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He loved her enough to build her a baseball stadium. With a tip of the cap to the works of W.P. Kinsella, A Diamond for Her is a historical and magical story of love between two people -- Raymond & Rochelle -- and two grand institutions -- America & baseball.
In 1920, railroad man Raymond Blythe had a series of disturbing dreams -- giant creatures with Greek names playing baseball. Determined to discover their meaning, he sets off on a bizarre quest to find a connection between Iowa, Theodore Roosevelt, baseball, and his deceased father. While searching for answers at the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh, he meets a young librarian named Rochelle Christy. This meeting sets him on another quest -- to win her hand in marriage even if it means he has to establish his own baseball league in Pennsylvania's Allegheny Mountains.
Baseball magic was born in these mountains proving time and again that anything can happen inside the diamond.
A Diamond for Herchronicles the fictitious history of the Winasook Iron Horses, the founding members of the Allegheny Independent League from 1921-1955. Through extensive interviews and archival research, semi-retired doctor Charles "Shoeshine" Henry chronicles the historical record of the Blythes and their remarkable team the Winasook Iron Horses and in doing so, gives a sweeping view of American history through the steady eye of America's pastime. Included among the remarkable stories about the Blythes are:
? The Mythology of Baseball: the origin story of how the gods of baseball created the game and how Raymond built Rochelle Stadium for the woman he loved.
? Raymond Blythe has a one-pitch duel with Theodore Roosevelt III at Chautauqua Institution.
? Pike tries to set a new world record by sitting on top of Rochelle Stadium's right field foul pole.
?The gods of baseball intervene in a 1930 game with startling results.
? If the CCC builds it, will they come? Raymond discovers a brilliant way to find new talent during the Great Depression.
? Bess, Raymond's longtime live-in maid, insists on being present for the first game at Greenlee Field in Pittsburgh's Hill District in 1932 as Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, and the Pittsburgh Crawfords defeat the Homestead Grays. But that's not why Bess wanted to attend. She holds a deep secret, and it's inside the diamond.
?An Iron Horses' player loses his life in World War II and his brother asks to substitute for the martyr during a 4th of July game, but something is not as it seems.
? On a summer day in 1945, the bus of the Kansas City Monarchs from the Negro League breaks down in Winasook. Jackie Robinson and Satchel Paige find themselves in another one of Raymond's capers - but with a surprising twist.
?And a one-hundred pitch at-bat which inspires the teller of the stories, Charles "Shoeshine" Henry to become a medical doctor.
About the Author
Mark W Sasse grew up playing baseball in the Saxonburg Little League in Butler County, Pennsylvania. He had a good fastball and a decent forkball. Good enough to play four years of college ball. The voice of Pirates in the late 70s and 80s, Lanny Frattare, hooked him onto the team he's lived and died with since he was a boy. Like Raymond Blythe, he has undivided devotion to the crew along the Allegheny River.
Sasse has written ten novels and is also a multi-award-winning playwright. His plays have been performed in places like New York City, Columbus (Ohio), Kuala Lumpur, Sydney (Australia), Penang, and Jeddah. He won the Greywood Arts (Ireland) Winter Residency Award in 2018 for his play "The Last Bastion." When he's in the states, he resides in Jamestown, NY -- close enough to PNC Park for a blissful daytrip.
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