Painting the Corners

Bob Weintraub's marvelous collection of baseball stories goes directly to the core of what the game does for us when we watch it being played on the field, and shows how its heroes and villains can reach into a person's life and remain a part of us for the rest of our days. The stories are told from various perspectives, including those of the player, manager, general manager, coach, scout, owner, writer, broadcaster and fan. Each strives for its own sense of authenticity, seeks to introduce characters we'd be comfortable spending time with, and in many cases ends with an unexpected twist. W.P. Kinsella, author of "Shoeless Joe" ("Field of Dreams"), says that "Weintraub has executed a triple play: savvy baseball writing, unforgettable characters and a home run ending for each tale."