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Baseball's Greatest Miracle: The Inspirational Story of My High School Hero, Thirteen Gritty Players, and Our Historic Comeback Season
"I've never heard of a more unlikely upset. A must read."
—Art Howe, former MLB player and manager
"Central's upset of Jewell is hardball's Hoosiers."
—Larry Holley, NAIA Hall of Fame basketball coach, Central Methodist and William Jewell College
"Mase was a cerebral pitcher and an accomplished artist, and he shows these traits as a storyteller in this compelling book."
—Tim Murtaugh, former MILB player and manager
A reluctant coach. A washed-up minor leaguer. And thirteen gritty ballplayers. Weaving their wildest dreams and utmost determination into a season for the ages...
In 1975, a small college baseball team from rural mid-Missouri achieved the incredible. Sporting a long history of cellar-dwelling hardball squads, the Central Methodist Eagles had finished last the previous year. Plus, they were led by novice coach Steve Phipps, a football defensive coordinator, and his hired hand, DeWayne Mason, a recently released bush-league pitcher. The “Lean, Mean, Green Thirteen” racked up much more than a winning season. Against all odds, the ragtag crew not only advanced to their league tournament championship game but also staged a historic, thirteenth-hour comeback to defeat William Jewell College, a perennial powerhouse.
Sports fans and pundits have yet to identify a more improbable baseball upset. At any level. Period.
In Baseball’s Greatest Miracle, a tribute to Phipps, an inspiring role model and four-sport high school letterman, Mason shares an uplifting story about friendship, redemption, and a misfit team that transformed their high expectations, dedication, and perseverance into an unbelievable achievement. An achievement that instilled lifelong lessons. An achievement that changed lives.
—Art Howe, former MLB player and manager
"Central's upset of Jewell is hardball's Hoosiers."
—Larry Holley, NAIA Hall of Fame basketball coach, Central Methodist and William Jewell College
"Mase was a cerebral pitcher and an accomplished artist, and he shows these traits as a storyteller in this compelling book."
—Tim Murtaugh, former MILB player and manager
A reluctant coach. A washed-up minor leaguer. And thirteen gritty ballplayers. Weaving their wildest dreams and utmost determination into a season for the ages...
In 1975, a small college baseball team from rural mid-Missouri achieved the incredible. Sporting a long history of cellar-dwelling hardball squads, the Central Methodist Eagles had finished last the previous year. Plus, they were led by novice coach Steve Phipps, a football defensive coordinator, and his hired hand, DeWayne Mason, a recently released bush-league pitcher. The “Lean, Mean, Green Thirteen” racked up much more than a winning season. Against all odds, the ragtag crew not only advanced to their league tournament championship game but also staged a historic, thirteenth-hour comeback to defeat William Jewell College, a perennial powerhouse.
Sports fans and pundits have yet to identify a more improbable baseball upset. At any level. Period.
In Baseball’s Greatest Miracle, a tribute to Phipps, an inspiring role model and four-sport high school letterman, Mason shares an uplifting story about friendship, redemption, and a misfit team that transformed their high expectations, dedication, and perseverance into an unbelievable achievement. An achievement that instilled lifelong lessons. An achievement that changed lives.
223 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 27, 2025
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 15, 2026
I have known the author of this book for well over 20 years. We were both professional educators. In fact, he was my boss--and a very good boss!
The story he tells in this book is one I didn't know until after I moved away, but having read it, I can testify to the fact that the amazing determination and positive messaging that characterized his career in education without a doubt came from all he learned on his way to becoming a pro ball player and a college baseball coach. What a great tale of an amazing turn-around, all possible because of positive expectations, consistent messaging, detailed instructions and modeling, and a true passion for the game.
I am looking forward to his next book which will be a prequel to this story. This story, though, stands alone and will, I am sure, be read eagerly and avidly by baseball fans, baseball players, and all humans who love a good come from behind story. I picture it becoming a blockbuster movie one day too!
The story he tells in this book is one I didn't know until after I moved away, but having read it, I can testify to the fact that the amazing determination and positive messaging that characterized his career in education without a doubt came from all he learned on his way to becoming a pro ball player and a college baseball coach. What a great tale of an amazing turn-around, all possible because of positive expectations, consistent messaging, detailed instructions and modeling, and a true passion for the game.
I am looking forward to his next book which will be a prequel to this story. This story, though, stands alone and will, I am sure, be read eagerly and avidly by baseball fans, baseball players, and all humans who love a good come from behind story. I picture it becoming a blockbuster movie one day too!
Displaying 1 of 1 review