And God Said, Play Ball!: Amusing and Thought-Provoking Parallels Between the Bible and Baseball

By Gary Graf

Book Overview

This book manages to be entertaining and educational, as well as fanciful and inspirational. It draws from the lives of Jesus Christ and Yogi Berra, Joseph of Nazareth and Joe DiMaggio, Moses and Hank Aaron, Saint Peter and Jackie Robinson. And God Said, "Play Ball " makes the Bible more approachable by relating it to a game loved by both children and adults. It shows that baseball is not only a game, but a never-ending series of lessons about life, as well. And God Said, "Play Ball " will appeal to Christian Athletes of any denomination.

The author has been a baseball fan for more than forty years and a Catholic a lot longer than that. He has played, coached, watched, or taught baseball since he was seven years old. He is very active in lay ministry and catechetics at his Catholic parish in Seattle, and has found both the Bible and baseball to be among the greatest teachers in his life.
This book includes 8 pages of timeless photographs. You won't find a more inspiring gift for that baseball player in your life--of whatever age--or that fan in front of your TV

Paperback

PDF Samples
Selected Excerpts

Listen to an interview with Gary Graf.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764814753
• ISBN13: 9780764814754
• Release Date: February 2006
• Publisher: Liguori Publications
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.58 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.1" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

And God said, "Play Ball"

This was such a fun read. i used it for a devotional and the group I presented it to loved it. Now, obviously, you need to have a love for baseball or the Bible to really enjoy this quick read. I have sent a copy to all of my baseball and God buddies for Christmas. The parallels are excellent in each chapter, or inning. You certainly don't need to be a Biblical scholar to enjoy this book. Now, when is the football edition coming out?

Grandma fan

You have to love baseball and scriptures to thoroughly enjoy this book. Being a fan of both and having a son and three grandsons into both, this filled the bill. I originally bought the book for my son, however I read it first and I so enjoyed how Gary Graf weaved the game of baseball into God's game plan for all of us. Loved it.

Refreshing Approach!

Just finished this book and it was FABULOUS! Haven't seen anything like it before. Who would have thought baseball and the Bible would have that much in common?? I'd recommend this book. It's thought-provoking and a quick read, too.

Made me an even bigger fan of baseball and religion

I'll be honest. I've always been a, shall I say, "more frequent" fan of baseball than of religion. This book will have an impact on that. That it was an interesting baseball read was not the surprising part. The fact that it wove baseball and the Bible seamlessly (like a two-seam fastball) together was the surprise. It was a very entertaining read. It made the stories of the Bible come to life in ways that I hadn't previously experienced. I think anyone with even the slightest interest in baseball would find it fun. And if you have a strong religious background I bet it would be equally rewarding. Bringing together these two elements of life that people believe in so passionately was a natural. I think this would be a great gift for a lot of people. I know I have several people who will be receiving it for Father's Day.