THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED to all those children of spring who have found moments of heaven in the smell of a freshly mowed ballpark beneath their feet, a well-worn and oiled glove on their hand, the crack of a bat on a ball and the umpire's bellow of "Play Ball," but most especially Bill, Oil, Sean, Patrick, Ryan, Ryan O, Matt, Matty, William, Biff, and Christian.

The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Mudville nine that day;