Sophomore Campaign: A Mickey Tussler Novel (Mickey Tussler Series Book 2)

It's 1949 and eighteen-year-old pitching phenom Mickey Tussler is back with the rejuvenated minor league Brewers in the sequel to The Legend of Mickey Tussler (the basis for the television movie A Mile in His Shoes). Despite Mickey's proclamation that he will never play baseball again after last season's violent conclusion, his manager,and now surrogate father,Arthur Murphy cajoles the emotionally fragile, socially awkward boy with autism into giving it another shot. Mickey reluctantly returns to the field and must once again cope with the violence and hatred around him. When a young African American player joins the team, the entire team is subjected to racial threats and episodes of violence, one of which Mickey witnesses firsthand. Struggling to understand such ugliness and hatred, and fearful of reprisal should he tell anyone about what he has seen, the boy's performance on the field suffers. Mickey now must deal with a side of human nature he scarcely comprehends. An autistic teenage baseball sensation confronts racism in the 1940s in this novel from the author of The Legend of Mickey Tussler. It’s 1949, and eighteen-year-old pitching phenomenon Mickey Tussler is back. He and his team, the minor league Brewers, continue their journey in this sports novel. Despite Mickey’s claim that he will never play baseball again after the violent end of the last season, his manager (and now surrogate father) Arthur Murphy convinces the socially awkward, autistic, and emotionally fragile boy to try it again. Mickey comes back and must learn to deal with the hatred and destruction around him . . . When a young African American player joins the Brewers, the entire team hears racial threats and is subjected to violence. Mickey witnesses one violent episode firsthand. Struggling to understand such hatred and ugliness, and afraid of the consequences of telling anyone what he saw, Mickey’s field performance suffers. Now, the boy needs to deal with a part of human nature that he barely understands. Praise for Sophomore Campaign “A curiously poignant baseball tale of adversity and intolerance, compassion and hope, that elevate autism fiction to fantastic heights.” —Daryl Strawberry “Yet another brilliant baseball tale by a first-rate storyteller. The ongoing saga of Mickey Tussler will speak powerfully to young readers as well as anyone of any age who truly loves our national pastime.” —Howie Rose, WFAN Sports Radio “Will win over kids and parents alike. Read it together one summer between ballgames and on a family vacation.” —Peter Schilling, author, The End of Baseball “Not just a baseball masterpiece, but a clever, delightful, touching tale that is a triumph of imagination and empathy.” —Father Tom Hartman, “The God Squad,” Good Morning America Ideal for fans of sports novels and Wisconsin novelsContinues the story of Mickey Tussler that began with The Legend of Mickey Tussler (the basis for the TV movie A Mile in His Shoes)Follows the journey of the minor league BrewersIt's 1949, and eighteen-year-old pitching phenomenon Mickey Tussler is back. He and his team, the minor league Brewers, continue their journey in this sports novel. In spite of Mickey's claim that he will never play baseball again after the violent end of the last season, his manager (and now surrogate father) Arthur Murphy convinces the socially awkward, autistic, and emotionally fragile boy to try it again. Mickey comes back and has to learn to deal with the hatred and destruction around him. When a young African American player joins the Brewers, the entire team hears racial threats and is subjected to violence. Mickey witnesses one violent episode firsthand. Struggling to understand such hatred and ugliness, and afraid of the consequences of telling anyone what he saw, Mickey's field performance suffers. Now, the boy needs to deal with a part of human nature that he barely understands. It's 1949 and eighteen-year-old pitching phenom Mickey Tussler is back with the minor league Milwaukee Brewers. Despite Mickey's proclamation that he will never play baseball again after last season's violent conclusion, his manager--and now surrogate father--Arthur Murphy cajoles the emotionally fragile, socially reserved autistic boy into giving it another shot. When a young African American player joins the Brewers, the entire team is subjected to racial threats and episodes of violence, one of which Mickey witnesses firsthand. Struggling to comprehend such cruelty and hate, and fearful of reprisal should he share what he has seen, the boy's performance on the field suffers. Mickey must now deal with a side of human nature he scarcely understands In 1949, seventeen-year-old pitching phenom Mickey Tussler is back with the rejuvenated minor league Brewers. Despite Mickey's proclamation that he will never play baseball again after last season's violent conclusion, manager and now surrogate father Arthur Murphy cajoles the emotionally fragile autistic boy into giving it another shot. Mickey Tussler, a minor league pitcher for the 1949 Milwaukee Brewers, struggles with the public threats when an African American player joins the team