THE FIFTH SEASON: Tales of My Life in Baseball

Even if you're not a baseball fan, you're likely to enjoy Donald Honig's book, "THE FIFTH SEASON" Tales of My Life in Baseball". It's not just about baseball. It's about an long-gone era in American history. It's about coming of age in the 1930s and 1940s. It's about coping with shattered dreams of the future and coming out ahead in the long run. Honig has lead a life that many of us would envy.

Honig paints a colorful picture of immigrant life during his boyhood in New York City, about his love for baseball, and his dreams of becoming a professional baseball player. Did his dreams come true? No. He tried out for a minor league team and failed to land a berth. Honig picked up the pieces and turned to his second love -- writing.

During his career as a sportswriter, Honig rubbed shoulders with Baseball's greats and had in-depth conversations with many of them. One of the most touching chapters deals with Pete Reiser, a shining star with the Brooklyn Dodgers -- destined to become one of baseball's all-time heroes. Reiser was an all-star who frequently crashed into the centerfield wall while making spectacular catches. After incurring many devastating injuries, Reiser had to retire from baseball before he hit his prime. I had been an avid Dodger fan during that era . After reading Honig's book, I was relieved to find out that Reiser didn't waste away feeling sorry for himself. He went on to lead a constructive life.

After reading Honig's book, I feel as though I've walked through his neighborhood streets, met his parents, and watched memorable baseball games with him. My memories of baseball are even richer.