Saving Babe Ruth (Prequel to the Lawyer David Thompson Legal Thrillers Series)

Having a 13 year old catcher, this book really hit home. As a kid I don't remember my parents having to put out hundreds of dollars for my brothers to play baseball in a league that did not contribute to recreational or school ball. In fact, when I was approached recently by a "travel ball" recruiter, I told my dad the dollar amounts and travel cost requested and he said "What! That is a rip off! I was still a little confused about the whole situation until I read this book.

For anyone that is falling into the trap of travel ball or for anyone that backs travel ball, this book is a must read for you. Maybe it will help both sides determine the real importance of Cal Ripken and Babe Ruth leagues.

Great work Tom!

Not sure about whether the protagonist was supposed to be a bit nuts but as a youth coach for the last 20 years, I thought the book was entertaining if not a bit hyberbolic. The analogies to the civil war were somewhat hilarious. Anybody involved in youth sports, especially baseball, will definitely enjoy this book.

Loved the book. Realistic in the political ins and outs parents and children are sometimes faced with when the child just “wants to play baseball”, especially in a small town atmosphere. Nailed it.
Not as intriguing as The Killdeer Connection, but very glad I followed to the end. I love the characters.

This book is a great read for anyone! Many people who've been involved in youth baseball will be able to relate to the main character, David Thompson.
Thompson, a Civil War buff, lawyer, and baseball coach, is on a mission to save the town Babe Ruth Baseball League and its prized field, from the clutches of a travel baseball league. The travel league is taking all of the best players from the town league and, as it turns out, is a huge money maker for the people running it while masquerading as a non-profit. Thompson comes up against some seedy characters in his fight, with some surprising twists and turns along the way.
Loved this book! Highly recommended!!!

I have just finished Saving Babe Ruth. This a must read for any parent whose child is involved in sports. Tom Swyers' writing reminds us of why we played the game and why baseball is important to the development of ethics and fair play in our children. In an era where everyone gets a trophy, games are played before they learn how to play the game. But not only are kids not learning the finer points of the game, they are learning the wrong lessons from adults who chase college scholarships and bragging rights. This book reminds us why we love this game.

Saving Babe Ruth is a fantastic book that really takes a deep look into not only baseball but youth sports. This book talks about the narrative of "Travel" vs "Rec" sports and how sometimes advantages are had one over the other. . The author does a fantastic job of tackling the conflicts of the conflicts that arise between these two types of sports.

This book is deeper then just sports. It has Civil War References which shows the authors depth and breadth of not only baseball and youth sports but also history.

If you enjoy a book that's more than about baseball this is a book for you.

Do you love stories about baseball? Do you love stories about the Civil War? Do you love stories about politics? If you answered even "maybe" to any of these questions, you'll thoroughly enjoy "Saving Babe Ruth."

Mr. Swyers crafts a taut, gripping story about a small-town, down-on-his-luck attorney who goes to great lengths to save his local Babe Ruth youth baseball league from a group of locals who run the high-priced summer travel league and who are pushing parents with false hopes of scholarships to get more kids into their program.

The story moves along at a nice pace, the characters are rich and well-developed, and you'll stay engaged until the last page. A good read.

What I enjoyed most about Saving Babe Ruth was how the conflicts arose as the story unfolded. As a woman, I can relate to Annie's tears when she discovers that her husband is the target of a ruthless and efficient email attack. As a baseball lover married to someone who does not love the sport the way that my friends and I do, I can appreciate David's efforts to save baseball and preserve the game as an entity that is separate from the competitive and often costly travel leagues. There is parent/child conflict, job and career stress, marital problems, small town political machinations, and through it all Tom's dedication to detail shines. His impeccable research is evident from the beginning, and I appreciate the meticulous attention he devotes to his craft. Aside from the story, Tom highlights real life problems that many parents and children face, and if that generates conversations about what can be done in areas where this is occurring I will be thrilled.

Thank you Tom for giving players and coaches who may not have it a voice and a story that they can turn to when facing similar difficulties in their own lives.

