Description

Book Synopsis

To reach the majors, a ballplayer must not only possess natural ability and world-class skills but must also overcome nearly insurmountable odds. The journey is not possible without extreme dedication. Along the way mentors play a large role, and circumstances must align. For an elite few, years of effort and perseverance culminate with putting on a big league uniform.

Drawing on original interviews with more than 100 players who debuted between 1961 and 2018, this collection presents their first-person stories of how they were called up to play Major League Baseball.



Table of Contents
  • Table of Contents
  • Preface
  • Introduction
  • 1. 1960s and 1970s
  • Sam McDowell (Indians)
  • Bill Denehy (Mets)
  • Bill Plummer (Cubs)
  • Gene Tenace (Athletics)
  • Jerry Reuss (Cardinals)
  • Bobby Grich (Orioles)
  • Roe Skidmore (Cubs)
  • Kurt Bevacqua (Indians)
  • Steve Luebber (Twins)
  • John D'Acquisto (Giants)
  • Jack Kucek (White Sox)
  • Jim Kern (Indians)
  • Nyls Nyman (White Sox)
  • Randy Lerch (Phillies)
  • Al Woods (Blue Jays)
  • Randy McGilberry (Royals)
  • Dave Machemer (Angels)
  • 2. 1980s
  • Vance Law (Pirates)
  • Chris Bourjos (Giants)
  • Atlee Hammaker (Royals)
  • Jose Alvarez (Braves)
  • Ron Kittle (White Sox)
  • Bip Roberts (Padres)
  • Bobby Witt (Rangers)
  • Bob Tewksbury (Yankees)
  • Ed Hearn (Mets)
  • Greg Mathews (Cardinals)
  • Ed Vosberg (Padres)
  • Mike Campbell (Mariners)
  • Jeff Schaefer (White Sox)
  • Greg Litton (Giants)
  • Pat Combs (Phillies)
  • 3. 1990s
  • Bill Sampen (Expos)
  • Kip Gross (Reds)
  • Joe Grahe (Angels)
  • John Briscoe (Athletics)
  • Jeff Nelson (Mariners)
  • Jeff Reboulet (Twins)
  • Kurt Knudsen (Tigers)
  • Eric Fox (Athletics)
  • Jeff Frye (Rangers)
  • Bret Boone (Mariners)
  • Mike Trombley (Twins)
  • Matt Walbeck (Cubs)
  • Dave McCarty (Twins)
  • Tim Worrell (Padres)
  • Jerry Spradlin (Reds)
  • Scott Sanders (Padres)
  • Steve Trachsel (Cubs)
  • Ray Holbert (Padres)
  • Andy Carter (Phillies)
  • Jeff Cirillo (Brewers)
  • Mark Acre (Athletics)
  • Marty Cordova (Twins)
  • Gary Wilson (Pirates)
  • Jim Mecir (Mariners)
  • Shawn Estes (Giants)
  • Jason Kendall (Pirates)
  • Jason Hardtke (Mets)
  • Scott Spiezio (Athletics)
  • Josh Booty (Marlins)
  • Micah Franklin (Cardinals)
  • Rick DeHart (Expos)
  • Mike Misuraca (Brewers)
  • Steve Woodard (Brewers)
  • Sean Lowe (Cardinals)
  • Kevin Millar (Marlins)
  • Geoff Jenkins (Brewers)
  • Bob Howry (White Sox)
  • Creighton Gubanich (Red Sox)
  • Ray King (Cubs)
  • David Lee (Rockies)
  • Juan Alvarez (Angels)
  • Chad Hermansen (Pirates)
  • 4. Since 2000
  • Tarrik Brock (Cubs)
  • Scott Forster (Expos)
  • Jose Ortiz (Athletics)
  • Tom Wilson (Athletics)
  • Nick Johnson (Yankees)
  • Cory Aldridge (Braves)
  • Jalal Leach (Giants)
  • Andy Shibilo (Padres)
  • Jason Jimenez (Devil Rays)
  • Jim Rushford (Brewers)
  • Josh Stewart (White Sox)
  • Lance Niekro (Giants)
  • Vinnie Chulk (Blue Jays)
  • Travis Hughes (Rangers)
  • Kameron Loe (Rangers)
  • Adam Greenberg (Cubs)
  • Jason Bergmann (Nationals)
  • Craig Hansen (Red Sox)
  • James Loney (Dodgers)
  • Zach McClellan (Rockies)
  • Ryan ­­Rowland-Smith (Mariners)
  • Josh Newman (Rockies)
  • Steve Holm (Giants)
  • Jonathan Van Every (Red Sox)
  • Tim Dillard (Brewers)
  • Jared Wells (Padres)
  • Justin Thomas (Mariners)
  • Freddy Sandoval (Angels)
  • Casper Wells (Tigers)
  • Mike Belfiore (Orioles)
  • A.J. Achter (Twins)
  • Chris Heston (Giants)
  • Deck McGuire (Reds)
  • Nick Kingham (Pirates)
  • Patrick Wisdom (Cardinals)
  • Index

Called Up

    Product form

    £32.04

    Includes FREE delivery

    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Mon 8 Jun 2026.

    A Paperback by Zak Ford

    1 in stock


      View other formats and editions of Called Up by Zak Ford

      Publisher: McFarland & Co Inc
      Publication Date: 1/27/2023 12:10:00 AM
      ISBN13: 9781476692791, 978-1476692791
      ISBN10: 1476692793
      Also in:
      Sport History of sport

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      To reach the majors, a ballplayer must not only possess natural ability and world-class skills but must also overcome nearly insurmountable odds. The journey is not possible without extreme dedication. Along the way mentors play a large role, and circumstances must align. For an elite few, years of effort and perseverance culminate with putting on a big league uniform.

      Drawing on original interviews with more than 100 players who debuted between 1961 and 2018, this collection presents their first-person stories of how they were called up to play Major League Baseball.



      Table of Contents
      • Table of Contents
      • Preface
      • Introduction
      • 1. 1960s and 1970s
      • Sam McDowell (Indians)
      • Bill Denehy (Mets)
      • Bill Plummer (Cubs)
      • Gene Tenace (Athletics)
      • Jerry Reuss (Cardinals)
      • Bobby Grich (Orioles)
      • Roe Skidmore (Cubs)
      • Kurt Bevacqua (Indians)
      • Steve Luebber (Twins)
      • John D'Acquisto (Giants)
      • Jack Kucek (White Sox)
      • Jim Kern (Indians)
      • Nyls Nyman (White Sox)
      • Randy Lerch (Phillies)
      • Al Woods (Blue Jays)
      • Randy McGilberry (Royals)
      • Dave Machemer (Angels)
      • 2. 1980s
      • Vance Law (Pirates)
      • Chris Bourjos (Giants)
      • Atlee Hammaker (Royals)
      • Jose Alvarez (Braves)
      • Ron Kittle (White Sox)
      • Bip Roberts (Padres)
      • Bobby Witt (Rangers)
      • Bob Tewksbury (Yankees)
      • Ed Hearn (Mets)
      • Greg Mathews (Cardinals)
      • Ed Vosberg (Padres)
      • Mike Campbell (Mariners)
      • Jeff Schaefer (White Sox)
      • Greg Litton (Giants)
      • Pat Combs (Phillies)
      • 3. 1990s
      • Bill Sampen (Expos)
      • Kip Gross (Reds)
      • Joe Grahe (Angels)
      • John Briscoe (Athletics)
      • Jeff Nelson (Mariners)
      • Jeff Reboulet (Twins)
      • Kurt Knudsen (Tigers)
      • Eric Fox (Athletics)
      • Jeff Frye (Rangers)
      • Bret Boone (Mariners)
      • Mike Trombley (Twins)
      • Matt Walbeck (Cubs)
      • Dave McCarty (Twins)
      • Tim Worrell (Padres)
      • Jerry Spradlin (Reds)
      • Scott Sanders (Padres)
      • Steve Trachsel (Cubs)
      • Ray Holbert (Padres)
      • Andy Carter (Phillies)
      • Jeff Cirillo (Brewers)
      • Mark Acre (Athletics)
      • Marty Cordova (Twins)
      • Gary Wilson (Pirates)
      • Jim Mecir (Mariners)
      • Shawn Estes (Giants)
      • Jason Kendall (Pirates)
      • Jason Hardtke (Mets)
      • Scott Spiezio (Athletics)
      • Josh Booty (Marlins)
      • Micah Franklin (Cardinals)
      • Rick DeHart (Expos)
      • Mike Misuraca (Brewers)
      • Steve Woodard (Brewers)
      • Sean Lowe (Cardinals)
      • Kevin Millar (Marlins)
      • Geoff Jenkins (Brewers)
      • Bob Howry (White Sox)
      • Creighton Gubanich (Red Sox)
      • Ray King (Cubs)
      • David Lee (Rockies)
      • Juan Alvarez (Angels)
      • Chad Hermansen (Pirates)
      • 4. Since 2000
      • Tarrik Brock (Cubs)
      • Scott Forster (Expos)
      • Jose Ortiz (Athletics)
      • Tom Wilson (Athletics)
      • Nick Johnson (Yankees)
      • Cory Aldridge (Braves)
      • Jalal Leach (Giants)
      • Andy Shibilo (Padres)
      • Jason Jimenez (Devil Rays)
      • Jim Rushford (Brewers)
      • Josh Stewart (White Sox)
      • Lance Niekro (Giants)
      • Vinnie Chulk (Blue Jays)
      • Travis Hughes (Rangers)
      • Kameron Loe (Rangers)
      • Adam Greenberg (Cubs)
      • Jason Bergmann (Nationals)
      • Craig Hansen (Red Sox)
      • James Loney (Dodgers)
      • Zach McClellan (Rockies)
      • Ryan ­­Rowland-Smith (Mariners)
      • Josh Newman (Rockies)
      • Steve Holm (Giants)
      • Jonathan Van Every (Red Sox)
      • Tim Dillard (Brewers)
      • Jared Wells (Padres)
      • Justin Thomas (Mariners)
      • Freddy Sandoval (Angels)
      • Casper Wells (Tigers)
      • Mike Belfiore (Orioles)
      • A.J. Achter (Twins)
      • Chris Heston (Giants)
      • Deck McGuire (Reds)
      • Nick Kingham (Pirates)
      • Patrick Wisdom (Cardinals)
      • Index

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