The 26th Man: One Minor Leaguer's Pursuit of a Dream

There are 25 players on each major league baseball team's roster. Thus, the 26th man is the one who either almost made it or temporarily made it to the big time--a position which describes Fireovid. Playing with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians in 1990 at age 32, he has been a professional pitcher for 12 years and accumulated a total of 65 innings of play in the majors. Here he chronicles what he thinks may be his last season. Writing with Winegardner ( Profit of the Sandlots ) Fireovid observes that a minor leaguer is either a prospect or a suspect, and classifies himself as the latter, following a profession in which he occasionally gets ``a heaping helping of humility.'' Candid about himself, his future, his guilt about being away from his family, the pitcher has put together a most engaging diary. (July)