Homer Newbody wows the baseball world by throwing no-hitters in his first two pitching starts. But when he announces to the world he'd be happy to play for nothing, he finds his world turned upside down.
Excerpt
Chapter 1
“I’ve waited ten years to get here.”
Homer Newbody shielded his eyes from the sun and took in the vast ball park. He especially liked the sweeping arc of the white frieze hanging from Yankee Stadium, that white picket fence that so defined the place. Yankee Stadium. He still couldn’t believe he’d be pitching here today. And yet, he knew he’d be pitching here someday. After all, wasn’t it his destiny? A destiny he’d made happen with determination, endless practice and an absolute faith in himself.
“Some guys wait longer. What makes you so special?”
Homer considered his interrogator, a bearded man in his forties standing with his pen, poised to furiously scribble down his comments. He had never grown completely used to media people back in the minors, although it had been much easier to talk with just one or two at a time. But now, for the first time in his baseball life, he was confronting a whole gaggle of them‒newspaper people and television reporters with camera crews and radio newsmen with nothing more than tape recorders. Gosh. There must be two dozen reporters here to interview him‒Homer Newbody. Okay. Maybe it was to be his first game in the Major Leagues, a starting assignment against the Red Sox. He knew a rookie making his first start was always big news, especially in New York, the baseball capital. That it was coming against the Bosox made it even bigger.
“I’m not what you’d call special,” he said. “I just want to play baseball and do everything to help my team win.”
They were gathered before him near the Yankees dugout, an aggressive bunch, some of them scribbling furiously away now, one of the radio guys moving closer and nearly hitting Homer’s chin with a tape recorder. Through an opening in this crowd of reporters he could just see the pitchers mound. There was a screen set up in front of it where someone was throwing batting practice to Red Sox players.
Professional Reviews
Engaging fictional tale
By Dr. Joseph S. Maresca "Dr. Joseph S. Maresca ... (Bronxville, New York USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)
This review is from: Nothing Down (Paperback)
Nothing Down: The Short Baseball Life of Homer Newbody by Mike Reuther
is an engaging fictional tale about a baseball player who bursts upon
the Major Leagues by throwing two no-hitters in his first starts.
Reuther describes classic plays by Homer. For instance, he details
a 7th inning face-down with Cyclone, a big home run hitter
for Cleveland. There were two players on base. Homer threw a fat
pitch to Cyclone. The hitter took the pitch in stride as the
fat ball came sailing in. He swung for it and missed narrowly.
The Yankee Stadium fans exploded with joy.
The author details the media frenzy which occurred after Homer secured his second no-hitter in a row. The baseball stat geeks figured out that the chance of Homer getting two no-hitters in a row was about a billion to one. Some fans imagined that Homer was just a freak of nature.
The local press was amazed to hear that Homer wasn't looking to be paid big money for his efforts on the field. After all, people with far less talent were making more money than he was making. Nonetheless, Homer was content to enjoy the game of baseball opting not to take the big money.
Reuther methodically relates many of the small town virtues that Homer brought to the game of baseball. The character was a paragon of hard work, clean living, modesty, shyness, and an aversion for big money.
Homer couldn't get over the fact that people had come from miles away
to see him play baseball. Wild fans were adamant that he sign their
tee shirts, diaries, paper scraps, and other things big fans seek to
have on hand when they meet the star of their dreams.
Reuther is successful in building up the character of Homer so that the readers can be engaged significantly. The story builds up to a surprise ending that no-one would expect. So, read the book and find out how it all ends.
Nothing Down by Mike Reuther is a wonderful book which extols small town virtues, the environment of a big city with high stakes, adoring fans, and an inquiring press.
A story of unwavering baseball morality
4.0 out of 5 stars A story of unwavering baseball morality, January 16, 2013
By Nicholas R.W. Henning (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Nothing Down (Paperback)
A work of fiction is an unfettered license to present the ultimate stories and ideal characters, which are often difficult to find among the egotism of many real celebrities of today. "Nothing Down: The Short Baseball Life of Homer Newbody" presents the reader with a narrative which is thought-provoking and encourages immense appreciation of all the facets of baseball.
Baseball works of fiction don't always hold the same value as a true story for some readers and this dents their own enthusiasm by eagerly wanting the lead protagonist to be real. Even when accepted there is still an urge for some to feel baseball fiction has to be highly plausible, yet in this book there are events which may seem improbable and others quite familiar to some real happenings, but what this book offers is a rare opportunity to run with the idyllic and imagine what could be.
The author's characterization of Homer Newbody and those around him reads with real voice and feeling which is where the author presents his best craft.
Throughout the account positive values toward baseball outshine its at times decadent culture and this is an admirable aspect of this work.
Perhaps though the best is saved for last and this is where the author gears the reader toward a predictable ending but suddenly shifts the mood and direction with a few surprises, which allows for deeper appreciation of what can so easily be taken for granted on and off the baseball field.
Nicholas R.W. Henning - Australian Baseball Author
Gem of a novel
5.0 out of 5 stars For love of the game, November 16, 2012
By the faunster - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Nothing Down (Kindle Edition)
Nothing Down
by Mike Reuther (Goodreads Author)
This is really a gem of a novel.The sole criticism is that I was a bit disappointed in the abrupt ending. I wanted more, much more of the life of Homer Newbody the embodiment of the naive,wholesome, small town hero who would literally play the game of baseball for nothing. The game is a part of his very being;it is all he ever dreamed of doing.
He is an anachronistic relic in a game of self-centered men who care more about their stats and burgeoning contracts than they do about their teammates or the glorification of the game. He is a young man who relishes in the history of the game and its players, and is proud to be a part of its existence.
He rattles management(a George Steinbrenner-like character) as well as the ace of the Yankees team known as the "Tracer".(a not so carefully disguised Roger Clemens type) who cannot relate to Homer's indifference to money. It matters not to the loyal and principled Homer. He will not compromise his integrity to be liked by the "Tracer" types.Rather, he'd rather be admired by the fans who pay to see him play.
The novel is very well written and the characters are easy to visualize and most are very likeable.
The author's love for and knowledge of the game are palpable from the start and he creates a "Mark Fidrych"-like character in Homer that makes the reader want to be his close friend. I found myself rooting for Homer the way I did Roy Hobbs in "The Natural".
All I can say is, I want more of the same.I hope the author continues his love affair with baseball with another novel in this genre.Well done Mike Reuther
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