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Nothing Down
Homer Newbody lived to play baseball.
A nobody from nowhere given little chance to ever play Major League Baseball, he was taught not only how to pitch, but to respect the game, by a uncle who dies before ever seeing Homer play professionally,
When he gets his chance to pitch for the New York Yankees after long years in the minors, Homer seems to have everything he wants.
He has little idea of what forces he will come up against when he makes it known that he is willing to play for nothing. In a baseball era dripping with big money, steroids, scandals and overall cynicism, many wonder if Homer is for real.
A New York Progress sportswriter named Leslie Shamback, for one, isn't sure what to make of this small town guy with the simple values. But when she delves a little deeper into his past she finds more than she bargained for, including possibly love.
Homer's troubles are hardly relegated to Leslie and the rest of the jaded New York media. Much of the baseball fraternity does not take kindly to Homer. Of his teammates, Tom "The Tracer" Traber, a highly paid veteran pitcher, makes it clear that Homer has no business blowing his horn about ballplayers owing their hearts and their souls to a game. To Tracer, baseball is a business a player has every God-given right to make as much money from as he can.
Homer is well-loved and embraced by a great segment of a baseball-loving America too, including a fan base, Homer's Old Town Nine. This group, which gains a national following, shows up regularly in ballparks wearing crossed out dollars signs on their baseball jerseys.
Homer was thrust into the spotlight after tossing two consecutive no-hitters in this first two Major League starts. While not seeking the spotlight, his down-home persona is a refreshing escape in a sport awash with problems.
As the team fights for a division title, Homer finds himself coping with the pressure of winning not only at the Major League level, but in New York, the baseball capital. But Homer plugs on, despite the press; a scandal of sorts from his past; scraps with teammates and opponents; romance and heartbreak; a search for a wayward father; his arrest in the idyllic village of Cooperstown, N.Y., the home of baseball's Hall of Fame; and finally, a near-career-ending injury. At the end of the season he's faced with his biggest foe of all: his own mortality.
This is a story about one man's passion and his perseverance against outside forces lining up to tilt his baseball world upside down. Baseball, the national pastime, has never seen the likes of Homer Newbody, who brings a child-like enthusiasm to the game difficult for many to swallow. His time in the game is short, but one that will live on in the annals of baseball.
A nobody from nowhere given little chance to ever play Major League Baseball, he was taught not only how to pitch, but to respect the game, by a uncle who dies before ever seeing Homer play professionally,
When he gets his chance to pitch for the New York Yankees after long years in the minors, Homer seems to have everything he wants.
He has little idea of what forces he will come up against when he makes it known that he is willing to play for nothing. In a baseball era dripping with big money, steroids, scandals and overall cynicism, many wonder if Homer is for real.
A New York Progress sportswriter named Leslie Shamback, for one, isn't sure what to make of this small town guy with the simple values. But when she delves a little deeper into his past she finds more than she bargained for, including possibly love.
Homer's troubles are hardly relegated to Leslie and the rest of the jaded New York media. Much of the baseball fraternity does not take kindly to Homer. Of his teammates, Tom "The Tracer" Traber, a highly paid veteran pitcher, makes it clear that Homer has no business blowing his horn about ballplayers owing their hearts and their souls to a game. To Tracer, baseball is a business a player has every God-given right to make as much money from as he can.
Homer is well-loved and embraced by a great segment of a baseball-loving America too, including a fan base, Homer's Old Town Nine. This group, which gains a national following, shows up regularly in ballparks wearing crossed out dollars signs on their baseball jerseys.
Homer was thrust into the spotlight after tossing two consecutive no-hitters in this first two Major League starts. While not seeking the spotlight, his down-home persona is a refreshing escape in a sport awash with problems.
As the team fights for a division title, Homer finds himself coping with the pressure of winning not only at the Major League level, but in New York, the baseball capital. But Homer plugs on, despite the press; a scandal of sorts from his past; scraps with teammates and opponents; romance and heartbreak; a search for a wayward father; his arrest in the idyllic village of Cooperstown, N.Y., the home of baseball's Hall of Fame; and finally, a near-career-ending injury. At the end of the season he's faced with his biggest foe of all: his own mortality.
