Take Two and Hit to Right

<p>Not so long ago every town in the United States that had an ounce of pride had a baseball team. The cities had their big leagues and the bigger towns had their minor league clubs. The whistle stops and crossroad market towns had their teams too and they were treasured institutions. This was the golden age of local baseball and it was remarkable while it lasted. Hobe Hays has written a careful warm and evocative account of his days as a serious player on serious teams in middle America. His sketches bring alive a vanishing era.</p><p><br></p><p>Hobe Hays was born in Lincoln Nebraska and played baseball for the University of Nebraska as well as for semi-pro teams in various Nebraska towns. Hays has also been an artist art director and teacher in the New York City area.</p>