After many minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years spent in the bullpen, i can verify that this is a true picture of baseball. Drafted from kent state university in 2003 as a senior sign, hayhurst has pitched professionally for nine years on more than eight minor league teams and two major league teams, including the san diego padres and the toronto blue jays. Dirk hayhurst takes us down the rabbit hole that is his mind, to a place where that rule is constantly violated, every decision, every move, every breath over thought. Born in canton, ohio in 1981, dirk grew up in the small town of canton south where he attended canton south high school, home of. But dirk hayhurst, a righthanded pitcher for the toronto blue jays, found a way to accomplish the feat while playing a. Dirk hayhurst stats, highlights, bio rocky mountain. Hayhurst spent most of his career playing in the minor league. I have read all four of dirk hayhursts books now and have enjoyed each one of. Author of two new york times best sellers, the bullpen gospels and out of my league, the critically acclaimed bigger than the game, and the hilarious ebook wild pitches. Dirk hayhurst author of the bullpen gospels goodreads. Hayhurst, who is on the toronto blue jays disabled list, has written a book thats a treat for anyone who loves baseball or loves to read, for that matter. Sadly, we did not discuss python this time, so youll have to. If youve read dirks others books, you know his story. Dirk hayhurst audio books, best sellers, author bio.
Dirk hayhurst is the new york times bestselling author of the bullpen gospels, out of my league, bigger than the game, and the ebook wild pitches. Dirk hayhursts third book chronicling his baseball journey, bigger than the game, is about much more than baseball, as sns jesse spector discovered. Major league baseball kicked off last week week but one member of the toronto blue jays is not taking. After nearly a decade in the minors, dirk hayhurst defied the odds to climb onto the pitchers mound for the toronto blue jays. The best writer in a baseball uniform, dirk hayhurst pitched briefly for the 2008 san diego padres and the 2009 toronto blue jays, and is. Dirk made 15 appearances for the blue jays in 2009 and had a 2. Former blue jay dirk hayhurst opens up about depression. Major league dreams of a minor league veteran is receiving critical comparisons to classics such as the catcher in the rye and to the baseball standard ball four.
Additionally, hayhurst worked the last two seasons as a broadcaster and analyst for the toronto blue jays, while also making appearances on the olberman show and on tbs as a. Restitching a major league life, is being released today. Dirk hayhurst, the former blue jays pitcher and now, also former tv and radio analyst he announced last month he was leaving sportsnet has rarely shied away from controversy. Hayhurst currently a pitcher for the toronto blue jays and his garfoose a mythical firebreathing half giraffe, half moose through twitter. I recently chatted with former padres, blue jays, and rays righthander dirk hayhurst about baseball, his new book, and his upcoming move to italy.
It is the third in his behind the scenes look at the life of a ball player. Hayhurst is currently working on his third book, which will revolve around his time with the toronto blue jays in 2009 and 2010 when he was recovering from a shoulder injury. Dirk hayhurst is a twotime new york times bestselling author, and after reading his third book, bigger than the game, i can safely say that number will grow in the coming weeks. Drafted by the san diego padres in the 8th round of the 2003 mlb june amateur draft from kent state university kent, oh. Now i realize that books written by athletes are usually hit or miss, but let me tell you, dirk hayhursts the bullpen gospels is absolutely amazing hayhurst, a reliever with the. Dirk hayhurst the cardinals are one win away from a return to the world series, and theyve gotten there without breaking the bank. Dirk hayhurst, the former blue jays pitcher and now, also former tv and radio analyst he announced last month he was leaving sportsnet has rarely shied away from controversy but in his.
Bigger than the game has far more depth and grip than his first two books, the bullpen gospels and out of my league, which are entertaining but sometimes shaggy rambles despite occasionally. Jeff blair, columnist for the globe and mail, author of full count. Dirk hayhurst isnt a goodreads author yet, but they do have a blog. The fresh perspective of dirk hayhurst the new york times. Out of my league a rookies survival in the bigs by dirk. Drafted from kent state university in 2003 as a senior sign, dirk hayhurst has pitched professionally for nine years on more than eight minor league teams and two major league teams, including the san diego padres and the toronto blue jays.