This is a story about one man's passion and his perseverance against outside forces lining up to tilt his baseball world upside down. Baseball, the national pastime, has never seen the likes of Homer Newbody, who brings a child-like enthusiasm to the game difficult for many to swallow. His time in the game is short, but one that will live on in the annals of baseball.
ebook
First published September 28, 2011
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About the author
Mike Reuther
44 books117 followersMike Reuther uses his fervid imagination to create page-turning novels filled with interesting characters, many of them searching for happiness and their place in the world. His books include the acclaimed "Baseball Dreams, Fishing Magic" and the Amazon best-selling baseball novel, "Nothing Down." He's also the author of books that help writers realize their writing dreams, among them, "Write the Darn Book" and "How to Write a Book Without Going Crazy." A longtime journalist and freelance writer, he devotes the warmer months of the year to baseball and fly fishing, two of his passions that have served as the backdrop for his books. A seeker of truth but an all-around fun guy, he lives with his wife and kids near Williamsport, Pa.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 30, 2017
I absolutely loved this book. I have been a huge baseball fan since I was 10 years old. A diehard Cubs fan, to boot. I knew stats and trivia from the olden days of the game and read all sorts of books about baseball. This is one of my favorites. A young man makes it to the Yankees as a rookie and pitches back to back no-hitters. The book is about his rookie year and how his love of the game (Michael Jordan's quote) took over his life and personality. It is written in current time with players making millions of dollars. And this rookie didn't care what he made - he would play for nothing. This attitude did not sit well with the owners and fellow ballplayers. That's all I'm saying. Read it yourself to find out about this amazing young kid.
April 2, 2019
I really enjoyed this book
This was really a fun book. It reminded me of the sports book I used to read when I was a young boy where there were great obstacles in front of the hero throughout the book to overcome/fall short of the goal. A really good book I would recommend to baseball lovers
This was really a fun book. It reminded me of the sports book I used to read when I was a young boy where there were great obstacles in front of the hero throughout the book to overcome/fall short of the goal. A really good book I would recommend to baseball lovers
July 1, 2013
This review is courtesy of topoftheheapreviews.com
The story of a small town kid who wants nothing more than to play baseball breaks into the majors in a big way. So does the book match Homer Newbody’s feat?
I was really excited to read this when it came across my desk as an option to review. I’m a huge baseball fan. There is no other sport that compare to our nations past time in my mind. The description and all the makings of setting up a well crafted story that can bring back memories of the baseball of yester-year that we all loved. When the game wasn’t as much about the money, and more about the game.
Homer Newbody is a small town kid who wants to play the game. He doesn’t care about the money, he would play for free. Just the honor of being in the major leagues was enough. This seems to make quite a few players mad, confuse the media, and both kind of turn on him. Why this would be big news I have no idea, but the author makes sure you know this, over, and over. The problem is that the story isn’t told really through the actions and dialogue, except very sparsely. It’s told to you through descriptions. Mike Reuther tells you what’s happening rather than showing you.
This leads me to what in my opinion, is the biggest problem with the book. Characters, especially in a tale like this, need to really come alive and make you care about them. I didn’t find myself caring about anyone in this book. Part of the problem is that the characters didn’t really have names, just nick-names. The Cyclone, Stash, Goose, The Jewish Prince. While nicknames are in fact used and generally they are called by them rather than the real names in real life, you didn’t get a chance to even know the person behind the nickname in the book.
The romantic interest in a reporter that is chasing this huge story of a guy who doesn’t want the money to play also comes across forced. There just wasn’t enough there to build an emotional connection between the characters involved and the reader. You want the reader to root for the relationship as much as the game, but instead you really just don’t care one way or the other.
Next is the game in of itself. He plays for the Yankees, and there are many in game situations. Sadly they aren’t very tense, and they just kind of happen. There isn’t much build-up for certain situations.
There is a ton of baseball knowledge in this book. You get it through Homer Newbody’s dialogue over and over. Again it felt forced. We get it, he knows more about baseball than anyone else. While the facts are in of themselves interesting, they didn’t do anything to add to the story and ended up coming across as just a history lesson.
