Underdogs triumphing against all odds is the theme of author DeWayne Mason’s memoir, Baseball’s Greatest Miracle.

The tale depicts events that occurred between 1974-1975, centered on the Central Methodist Eagles, a small college baseball team in rural Missouri. The team is initially led by coach Steve Phipps a spectacular athlete and esteemed football defensive coordinator but with limited understanding of developing baseball players and in-game strategy. That’s why he recruits his friend Mason, a minor-league pitcher dealing with injuries and insecurities as he works to advance in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.

As his professional playing dreams start to fade, Mason discovers an affinity for coaching, and the two men transform the Eagles from the league’s worst program to one playing for the championship. The team grows in confidence and ability all the way to facing William Jewell College, a perennial winner, in the 1975 championship game. That contest, a dramatic extra-innings affair that properly spans several of the book’s climactic chapters, has an abundance of drama and excitement— by far the highlight of the book.

If the narrative arrived at that big game faster, it would be more satisfying. Alas, the book drags at times between its initial setup and dramatic conclusion. Depictions of Mason coaching the players are interesting and colorful, but the book bogs down in an overly comprehensive retelling of the team’s 1974 and 1975 seasons. Excising granular details about particular games and tournaments in favor of tight summaries would have been welcome.

Additionally, the author tries to recreate many real-life scenes with exposition-heavy dialogue. The book would read much better with more direct narration, limiting dialogue to scenes with impactful conversation.

There’s much to like in this memoir, particularly scenes of Mason and Phipps training these young men to accomplish something remarkable. The championship game action is also quite resonant. A tighter focus on those elements and judicious pruning of the rest would make it a stronger read for baseball fans.

Also available in hardcover and ebook.