⚾️ Follow @zakford instead! ⚾️

LAST POST FROM THIS ACCOUNT! Please follow @zakford instead!

Father’s Day is coming soon! Send me a message to get “Called Up” direct or find it online! The book’s a great collection of 109 inspirational first-person MLB call-up and debut stories I’m sure the father in your life will enjoy.

LAST POST FROM THIS ACCOUNT! Please follow @zakford instead!

LAST POST FROM THIS ACCOUNT! Please follow @zakford instead!

LAST POST FROM THIS ACCOUNT! Please follow @zakford instead!

If you’ve enjoyed “Called Up,” positive reviews and word of mouth go a long way. Whether it’s a longer review for a publication, a few sentences on a book or baseball website, or just simply clicking on five stars on Amazon, I’d greatly appreciate it.

Amazon Prime will still get it to you by Christmas! 🎅🎁🎄

🎁🎄🎅

Tomorrow’s the last day I’m comfortable sending media mail before Christmas. Let me know if you want to be included. zakford@gmail.com

Please follow “Zak Ford - Called Up/Next Up” on any of these platforms!

Christmas is just 15 days away. Books are great presents and it’s okay to get yourself one too. Message me to help empty this new box. 😃 DM or zakford@gmail.com

Through Cyber Monday, December 2, my publisher (McFarland) has a 35% off sale on ALL titles (including “Called Up”) with coupon code HOLIDAY24. mcfarlandbooks.com/product/called…

Amazon currently has “Called Up” on sale! Get three for the price of two! ⚾️ Called Up: Ballplayers Remember Becoming Major Leaguers a.co/d/f0Zeayp #Amazon

Please get the book and follow “Zak Ford - Called Up/Next Up” on numerous social media platforms! #baseball #calledup #MLB #majorleaguebaseball #bigleagues #mlbdebut #callup #book #Christmas #bookrecommendations #book #presents #christmaspresents #minorleaguebaseball #minorleagues

My activity varies across different social media platforms, but please connect with me through any of the below links! ⚾️ Facebook: facebook.com/ZakFordBasebal…   ⚾️ X (Twitter): x.com/zakford   ⚾️ Threads: @zakfordstories" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">threads.net/@zakfordstories   ⚾️ Instagram: instagram.com/zakfordstories/   ⚾️ Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/zakfor…   ⚾️ TikTok: @zakfordstories" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">tiktok.com/@zakfordstories   ⚾️ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/zakford

“NEXT UP” BOOK UPDATE: What happens when professional ballplayers hang up their equipment? I have conducted interviews with 27 former players about their post-playing career transitions. I am now focused on turning those interview transcripts into first person stories. I’ve always been attracted to stories that humanize players. This interest has grown even stronger as current baseball writing trends focus on statistical analysis and academic style research, often dehumanizing players. (I understand these forms of writing have their place. They just don’t interest me much.) A common misconception among fans is that professional baseball players can retire after their playing days without the need to transition into other careers. This is far from true for the vast majority of players. Through first-person player stories about their post-playing career transitions, “Next Up” will give readers a greater understanding of what players face when they hang up their cleats. The book will include both players who reached the majors and those who did not. It will also include players who remained in baseball and those who entered completely unrelated careers. The first sentence of “Called Up” was, "As a young boy, I did not see major league baseball players as human." The first sentence of “Next Up” very likely will be, "Professional baseball players are human." At this stage, I am most focused on turning transcripts into first-person player stories. They are longer stories than those in “Called Up,” so I anticipate featuring about 35 players in the “Next Up” book. I plan to finish a manuscript by next summer or fall.

Whose story do you want to read? Tomorrow and Friday I'll be posting two more previously unshared MLB call-up and debut stories from my “Called Up” book. See choices below.