Appropos of the All Star break in Baseball, I thought I'd mention two stories I've recently enjoyed by two of my "A-List" writers. Both are about baseball--my first love in sports. One is Calico Joe--a short novel by John Grisham. The other is Blockade Billy--a novella by Steven King. Both tales are intriguing, engaging, and entertaining and both show the writer's love for baseball. King, of course, wrote a famous account of a Boston Red Sox season. I confess that I haven't read that yet, but I intend to do so as soon as I can find it in a library. (Call me cheap.)  Grisham has written a couple of other sports novels--Playing for Pizza and Bleachers--both about football. Neither of those worthy efforts comes close to Calico Joe, though.

Take a few lazy summer afternoons and read these tales. If you like baseball, you'll be charmed. If you don't, enjoy the well-drawn characters and skillful writing. Let me know what you think. Meanwhile: Go Bucs! Go Tribe! (Howzabout a Cleveland/Pittsburgh World Series? Wouldn't THAT frost ESPN?)