Molina: The Story of the Father Who Raised an Unlikely Baseball Dynasty

More than a standard baseball memoir, this glowing tribute to Molina's father, Pai, rates as one of the most heartfelt, earnest accounts of a son assuming his father's dream of reaching the major leagues. Molina, teamed with journalist Ryan, writes with warmth and respect of the father who trained his three sons in the lessons of baseball in a barrio in a small Puerto Rican town, grooming them to become All-Star catchers in major leagues. Carrying Pai's pro ball dreams, Molina played for the Anaheim Angels, Toronto Blue Jays, and San Francisco Giants. No baseball position requires as much stamina, pain tolerance, and skill as the catcher, which all three Molina brothers played, leaving them with swollen hands and bruised limbs. Molina soldiers through the challenges of breaking through professionally to two World Championship rings and two Gold Glove Awards, after laboring in the minors and contending with a strained marriage and the financial needs of a family. In precise and thoughtful prose, Molina celebrates his famous bloodline as well as his own success, mastering the game behind home plate with skill and style for the enjoyment of the fans. (June)