Chris Coste Book Signing

If you enjoy reading a book about athletes, I highly suggest picking up The 33-Year-Old Rookie, a book spun from the experiences of Philadelphia Phillies catcher Chris Coste. It is probably going to cost you 20 or 25 bucks, but if you are from North Dakota and you dig on baseball at all, this book should be on your shelf.

I'm a huge fan of Coste. His break into the majors and my start in sports journalism kind of happened at the same time. I remember hearing about him going to the Phillies spring training and absolutely tearing it up, and I remember being completely shocked when he didn't make the 25-man roster that spring. But, as the book will demonstrate, it isn't the first time Coste has had to remember patience, it isn't the first time he's been told he was too old and too slow, and it isn't the first time Coste had to deal with failure.

I think that is what draws me to the game of baseball. The game is built on failure and the players' ability to overcome that constant failure. In a way, the game is very much like life. You go out there every day (well, 182 regular season games, plus spring training, plus the postseason) and you see what you can do. If you have an average day (we'll say 1-for-4) it is just that, an average day. But some days, you are unstoppable (we'll say 2-for-3 with a two-run homer, a walk and 3 RBI). Eventually you are going to have to wear the collar of an 0-for-4 or 0-for-5 day and you are going to strikeout. But tomorrow you are going to go right back out and take a hack.

And that is what Coste has done with his career. In it he talks about some of his early baseball memories, his high school, college, minor league and major league career. It is funny, sad, everything in between.

If you are in Fargo on July 15 (and Coste isn't named to the National League All-Star team I'm assuming), swing by Barnes and Noble. Coste will be there selling and autographing his book, starting at 7 p.m.

In a time where some professional athletes that aren't truthful, aren't approachable, aren't anything you want your kid to grow up and be, what Coste is can be what saves professional sports long-term. Also, if you want to check out his website, click here.