PRAISE FOR MAN VS. BALL

"Humane, heartbreaking and at times hilarious, here are stories of watching everything go sideways on your biggest days and still finding hope by surprise. This book will turn your definition of winners upside down." -Dan Kennedy, author of American Spirit and host of The Moth Storytelling podcast

"I would never buy a stadium hot dog from Jon Hart. But I would buy his book. It's not made from random animal parts, and more important: it's funny." -A. J. Jacobs, author of The Year of Living Biblically and The Guinea Pig Diaries

"A fun, daring, and beautiful journey, Man Versus Ball delivers us into the fringes of American sports, where people still play for the love of the game, suit up even when no one's watching, keep going because they believe. There is humanity in every one of these adventures, which is to say that Jon Hart has written about more than sports; he has written about secret dreams." -Robert Kurson, author of Shadow Divers

"Not to give Man versus Ball away, but Ball wins. But it doesn't stop Hart-with all his heart, humor, and neuroticism-from going back to Ball. It's a love story that hasn't been told since Tom Hanks in Castaway. But this is much, much better." -Joel Stein, author of Man Made: A Stupid Quest for Masculinity

"Man versus Ball gives a raw insider's glimpse at big-time sports from the little man's perspective. It takes us on a delightfully strange journey to the basement of The House That Ruth Built, the clod-studded fields of a semi-pro football team, and the sweat-soaked interior of a pink gorilla mascot suit. As funny as he is perceptive, Jon Hart would make Plimpton proud." -Alfred Ryan Nerz, author of Marijuanamerica: One Man's Quest to Understand America's Dysfunctional Love Affair with Weed

"In Man versus Ball, Jon Hart takes on some of the most indomitable balls since Lucille. You'll be very glad he did." -Henry Alford, author of Would It Kill You to Stop Doing That?: A Modern Guide to Manners

"Jon Hart took me so far behind the scenes on his ridiculous and compelling journey that it changed the way I think about sports. From the zany ballpark vendors to the fierce competition at the U.S. Open ball boy tryouts to the humiliating injuries he suffered at wrestling school and beyond, I didn't know whether to laugh or cringe-and often did both." -Zack Hample, author of Watching Baseball Smarter and The Baseball