Books by dirk hayhurst regarded as one of the most accomplished baseball authors to wear the uniform, dirk hayhurst has written some of the best baseball reads ever penned. Drafted from kent state university in 2003 as a senior sign, hayhurst pitched professionally for nine years on more than eight minor league teams and three major league teamsthe san diego padres, the toronto. Former blue jays pitchertv and radio analystauthor dirk hayhurst turns 39 today dirk made 15 appearances for the blue jays in 2009 and had a 2. When you go to your first careerlevel job interview after baseball, youll most. Drafted from kent state university in 2003 as a senior sign, hayhurst pitched professionally for nine years on more than eight minor league teams and three major league teamsthe san diego padres, the toronto blue jays, and the. Somehow, though, i have collected quite the surplus of of dirk hayhurst related items, which is why todays post is dedicated entirely to that gentleman. Dirk hayhurst cements his baseball legacy with bigger. Hayhurst played in major league baseball for the san diego padres in 2008 and for the toronto blue jays in 2009. The bullpen gospels by dirk hayhurst one of the greatest baseball books of modern times hit north americas books stores this week. Newly married, with a big league paycheck and a brand new house, hayhurst was ready for a great season in the bigs. Blue jays dirk hayhursts new book, bigger than the game. Following the end of his playing career, hayhurst wrote four books about his experiences in professional baseball. Bob costas, tim kurkjian, jayson stark and tom verducci, just to name a few. Explores uncharted baseball waters with the unique, observant, entertaining eye hayhurst is famous for.
Far from a storybook ending, a soso pitcher turns the page. Of course, not all of the jays players were jerks and some that were jerks were going through. Dirk hayhurst delivers a rare gem of a baseball book. The book is about baseball, of course, but its also about family, philosophy, love and the hard choices that come from all of these things. This winter, he suffered a serious shoulder injury. Nine questions with dirk hayhurst the hardball times. Four decades of blue jays baseball dirk hayhurst cements his baseball legacy with bigger than the game tyler duma, bleacher report. In this acclaimed book, pitcher dirk hayhurst who is currently in the toronto blue jays system takes a page from jim boutons ball four while offering a glimpse into the lessthanglamorous. Wild pitches, a compendium of outtakes and reprints, is not quite a fourth. A 40 minute interview with dirk hayhurst on the cover the bases podcast. Even more than he did in the bullpen gospels, dirk hayhurst teaches us here what happens when a dream career collides with reality.
Toronto blue jays broadcaster hayhurst out of my league, 2012, etc. Toronto blue jays placed rhp dirk hayhurst on the 60day disabled list. Not sure what drew me to this book, but my guess that it would have something to do with it being a kind of offbeat sports memoir. A great question, and, depending on when you ask a player during his career, it can be answered in many different ways. Hayhurst, a righthanded relief pitcher, was waived by san diego and claimed by toronto, and he pitched in 15 games for the blue jays in 2009. Dirk hayhurst is the author of the new york times bestseller the bullpen gospels.
Rhp dirk hayhurst roster status changed by toronto blue jays. The list of people who have praised it includes some of the most respected names in sports journalism. After years playing in the minor leagues of baseball, he played as pitcher in the major league baseball for the san diego padres 2008 and the toronto blue jays 2009. The bullpen gospels and out of my league were both fantastic books, filled with humor of all varieties as hayhurst tells stories from the clubhouses of his days as a. Lyssa kay adams new romantic comedy, the bromance book club, is. The bullpen gospels by dirk hayhurst now that the world series is over, its time for some light reading in order to come down from the high of an exciting and unprecedented baseball season. Year age agedif tm lg lev aff w l wl% era ra9 g gs gf cg sho sv ip h r er hr bb ibb so hbp bk wp bf whip h9 hr9 bb9 so9 sow. It is the third in his behind the scenes look at the life of a ball player books. Blue jays pitcher dirk hayhurst as part of a national post feature on toronto blue jays and their childhood heroes, dirk hayhurst. In 2009, he was signed to torontos farm team and spent part of the season in the bigs playing for the jays. Now, as hayhurst looks to establish himself as a member of the toronto blue jays staff, his first bookthe bullpen gospels, due out in march 2010is drawing. The bullpen gospels baseball book by dirk hayhurst. Ive talked to dirk who has a blog and is active on twitter as thegarfoose a few times over the years, and its always good to catch up with a fellow monty python fan. Once again, dirk hayhurst brings readers into a world they rarely see.
Baseball books cover the bases podcast the bullpen. Dirk the garfoose hayhurst isnt your typical relief pitcher. Out of my league captures both the joy and the toll of becoming a big leaguer unlike anything else before it. Dirk hayhursts bigger than the game bluebird banter. In the process, he provides a brutally honest take on life in the majorsthe oversized ballparks, hotel rooms, and personalities, but also the selfdoubt, loneliness, and despair. Shockingly, it was written by a guy who was more interested in growing up to be trevor hoffman, not peter gammons. Known for his mythical creation called a garfoose, a fire breathing, magically empowered, indestructible, wifi. Shi davidi, toronto blue jays beat writer for sportsnet. Bigger than the game by dirk hayhurst is a free goodreads firstreads advance reader copy of a paperback book i read right around the time of the lunar eclipse in april. Bigger than the game by dirk hayhurst overdrive rakuten. After nearly a decade in the minors, dirk hayhurst defied the odds to climb onto the pitchers. Dirk hayhurst has a keen eye for finding the human side in the businessoriented world of professional baseball, something hes demonstrated in his excellent books.
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