
The Forever Boys is the funny, heartbreaking, authentic story of the men who played in the short-lived Senior Professional Baseball Association.
Peter Golenbock spent the season with the league champion St. Petersburg Pelicans. Like the league’s other seven teams, the Pelicans were a collection of former and near major leaguers – some desperate for a return to The Show, some in need of a pay check, all grateful for the joyous opportunity to suit up for another ballgame.
Golenbock’s genius in capturing the essence of the men he writes about has never been more evident. His pitch-perfect ear for dialog and anecdotes and deep understanding of the game take you right onto the bus, into the clubhouse, and side-by-side with the ballplayers. Full of triumphs and failures, hopes and memories, one-liners and muscle pulls, The Forever Boys is a priceless time capsule of 1970s and 80s baseball.
Featuring Dock Ellis, Bobby Tolan, Steve Kemp, Lenny Randle, John Matlack, Ron LeFlore, Bill Lee, Ferguson Jenkins, Rollie Fingers, Tim Stoddard, Dick Williams, Earl Weaver, Bert Campaneris, George Foster, Mickey Rivers, Sammy Stewart, Milt Wilcox, Randy Lerch, Billy Martin, Tom Seaver, Reggie Jackson, Joe Sambito, Dave Kingman, Toby Harrah, Roy Howell, Ron Washington, Ken Landreaux, Dick Bosman, Sparky Anderson, Steve Henderson, Amos Otis, Graig Nettles, Al Oliver, and many more.
Author to Reader
1. Beginnings
2. The Skipper
3. Manhattan Dock
4. What Made Sammy Run
5. Hurts and Indignities
6. Ronnie Rebels
7. Trade Blues
8. The Roller Coaster
9. Bitching and Moaning
10. The Case of the Haunted Hurler
11. The Color of Money
12. The Latin Beat
13. Mr. Normal
14. Staying the Course
15. I Am Family
16. Target
17. Kangaroo Court
18. The Chief Judge
19. The Man Who Loved God
20. Too Smart for the Game
21. Mental Mistakes
22. Kemp Goes to Disney World
23. Tolan Is Teed Off
24. The Treadmill
25. Culture Shock
26. Tex
27. Dock Ellis's Courage
28. Downs and Ups
29. The Victims
30. The Ace
31. Down to the Wire
32. The Pelicans Win the Pennant
33. Bossie Wins One
34. The Championship
Epilogue
Index