Billy Crawford's Double Play

by Brad Smith

Everything is legal – if you can get away with it.

Billy Crawford is a hero. The star of the Rose City Rounders, the baseball player has been thrilling fans of the city for years. But Billy’s not as young as he used to be and his tendency to play hard is catching up with him. A string of losses for the Rounders puts his position at risk as the team’s owner, local developer Carroll Miller, doesn’t like being associated with anything that loses. Miller’s thinking of making changes, and not just at the team. When he decides to enter politics Billy suddenly finds himself facing an offer he can’t refuse.

In this wise-cracking, fast-paced novel, Brad Smith lampoons today’s scandal-ridden politics and politicians. But among the laughter, Smith also shows us there can be hope, and even integrity, where we least expect it.

248 pages, Paperback

First published October 14, 2025

About the author

Brad Smith was born and raised in southern Ontario. He has worked as a farmer, signalman, insulator, truck driver, bartender, schoolteacher, maintenance mechanic, roofer, and carpenter. He lives in a eighty-year-old farmhouse near the north shore of Lake Erie. His novel, "One-Eyed Jacks" was nominated for the Dashiell Hammett Prize.

Some of his books that have been published include One-Eyed Jacks (2000), All Hat (2003), Busted Flush (2005), Big Man Coming Down The Road (2007), Red Means Run (January 2012) and Crow's Landing (August 2012).

Follow Brad on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/uQYcIw.

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The longstanding, incumbent mayor of a small town in Ontario, is again, up for reelection. When he becomes ill, his lawyer daughter, who has left legal work in Toronto steps in to run. A local developer, also decides to run, so that he can change the legislation to open up the Greenbelt to development. He also owns the local baseball team. He had ousted Billy Crawford, an aging and reckless player, from the team. When the race gets tight, he offers Billy a chance to regain his position. He wants Billy to run for mayor also, in order to split the vote. What is going to win out here, greed, conscience, integrity? Another great book from an author who happens to be local.

[Mike Broderick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the advance copy of this book.
This was a pretty easy, fun read. I quite enjoyed it.
Billy is a ball player nearing the end of his career. Set in the world of AAA ball instead of the big leagues, gave it some charm.
I thought that the characters were so relatable that it added to the story for me.
This one could be a show, it had that kind of feel to it.

[Paul Copcutt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining story surrounding local politics with some themes linked to real events in Ontario. Felt the ending was a little rushed.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the Ontario setting and the Greenbelt issues, but I found Billy a bit bland compared to Virgil Cain. Think I missed the horses too from that series. Good ending though!