The Chicken Runs at Midnight: A Daughter’s Message from Heaven That Changed a Father’s Heart and Won a World Series

In his debut, Friend, a sports journalist who writes for ESPN, explores the faith journey of Pittsburgh Pirates third base coach Rich Donnelly. Donnelly had a tumultuous childhood in Steubenville, Ohio, living with an abusive, overbearing father who instilled both religion and fear into him as boy—he would whip Donnelly whenever he struck out in Little League. Donnelly eventually became a standout catcher, got married, and rose through the ranks of collegiate and minor-league baseball. Taken in by the temptations of partying that surround the locker room, Donnelly became an absentee father and his marriage ended in a messy divorce. Although his teenage daughter, Amy, confronted him about his troubles after the divorce, it was only when she developed a life-threatening brain tumor that Donnelly began to reconsider his life choices. Amy’s death, and a miraculous occurrence (she cryptically told her father “the chicken runs at midnight,” predicting a game-winning run in the World Series four years later), pushed Donnelly to regain his faith in God and find peace within. Told through letters, interviews with family members, and Donnelly’s own words, Friend’s captivating book reads like a novel. Christian fans of baseball will enjoy Friend’s evocative telling of Donnelly’s journey back to God. (Oct.)