• Curveball

  • How I Discovered True Fulfillment After Chasing Fortune and Fame
  • By: Barry Zito, Robert Noland
  • Narrated by: Barry Zito
  • Length: 7 hrs and 5 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (156 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Curveball  By  cover art

Curveball

By: Barry Zito, Robert Noland
Narrated by: Barry Zito
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $19.79

Buy for $19.79

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

The painfully honest and personal story of one of baseball’s most intriguing players.

In Curveball, Zito shares his story with honesty and transparency. The ups and the downs. The wins and losses. By sharing his experiences as a man who had everything except happiness, Zito offers listeners a path through adversity and toward a life defined by true success.

Despite achieving the kind of fame and fortune that most people only dream about, Barry Zito was plagued by both internal forces and external circumstances that robbed him of any sense of peace - until he finally found a purpose worth living for.

Barry explores the twists and turns of his own journey, including:

  • his dad’s constant push and pursuit for excellence, which translated into a toxic father-son relationship,
  • how achieving superstardom in the Major Leagues created crippling fear,
  • the personal destruction brought on by fame and fortune,
  • and the disastrous seasons with the San Francisco Giants, including being benched for the 2010 playoffs and World Series.

Zito comes face-to-face with the destructiveness of his own ego - his need to be viewed as the best. He also comes face-to-face with God and with the truth that he was loved no matter what he achieved.

Photos of Zito throughout his career are available in the audiobook companion PDF download.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2019 Barry Zito (P)2019 Thomas Nelson

What listeners say about Curveball

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    106
  • 4 Stars
    34
  • 3 Stars
    12
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    4
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    99
  • 4 Stars
    26
  • 3 Stars
    9
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    2
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    94
  • 4 Stars
    24
  • 3 Stars
    13
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    3

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Vulnerable and powerful

I have read a lot of books in my day and I can honestly say this was the best book I have ever read. Barry Zito does not hold back in sharing the raw truth of his up and down journey as a professional athlete. This book encouraged me to reflect on my own spiritual path. It empowered me to continually remind myself of what really matters and to stay true to my path. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and inspiring story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Hey Z!

Barry Zito's story and walk through his mindset is inspiring. From finding his wife and ultimately Jesus , the author and perfector of our faith. I was impressed and enjoyed the story from cover to cover as a baseball fan and a disciple of Jesus!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Writing

This book was very well written. I enjoyed it very much because Zito writes out of his lofe instead of selecting the best memories . This is a great read and all sports fans will love it

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Bravo Barry!

Arguably the most honest sports memoirs I’ve ever experienced. As a Giants fan who watched his struggles and triumphs, it was fascinating to get a window into his world at the time and into the absolutely wild upbringing he had. I always give him mad props for doing the entire narration himself and not doing the usual reading of the first chapter and then letting an actor do the rest of the book. Made the experience even more raw and real and he did a stellar job. Highly recommend this one!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Zito Zito Zito

Being a former A's season ticket holder, I enjoyed Barry's view of his youth to making it to the big leagues, through good times and bad. I will always look back and hold dearly the great times I shared with many of my closest friends amongst the left field bleacher bums and our shared times with 'The Big Three' (Hudson, Mulder & Zito)!

Thanks Barry for bringing back some of the old memories of the fun days at the Coliseum and your journey to that other team across the Bay. Blessings to you and your family for the great times!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Baseball and Truth - An All Star Book

Listened to this book in only three days! It was an amazing and powerful look not only at Barry Zito’s life but also a look at each of our own lives and the decisions and choices we make. It was a true testament both to Zito’s wonderful skill as a writer and reader (as he reads his work). It was also a wonderful testimony to God’s love, His grace and His mercy. Zito knocked this one out of the park!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Baseball + Faith equals this great book

This book mixes baseball and life into one incredible read. Barry Zito mixes his real life struggles, career highs and lows and delivers a truly memorable memoir.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Honest

Very open and honest book by Barry about his life. I enjoyed it very much.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Inspiring from beginning to end

I couldn’t wait to read this book. I have been a fan of Berries Ito from the beginning of the square until the very end. With a inspiring story of determination and love of God I recommend this book to everyone.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Phenomenal!!

An honest look at the path to the big leagues, making it big, and the pressure and heartache that almost always follows the money and fame. Incredible story of redemption - a story we can all have.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!