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Smart, Wrong, and Lucky: The Origin Stories of Baseball's Unexpected Stars
A fascinating look at how Major League Baseball searches for diamonds in the rough
In the plainest of terms, baseball scouts are tasked with seeing the future—a distant future, at that. Baseball's long developmental arc leaves room for plenty of twists and turns on the way to The Show.
Some prospects shoot like arrows toward their projected potential, while others fizzle out or chart an unexpected course. Batting champion Charlie Blackmon was once coveted for his left arm more than his offensive potential. Catcher Buster Posey was first scouted as a pitcher and shortstop.
Smart, Wrong, and Lucky explores how first impressions measure up to their aftermaths: the draft, years of progression, and for a talented few, major-league success.
MLB writer Jonathan Mayo profiles a diverse range of modern stars and looks at them through the eyes of those who noticed them first as prospects.
Featuring exclusive interviews with scouts, players, coaches, and more, this fascinating collection of origin stories is an ode to baseball's endless possibilities.
In the plainest of terms, baseball scouts are tasked with seeing the future—a distant future, at that. Baseball's long developmental arc leaves room for plenty of twists and turns on the way to The Show.
Some prospects shoot like arrows toward their projected potential, while others fizzle out or chart an unexpected course. Batting champion Charlie Blackmon was once coveted for his left arm more than his offensive potential. Catcher Buster Posey was first scouted as a pitcher and shortstop.
Smart, Wrong, and Lucky explores how first impressions measure up to their aftermaths: the draft, years of progression, and for a talented few, major-league success.
MLB writer Jonathan Mayo profiles a diverse range of modern stars and looks at them through the eyes of those who noticed them first as prospects.
Featuring exclusive interviews with scouts, players, coaches, and more, this fascinating collection of origin stories is an ode to baseball's endless possibilities.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published July 11, 2023
5 people are currently reading
2260 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 12, 2024
4.5 stars
As a Cardinals fan, and a former sports editor in a Missouri JUCO town, I knew all about Albert Pujols' origin story. He played against our local junior college many times. Our team's coach was also a scout and knew exactly the kind of player the Cardinals had drafted. The winter before Pujols' "unexpected" selection to the Major League roster, the coach and I were wondering if the conservative Cardinals were brave enough to pull the trigger to add Pujols to the major league roster. (Pujols had a great spring, Bobby Bonilla had a minor injury, and the Cardinals "temporarily" filled the spot by giving the rookie a monumental chance.)
I didn't know the stories behind any of the other players featured – Joey Votto, Shane Bieber, Jacob DeGrom, Mookie Betts, Charlie Blackmon, Ian Kinsler, and Lorenzo Cain.
Starting off with Votto was perfect, because he's just so damn likable. (He's the kind of guy you want your daughter to marry.) I didn't have any feelings toward the other players until Pujols (the finale), but Votto's story draws you in. I was blown away by the stories about Blackmon and Cain.
It's such a quick read, you'll be half-way through before you know it.
This is one of the best baseball books I've read in a while. Great idea, well done.
As a Cardinals fan, and a former sports editor in a Missouri JUCO town, I knew all about Albert Pujols' origin story. He played against our local junior college many times. Our team's coach was also a scout and knew exactly the kind of player the Cardinals had drafted. The winter before Pujols' "unexpected" selection to the Major League roster, the coach and I were wondering if the conservative Cardinals were brave enough to pull the trigger to add Pujols to the major league roster. (Pujols had a great spring, Bobby Bonilla had a minor injury, and the Cardinals "temporarily" filled the spot by giving the rookie a monumental chance.)
I didn't know the stories behind any of the other players featured – Joey Votto, Shane Bieber, Jacob DeGrom, Mookie Betts, Charlie Blackmon, Ian Kinsler, and Lorenzo Cain.
Starting off with Votto was perfect, because he's just so damn likable. (He's the kind of guy you want your daughter to marry.) I didn't have any feelings toward the other players until Pujols (the finale), but Votto's story draws you in. I was blown away by the stories about Blackmon and Cain.
It's such a quick read, you'll be half-way through before you know it.
This is one of the best baseball books I've read in a while. Great idea, well done.
October 20, 2023
I come from a baseball loving family who live and breathe baseball. I on the other hand am a bit on the outskirts of their intense love for the sport. This book helped me gain a deeper appreciation of baseball. It dives into a deeper place than "winning the game". It shows how the lives of the players have been unexpectedly transformed, shifted, and how they even got the opportunity to play at the MLB level. Only a handful of baseball players are mentioned and some who are not professional are mentioned. However, their stories are fascinating and definitely worth the read. Whether you are a die hard baseball lover, or on the outskirts of that love this book is an enjoyable read!
January 2, 2024
Some great stories here about scouts finding obscure ballplayers who eventually became major-league stars. My favorite was the story about Lorenzo Cain, who didn't even know which hand to wear his glove on when he started playing baseball in high school. I even know one of the scouts featured in the book!
I listened to the audiobook, which I would not recommend--the narrator knows nothing about baseball, which was painfully obvious when he would read out stats or mispronounce a prominent player's name like Pettitte.
I listened to the audiobook, which I would not recommend--the narrator knows nothing about baseball, which was painfully obvious when he would read out stats or mispronounce a prominent player's name like Pettitte.
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March 4, 2024Talent is everywhere in sports, but scouts are not. Mayo’s eight baseball stars are not the only ones who nearly fell through the cracks in the MLB recruiting system. Moneyball hasn’t had a high success rate either. The sportswriter feels for his sources, who followed raw talent in their prospects but would never be sure where it would lead them.
February 6, 2024
Quick read that was extremely difficult to put down. Lots of great, fun tidbits in every chapter that any baseball fan will get a kick out of. Really interesting look behind the scenes of the unique draft processes for some of the best players in recent baseball memory.
July 16, 2023
3.5 stars
July 26, 2023
Really enjoyed the book. Mayo interviews the players, scouts, and execs that brought in these guys. The stories are fascinating. It's also a very quick read.
September 10, 2023
Wonderful and informative stories about baseball. Loved it!
January 24, 2024
Very interesting book for people who are big baseball fans and want to understand the scouting process.
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January 26, 2024My interview with Mayo discussing the book is here:
https://umfm.com/programming/broadcas...
https://umfm.com/programming/broadcas...
November 4, 2024
Good recommendation from my friend Jake, as they typically are. Mayo pulls together some excellent reporting on the discovery and signing of a handful of under-the-radar superstars, in the process updating "Dollar Sign on the Muscle" (which I'm slowly re-reading) for the 2020 and late set. Really enjoyed all the chapters, but Pujols is the obvious big name (Mayo should've led with him) and I've got a soft spot for Charlie Blackmon.
That said, there are plenty of minor quibbles here, none of which are Mayo's fault. Most involve the fact that the book had either a rushed or completely nonexistent editing process. Lots of abrupt conclusions, typos, grammatical errors, etc. A writer like this deserves better - certainly the corporate work I do gets the "fine-tooth comb" treatment - but few of us in the business ever receive such white-glove service. That said, a platform like Claude.ai (which I use in my professional life) will surely (don't call me Shirley!) and quickly improve content like this in the years to come, perhaps restoring the writer/editor balance somewhat (since the AI still can't interview/compile/etc. the way a human can...well, still can't *interview*, at least).
That said, there are plenty of minor quibbles here, none of which are Mayo's fault. Most involve the fact that the book had either a rushed or completely nonexistent editing process. Lots of abrupt conclusions, typos, grammatical errors, etc. A writer like this deserves better - certainly the corporate work I do gets the "fine-tooth comb" treatment - but few of us in the business ever receive such white-glove service. That said, a platform like Claude.ai (which I use in my professional life) will surely (don't call me Shirley!) and quickly improve content like this in the years to come, perhaps restoring the writer/editor balance somewhat (since the AI still can't interview/compile/etc. the way a human can...well, still can't *interview*, at least).
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews