Kevin Cowherd

Connor Sullivan, All-Star third baseman on his Babe Ruth League team, has a terrible temper and problems at home, but when the sports editor of the school paper threatens to publish an embarrassing story about his tantrums, Connor must make a change.

Thirteen-year-old Cody Parker moves to Baltimore, Maryland, where as a fat eighth-grader, he has to deal with brutal teasing from a baseball teammate, and his school is beset by a rash of mysterious thefts that threaten to sideline Cody and ruin a golden season for his team.

Centerfielder Corey Maduro has to deal with the humiliation of having an overly involved and short-tempered father in the stands.

Twelve-year-olds Mickey Labriogla and Zach "Zoom" Winslow, rivals on and off the baseball field, must learn to work together as teammates to help the Dulaney Orioles win a regional championship game against Zoom's former team.

"Like the man himself, the columns in this book are often big-hearted, whimsical and self-deprecating. They're keenly-observed slices of everyday life--to my mind the very best gift a general columnist can give his or her readers. Many, like the pieces that chronicle Rob's love for dogs, his iffy luck with cars and his wariness of modern technology, will make you laugh out loud. Some, like the touching "What I Did On Spring Vacation," about visiting...