Just a Minor Perspective: Through the Eyes of a Minor League Rookie

by Eric Pettis

The minor leagues are largely misunderstood, more well known for the players who have skipped through their ranks than the ones who reside in them. They’re a mysterious land of hotels, bus rides, and clubhouses. Upon being drafted out of UC Irvine by the Phillies, right-handed pitcher Eric Pettis didn’t quite know what he was getting himself into. Just A Minor Perspective allows readers to jump into Eric’s mind and experience the journey along with him. The narrative resembles stream-of-consciousness as he describes the good, the bad, and the ugly of the minor leagues as it hits him square in the face for the first time.From his first day in Philadelphia... "I tried to open the door in a manner that would exude confidence in the off chance that my new teammate was an expert on body language and would be analyzing my entry."To the heat of the battle..."As I hopped over the foul line I could feel my body try to rev itself up. It was pleading with me to get something going. It knew how significant this was... As hard as my body tried, it couldn’t muster anything. I tried again and again to turn the key, but my engine just wouldn’t start."Eric gives an honest, pointed, and often humorous account of what he feels when he’s feeling it. Just A Minor Perspective is a gripping story of one man’s attempt to find his place in a new world; a scramble to conquer the first rung of the professional baseball ladder.

Genres: Baseball, Sports, Nonfiction

97 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 25, 2012

About the author

Started by blogging, advanced into the world of books. I believe the ability for us to share our experiences is a vital tool in furthering our collective consciousness. I'm just trying to do my part.

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Reviews

[Daniel Lipsher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice, short book about finding yourself in short-season A ball, one of the lowest rungs in minor league baseball. Pettis describes his successes and challenges in a way that has you rooting for him, unlike so many memoires that amount to nothing more than narcissistic navel-gazing. An enjoyable tale, told well.

[Fass · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this in-depth perspective of a minor leaguer. I truly hope I can find more books by Eric. Great, quick baseball read.

[Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

from http://weeksnotice.blogspot.com/2013/...

Eric Pettis' Just A Minor Perspective was the perfect light, short book I needed around finals. It is his account for low-A short season baseball in Williamsport. In many ways it's about becoming a small cog in a very big machine, and becoming a set of numbers rather than a person. Even the numbers are hard to parse--he made the All Star team and his stats are good (the book ends on a high note) but he has not played since 2011. Baseball is just not a very forgiving profession.

He takes it all in, the college player suddenly thrust into professional sports, and is quite perceptive and funny. He was humbled by the draft (where he was first ignored and then picked very late) and remained level-headed, despite the grind and constant PBJs:

Even though we were assured by our trainer that "it's actually good pregame meal," my intestines didn't always agree. But humans are made to adapt, even it if is to peanut butter and jelly.

Why is it that pitchers, especially relievers, seem to have the most writing talent and eye for the funny and unusual? These are fun books but it would be great to see some more variety--don't tell me there isn't some smart catcher or power hitter.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not literature, but a fine autobiography of a good young pitcher as he finds success on his college team, makes his way to the Phillies minor league system and makes a splash in his rookie year there. There are interesting insights of the life led by these athletes (PBJ's are the main staple of their diet; they live in spare rooms of team fans during the season). The author shows what is like behind the scenes in the minors. Enjoyed it, looking forward to Spring and the return of baseball!

[Kevin Santee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great perspective of life in the minors

This is the perfect book for any kid playing in high school or younger who wants to know what it really feels like making it to the professional level. I couldn't put this book down and I'm an old guy. Pettis takes you through every emotion and honest thought someone must feel going straight from tournament ball through college to rookie ball.

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the inside look

I have been a baseball fan my whole life but never really thought about what it was like to be a minor leaguer. This book made me realize what they go through at the beginning of a career. Enjoyed the behind the scenes look.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding first person account of breaking into professional baseball

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

An informative , introspective book about the ups and downs of life as a minor leaguer . With the added difficulty of having been drafted in the 35th round.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh..

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful - interested in the minor leagues? Try Dirk Hayhurst's Bullpen Gospels or Lucas Mann's Class A.