Zak Ford
@zakford
Author of human-interest baseball stories ⚾️ “Called Up: Ballplayers Remember Becoming Major Leaguers” (2023) ⚾️ “Beyond the Last Inning: Life and Careers After Playing Professional Baseball” (2026)
My second book, “Beyond the Last Inning: Life and Careers After Playing Professional Baseball,” arrived today!
⚾️📖 Shipments have begun! The publisher, McFarland, started fulfilling pre-orders yesterday, and other booksellers should follow within the next week or so! (Disregard any incorrect dates Amazon is generating.) 📖⚾️
Yesterday, my wife and I attended the Giants game and the Wall of Fame induction for five Giants. After the game, we walked by the Wall of Fame plaques of two Giants featured in my “Called Up” book, Atlee Hammaker and Shawn Estes.
It's interesting how a date can pass for 25 years with no significance and then become so incredibly important. As special as August 5 became in 2004, the day gained significantly more importance in 2007. Happy birthday to the twins!
⚾️📖 NEXT WEEK! “Beyond the Last Inning” is available for pre-orders and will begin to ship next Monday, 8/10! 📖⚾️
On this date, 33 years ago, as an aspiring 14-year-old baseball writer, I took a public bus to the home of PCL legend Tony Freitas to conduct my first interview. My first questions: Me: Did you pitch to Babe Ruth? Tony: I sure did. Me: Did he hit one off you? Tony: He sure did.
I’m unable to attend the Society for American Baseball Research conference in Cleveland this week. However, the McFarland booth will have copies of “Called Up” available. Additionally, you can pre-order “Beyond the Last Inning” at the booth, and have it shipped to you once it’s in print next month.
Shortly after interviewing Machemer for the book I found this gnome on eBay. I couldn’t resist adding it to my bookshelf.
I received this in the mail yesterday, and I’m excited to read it! I’m happy for Scott and feel blessed to call him a friend. The book will be officially released next week, and a documentary movie on his life will be released in September!
Happy Independence Day! Since my first trip to Washington D.C. in 2004, a highlight of many returns has been seeing the Declaration of Independence in person. During that first visit, I had the pleasure of showing the treasure to my son, Tommy, who was only two months old at the time. 💥 🇺🇸 💥
Our last time at Candlestick Park, a relevant story for Father’s Day. ⚾️🏈📖 “I’m sure the man we asked to capture the moment for us thought we were crazy, as to most people it was just a stairway. For my dad and I, it meant much more.” LINK TO STORY: m.facebook.com/story.php?st...
There’s still time to get “Called Up” for Father’s Day! “Called Up” captures 109 first-person stories of becoming a major leaguer. I’m confident you’ll enjoy this human-interest book. If you’ve already enjoyed it, please let your friends know and leave a positive review on Amazon, Goodreads, etc.
It's not a baseball story, but it happened at a baseball stadium. My Paul McCartney story, linked below, is included in my friend Eric Gray's newest book, "Music We Heard Along the Way: Volume 2." 🎵👉 m.facebook.com/story.php?st...
I enjoyed attending this evening’s book launch for Dusty Baker’s memoir, “Crossroads,” which is officially released tomorrow. Dusty’s been one of my favorite baseball guys since I was a kid.
After his playing career, Bob Tewksbury entered mental skills coaching for athletes and has worked at both professional and amateur levels. At the time of the interview for the "Beyond the Last Inning: Life and Careers After Playing Professional Baseball" book, he was working and living in Maine.
⚾️📖 Jerry Reuss, St. Louis Cardinals, 1969 - Excerpt from full MLB call-up and debut story in the "Called Up" book
This weekend I reached 20K followers on my Facebook page! Follow me there for more frequent (and longer) story posts. 👇 www.facebook.com/ZakFordStories
⚾️📖 Bobby Witt Sr., Texas Rangers, 1986 - Excerpt from his full story in the "Called Up" book
Last night, my wife and I enjoyed attending the opening reception for the Sacramento History Museum’s new exhibit, “Play Ball: Sacramento in the National Pastime.” I provided a little guidance, connected them with a few players, and loaned them some items from my collection.
⚾️📖 Vance Law, Pittsburgh Pirates, 1980 - Excerpt from his full MLB call-up and debut story in the "Called Up" book
Last week’s Southern California ballpark road trip: seven ballparks and six games in four days
Gene Tenace, Oakland A’s, 1969 - Excerpt from his full MLB call-up and debut story in the “Called Up” book ⚾️📖
Today’s my 11th annual “Red Adams Jersey” game at Dodger Stadium in honor of my late friend. A link to the story of our unique friendship, and the tradition I began after his passing, is in the comments. Someday I’ll write the longer story.
I’m on a “baseball road trip” in Southern California. Today, I decided to do a non-baseball activity before heading to tonight’s Padres game. Here’s both before, and after, I realized it was fun.
⚾️📖 Jeff Reboulet, Minnesota Twins, 1992 - Excerpt from his MLB call-up and debut story in the "Called Up" book
On Wednesday, 4/29, I’ll make my 11th annual journey to Dodger Stadium in honor of my late friend, Red Adams. Here’s the story of our unique friendship and the tradition I began after his passing. Someday I’ll write the longer story. 👇 sabr.org/journal/arti...
“Beyond the Last Inning” is now available for pre-order! McFarland: mcfarlandbooks.com/product/beyo... Amazon: a.co/d/036snhof