Wherever I Wind Up : My Quest for Truth, Authenticity and the Perfect Knuckleball

by Dickey, R.A.; Coffey, Wayne

• ISBN13: 9780399158155
• ISBN10: 0399158154
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2012-03-29
• Publisher: Blue Rider Press

Summary

The Glass Castlemeets Ball Fouras Mets knuckleballer R.A. Dickey weaves searing honesty and baseball insight in this memoir about his unlikely journey to the big leagues. An English Lit major at the University of Tennessee, Dickey is as articulate and thoughtful as any professional athlete in any sport-and proves it page after page, as he provides fresh and honest insight into baseball and a career unlike any other. Fourteen years ago, Dickey was a heralded No. 1 draft choice of the Texas Rangers, only to have an $810,000 signing bonus, and his lifelong dream, ripped away by an X- ray-and the discovery that he did not have an ulna collateral ligament in his right elbow. Five years ago, he gave up a record six home runs in three innings to the Detroit Tigers-and was effectively consigned to the baseball scrap heap. Sustained by his profound Christian faith, the love of his wife and children, and a relentless quest for self-awareness and authenticity, the immensely likable Dickey details his transformation from a wreckless, risk-taking loner to a grounded, life- affirming big leaguer. He emerged as one of the premier pitchers in the National League in 2010-and the knuckleballing embodiment of the wonders that perseverance and human wisdom can produce. Dickey views his story as one of redemption. Readers will come to see it as something more-a uniquely American story of beating back demons, listening to your heart, and overcoming extraordinary odds.

Author Biography

R.A. Dickey is a starting pitcher for the New York Mets. He is one of the top starters in the National League, not to mention a widely beloved figure within the clubhouse. When not on the road with the team, Dickey lives in Tennessee with his wife and children.

Wayne Coffey is an award-winning journalist for the New York Daily News and the author of more than thirty books, including The Boys of Winter, a New York Times bestselling chronicle of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team. A three-time Pulitzer nominee, he has been named one of the nation's top sports feature writers by the Associated Press three times in the last five years.

Table of Contents

The Worst Night I Ever Had	p. 1
Plastic Spoon	p. 15
Summer of '83	p. 29
Faith on Walnut	p. 39
The Wolf of Green Hills	p. 53
Volunteering for Duty	p. 73
Cover Story	p. 87
The Lone Ranger	p. 105
Minor Achievement	p. 113
Showtime	p. 129
Requiem for My Fastball	p. 147
Redhawk Redux	p. 157
The World According to Charlie	p. 165
Knuckleballer Non Grata	p. 179
The Bottom	p. 191
Into the Missouri	p. 203
Sounds of the Moment	p. 221
Rule Five Surprise	p. 239
Getting My Phil	p. 259
Citi Dweller	p. 279
Fingernails in Flushing	p. 295
Unbroken Moments	p. 307
Acknowledgments	p. 329
Index	p. 333
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.