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Double Play
All-Star player Ben Zobrist (Tampa Bay Rays), considered one of the best all-around players in baseball, writes about the importance of his faith, life, and athletic career in Double Play. Written with his wife, Christian singer Julianna Zobrist, and MikeYorkey, best-selling author of Every Man's Battle and The Remarkable Rise of Jeremy Lin , the book gives fans a first look into the heart of an athlete whose talent and devotion to God, family, and baseball make him one of the most loveable figures in the Major League today.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2014
14 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
April 8, 2017
I have to admit the only reason i picked up this book is because Ben joined the Chicago Cubs. But i did enjoy finding out more about the Zobrists' and their relationship with eachother, baseball and God.
March 5, 2019
I'm glad I didn't give up on this book like I almost did early on. Zobrist is one of my all-time favorite MLB players and I enjoyed hearing about his faith, family, and baseball journey. Young athletes can learn a lot from his integrity and intentionality as he plays on a major platform as a believer.
Bonus factoid: Zobrist's double down the left field line in the 10th inning of Game 7 of the 2016 World Series is my favorite all-time sporting moment.
Bonus factoid: Zobrist's double down the left field line in the 10th inning of Game 7 of the 2016 World Series is my favorite all-time sporting moment.
February 15, 2023
I am a Christian who is a big baseball fan. This book should have been right up my alley, and it might have been if I didn't know the rest of the story.
This book was written in 2014 and I bought it to read in 2017. I have a lot of books on my shelf to read and I never got around to doing it until now. Ben Zobrist and his wife Julianne Zobrist tell a great story about a couple who are devoted to Jesus and how their relationship developed with Jesus at the center until they were married. Throw in the mix that Ben was a very good baseball player for Tampa Bay (he eventually went on to play for Kansas City and the Cubs although that isn't discussed in the book), and Julianne is a professional singer. Lots of stress and strain on their marriage. Throw in 3 kids (although only two are discussed in the book) and you have a lot of marital pressure. They seemed to have triumphed over it though.
Fast forward to 2019, five years after the book was written, and the Zobrist's marriage had blown up as a result of an alleged affair between Julianne and the Zobrist's pastor, Byron Forrest Yawn. I find it ironic that Yawn is praised by Ben in the book about helping him deal with the pressures of playing MLB.
I wish Ben would write another book talking about why his marriage failed and what effect it had on his faith. I hope he huggled. Some have even gotten divorced. Write a book explaining how you got through it and how you still love Jesus despite all of the problems you have faced. I doubt that book will be written however because it is very hard to right about your failures. I think that is too bad because it could be an awesome book that would help Christians more than Double Play.
This book was written in 2014 and I bought it to read in 2017. I have a lot of books on my shelf to read and I never got around to doing it until now. Ben Zobrist and his wife Julianne Zobrist tell a great story about a couple who are devoted to Jesus and how their relationship developed with Jesus at the center until they were married. Throw in the mix that Ben was a very good baseball player for Tampa Bay (he eventually went on to play for Kansas City and the Cubs although that isn't discussed in the book), and Julianne is a professional singer. Lots of stress and strain on their marriage. Throw in 3 kids (although only two are discussed in the book) and you have a lot of marital pressure. They seemed to have triumphed over it though.
Fast forward to 2019, five years after the book was written, and the Zobrist's marriage had blown up as a result of an alleged affair between Julianne and the Zobrist's pastor, Byron Forrest Yawn. I find it ironic that Yawn is praised by Ben in the book about helping him deal with the pressures of playing MLB.
I wish Ben would write another book talking about why his marriage failed and what effect it had on his faith. I hope he huggled. Some have even gotten divorced. Write a book explaining how you got through it and how you still love Jesus despite all of the problems you have faced. I doubt that book will be written however because it is very hard to right about your failures. I think that is too bad because it could be an awesome book that would help Christians more than Double Play.
March 1, 2018
Double Play is such a good book. It is basically an autobiography by Ben Zobrist. He talks about his experiences working his way up through minor league baseball and getting to the majors. It also talks about his quest to find the right girl as well. His coach once told him “Find a good girl before you make it to the big leagues, otherwise you will never find one who loves you for you.” I found that quite inspiring. While those are a few of the big themes in his book he also talks about his faith. He is a great Christian athlete who has to overcome some obstacles standing in between him and God. He struggles with this continuously throughout the book. I would give this book a 5-star rating. It really helped me get through a tough time and I think it could help others as well. It is an uplifting Christian novel that can do miracles if you really read it and look into it. This book is good even if you aren’t necessarily a Christian or if you are religious at all. I highly recommend this book to everybody.
