The Eastern Stars: How Baseball Changed the Dominican Town of San Pedro de Macoris

by Kurlansky, Mark

• ISBN13: 9781594485053
• ISBN10: 1594485054
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-04-05
• Publisher: Riverhead Books

Summary

"A fantastic social history" from the author of Saltand Cod(USA Today) In the Dominican Republic town of San Pedro de Macorís, baseball is often seen as the only way to a better life. For those who make it, the million-dollar paychecks from Major League Baseball mean that not only they, but their entire families as well, have been saved from grinding poverty. The successful few set an example that dazzles the neighbors they left behind. But for the majority, this dream is illusory. In The Eastern Stars, New York Timesbestselling author Mark Kurlansky reveals the connection between two countries' love affair with a sport, and the remarkable journey of impoverished San Pedro and its baseball players-including Rico Carty, Albert Pujols, Robinson Canó, Sammy Sosa, and Alfonso Soriano-who have sought freedom from poverty through playing ball.

Table of Contents

Prologue	p. 1
Sugar
Like the Trace of a Kiss	p. 17
The First Question	p. 39
The Question of First	p. 57
Who's on First	p. 67
The First Opening	p. 81
San Pedro Rising	p. 99
Draft Dodging	p. 115
Dollars
The Fourth Incarnation of San Pedro	p. 141
The City of Baseball	p. 169
Three Three-Brother Families	p. 201
The Curse of the Eastern Stars	p. 225
San Pedro's Black Eye	p. 235
Fickle Judgment from the Peanut Gallery	p. 257
The First Eighty-six: Major League Baseball Players from San Pedro de Macorís	p. 271
A Dominican Chronology	p. 309
Acknowledgments	p. 315
Bibliography	p. 317
Index	p. 321
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.