I got hold of a copy of the Chris Coste book at just the right time, when I could actually justify taking the time to read it. And it's a quick, engaging read. The 'rookie' wrote it himself and his voice comes through strong and clear as he relates the story of his slow-cooking rise to the big leagues. Coste seems to be a good guy who had an impossible dream and stuck to it, thanks in part to the support of his wife Marcia, daughter Casey, and faithful agent, and a strong baseball network built up while toiling in independent and minor league baseball.Raised in a single-parent household in Fargo, North Dakota, he knew at seven that he wanted to be a big leaguer. Talent, perseverance, luck, and health all played a role in his finally reaching his goal at age 33 and being injected into an improbable Wild Card race.
For me, some of the best parts of the book deal with his years in the independent league, playing for the brand-new Red Hawks of his native Fargo. This Sunday we've got the brand-new IronPigs playing their first game, an exhibition with their parent team the Phillies, in their sparkling new park. Local support and enthusiasm here too are running high.
When Coste gets to his actual time in the bigs, the story gets a bit pancaked. Maybe he's saving that for another book. This is an inspiring, albeit PG-13, version of a life in baseball, good for kids, fans, and non-fans alike. The raw has little room in the story, but that in no way detracts from its authenticity or humor. Or its message of hard work and dogged determination.
Once in the bigs, Coste went about acting as if he belonged, while staying humble. His mates on the 2006 Phillies, and we're talking about the likes of Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, and Aaron Rowand, quickly dubbed him Chris Clutch. Doesn't get much better than that.
Of course, the Philadelphia fans, too, fell in love with the blue-collar Coste, who responded in kind. Is there a movie in the wings? Better have a good theme song, if there is. Read the book!