December 31, 2025
Alternating back and forth, Ben and Julianna put on display their faith in God, trusting Him for their life's partner while overcoming the challenges of a big-league career for Ben and a singing career for Julianna. Faith, prayer and family do come first for the Zobrists. This book came out after Ben was named the World Series MVP in 2016 as the Cubs finally won it all (my wife and son were so excited along with those long-suffering Cubbie fans). Postscript note: Unfortunately, they have split-up and divorced as a couple several years ago. Nothing is guaranteed that is for sure.
March 10, 2021
This book was a little slow for me. Overall, it was a good read but I felt like some chapters dragged on while other chapters I wanted a little more. The one thing I will say is I loved reading the downs of a professional athlete. This may seem harsh, but it is something you don’t hardly read about or see celebrities opening up about. I really enjoyed being reminded that they are human, they make mistakes, and sometimes their lives aren’t all we seem to think they are.
December 11, 2018
I am an avid Cubs fan and have greatly enjoyed watching Ben Zobrist
Play multiple positions. He is a very accomplished player . This book is a double autobiography of his rise to the major leagues, and his wife’s assent in the music world. I loved reading about their Christian walk. If you like baseball and love biography, you will like this book.
Play multiple positions. He is a very accomplished player . This book is a double autobiography of his rise to the major leagues, and his wife’s assent in the music world. I loved reading about their Christian walk. If you like baseball and love biography, you will like this book.
June 4, 2017
Enjoyed seeing how they allowed and continue to allow God to write their story.
December 12, 2018
I really enjoyed their story. This is worth the read, unless you are some kind of jerk who hates love stories and baseball. I guess I'm a sucker for both!
November 18, 2014
Rating:
5 of 5 stars (outstanding)
Review:
When I saw this biography of current Tampa Bay Rays infielder Ben Zobrist, I wasn’t sure what to take away from this book. Knowing that he was a man of faith and that his wife was a popular Christian singer, I was expecting to read a biography about his success that was completely due to his faith in God. Ben Zobrist did talk about that, but this book was so much more than just a message of inspiration.
This couple was brought together, in both of their minds, because of their faith. Both wanted to pursue their dreams – Ben in baseball, Julianna in music – and wanted to make sure that the path they took toward those goals was the one that they felt God would lead them to. They are good stories; especially Ben’s when he paid $50 for a tryout that led to a baseball scholarship and eventually a professional contract.
However, I felt what was the best part of this book was the budding romance between the two of them and how both of them never wavered from their principles just to be together. It had to be right and within their beliefs and they made it happen. I have noted before that I was looking for good sports romance books – that this one happened in real life made it of the best sports romances a reader could ask for.
The book alternates narratives throughout, although some of Ben’s passages about baseball are longer. He covers every part of his career – his college days, his minor league career when he was a newlywed and the struggles he first had with Tampa and what he did to improve enough to be named to the All-Star game in 2008. There is enough baseball talk to satisfy sports fans and yet it is basic enough that readers who do not follow the game can understand.
Julianna talks about her past issues, including a harrowing experience in her youth, her struggles with relationships and her love of music that eventually led to a recording contract. Her story also includes her relationship with God, her trials and tribulations as a baseball wife and her joy of not only doing something she loves but also her joy of being a mother.
This book was an uplifting, refreshing sports biography. Instead of the stories of hardship, drinking, womanizing and later regret, the reader is treated to learning about two people who through the love of their God, they discovered their love for each other.
I wish to thank NetGalley for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Did I skim?
No
Pace of the book:
This was an extremely quick read as I completed the book in one sitting in less than two hours. The switching between Ben’s and Julianna’s stories was a big reason for this.
Do I recommend?
This is a book that readers of many different genres will enjoy. There is enough baseball talk for a fan to enjoy. Readers who like inspiring stories, especially those based around the Christian faith, will want to read this book. Romance novel readers will think one of their fictional reads will have come to real life when reading this book.
5 of 5 stars (outstanding)
Review:
When I saw this biography of current Tampa Bay Rays infielder Ben Zobrist, I wasn’t sure what to take away from this book. Knowing that he was a man of faith and that his wife was a popular Christian singer, I was expecting to read a biography about his success that was completely due to his faith in God. Ben Zobrist did talk about that, but this book was so much more than just a message of inspiration.
This couple was brought together, in both of their minds, because of their faith. Both wanted to pursue their dreams – Ben in baseball, Julianna in music – and wanted to make sure that the path they took toward those goals was the one that they felt God would lead them to. They are good stories; especially Ben’s when he paid $50 for a tryout that led to a baseball scholarship and eventually a professional contract.
However, I felt what was the best part of this book was the budding romance between the two of them and how both of them never wavered from their principles just to be together. It had to be right and within their beliefs and they made it happen. I have noted before that I was looking for good sports romance books – that this one happened in real life made it of the best sports romances a reader could ask for.
The book alternates narratives throughout, although some of Ben’s passages about baseball are longer. He covers every part of his career – his college days, his minor league career when he was a newlywed and the struggles he first had with Tampa and what he did to improve enough to be named to the All-Star game in 2008. There is enough baseball talk to satisfy sports fans and yet it is basic enough that readers who do not follow the game can understand.
Julianna talks about her past issues, including a harrowing experience in her youth, her struggles with relationships and her love of music that eventually led to a recording contract. Her story also includes her relationship with God, her trials and tribulations as a baseball wife and her joy of not only doing something she loves but also her joy of being a mother.
This book was an uplifting, refreshing sports biography. Instead of the stories of hardship, drinking, womanizing and later regret, the reader is treated to learning about two people who through the love of their God, they discovered their love for each other.
I wish to thank NetGalley for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Did I skim?
No
Pace of the book:
This was an extremely quick read as I completed the book in one sitting in less than two hours. The switching between Ben’s and Julianna’s stories was a big reason for this.
Do I recommend?
This is a book that readers of many different genres will enjoy. There is enough baseball talk for a fan to enjoy. Readers who like inspiring stories, especially those based around the Christian faith, will want to read this book. Romance novel readers will think one of their fictional reads will have come to real life when reading this book.
December 7, 2015
I grew up in a sports-loving family and we watched a lot of baseball towards the end of this season. Through my casual baseball watching and the more frequent baseball watching this past season, I knew who Ben Zobrist was, or at least I had heard of him. So I knew he played professional baseball, formerly for the Tampa Bay Rays and more recently for the Kansas City Royals, although this book was published before he went to Kansas City. This book gives an overview of how he and his wife, Julianna, grew up, but its main focus is their romance, faith, and how they do what they love.
I enjoyed this book, partly because I enjoy reading about the lives of people I've heard of before, whether through sports, music, TV, movies, etc. Seeing how Ben & Julianna met and how their romance wasn't presented in a way that made their relationship seem perfect. Julianna wrote about how certain things that Ben did turned her off and it took a while from when they first met before they actually started dating. They also shared their struggles, like depression, anxiety, pride, and how Julianna actually considered leaving Ben for a period of time. When I was reading this book, I was in a place in my life where I needed encouragement and reading about their struggles gave me some hope and gave me some perspective.
With the way this book is written, Ben & Julianna come across as real people and not just people you see on TV or hear on the radio. You can see a baseball player's romantic side and see a Christian music singer and mother's dedication to her husband and her marriage. How they have a policy of not going more than six days apart from each other in order to put their marriage first, which can be quite difficult when Ben is on the road a lot of the time for his career.
I enjoyed this book, partly because I enjoy reading about the lives of people I've heard of before, whether through sports, music, TV, movies, etc. Seeing how Ben & Julianna met and how their romance wasn't presented in a way that made their relationship seem perfect. Julianna wrote about how certain things that Ben did turned her off and it took a while from when they first met before they actually started dating. They also shared their struggles, like depression, anxiety, pride, and how Julianna actually considered leaving Ben for a period of time. When I was reading this book, I was in a place in my life where I needed encouragement and reading about their struggles gave me some hope and gave me some perspective.
With the way this book is written, Ben & Julianna come across as real people and not just people you see on TV or hear on the radio. You can see a baseball player's romantic side and see a Christian music singer and mother's dedication to her husband and her marriage. How they have a policy of not going more than six days apart from each other in order to put their marriage first, which can be quite difficult when Ben is on the road a lot of the time for his career.
