Cover the Bases Interview with Author Dirk Hayhurst

by JoeMagennis on August 31, 2010

I cannot understate how fortunate I feel to have had a chance to speak with Dirk Hayhurst on the Cover the Bases podcast. His book The Bullpen Gospels: Major League Dreams of a Minor League Veteran is receiving critical comparisons to classics such as The Catcher in the Rye and to the baseball standard Ball Four. I am convinced that many years from now I will pridefully point to this episode and exclaim, “I spoke for 40 minutes to Dirk Hayhurst about The Bullpen Gospels!”. 

This page turner will make you alternately laugh or cry, as Dirk presents both the camaraderie of being one of the guys trying to make it to the bigs and the hardships of reaching for the dream while surviving a dysfunctional family.

As readers, we are fortunate that this book is not just another pulp expose of what we have come to expect from “behind the scenes” baseball books, rather it is a thought provoking glimpse from someone who wants to deliver a critique of what it means to be a man inside the uniform of a major leaguer.  We get to read about, and celebrate,  the healing that he has experienced … only because he has shown us the pain and suffering he has endured through challenges on and off the field.

The title for this book comes from the column that Dirk had written for his hometown newspaper called the Canton Repository. The Bullpen Gospels does hint at the higher wisdom that Dirk uncovers during the most important episodes in the book.  After having a difficult outing in front of the top management of the organization, he is confronted with this alcoholic brother’s desire to reach out to those he has hurt in the past.  While Dirk is in no mood to forgive so easily, he comes to the realization that all he has been striving for is right in front of him.  That the true measure of the person underneath the uniform, is how he deals with adversity.

Meanwhile, Dirk’s roommate Frenchy is distraught over his own perceived failings until Dirk can set him straight on the realities of baseball. It was at this moment that Dirk became aware of the wisdom that he had acquired within the game, as well as the vision to see what he would become if he bought into the sport as the single driving force in his life.

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Cards from the Diamond

by JoeMagennis on September 2, 2010

1989 Topps | Cecil Fielder | Toronto Blue Jays | Baseballisms.com1989 Topps Can you guess this Legendary Game? | Win a t-shirt! | Baseballisms.com

Cecil Fielder

Each day we feature something from our collection of childhood bubblegum memories.  For those who remember them, these baseball cards have their own stories to tell.

What does this card bring to mind for you? Please share in the comments!

We would love to hear from you. Send a Tweet to @baseballisms with a quick message, send us an email or visit our Upload page with a video message.  We look forward to growing a community of fans interested in the poetry of the game of baseball!


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Cards from the Diamond

by JoeMagennis on September 1, 2010

1989 Topps | Greg Gagne | Minnesota Twins | Baseballisms.com1989 Topps Can you guess this Legendary Game? | Win a t-shirt! | Baseballisms.com

Greg Gagne

Each day we feature something from our collection of childhood bubblegum memories.  For those who remember them, these baseball cards have their own stories to tell.

What does this card bring to mind for you? Please share in the comments!

We would love to hear from you. Send a Tweet to @baseballisms with a quick message, send us an email or visit our Upload page with a video message.  We look forward to growing a community of fans interested in the poetry of the game of baseball!


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Cards from the Diamond

by JoeMagennis on August 31, 2010

1973 Topps | Gary Sutherland | Houston Astros | Baseballisms.com1973 Topps Can you guess this Legendary Game? | Win a t-shirt! | Baseballisms.com

Gary Sutherland

Each day we feature something from our collection of childhood bubblegum memories.  For those who remember them, these baseball cards have their own stories to tell.

What does this card bring to mind for you? Please share in the comments!

We would love to hear from you. Send a Tweet to @baseballisms with a quick message, send us an email or visit our Upload page with a video message.  We look forward to growing a community of fans interested in the poetry of the game of baseball!

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Cards from the Diamond

by JoeMagennis on August 30, 2010

1973 Topps | Luis Alvarado | Chicago White Sox | Baseballisms.com1973 Topps Can you guess this Legendary Game? | Win a t-shirt! | Baseballisms.com

Luis Alvarado

Each day we feature something from our collection of childhood bubblegum memories.  For those who remember them, these baseball cards have their own stories to tell.

What does this card bring to mind for you? Please share in the comments!

We would love to hear from you. Send a Tweet to @baseballisms with a quick message, send us an email or visit our Upload page with a video message.  We look forward to growing a community of fans interested in the poetry of the game of baseball!

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