The 26th Man

The 26th Man: One Minor League Pitcher's Pursuit of a Dream is a book written by Steve Fireovid and Mark Winegardner. It was published by Macmillan Publishing Company in 1991. The book is written in the form of a diary, and recounts Fireovid's experiences with the Indianapolis Indians during the 1990 season, beginning in spring training, and ending when he gets a letter in September advising him he will become a free agent on October 15th. The book documents an older player's struggle to receive major league consideration, the difficulties associated with being a young prospect, and the hardships of balancing a family life with a career in baseball.

Several notable names are discussed in the book, including: Scott Anderson, John Boles, Peter Gammons, Joe Kerrigan, Howard Farmer, Mel Rojas, and Todd Van Poppel.

The book was well-received upon its publication and has stayed in print ever since.

Further Reading

• Steve Fireovid and Mark Winegardner: The 26th Man: One Minor League Pitcher's Pursuit of a Dream, University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, NE, 1996 (first published in 1991).