After the big game, the one that wraps up the first season of rookie Homer Newbody you are treated to an epilogue, that, no pun intended, comes from left field. Did it make sense? I guess. I just thought it seemed like the author was looking for a way to wrap things up quickly. The book just sort of….ended.
The Bottom Line: There are no doubt portions of this book that will invoke the feelings of baseball’s yester-years. The smell of the grass, the roar of the crowd, the thrill of victory and even the agony of defeat. I really wanted to enjoy this book, but characterization is everything in a story about human nature, and this story, much like Bill Buckner in 1986, rushed forward with out taking care of the fundamentals first. Homer was just too simplistic and didn’t even have a second dimension, much less a third, and the secondary characters didn’t have life of their own. For me, this was a miss.
The story of a small town kid who wants nothing more than to play baseball breaks into the majors in a big way. So does the book match Homer Newbody’s feat?
I was really excited to read this when it came across my desk as an option to review. I’m a huge baseball fan. There is no other sport that compare to our nations past time in my mind. The description and all the makings of setting up a well crafted story that can bring back memories of the baseball of yester-year that we all loved. When the game wasn’t as much about the money, and more about the game.
Homer Newbody is a small town kid who wants to play the game. He doesn’t care about the money, he would play for free. Just the honor of being in the major leagues was enough. This seems to make quite a few players mad, confuse the media, and both kind of turn on him. Why this would be big news I have no idea, but the author makes sure you know this, over, and over. The problem is that the story isn’t told really through the actions and dialogue, except very sparsely. It’s told to you through descriptions. Mike Reuther tells you what’s happening rather than showing you.
This leads me to what in my opinion, is the biggest problem with the book. Characters, especially in a tale like this, need to really come alive and make you care about them. I didn’t find myself caring about anyone in this book. Part of the problem is that the characters didn’t really have names, just nick-names. The Cyclone, Stash, Goose, The Jewish Prince. While nicknames are in fact used and generally they are called by them rather than the real names in real life, you didn’t get a chance to even know the person behind the nickname in the book.
The romantic interest in a reporter that is chasing this huge story of a guy who doesn’t want the money to play also comes across forced. There just wasn’t enough there to build an emotional connection between the characters involved and the reader. You want the reader to root for the relationship as much as the game, but instead you really just don’t care one way or the other.
Next is the game in of itself. He plays for the Yankees, and there are many in game situations. Sadly they aren’t very tense, and they just kind of happen. There isn’t much build-up for certain situations.
There is a ton of baseball knowledge in this book. You get it through Homer Newbody’s dialogue over and over. Again it felt forced. We get it, he knows more about baseball than anyone else. While the facts are in of themselves interesting, they didn’t do anything to add to the story and ended up coming across as just a history lesson.
After the big game, the one that wraps up the first season of rookie Homer Newbody you are treated to an epilogue, that, no pun intended, comes from left field. Did it make sense? I guess. I just thought it seemed like the author was looking for a way to wrap things up quickly. The book just sort of….ended.
The Bottom Line: There are no doubt portions of this book that will invoke the feelings of baseball’s yester-years. The smell of the grass, the roar of the crowd, the thrill of victory and even the agony of defeat. I really wanted to enjoy this book, but characterization is everything in a story about human nature, and this story, much like Bill Buckner in 1986, rushed forward with out taking care of the fundamentals first. Homer was just too simplistic and didn’t even have a second dimension, much less a third, and the secondary characters didn’t have life of their own. For me, this was a miss.
January 30, 2013
This is really a gem of a novel.The sole criticism is that I was a bit disappointed in the abrupt ending. I wanted more, much more of the life of Homer Newbody the embodiment of the naive,wholesome, small town hero who would literally play the game of baseball for nothing. The game is a part of his very being;it is all he ever dreamed of doing.
He is an anachronistic relic in a game of self-centered men who care more about their stats and burgeoning contracts than they do about their teammates or the glorification of the game. He is a young man who relishes in the history of the game and its players, and is proud to be a part of its existence.
He rattles management(a George Steinbrenner-like character) as well as the ace of the Yankees team known as the "Tracer".(a not so carefully disguised Roger Clemens type) who cannot relate to Homer's indifference to money. It matters not to the loyal and principled Homer. He will not compromise his integrity to be liked by the "Tracer" types.Rather, he'd rather be admired by the fans who pay to see him play.
The novel is very well written and the characters are easy to visualize and most are very likeable.
The author's love for and knowledge of the game are palpable from the start and he creates a "Mark Fidrych"-like character in Homer that makes the reader want to be his close friend. I found myself rooting for Homer the way I did Roy Hobbs in "The Natural".
All I can say is, I want more of the same.I hope the author continues his love affair with baseball with another novel in this genre.Well done Mike Reuther
He is an anachronistic relic in a game of self-centered men who care more about their stats and burgeoning contracts than they do about their teammates or the glorification of the game. He is a young man who relishes in the history of the game and its players, and is proud to be a part of its existence.
He rattles management(a George Steinbrenner-like character) as well as the ace of the Yankees team known as the "Tracer".(a not so carefully disguised Roger Clemens type) who cannot relate to Homer's indifference to money. It matters not to the loyal and principled Homer. He will not compromise his integrity to be liked by the "Tracer" types.Rather, he'd rather be admired by the fans who pay to see him play.
The novel is very well written and the characters are easy to visualize and most are very likeable.
The author's love for and knowledge of the game are palpable from the start and he creates a "Mark Fidrych"-like character in Homer that makes the reader want to be his close friend. I found myself rooting for Homer the way I did Roy Hobbs in "The Natural".
All I can say is, I want more of the same.I hope the author continues his love affair with baseball with another novel in this genre.Well done Mike Reuther
May 30, 2013
Nothing Down is a sweet look at the core values of what baseball used to be. Homer Newbody is representative of an all-but-gone generation; a generation of people who just play the game for the love of the sport.
Much of the focus of the book is Homer's unusual claim that he would gladly accept little to no payment to play in the Major Leagues. He's honestly in love with the game, and can't understand why there aren't more players who simply want to play. The book has criticisms about how the giant paychecks and bonus incentives players get negatively affect their spirit. It's definitely something I agree with; instead of watching people who relish the sport and do it for the enjoyment, we get those who are only trying to beat their best scores so they can get a bigger cut. It's upsetting really, which is why Homer's values were a breath of fresh air. Again, he represented the way people should feel when they play the game. Homer enjoyed going to work; I doubt he even thought of it in that way.
My only criticism is that practically all the characters that are supposed to be small-town folk say “hell” in every other sentence. I counted 7 characters who said it at one point or another; I'd say 8 but Homer said “heck” instead of “hell” so I suppose that's different.
Much of the focus of the book is Homer's unusual claim that he would gladly accept little to no payment to play in the Major Leagues. He's honestly in love with the game, and can't understand why there aren't more players who simply want to play. The book has criticisms about how the giant paychecks and bonus incentives players get negatively affect their spirit. It's definitely something I agree with; instead of watching people who relish the sport and do it for the enjoyment, we get those who are only trying to beat their best scores so they can get a bigger cut. It's upsetting really, which is why Homer's values were a breath of fresh air. Again, he represented the way people should feel when they play the game. Homer enjoyed going to work; I doubt he even thought of it in that way.
My only criticism is that practically all the characters that are supposed to be small-town folk say “hell” in every other sentence. I counted 7 characters who said it at one point or another; I'd say 8 but Homer said “heck” instead of “hell” so I suppose that's different.
December 3, 2013
Nothing down is a decent read. I wouldn't say it is the best baseball book I have come across, and I wouldn't say it is the worst. I liked the idea behind the story, a farm kid from the country with old school ideas about baseball and how it should be viewed. He voices a lot of the same opinions that most baseball fans feel, although his our to the extreme. I wish Reuther spoke more about the games themselves, but over all he told a well thought out story. It was interesting to see how some of his characters were similar to MLB players. Two examples would be Skeets Olney who reminds me of Dustiin Pedoria, a scrappy hard nosed second baseman, and The Tracer who reminds me of Roger Clemons, jerk ageless wonder who throws heat in his late thirties while hints of PEDs are echoed. My only issue was the end of the novel. I was fine with most of it, but I wish we got some more information on where an item in Homer's bedroom came from. That is a little vague, but I don't want to give too much away. Overall I would recommend this book to baseball fans as a fun quick read.
February 3, 2013
In a time where athletes are asking others to thank them for a taking a pay cut (while still making multi millions both playing the game and from endorsements) Nothing Down introduces you to a fresh young rookie named Homer Newbody. Homer has the audacity to tell the media that he would play the game of baseball "for nothing" simply because he loves the game.
The book takes you along on Homer's journey from small town life to storied Yankee Stadium. Along the way, Homer's life unfolds as one with a bit of mystery, a bit of luck, and a lot of good old fashioned values. Reading about Homer took me back to my days of reading John R. Tunis's books about a kid from Tomkinsville.
The book takes you along on Homer's journey from small town life to storied Yankee Stadium. Along the way, Homer's life unfolds as one with a bit of mystery, a bit of luck, and a lot of good old fashioned values. Reading about Homer took me back to my days of reading John R. Tunis's books about a kid from Tomkinsville.
January 2, 2014
Nothing Down is the story of a small town boy who grows up to live his dream to play major league baseball for the New York Yankees. Suddenly thrust into the limelight after pitching a no hitter, Homer Newbody realizes he is different from his teammates. He explains to the media that he would be willing to play for nothing -- because he truly loves the game. It's baseball the way it ought to be. His stand doesn't sit well with the players' union, and conflicts ensue. I loved the story, and found the characters to be lovable and believable -- maybe because I think every player should love the game more than the money. I didn't like the end -- a career cut short -- a tragedy.
September 18, 2014
Homer Newbody is not your average New York Yankee pitcher. He grew up in a small town with old-fashioned values. Homer loves the game of baseball and is willing to play for peanuts, a fact that angers and annoys his teammates. The story is an easy read and the characters are appealing, though not really well developed. Readers will empathize with Homer and desperately want him to succeed in his quest to rescue the season for the team. The plot is not a compelling "edge of your seat story", but a pleasant enough 150 page read. Be forewarned that you may not like the ending. Recommended for teens and adults.
July 7, 2014
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I am a baseball fan, but even if I wasn't I would have enjoyed this great story. When Homer Newbody, a shy kid from a small town, makes it big as a baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees it is rare and wonderful to see he won't let the fame or money change him.In fact he doesn't even want the big bucks. Although I am a Red Sox fan I felt this book to be a heartwarming tribute to what is supposed to be america's favorite past time.
January 13, 2014
a goodreads giveaway.
This was a nice quick to read book. Fantasy to tragedy so quickly happens to Homer. I kept reading to find out what the outcome was going to be. would he be the hero? would he fall in love and live happily ever after? would he play for nothing or make millions? After all, he just loved to play the game.
I did enjoy this book, and I think others will too.
This was a nice quick to read book. Fantasy to tragedy so quickly happens to Homer. I kept reading to find out what the outcome was going to be. would he be the hero? would he fall in love and live happily ever after? would he play for nothing or make millions? After all, he just loved to play the game.
I did enjoy this book, and I think others will too.
August 27, 2015
Small town, innocent boy loves baseball. Homer (great name for a baseball player) loves to pitch, even though he doesn't pitch fast, he pitches accurate. Homer wants to play baseball more than he wants money. Homer finds himself playing ball for the greatest team ever, the New York Yankees. Homer's career is cut short by cancer in the very arm that made him famous.
March 21, 2016
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway. Nothing Down made me feel like I was right there in the baseball action. The author's knowledge of, and love for, the game is evident and enjoyable without being too instructive. I liked Homer as a character and was really surprised by the plot twist. A quick and engaging read, even though I am a diehard Phillies fan over the Yankees!
January 11, 2013
Good sportsmanship makes a great sports book. Wonderful real characters in an interesting story. Will recommend to boys who like to read Mike Lupica.
December 11, 2014
Awesome
This story had you hoping that the good ole boy would come out on top. and for a moment it seemed like he would but in the end we can't ask have happy endings.
This story had you hoping that the good ole boy would come out on top. and for a moment it seemed like he would but in the end we can't ask have happy endings.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews