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A Season on the Drink: A Novel
A broken team. A battle for dignity. A summer of softball that united them against the odds.
Marty’s fast-pitch softball team is far from typical. He and his unlikely teammates represent the Residence, a haven for chronic alcoholics—where forgotten men, written off by society, drown in their addictions. Yet they find something worth fighting for on a dusty Minnesota baseball their dignity.
As the men square off in a rec league against polished corporate teams with everything going for them, Marty and his gang must battle their inner demons and society’s prejudices on an extraordinary path to redemption. The teammates form a fragile bond as they discover that their magical season offers more than just wins and losses—it’s a chance to reclaim their identities and find purpose in a world that has long forgotten them.
Based on a true story, A Season on the Drink chronicles the raw, unforgettable story of redemption. Pat Harris masterfully weaves together themes of addiction, friendship, and resilience in this gripping narrative that transcends traditional sports literature. Through intimate portraits of the residents, the story reveals the transformative power of community and the unexpected joy found in life’s darkest corners.
Can the spirit of sports triumph over the crushing weight of addiction? As the season unfolds, these men discover that sometimes the greatest victories happen far from the scoreboard, in the quiet moments between pitches where hope takes root and friendship blooms.
Marty’s fast-pitch softball team is far from typical. He and his unlikely teammates represent the Residence, a haven for chronic alcoholics—where forgotten men, written off by society, drown in their addictions. Yet they find something worth fighting for on a dusty Minnesota baseball their dignity.
As the men square off in a rec league against polished corporate teams with everything going for them, Marty and his gang must battle their inner demons and society’s prejudices on an extraordinary path to redemption. The teammates form a fragile bond as they discover that their magical season offers more than just wins and losses—it’s a chance to reclaim their identities and find purpose in a world that has long forgotten them.
Based on a true story, A Season on the Drink chronicles the raw, unforgettable story of redemption. Pat Harris masterfully weaves together themes of addiction, friendship, and resilience in this gripping narrative that transcends traditional sports literature. Through intimate portraits of the residents, the story reveals the transformative power of community and the unexpected joy found in life’s darkest corners.
Can the spirit of sports triumph over the crushing weight of addiction? As the season unfolds, these men discover that sometimes the greatest victories happen far from the scoreboard, in the quiet moments between pitches where hope takes root and friendship blooms.
384 pages, Hardcover
Published September 9, 2025
17 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
About the author
Patrick Harris
73 books3 followersLibrarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name.
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 9, 2025
I greatly enjoyed this debut novel from Pat Harris. It’s a heartwarming story that highlights the humanity of some of St. Paul’s most troubled individuals, told with both humor and respect. The book not only educated me about the social systems supporting alcoholics in St. Paul during the 1980s, but it also kept me engaged with its entertaining cast of characters and the dignity with which they played their softball games. I found myself rooting for the St. Anthony’s team from start to finish. The fact that the novel is based on a true story makes it all the more remarkable. I think it would make a fantastic TV series, and I look forward to seeing more from this author.
October 4, 2025
I know Pat through our work industry and I just finished his book “A Season on the Drink” and it is a blockbuster! It is a true story from 1986 about a group of guys that live at the St. Anthony Residence, a haven for chronic alcoholic men in St. Paul. At first, it is tough to read because the writing is so real and true about what life is life for these guys; including the behaviors around their monthly money, the smells, the getting sick; all of it.
It was kind of tough for me to keep going at times because I felt so bad for these guys. However, I loved the nostalgia about St. Paul and talking about the restaurants and bars from that timeframe; especially Vogels. This was the bar that I spent a lot of my childhood at because my Dad was on the softball teams or umpiring their games.
As a first-time author, Pat is truly amazing at telling us about the people and you picture each one and each part of the story like you are watching a movie! There are bonds between these guys, very sad struggles, heroic benefactors and crazy hilarity that come to life each time you pick up the book.
I’m thinking it should be required reading in high school or college, but I’m not a parent, so I don’t know what age would be appropriate. This is such a teacher to all of us to be patient, kind and open-hearted to everyone on our path or life; especially those that struggle with addiction and homelessness!
I always knew that Pat is a great guy, can through a party like nobody else in Minnesota and now I know that he is an amazing author too! This book is a must-read!!
It was kind of tough for me to keep going at times because I felt so bad for these guys. However, I loved the nostalgia about St. Paul and talking about the restaurants and bars from that timeframe; especially Vogels. This was the bar that I spent a lot of my childhood at because my Dad was on the softball teams or umpiring their games.
As a first-time author, Pat is truly amazing at telling us about the people and you picture each one and each part of the story like you are watching a movie! There are bonds between these guys, very sad struggles, heroic benefactors and crazy hilarity that come to life each time you pick up the book.
I’m thinking it should be required reading in high school or college, but I’m not a parent, so I don’t know what age would be appropriate. This is such a teacher to all of us to be patient, kind and open-hearted to everyone on our path or life; especially those that struggle with addiction and homelessness!
I always knew that Pat is a great guy, can through a party like nobody else in Minnesota and now I know that he is an amazing author too! This book is a must-read!!
January 3, 2026
“A Season on the Drink,” is a delightful work of fiction by first-time author Pat Harris. It’s based on a true story but he fictionalized it to allow him to invent dialog and protect the identities of some of the characters.
The players in this softball league are residents of the very real Saint Anthony Residence for chronic alcoholics. A non-profit, with some government help, which bought a building in an industrial area of St. Paul, Minnesota and turned it into a residence for men who had been through treatment dozens of times.
Harris, who makes a late appearance in the book as “Case Manager” does a masterful job of describing the men and the monthly rhythms of the residence where the men go from having money at the beginning of the month to making hooch that could kill them at the end of the month. He also explains why alcoholics have bad breath.
One of the residents is Marty Peterson, who played Big 10 baseball with the University of Minnesota. When one of the directors of the residence realizes he and another resident would walk to a nearby park with a ball, bat and glove and play, she tells one of the house managers to organize a softball team. Improbably, they scrounge up enough players of some ability and wind up playing for the league championship.
The players in this softball league are residents of the very real Saint Anthony Residence for chronic alcoholics. A non-profit, with some government help, which bought a building in an industrial area of St. Paul, Minnesota and turned it into a residence for men who had been through treatment dozens of times.
Harris, who makes a late appearance in the book as “Case Manager” does a masterful job of describing the men and the monthly rhythms of the residence where the men go from having money at the beginning of the month to making hooch that could kill them at the end of the month. He also explains why alcoholics have bad breath.
One of the residents is Marty Peterson, who played Big 10 baseball with the University of Minnesota. When one of the directors of the residence realizes he and another resident would walk to a nearby park with a ball, bat and glove and play, she tells one of the house managers to organize a softball team. Improbably, they scrounge up enough players of some ability and wind up playing for the league championship.
September 15, 2025
This beautiful book tells a true story that’s both heartwarming and heartbreaking. It has sports and humor and drinking and addiction. The trials and tribulations of a tossed-together softball team unfold against the backdrop of the 1986 Minnesota Twins.
But mostly it’s about connection and finding a community - and how those things give you purpose, sometimes against all odds.
Pat Harris’ novel is a touching tribute and memorial to his friend Marty. But it’s also a reminder that our humanity comes from what we give to others. Many of the seemingly lost causes who populate the tale find that contributing to something bigger than themselves makes each of them greater. Highly recommended.
But mostly it’s about connection and finding a community - and how those things give you purpose, sometimes against all odds.
Pat Harris’ novel is a touching tribute and memorial to his friend Marty. But it’s also a reminder that our humanity comes from what we give to others. Many of the seemingly lost causes who populate the tale find that contributing to something bigger than themselves makes each of them greater. Highly recommended.
September 1, 2025
Thank you AdventureKEEN for the digital ARC!
I really enjoyed this book. It was outside of what I’d normally read, mostly because this subgenre isn’t very easy to find. I loved the combination of sports and social struggle - and the role of sports in giving people their dignity back. It’s a beautiful (true) story full of interesting characters you slowly get to know and learn to love. I read much of this in one go as it was too hard to put down!
I really enjoyed this book. It was outside of what I’d normally read, mostly because this subgenre isn’t very easy to find. I loved the combination of sports and social struggle - and the role of sports in giving people their dignity back. It’s a beautiful (true) story full of interesting characters you slowly get to know and learn to love. I read much of this in one go as it was too hard to put down!
December 26, 2025
A heartwarming story that combines the power of baseball and just loving it with finding purpose, peace and a sense of team.
January 1, 2026
Loved it. We all know some of the players from this book. I teared up multiple times.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews