Calico Joe

A surprising and moving novel of fathers and sons forgiveness and redemption set in the world of Major League BaseballhellipWhatever happened to Calico Joe It began quietly enough with a pulled hamstring The first baseman for the Cubs AAA affiliate in Wichita went down as he rounded third and headed for home The next day Jim Hickman the first baseman for the Cubs injured his back The team suddenly needed someone to play first so they reached down to their AA club in Midland Texas and called up a twenty-one-year-old named Joe Castle He was the hottest player in AA and creating a buzzIn the summer of Joe Castle was the boy wonder of baseball the greatest rookie anyone had ever seen The kid from Calico Rock Arkansas dazzled Cub fans as he hit home run after home run politely tipping his hat to the crowd as he shattered all rookie recordsCalico Joe quickly became the idol of every baseball fan in America including Paul Tracey the young son of a hard-partying and hard-throwing Mets pitcher On the day that Warren Tracey finally faced Calico Joe Paul was in the stands rooting for his idol but also for his Dad Then Warren threw a fastball that would change their lives foreverhellipIn John Grishamrsquos new novel the baseball is thrilling but itrsquos what happens off the field that makes CALICO JOE a classic.