Authored by Joe Kirchmyer

6" x 9" (15.24 x 22.86 cm)  Black & White on White paper 140 pages ISBN-13: 978-0578082240  ISBN-10: 0578082241  BISAC: Sports & Recreation / General

Diamonds in the Rough is a compilation of short sports-related stories — some humorous, some uplifting — that I’ve experienced first-hand during my lifetime. But it’s not just about sports. It’s about lifelong friendships made on ballfields, father and son/daughter relationships, the importance of giving back to your community ... and a whole lot more. Chapter One begins with an incident that happened to me on a muddy baseball diamond roughly four decades ago, that I still remember like it was yesterday. Chapter Two flash-forwards approximately 30 years as my son experiences a similar situation while I’m coaching his team. And then it just kind of takes off from there, covering everything from baseball championships to the heartbreak of losing your “best friend” to pure human survival. Mark Kelso, a member of the Buffalo Bills’ four Super Bowl teams, has penned the foreword. Says Mr. Kelso, “You will reach back in your own past and rekindle experiences that you had, and it will bring a smile to your face.” It all comes together as an easy and fun read for young and old alike.