In this collection of seven original baseball short stories written by an all-star lineup of writers, each of whom understands the game's lore and tactical nuances, as well as its deep roots in American life-mystery and murder take the mound. Compiled by Otto Penzler, the proprietor of “The Mysterious Bookshop” and regarded as the world's foremost authority on crime, mystery, and suspense fiction-the stories in this anthology include:
• "Keller's Designated Hitter" by Lawrence Block: Professional hitman John Keller is after a pro ballplayer whose hitting average hasn't kept up with his expensive contract.
• "Pinch Hitter: A Nathan Heller Story" by Max Allan Collins: Fact and fiction mix in this preposterous and amusing whodunit about Bill Veeck, who hires an unlikely pinch-hitter-one who ends up dead.
• "Two Bagger" by Michael Connelly: A gripping and emotional father-son story of an ex-con who meets a pair of cops while at a Dodger game.
• "Strike Zone" by K.C. Constantine: An ex-pitcher goes on a stone-throwing rampage.
• "A Family Game" by Brendan DuBois: Youth baseball causes great turmoil in the life of a former mobster under witness protection in a small rural town.
• "Chickasaw Charlie Hoke" by Elmore Leonard: The little lies of an aging former ballplayer become vividly painful when he exaggerates about his pitiful career.
• "Sacrifice Hit" by John Lescroart: Ghastly adult passions arise when a Little League benchwarmer, who saw more time in the dugout than in the game, suddenly dies of a rattlesnake bite.
