Six Good Innings: How One Small Town Became a Little League Giant

I live just a few exits north on the Garden State Parkway from Toms River, so the story told in Mark Kreidler's wonderful book Six Good Innings feels like local news to me. This excellent volume proves that the best of neighborhood America is not always found in the heartland between the coasts, but that it can also be found down-the-shore, right here in New Jersey. A compelling read that any baseball fan or lover of good books would enjoy. Recommended to all!

I am impressed with Six Good Innings, having spent time in Toms River and seeing the environment, it is amazing the work that goes into developing the next best Little League team. The timing of this book coming out at the beginnning of the Little League WS is great too. You hear about these young people putting in long hours to become the best in their age group, in their town. Some have historically gone on to the pros. Is this hard work any different than what goes into being a Child Prodigy in Piano or Violin? Great work and encouraging. Worth it for those who want to see their kids get involved in sports.

SIX GOOD INNINGS tells the tale and pretty much carries the flavor of how a small town little league team begins to learn and appreciate their game. Nicely constructed prose from author Kreidler, himself an ESPN guy shows that he knows the feel of a good bat, belting one perfectly on that sweet spot and the resonating sound of getting it right. Toms River would produce a great group of kids who learn about winning and losing... and winning and losing all over again. The transition from youthful innocence to a wiser bunch of lads who learn how to keep going on is a compelling read, and so perfectly American that it deserves kudos and your time. The bottom line is I loved it and couldn't put it down for too long. Let it break your heart a little because it certainly will. This is little league with clarity and soul. Mark Braun Executive Director Old Timers' Baseball Association of Chicago Since 1919

I thoroughly enjoyed Kreidler's last book about Iowa's passion for the sport of wrestling. But when I read the premise of Kreidler's latest offering - New Jersey town's obsession with Little League baseball - I confess I was a little skeptical. The images that came to mind were of overbearing, "helicopter" parents living their dreams through their kids' sports success, and boys who were so driven to succeed at the game of baseball that they sacrificed an important part of their childhood. But with Kreidler's story-telling skills and his astute character portraits, he thoroughly humanizes the coaches, parents, and kids of this town. To be sure, these kids are playing baseball at an elite level. But they are still kids after all. In one poignant scene, at a team swim party after one tough game, the boys seem to have put behind them the heartache baseball inevitably causes while plainly maintaining their love of the game. A great read if you love baseball, and especially if you have kids in Little League.

After thoroughly enjoying Mark Kreidler's first book, "Four Days to Glory," I was excited when I learned that he had written a second book and I bought it immediately. From the moment that I started reading the story of the 2007 Toms River Americans Little League team, I did not want to put it down. Kriedler does a great job weaving the legacy of Little League success in Toms River, New Jersey, with the story of the 2007 team. The 2007 team was coming off a very successful 2006 season and was aiming for a trip to Williamsport and the Little League World Series. From the first page, I wanted to know if this group achieved their lofty goal. The book does a great job of telling of the commitment, thrills, pressures, joys and agonies that all children, coaches and parents go through when a young sports team chases its dream. "Six Good Innings" is a must read for any baseball fan or any person that either played Little League baseball or had a child that did. But, anybody that enjoys competition of any kind will be very glad that they read "Six Good Innings."