The Tao of the Backup Catcher

Playing Baseball for the Love of the Game

De: Tim Brown, Erik Kratz

Narrado por: Justin Price, Tim Brown

This fascinating book "reminds us of the beauty of baseball" and chronicles the unsung men of baseball who serve the job, the hardships they face, and their love for a game that would not always love them back―told partly through the experiences of an MLB veteran. (Jim Abott, former major league pitcher).

In baseball there are superstars, stars, and everyday players—and then there are the rest. The Tao of the Backup Catcher is about them, the backup catchers, who exist near the bottom of the roster and the end of the bench and between the numbers in a sport—and a society—increasingly driven by cold, hard analytics. The Tao of the Backup Catcher is a story of grown men who once dreamed of stardom and generational wealth. Instead, they were handed a broom and a deeper understanding of who wins and why, who stands tall and who folds, and who will invest their own lives in catching bullpens and the back ends of doubleheaders.

Backup catchers survive in part because every team needs one. They are necessary, once or twice a week. They are sports’ big brothers, psychologists, priests, witch doctors, player coaches, father figures and drinking buddies, all wrapped in a suit of today’s polycarbonate armor and yesterday’s dirt. They come with a singular goal: to win baseball games. They play for the greater good. After that, they play for themselves.

A reverie on loving the grind and the little things baseball can teach us, The Tao of the Backup Catcher profiles Erik Kratz, Josh Paul, AJ Ellis, Bobby Wilson, Drew Butera, Matt Treanor, and John Flaherty to name a few.

“This isn’t just a story about baseball. It’s about life and the beauty of knowing and accepting who you are.” ―Jeff Passan

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Lend Tim Brown’s inimitable voice to a sporting subculture overflowing with personality, mix in Erik Kratz’s tale of perseverance and what blossoms is magic. This isn’t just a story about baseball. It’s about life and the beauty of knowing and accepting who you are.”—Jeff Passan, ESPN baseball columnist and bestselling author of The Arm

"This is a honey of a book. Tim Brown and Erik Kratz have my everlasting gratitude for this exquisite reminder of what baseball—and baseball writing—was like before velo, and rpms, and launch angles and barrels, and $43.3 million dollar annual salaries changed the conversation and the game became a discussion about everything other than people. This ode to the backup catcher with grit beneath his fingernails and grit within his soul is a must read. It will make you feel better about humanity."—Jane Leavy, author of national bestsellers The Last Boy and The Big Fella

"This is a beautiful book. A Sunday morning clubhouse, pregame coffee, the nerves and excitement of going up against the very best in the world. In the middle of all this, the comfort of the Backup Catcher with a gleam in his eye, and a deep appreciation for this moment. This book reminds us of the beauty of baseball, the characters who play, and the lessons we all might carry away from an approach that doesn’t take anything for granted."—Jim Abbott, former major league pitcher

“The late, great Hall of Famer Joe Morgan once told me that baseball is only fun if you're really, really good at it. The rest is unforgiving, hard work. Tim Brown is a baseball fan's writer: really, really good at it while appreciating the hard work, the people who do it, and its costs. Erik Kratz is who we all think we are, dedicated, willing to put in the time for the unglamorous results. The combination of these two is a real story for real people. If you care about the work of baseball, and not just the glory, this is the perfect book for you.”—Howard Bryant, author of Rickey: The Life and Legend of an American Original

“Tim Brown is a brilliant baseball wordsmith, and Erik Kratz is a delightful baseball personality, and together they have combined to write a wonderful book celebrating baseball’s hidden heart. This is a tale of ultimate grinders who toil in obscurity yet epitomize integrity. While you may have never heard of them, you’ll never be able to forget them.”—Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times sports columnist and panelist on ESPN’s Around the Horn

"Erik’s incredible journey through baseball has created a rare wisdom for both life and our wonderful game. Enjoy the ride through the countless teachable moments that the life of the back up catcher offers."—Craig Counsell, manager of the Milwaukee Brewers

Loved it

This is a Love letter to the Baseball player who was just good enough. I’ll listen to The intro over and over!!

Wonderful Book

This is more than a baseball book, it’s a journey that you’re allowed to take along with truly exceptional people who love and honor baseball.

Insightful, optimistic, and encouraging

Great book! Really captures the dreams of becoming a ball player and gives a palpable idea of what it is actually like. Reader has a great voice, but is obviously not a baseball guy. Mispronounced multiple HOFer's names, baseball terms - pulls the listener away from the overall authenticity of the story. Surprised that wasn't caught during post production, honestly.

An inspirational and detailed account.

This is a great book written for baseball geeks who want a peek behind the scenes of real life baseball for the non stars. The author offered details and emotions that made me feel like I experienced the life. Fantastic.

loving baseball

this book explains how someone falls in love with baseball & everything that goes along with it. a great insight as to what players actually go through in their career. I loved this book.

Every Baseball fan should read this book

This book provide tremendous insight into the hidden game of baseball and hidden aspect of a baseball players life. It takes a very special person to be a back up catcher and have a career like Eric Kratz has had

I too was a backup catcher.

A fun read…it called to my mind some personal experiences but mainly reminded me of some of the great players and managers of a sport I love.

A great book for baseball and non baseball fans

This book dives into what it means to chase your dreams and understand that embracing what you have achieved. Regardless if your dream turned out a little different than you expected. The book was well read and was very enjoyable.

The story and background of the players.

Liked that the tone of the reader, matched the story. Mellow. Family’s mattered to the players.

We don’t have to be the best

From Biff Pocoroba to Lil’ d, I have long had an affinity for the back-up catcher and the overlooked general. Having always been “good enough” at most things in life, yet never the very best at anything I’ve done, the back-up catcher and all the role entails has provided invaluable insights into the game I love, as well as life itself. This wonderfully written journalistic telling of the story rarely told represents all that is good in baseball and in the world. Thank you for reminding us to give more than we get and to always pay “it” forward. Thank you to all those who gave selflessly… yet again… to teach the rest of us a little something they have known all along.
Rick M