Your Call!

By: Ed Frierson

Narrated by: Eddie Frierson

Length: 6 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

What does clinical hypnosis that cured a 12-year old's bed wetting and the wisdom of a Persian Holy Man's book have to do with major league pitching? A phenomenal rookie pitcher and an over-the-hill bullpen catcher invent "weasel ball", which employs the power of suggestion rather than common trash talk to affect opposing hitters. The pitcher, a used bookstore junkie and student of ancient wisdom, carries a mysterious book in his hip pocket. The result is "wisdom ball", which influences players, fans, and umpires alike. You've never hear anything like it...anywhere!

The Manhattan Monarchs, whose owner was integrity challenged, were the worst team in baseball, at preseason odds of 100-1 to win the World Series. An anonymous gambler, on behalf of 10 disabled veterans, placed a wager of $100,000 in April on the Monarchs. To win! In the ninth inning of the seventh game of the World Series, the "Miracle Monarchs" were one pitch away from winning or losing The Wager.

A single umpire's call would make the difference between a 10-million dollar payoff for the veterans (and owner) versus jail cell for the owner ($0 for veterans). Win-win or lose-lose. What happened in the ninth inning depends upon whose story you heard and whose story you believe. The pitcher, the catcher, the hitter, the owner, the umpire, a sportswriter, a disabled veteran, a gambler, even the proprietor of the bookstore around the corner all have a story to tell. Each will tell you what he saw and heard. There is mystery, humor, surprise, baseball insight, drama, and unparalleled you-are-there suspense as each storyteller tells you what really happened.

©2017 Edward Frierson (P)2017 Edward Frierson

RESPECTED VETERAN REPORTER SAYS IT BEST!

The narration of this book is so much fun ... a different character from that character's perspective in different chapters. The highly respected news man, Jack Perkins, said the following about YOUR CALL! and I could not agree more. So, as MY review, I am typing his words to claim as my own, also:

"Baseball is back and just in time to welcome one of the most creative, suspenseful and engaging baseball novels to explode on the scene.

And its author is one of Venice, Florida’s own!

Venice’s Dr. Ed Frierson has crafted a classic – with YOUR help. That’s right. The author gives us all the dramatic, end-of-the-ninth-inning facts but ultimately leaves it to us to finish the story.

For the bulk of the book, he introduces us to his cast of characters – the Rookie “Phee-nom” pitcher for the Manhattan Monarchs who has tricks some think illegal, the team’s wily veteran catcher soon to be retired but invaluable to the Rookie star, the other team’s league-leading hitter come up to the plate at the most critical moment with the game in the balance; the gamblers who have $10,000,000 riding on this deciding game of the World Series, the Monarch’s shady team owner who needs that money for the most nefarious reason, and the hard-challenged umpire who, at the end, has to make the one critical call that will determine the winners and losers. All these and many more are the pieces of the puzzle Frierson lays before us. He provides clues, gives us fair guidance but ultimately leaves it up to us to solve the challenge he lays before us.

“Your Call!”

That’s his title. His subtitle: “A Baseball Dilemma”

Frierson is certainly no stranger to baseball. His son, Eddie, for many years has traveled the country performing a one-man show he wrote, introducing two dozen baseball characters including the great old-time pitcher, Christy Mathewson. Today, Eddie heads the “Mathewson Foundation.” [see MATTY.org]

Like father, like son. Baseball is in their blood. As Dr. Ed’s new book may just get in yours. Be you a fan of baseball or just good writing."

----- Jack Perkins

Also available in print and as an e-book on amazon.com.