Needing to find a good audio book on a recent drive to the Baseball Hall of Fame, I found this one buried in my Audible library. Downloaded it and enjoyed it immensely. Here is my review of "The Tao of the Backup Catcher."
Title/Author:
“The Tao of the Backup Catcher: Playing Baseball for the Love of the Game” by Tim Brown, narrated by Tim Brown and Justin Price
Rating:
5 of 5 stars (excellent)
Review: This is a question for baseball fans, no matter what their level of interest. Can you name the backup catcher for your favorite team? If you can’t, then have no fear, this book by Tim Brown on one of the more unknown yet fascinating positions on a baseball team is part biography, part philosophical waxing and all a fun read.
The biography part is on a career backup catcher who had many stops in both minor league towns and in MLB cities, Erik Kratz. Brown chronicles Kratz’s many stops along his way to appearing in 332 major league games over 11 seasons. Just his list of MLB teams is extensive – nine different teams. Starting with the Pirates (when he was 30 after spending eight years in minor league baseball), Phillies, Blue Jays, Royals, Phillies a second time, Astros, Pirates a second time, Yankees, Brewers, Giants, Rays and Yankees a second time when he decided to retire for good at age 40. And this doesn’t cover all the moves to different minor league towns. Through it all, there are plenty of interesting stories about him and his wife.
However, the best stories are not really about Kratz personally or the other backup catchers whose names are mentioned throughout the book. What is the best aspect of the book is how this job, while well paying, is one that is full of many different tasks. Everything from warming up pitchers in the bullpen to how it is difficult for the backup catcher to get enough batting practice is covered. Not everything in the book is related to what happens in the ballpark. With so many moves, there is plenty of material on the many tasks Mrs. Kratz did to move the family. Another great (and funny) anecdote is about Erik’s shower shows – there is enough about them that they get their own chapter.
This is just a small sample of the very interesting and fun material to digest in this book. Like many who hold the position, this book may not make best seller lists, but it is one that baseball fans will want to have in their library and have ready when they need a lighter read – their backup catcher of baseball books.
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