October 24, 2014
Doubly play is about Ben and Julianna Zobrist, Ben is a professional baseball player for the Tampa Bay Rays and Julianna, is a Christian singer. They are parents to two children and they also do public speaking, mostly in churches. The book follows each of their lives growing up both of their families up until they meet and then the long period of dating before the engagement and then marriage. It also follows his journey to the major leagues from a small college to getting drafted by the Astros, to being traded to Tampa. Then being called up to the big leagues and then the disappointment of being sent down again to the minors. His anxiety attacks that took place which caused a whole set of different problems and how together and with their pastor they together overcome and worked through his problems and by doing so he made it back to the majors and after a few more back and forth trips between the minors and the majors he made it to stay. He was part of the Tampa team that went to the World Series and with the check he received from that he was able to fulfill a promise that he made to her father and Julianna recoded her first Christian cd. This is a great story of a couple working through the problems and not running away from them. When they come out of the other side their relationship as a couple is stronger and the relationship with the Lord is stronger as well. This is a very good book and I enjoyed their story very much. You don’t need to be a baseball fan you just need to be a fan of marriage working and the love for one another. I got this book from net galley.
May 1, 2015
I love a good book about a person's journey of faith, but this book was a little too over-the-top about it. I don't mean to discredit their stories or their journey, it was great to learn about how the Zobrists got to where they are today. But, I felt like this book forgot the old adage of "show not tell". They could have done a better job of showing how their faith in God was impacted from their experiences. I felt like I was being preached to throughout the entire book, as if I was supposed to exclaim "Amen!" at the end of each chapter.
November 6, 2016
I liked Double Play by Ben & Julianna Zobrist. I find books written by famous people to be entertaining and to give the reader an insight into their personal life and this book was no different. Their writing style was simple and easy to read. I liked the style of each author providing their thoughts along the same time line. Ben's baseball life was the majority of the book, however Julianna did provide insights into her music career.
I would recommend this book to readers who like baseball and stories about Christian lives.
I would recommend this book to readers who like baseball and stories about Christian lives.
April 9, 2014
Fascinating perspective inside the life of my favorite player
A wonderful read about how two peoples love for Christ brought these amazing people together. They strive to keep their love for each other and our Lord alive and strong. They share their most difficult and personal tribulations with the reader and make you consciously aware of how God can test you and force you to prioritize what really matters.
A wonderful read about how two peoples love for Christ brought these amazing people together. They strive to keep their love for each other and our Lord alive and strong. They share their most difficult and personal tribulations with the reader and make you consciously aware of how God can test you and force you to prioritize what really matters.
September 6, 2014
I really enjoyed the stories the Zobrist's weave throughout the book. Two pastors kids, one who loves music and the other who loves baseball, wind up with God's obvious providence, loving each other.
I do really like that they don't always paint a rosy picture of the Christian life. They share their struggles and maybe, it will all help us that want to walk the Christian life to understand that while we still seek after God, we will have struggles.
I do really like that they don't always paint a rosy picture of the Christian life. They share their struggles and maybe, it will all help us that want to walk the Christian life to understand that while we still seek after God, we will have struggles.
June 17, 2014
This book was so encouraging to my heart. I enjoyed learning about how God orchestrated so many things in their life, and was reminded of the faithfulness of God. My heart was filled with hope after reading this book.
July 4, 2017
So good! I love reading how God orchestrates different moments in people's lives in order to bring Him glory, as well as how God uses each gift we have, and each moment we live, to show us something about Himself. Highly recommend!
June 28, 2016
What a great story.
I lived in the st Louis area when sobrist played there. He had quite a testimony. It was a joy to see him play and see him give God the glory.
I lived in the st Louis area when sobrist played there. He had quite a testimony. It was a joy to see him play and see him give God the glory.
October 11, 2015
A testament of Proverbs 3:5-6 in action
December 28, 2017
Way to much detail on how the Zobrist met and married. It was tedious to read.
February 12, 2018
I love biographies and this was no different. I especially enjoyed his commitment to follow Christ, his connection with The Navs, the fact he was from central IL and the healthy way he dated in college as we help a lot of students as they navigate this on campus.
August 22, 2018
Such a cute story. Love, faith, family, career. Totally worth buying the book off amazon! Definitely a must read for baseball/cub fans, Julianna/Ben Zobrist fans. Chicago residents. Music fans. Etc. will read gain!
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April 17, 2019Such a great story of following God's will in life! Even better if you are a baseball fan!
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