The Story of Saving Babe Ruth is a wonderful book, whether you are an avid baseball fan, have children or parent who plays baseball, or a historian this is the story for you. It is an excellent combination of history, characters who grab you, baseball and suspense and laughter and enjoyment. I have several fellow teachers who are using the book as a MUST READ For their youth class. The story allows you to forger the time and stress and relive and experience baseball, history and youth at its finest. I strongly advise anyone, from the young to the old, from the baseball fan to the historian and to those in between to pick this book up and give it a try. I am confident you wont be disappointed.

I was reading with tears running down my face, laughing! While telling the story of Community Baseball and the problems they face, this book was laced with humor as well as deceit, mystery, community problems, favoritism, bullying, suicide and history. It addresses the problem with Youth baseball and the ability to provide the opportunity for Kids to play sports for the love of the game. It took me back 60+ years to my childhood and a simpler times where I first learned of teamwork, friendship and playing sports with others. If you love baseball, as I do, it is a must read!

As a baseball enthusiast and coach of "rec" ball and "travel" ball this hits a HR. Great Story line with many associations that could be true in any community across the USA. Highly recommended for Parents and districts league wide. Good read, hard to put down. Worth more than the price, lessons in here are priceless.

Author Tom Swyyers has "hit for the cycle" with his new novel "Saving Babe Ruth". His main character, David Thompson's obsession with small town youth baseball centers the premise of the story, but so much more is weaved through as the scenario unfolds with each turn of the page. Though based on baseball, you don't have to be a fan to get into the characters and they are as complex as in any good mystery. David never gives up on his mission and along the way teaches his son, wife and the boys on his baseball team to never give up on themselves or what they believe in. Life's lessons that apply to one and all! An enjoyable read, highly recommended.

If you know about the state of youth baseball today, there's a chance you've seen the changes from "let's play for fun" to "let's do all we can to get scholarships." This story reveals this truth in real life. The author does a good job telling the tale and brings you into the story. Travel baseball teams can be helpful; however I feel too many are doing more harm than good.

Read this book!

Baseball fans will enjoy the passion that Swyers has put into Thompson’s efforts to keep the Babe Ruth fields available for kids of all levels. Parents are fighting this battle in every neighborhood, watching their local programs dwindle to benefit the select few playing for the travel team. Swyers reminds us why this is a war worth fighting; youth baseball is a sport that should be played by everyone, not just those with the financial means to wear embroidered uniforms and matching warm-up suits.

Saving Babe Ruth happens to center around community baseball. However, even if not a baseball fan, I recommend this book to parents raising children and to those whose kids are grown. Regardless of what activities our children enjoy, we can all relate to the themes in this book...fairness, devotion, conflict, and sacrifice.

David Thompson is a man of conviction when it comes to the promotion of healthy activities for youth, and is especially passionate about the role of community baseball in the physical and emotional development for children and adolescents. David is motivated to intervene when he discovers an injustice in the local youth baseball program. However, the problem is that not everyone is on the same side of fairness. I enjoyed reading about David's strategies on how to deal with conflicting perspectives and hidden agendas and admire his resolve to take the high road and remain rational. I also must admit to mentally cheering him on toward the end of the book when he takes a somewhat different approach.

Saving Babe Ruth will make you reflect on obstacles in your past and provides great insight for facing future challenges.

Very compelling story. The ends that David goes to in order to save youth baseball in his town and even the country is remarkable. It brought back memories of when I played youth baseball and was relatable.
Get ready for an action-packed finish that is extreme in so many ways but fitting at the same time. A truly great read.

Great book. Real heroes and real villans and it's based on a true story. Once I got started I didn't want to stop. If you love baseball or any sport you will enjoy this book. And if you love to see the good guys win in real life -- unlike the movies -- you won't want to miss this one!

I love this book! Anyone that loves baseball and enjoys reading needs to purchase this. I knew that I would enjoy reading this book, but I never thought I would enjoy it as much as I did. It's full of surprises, has a great storyline, and provides the aspect of baseball that I don't think many people realize happens. Highly recommend this book to everyone!

This is an entertaining book, and an especially good read for a fellow coach. Tom has obviously lived it and knows what he's talking about when it comes to the battle of good vs. evil, league vs. travel ball, etc. I recommend it. A successful first novel from a good author.

When I first got kindle version I was expecting to read a story about Babe Ruth. As I dug into it I was very pleased at the telling of a great baseball league and efforts to save it. As a baseball player who played in numerous leagues I really felt drawn to them. Good book and by a even better man. Good job Tom!!