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The Dean of Clinton County: A Baseball Novel

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In the midst of the Great Depression in 1934, twenty-three-year-old John Laufketter is struggling to support his wife and infant son as a coal miner in the southern Illinois town of Beckemeyer, forty-five miles to the east of St. Louis. Once a promising baseball prospect destined for stardom, John's dream was thwarted by a series of personal setbacks after leaving high school – setbacks which now have relegated his life to what he sees as the limited opportunities his hometown has to offer.

The only recreation John can afford is playing in the Clinton County Baseball League, where fierce battles take place for local pride among the ten towns which have teams. As a former standout player, it was always assumed by Beckemeyer residents that John would return to the town and play for them in the CCL – but only after an expected lengthy career in the major leagues. With the impact of the poor economy deepening, the availability of work in the coal mine has gradually dissipated, furthering the disappointment which John feels in himself – and which even some of the locals feel in him as well, as John was supposed to be the one to "get out" of the town and do great things.

But due to an incredible implosion of faith, luck, and the valiant charge of his beloved St. Louis Cardinals toward the pennant, John is ultimately presented with a one-in-a-million opportunity to make a name for himself in baseball. It is his one final chance to get himself - and his family - out of the coal mine for good.

Language: English

Pages: 267

Format: Kindle Edition

Release: June 10, 2015

The Dean of Clinton County: A Baseball Novel

0/5 ( ratings)

In the midst of the Great Depression in 1934, twenty-three-year-old John Laufketter is struggling to support his wife and infant son as a coal miner in the southern Illinois town of Beckemeyer, forty-five miles to the east of St. Louis. Once a promising baseball prospect destined for stardom, John's dream was thwarted by a series of personal setbacks after leaving high school – setbacks which now have relegated his life to what he sees as the limited opportunities his hometown has to offer.

The only recreation John can afford is playing in the Clinton County Baseball League, where fierce battles take place for local pride among the ten towns which have teams. As a former standout player, it was always assumed by Beckemeyer residents that John would return to the town and play for them in the CCL – but only after an expected lengthy career in the major leagues. With the impact of the poor economy deepening, the availability of work in the coal mine has gradually dissipated, furthering the disappointment which John feels in himself – and which even some of the locals feel in him as well, as John was supposed to be the one to "get out" of the town and do great things.

But due to an incredible implosion of faith, luck, and the valiant charge of his beloved St. Louis Cardinals toward the pennant, John is ultimately presented with a one-in-a-million opportunity to make a name for himself in baseball. It is his one final chance to get himself - and his family - out of the coal mine for good.

Language: English

Pages: 267

Format: Kindle Edition

Release: June 10, 2015

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