lot like a pastor/preacher or evangelist who goes a little over the edge in trying to convince the congregation. Unfortunately, I also felt the same way about the chapter on Pete Rose. Neither chapter seemed to have the same kind of compassion as the rest of the book.
But, the most joyful part of the book for me (except for the aforementioned good news about Mantle and Belinsky) were the quotes. Dravecky assembled some wonderful malapropisms from baseball’s best. A sampling of my favorites would include: “And Kansas City is at Chicago tonight, or is that Chicago at Kansas City? Well, no matter, Kansas City leads in the eighth, 4-4.” (Jerry Coleman, former San Diego Padres announcer), “The doctors X-rayed my head, and found nothing.” (Dizzy Dean, former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher and CBS TV baseball announcer when I was a kid), “The better he gets, the better he’s going to be.” (Kirby Puckett, former Minnesota Twins ballplayer, speaking about Torii Hunter), “All of his saves have come in relief appearances.” (Ralph Kiner, former New York Yankees great and announcer), “How can a guy win if you don’t give him any runs?” (Bo Belinsky, former L.A. Angels pitcher after losing 16-0), “Best player ever? I’d have to go with the immoral Babe Ruth.” (Johnny Logan, former Milwaukee Braves shortstop), and, of course, you knew it had to be there, “Nobody ever goes there anymore—it’s too crowded.” (Yogi Berra—former Yankee great).
Nice anecdotes, heartfelt moments and baseball stories make this a nice little volume for people who already know that God is more than a “Great Dodger in the Sky” and guys like me who think baseball season means constantly listening to or going to a major league ball game. And now that I can go to Wrigley Field, it’s all the better.
October 25, 2018
I thought this was a great book of faith and sports. Great for God loving, baseball playing, people!
October 25, 2018
I don't like B-Ball but this is an excellent book, and faith-filled. Three stars is all I gave it because I am not a baseball fan. But this is a very funny book.
December 14, 2011
Fans of baseball will enjoy this book that is full of great first-hand insider stories as well as nostalgia. Born again believers will be impressed at manner in which Drevecky weaves these stories into an opportunity to share spiritual truth. Baseball stories become modern day parables. The author shares his own personal triumphs and pains while honoring his personal heroes from our national pastime. Along the way we tour baseball and thrill at the strikes, balls, and oddball characters that we meet. Towards the end of the book he takes issue, strongly , with some famous players while honoring others.
The book is a bit uneven, though. Even though it is full of short readers digest sized articles, I sometimes was uncertain whether he was writing a devotional or a baseball trivia book, at first, it seemed a strong amalgamation of both, but in later pages it seemed he was struggling to find a spiritual allegory for the topic he was covering.
However, though he wavers in the middle, he finishes strong.. Making solid use of the Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey relationship, he demonstrates strong spiritual truth. Then, he wonders where Joe Dimmagio has gone, and takes time to show the reader what happened to joltin Joe.
Nice solid book, even if it is weakened in the middle.
The book is a bit uneven, though. Even though it is full of short readers digest sized articles, I sometimes was uncertain whether he was writing a devotional or a baseball trivia book, at first, it seemed a strong amalgamation of both, but in later pages it seemed he was struggling to find a spiritual allegory for the topic he was covering.
However, though he wavers in the middle, he finishes strong.. Making solid use of the Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey relationship, he demonstrates strong spiritual truth. Then, he wonders where Joe Dimmagio has gone, and takes time to show the reader what happened to joltin Joe.
Nice solid book, even if it is weakened in the middle.
July 21, 2015
Some good baseball stuff, but every story is tied into Dravecky's Faith, and some of the ties were very weak, other were just annoyingly preachy.
Edited by someone with less faith, some of the heavy-handedness might have left a more positive impression. Certainly some of the points weren't forced, and his angle of faith in the relationship between Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson hit the mark quite well. I'm glad his path works for him, because he has had a tough row to hoe, after losing an arm to cancer, and I respect that he has tried to lead a good life. I just think that I may not have been the target audience.
Edited by someone with less faith, some of the heavy-handedness might have left a more positive impression. Certainly some of the points weren't forced, and his angle of faith in the relationship between Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson hit the mark quite well. I'm glad his path works for him, because he has had a tough row to hoe, after losing an arm to cancer, and I respect that he has tried to lead a good life. I just think that I may not have been the target audience.
April 14, 2017
I highly recommend this one if you love Jesus and baseball. Dave Dravecky shares his stories and thoughts about the great American pastime from a Christian perspective, and he does it with humor and joy and wonder! He shares stories from his playing days, and the struggles with depression he experienced when cancer in his pitching arm ended his career far too soon, ultimately leading to him needing to have his arm amputated to save his life. His testimony is encouraging and inspiring.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews