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Intentional Walk: An Inside Look at the Faith That Drives the St. Louis Cardinals
An inside look at the faith that guides the all-stars. The St.Louis Cardinals have long been one of the most successful franchises in themajor leagues. They have won 11 World Series titles and some of the most famousplayers in the history of the game have worn the storied “Birds on the Bat”uniform. While thaton-field success has been well documented, IntentionalWalk is the first book which goes beyond the story of what happens on thefield to take an in-depth look at the men inside the Cardinal uniforms, andexamine how their strong Christian faith is one of the driving forces behindtheir success. Intentional Walk features the stories of AdamWainwright, David Freese, Lance Berkman, Matt Holliday, Carlos Beltran, JasonMotte and other members of the 2012 Cardinals, written as those players and therest of the team tried to repeat the 2011 world championship. The book talksabout how they became Christians and offers their testimony about what it meansfor them to have God play such a prominent role in their lives. Playing forfirst-year manager Mike Matheny, a strong Christian as well, these men talkabout their success and failure, about the challenges that come from playingbaseball at the highest level, and how thankful and blessed they are to havethat God-given ability. In the end, however, what is far more important to themis their life-long relationship they have established with Jesus Christ.
240 pages, Paperback
First published April 30, 2013
8 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
October 30, 2021
An interesting look into the faith that drives many of the players on the 2012 Cardinals. I personally really enjoyed reading and learning about the faith of some of the players on my favorite baseball team! Shoutout to Chris Duncan for the birthday present!!
May 2, 2013
Whether or not you like baseball or root for the Cardinals, this is an excellent read.
Players discuss how their faith and trust in God and their relationship with Jesus has helped them deal with prosperity and adversity, given them perspective and put them in a position to be difference makers. There are great insights into leadership on and off the field.
Players discuss how their faith and trust in God and their relationship with Jesus has helped them deal with prosperity and adversity, given them perspective and put them in a position to be difference makers. There are great insights into leadership on and off the field.
August 14, 2013
I have had the pleasure of reading a wonderful book about faith and commitment where one may not expect to find it. "Intentional Walk", by Rob Rains, is a look inside the St. Louis Cardinals organization.
You will find testimonies, and life experiences related trough the written word from some of the most successful major league baseball players in the National League, as well as from management and support staff alike. I must say that when I started reading this book, I wasn't sure what to expect. What I found was a book I could use as a devotional, as Scripture was also utilized in each chapter. The experiences and testimonies presented allowed me to get a better understanding of what God has in mind for each and every one of us, if only we listen.
Prayer Meetings, Bible Study and Chapel for the St. Louis Cardinals are normal functions of the team, not just a once and a while occurance.
As you read this book, you will hear from players like, 3rd Baseman David Freese and manager Mike Matheny, just to mention a couple, but there are many more team members and organization members from upper management all the way to support staff, and commentators.
This book is quite different from what we are currently seeing in the news and major league steriod use. It will bring faith and God into the forefront of our thinking and lives. At least this is my prayer. As you read on you will also hear the testimonies of others such as Adam Wainwright, Lance Berkman, Matt Holliday and many more.
I'd like to thank Thomas Nelson/Booksneeze for the opportunity to both read and review this timely selection. It is a wonderful read and I would strongly suggest it for any and all. What we need is get closer to God, and this book just may be the catalyst to get us there.
Mind you, this is not a book about baseball but of faith and faith building. Baseball is being utilized here. "Intentional Walk", by Rob Rains is sure to make the best seller list in any and all Christian walks, and maybe, just maybe it will also make in the general public as well. I recommend this book for all.
You will find testimonies, and life experiences related trough the written word from some of the most successful major league baseball players in the National League, as well as from management and support staff alike. I must say that when I started reading this book, I wasn't sure what to expect. What I found was a book I could use as a devotional, as Scripture was also utilized in each chapter. The experiences and testimonies presented allowed me to get a better understanding of what God has in mind for each and every one of us, if only we listen.
Prayer Meetings, Bible Study and Chapel for the St. Louis Cardinals are normal functions of the team, not just a once and a while occurance.
As you read this book, you will hear from players like, 3rd Baseman David Freese and manager Mike Matheny, just to mention a couple, but there are many more team members and organization members from upper management all the way to support staff, and commentators.
This book is quite different from what we are currently seeing in the news and major league steriod use. It will bring faith and God into the forefront of our thinking and lives. At least this is my prayer. As you read on you will also hear the testimonies of others such as Adam Wainwright, Lance Berkman, Matt Holliday and many more.
I'd like to thank Thomas Nelson/Booksneeze for the opportunity to both read and review this timely selection. It is a wonderful read and I would strongly suggest it for any and all. What we need is get closer to God, and this book just may be the catalyst to get us there.
Mind you, this is not a book about baseball but of faith and faith building. Baseball is being utilized here. "Intentional Walk", by Rob Rains is sure to make the best seller list in any and all Christian walks, and maybe, just maybe it will also make in the general public as well. I recommend this book for all.
March 25, 2014
This portrays a baseball team in a totally different light that fans of baseball nonfiction are used to. The St. Louis Cardinals' 2012 team was not a drinking, carousing, cursing team that seems to be the norm lately. If you want that, read Jeff Pearlman's "The Bad Guys Won," the chronicling of the 1986 NY Mets.
Instead, Bob Rains' book shows the bonding of the team through the player's faith. It's not a religious book; the reader isn't bombarded with preaching. It details players' thoughts as they go through the season and the adversary faced during their careers. It provides good insight into the players we, as fans, see on the field, but know little of.
For example, I didn't know Matt Holliday had the faith he did. I was always mad at him for striking out with the bases loaded, or flying out to end a rally. Coach Mike Matheny comes across well. His patience is shown in the book.
The downside: Rains skirts over so vaguely about David Freese's "off-field incident" in 2009. He makes two references to it, but never writes what it is. I had to look it up on Google to find it was a DWI.
The other thing, and it's not Rains' fault, but the spirit of baseball is shown here. Despite faith and love of St. Louis, several of the players have since been traded, including 2011 World Series hero Freese. Carlos Beltran did well in St. Louis, but he's gone. Skip Shumaker, who developed a fund for a friend's daughter who had a rare disease, ended up in California. They loved playing in St. Louis and with each other, but that bonding is now shattered. Had nothing to do with the book or faith, and I understand the concept of baseball as a business, but still I was disappointed in that aspect.
Overall, this is a good book for both hardcore baseball fans as myself and those seeking more info into the players' faith and inspiration.
Instead, Bob Rains' book shows the bonding of the team through the player's faith. It's not a religious book; the reader isn't bombarded with preaching. It details players' thoughts as they go through the season and the adversary faced during their careers. It provides good insight into the players we, as fans, see on the field, but know little of.
For example, I didn't know Matt Holliday had the faith he did. I was always mad at him for striking out with the bases loaded, or flying out to end a rally. Coach Mike Matheny comes across well. His patience is shown in the book.
The downside: Rains skirts over so vaguely about David Freese's "off-field incident" in 2009. He makes two references to it, but never writes what it is. I had to look it up on Google to find it was a DWI.
The other thing, and it's not Rains' fault, but the spirit of baseball is shown here. Despite faith and love of St. Louis, several of the players have since been traded, including 2011 World Series hero Freese. Carlos Beltran did well in St. Louis, but he's gone. Skip Shumaker, who developed a fund for a friend's daughter who had a rare disease, ended up in California. They loved playing in St. Louis and with each other, but that bonding is now shattered. Had nothing to do with the book or faith, and I understand the concept of baseball as a business, but still I was disappointed in that aspect.
Overall, this is a good book for both hardcore baseball fans as myself and those seeking more info into the players' faith and inspiration.
June 1, 2014
This book is only really good for the collector. It borderline presents the idea that if your life is going downhill then turn your life over to God and everything will be better. I enjoyed this book ONLY to get a glimpse into the faith that drives my favorite baseball team but the theological nuances are watered down and presentably half truths. It's a feel good book for the casual Christian.
August 21, 2025
I really loved reading this book, and learning about players I didn't realize were Christians. definitely is one of my favorite book finds, and would suggest reading.
December 3, 2025
I love God, and I love baseball, so this book was right up my alley. I am not a St. Louis Cardinal fan, though. The San Francisco Giants are my team. This book does make me jealous of the Cardinals.
This book looks at the 2012 St. Louis Cardinals. It gives the Christian testimony of 18 people in the Cardinals organization, from the manager, Mike Matheny, to a couple of their prospects. I would like to think that each club has a group of men who are Christians, and who get together for Bible studies and Chapel. The 2012 Cardinals had a lot of them.
The Giants recently hired a new manager. I wish they had interviewed Mike Matheny. He played with them as a backup for a couple of years, and he was available after managing St. Louis and the Kansas City Royals.
I enjoyed the chapters on Matheny and Carlos Beltran.
This book looks at the 2012 St. Louis Cardinals. It gives the Christian testimony of 18 people in the Cardinals organization, from the manager, Mike Matheny, to a couple of their prospects. I would like to think that each club has a group of men who are Christians, and who get together for Bible studies and Chapel. The 2012 Cardinals had a lot of them.
The Giants recently hired a new manager. I wish they had interviewed Mike Matheny. He played with them as a backup for a couple of years, and he was available after managing St. Louis and the Kansas City Royals.
I enjoyed the chapters on Matheny and Carlos Beltran.
July 13, 2013
This book covers the first year, 2012, that Mike Matheny became the manager of the Saint Louis Cardinals baseball team. More specifically it is the story of the Christian players on the team.
Eighteen men gave testimonies of their Christian faith in this book. These stories cover the gamut of age, and the amount of time they have had a relationship with Jesus. Some are young, some are older, some have been Christians for many years and some have been Christians for a short time. Seventeen of the eighteen men are, or have been, baseball players. The one exception is Rip Rowan who is the Cardinals equipment manager.
The overriding theme that all the men wanted to stress is that God doesn’t play favorites with baseball teams. Just because a team has a little or a lot of players who are Christians on it, that won’t influence who will win. Hard work, weather, the environment and the emotional state of the players are some of things that contribute to the game’s outcome. Being a Christian gives the players a richer life and peace, but it isn’t an automatic ticket to winning a baseball game. They believe their baseball career doesn’t get special favor because they are a Christian.
Each of the men blend the story of their baseball career with their story of faith. A lot of the men talk about a Bible verse that is a favorite or has meant a lot to them. They also talk about what it is like to be a Christian, as well as, a Cardinal baseball player. All of them mention what a large group of guys are part of the Bible studies, that child care is even provided so families can be included. The men state what a great support system that has been for them as players, and as Christian men. When they first came to the Cardinals, many of the men were surprised about how large and well-attended the group is.
The players also talk about the highs and lows of their baseball careers, what path they took to become a Cardinal baseball player, and some of the day-to-day life as a Cardinal. Some sacrifices have had to be made for their jobs. One example is Mike Matheny forgoing attending many of his children’s his activities, including his son’s graduation, to be present at a Cardinal game.
I thought the book was very interesting and gave great insight to the life working in the world of baseball–especially the Cardinal baseball team–and the life of men following Christ. I think fans of baseball, and Cardinal baseball fans in particular, would really love this book. I enjoyed the book, recommend it, and give it five stars.
The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through Thomas Nelson Publishing for the purpose of review. All opinions expressed are my own, and I have not been compensated in any other manner. Despite my receiving the book free, it has not influenced my judgment, and I have given an honest opinion.
My blog: http://fushiacat.wordpress.com/2013/0...
Follow on twitter: https://twitter.com/RobRains
Eighteen men gave testimonies of their Christian faith in this book. These stories cover the gamut of age, and the amount of time they have had a relationship with Jesus. Some are young, some are older, some have been Christians for many years and some have been Christians for a short time. Seventeen of the eighteen men are, or have been, baseball players. The one exception is Rip Rowan who is the Cardinals equipment manager.
The overriding theme that all the men wanted to stress is that God doesn’t play favorites with baseball teams. Just because a team has a little or a lot of players who are Christians on it, that won’t influence who will win. Hard work, weather, the environment and the emotional state of the players are some of things that contribute to the game’s outcome. Being a Christian gives the players a richer life and peace, but it isn’t an automatic ticket to winning a baseball game. They believe their baseball career doesn’t get special favor because they are a Christian.
Each of the men blend the story of their baseball career with their story of faith. A lot of the men talk about a Bible verse that is a favorite or has meant a lot to them. They also talk about what it is like to be a Christian, as well as, a Cardinal baseball player. All of them mention what a large group of guys are part of the Bible studies, that child care is even provided so families can be included. The men state what a great support system that has been for them as players, and as Christian men. When they first came to the Cardinals, many of the men were surprised about how large and well-attended the group is.
The players also talk about the highs and lows of their baseball careers, what path they took to become a Cardinal baseball player, and some of the day-to-day life as a Cardinal. Some sacrifices have had to be made for their jobs. One example is Mike Matheny forgoing attending many of his children’s his activities, including his son’s graduation, to be present at a Cardinal game.
I thought the book was very interesting and gave great insight to the life working in the world of baseball–especially the Cardinal baseball team–and the life of men following Christ. I think fans of baseball, and Cardinal baseball fans in particular, would really love this book. I enjoyed the book, recommend it, and give it five stars.
The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through Thomas Nelson Publishing for the purpose of review. All opinions expressed are my own, and I have not been compensated in any other manner. Despite my receiving the book free, it has not influenced my judgment, and I have given an honest opinion.
My blog: http://fushiacat.wordpress.com/2013/0...
Follow on twitter: https://twitter.com/RobRains
July 29, 2013
Not so much a book about baseball but about baseball players and how their faith impacts their lives both on and off the field. Several themes through the book: God has a plan that may not match our plan; God is not selecting the winners b/c he's more interested in the relationship; baseball is a game based on errors, fail most of the time; You have to understand that not every day is going to be a good day; a believer has to be excellent in everything he does, do his best, because he's working as unto the Lord. Manager Matheny's qoute near the end of the book sums it up well: "I believe in every aspect of my life that I am called to excellence. I believe, through my faith, that I am called to high expectations...."
January 11, 2014
This is a great book for any sports fan who is a Christian. I liked the viewpoint of the book. I found it interesting to read about the Cardinals baseball team and their winning history. Seeing this history from a Christian point of view was entertaining as well as uplifting! I gave this book 5/5 stars. I would recommend this book to any fans of baseball or sports. I would also recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading stories of the different ways the Lord blesses people who do their best to live for him.
I would like to thank the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.
I would like to thank the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.
November 12, 2013
This book provided an interesting look into what keeps some of the members of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team focused and grounded. Many of the players on the team are Christians and therefore help to lead the team in knowing what is truly important in life, playing your best, and performing both baseball and life with class.
I enjoyed learning some about the players and their personal lives. I have a new appreciation for how great of a team we have in St. Louis, not only because we've got good men on our team, but because they have developed a specific culture in their clubhouse that exudes good sportsmanship on the field and good relationships off the field.
I enjoyed learning some about the players and their personal lives. I have a new appreciation for how great of a team we have in St. Louis, not only because we've got good men on our team, but because they have developed a specific culture in their clubhouse that exudes good sportsmanship on the field and good relationships off the field.
June 22, 2013
Here is an excerpt from my review: "The Cardinals organization is one where you don't have to hide your faith. There are weekly Bible studies, both during spring training and the regular season, and even the guys from the minor leagues, wives, and children are invited to attend. The players hang out when they're not playing baseball. Overall, everybody just seems really nice and really grounded."
You can read my full review here: http://cookscrapcraft.blogspot.com/20...
You can read my full review here: http://cookscrapcraft.blogspot.com/20...
June 17, 2014
Not a bad book. It does talk about the role that God plays in the lives of many of the players. But it was just a little light on the background about their journeys of faith. But it is a great book in that it really explains one of the major factors that makes the Cards successful, and it also talks at length about how faith has gotten these players through some low points in their careers and personal lives. I just wish it had been a little more detailed about how they came to know God in the first place.
August 19, 2015
This book is a great read especially for the baseball fan. I love baseball and love to see the stories behind a lot of the players that I watch. These are remarkable young men faced with a lot of adversity and temptation and the ones that choose their platform for Jesus is such a joy to see! You see what strong leaders exemplify and how that brings a team together. I passed on to my son to read and my six year old is having me read aloud to him at night. They enjoy baseball more than I do and I'm thankful for them to see these testimonies of their heroes they see on TV!
March 3, 2015
This would be a particularly good read for adolescent Cardinal fans. Almost to a man, the Cardinals featured recount a nominal relationship with Jesus as a young person and a regretted falling away. Why not make the deep and abiding commitment as a teen (or earlier) and avoid the regrets! These ball-players each affirm that even baseball is secondary to their relationship to God through Jesus and His plans for their lives.
May 31, 2013
Such an AWESOME book! This really helped me to learn a little more about some of the Cardinals players. Knowing that this team admits that they are Christians FIRST and baseball players second makes me want to cheer them on even more! I highlighted several parts of the book and will look at it for years to come!
January 9, 2016
This is a great behind-the-scenes look at the Cardinals. Read it now while you still know most of the players and the manager. Even now, that 2012 season feels distant, and it would be great to see an update. A chapter on each player featured and the manager ...a great read for any believing baseball fan.
January 23, 2014
I'm shocked that it took me this long to read this book but of course I loved it. I've heard a lot of the stories before, but I didn't care. I love me some St. Louis Cardinals. I'm proud of the men that they are.
April 22, 2014
I enjoyed reading about the experiences of the Christians on the St. Louis Cardinals, and the journey each player made to get to the team. Of course that didn't make me a Cardinals fan but one can't expect miracles from a book.
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April 30, 2013This was an interesting work but I noted a shortcoming in the sense that the author only featured evangelical Christian players--what about Catholics?
May 30, 2013
For ALL Cardinals fans!
December 22, 2013
Would have rated higher has Cardinals won the World Series :)
February 13, 2014
I have always been a Cardinal fan. Now I love and respect these guys even more!
February 9, 2014
Very good book about a lot of the players Christian walk and how it impacts their life.
April 23, 2015
Favorite team. Men of Faith. What more could I want?!!?!
February 18, 2015
Moving
One of the most moving books I've ever read. A fan of the cardinals and big in my faith. This book was very moving!
One of the most moving books I've ever read. A fan of the cardinals and big in my faith. This book was very moving!
Read
February 20, 2016Read with my daughter. We really enjoyed hearing about the faith of some of our favorite cardinal players.
April 2, 2018
Behind the scenes of the STL cardinals. Seeing the players in a whole new light after reading this book.
Read
December 3, 2017Great Book with lots of information . Lots of History of why the Cardinals remain a strong team with loyal fans around the world. Players who become part of the St. Louis cardinal family remain in the area for life.
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October 17, 2018I appreciated the honesty of these players.
Now I want to read more of Rob Rains books.
Now I want to read more of Rob Rains books.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews