Pinch Hitting


Fiction - Literary
350 Pages
Reviewed on 06/27/2024
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite

Morris Hoffman’s Pinch Hitting is a novel about America’s favorite pastime. Joe Skelton is dying, and he tells a story in his sleep while his wife writes his words. Harold Fungo, whose transformation from a ballpark janitor known as “The Joltin’ Janitor” to a baseball legend, is the subject of Skelton’s narrative. The book is more than just a story of baseball; it’s one of fate, faith, and the fragility of life. As the story unfolds, it’s a race against time to finish it before Skelton succumbs to his illness. Pinch Hitting will appeal to baseball fans and those who enjoy stories about the interconnectedness of life’s triumphs and tragedies.

Morris Hoffman’s novel is so well written that it’s difficult to think of it as fiction. He encapsulates his characters’ emotions with prose that flows effortlessly. He weaves the threads of fate and faith, presenting Fungo as a sports hero and a symbol of resilience and the unexpected paths life can take. Hoffman masters the ability to capture the essence of baseball’s allure in his exploration of the human condition through its lens. The juxtaposition of Fungo’s rise from janitor to legend against Skelton’s battle with mortality creates a powerful narrative tension. Pinch Hitting transcends the sports fiction genre; it reminds us that while baseball may be America’s favorite pastime, the actual game is played in the hearts and minds of those who dare to dream and the stories they leave behind. This story is definitely worthy of the big screen. It’s powerful and unforgettable.