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Description
The Bullpen Gospels: Major League Dreams of a Minor League VeteranFrom the humble heights of a Class A pitcher's mound to the deflating lows of sleeping on his gun toting grandmother's air mattress, veteran reliever Dirk Hayhurst steps out of the bullpen to deliver the best pitch of his career a raw, unflinching and surprisingly moving account of his life in the minors. I enjoyed the visualizations, maybe a little too much, and would stop only when I felt I'd centered myself. . . or after one of my teammates hit me
From the humble heights of a Class-A pitcher's mound to the deflating lows of sleeping on his gun-toting grandmother's air mattress, veteran reliever Dirk Hayhurst steps out of the bullpen to deliver the best pitch of his career--a raw, unflinching and surprisingly moving account of his life in the minors. I enjoyed the visualizations, maybe a little too much, and would stop only when I felt I'd centered myself. . .or after one of my teammates hit me in the nuts with the rosin bag while my eyes were closed. Hilariously self-effacing and brutally honest, Hayhurst captures the absurdities, the grim realities, and the occasional nuggets of hard-won wisdom culled from four seasons in the minors. Whether training tarantulas to protect his room from thieving employees in a backwater hotel, watching the raging battles fought between his partially paralyzed father and his alcoholic brother, or absorbing the gentle mockery of some not-quite-starstruck schoolchildren, Dirk reveals a side of baseball, and life, rarely seen on ESPN. My career has crash-landed on the floor of my grandma's old sewing room. If this is a dream come true, then dreams smell a lot like mothballs and Bengay. Somewhere between Bull Durham and The Rookie, The Bullpen Gospels takes an unforgettable trot around the inglorious base paths of minor league baseball, where an inch separates a ball from a strike, and a razor-thin margin can be the difference between The Show or a long trip home. "It's not often that someone comes along who is a good pitcher and a good writer." --King Kaufman, Salon "After many minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years spent in the bullpen, I can verify that this is a true picture of baseball."--Tim McCarver
"There are great truths within, of the kind usually unspoken. And as he expresses them, Dirk Hayhurst describes himself as 'a real person who moonlights as a baseball player.' In much the same manner, while The Bullpen Gospels chronicles how all of us face the impact when we learn reality is both far meaner and far richer than our dreams--it also moonlights as one of the best baseball books ever written."
--Keith Olbermann
"A bit of Jim Bouton, a bit of Jim Brosnan, a bit of Pat Jordan, a bit of crash Davis, and a whole lot of Dirk Hayhurst. Often hilarious, sometimes poignant. This is a really enjoyable baseball read."
--Bob Costas
"Fascinating. . .a perspective that fans rarely see."
--Trevor Hoffman, pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers
"The Bullpen Gospels is a rollicking good bus ride of a book. Hayhurst illuminates a baseball life not only with wit and humor, but also with thought-provoking introspection."
--Tom Verducci, Sports Illustrated
"Dirk Hayhurst has written a fascinating, funny and honest account on life in the minor leagues. I loved it. Writers can't play baseball, but in this case, a player sure can write."
--Tim Kurkjian, Senior Writer, ESPN The Magazine, analyst/reporter ESPN television
"Bull Durham meets Ball Four in Dirk Hayhurst's hilarious and moving account of life in baseball's glamour-free bush leagues."
--Rob Neyer, ESPN.com
"If Holden Caulfield could dial up his fastball to 90 mph, he might have written this funny, touching memoir about a ballplayer at a career--and life--crossroads. He might have called it 'Pitcher in the Rye.' Instead, he left it to Dirk Hayhurst, the only writer in the business who can make you laugh, make you cry and strike out Ryan Howard."
--King Kaufman, Salon
"The Bullpen Gospels is a funny bone-tickling, tear duct-stimulating, feel-good story that will leave die-hard baseball fans--and die-hard human beings, for that matter--well, feeling good."
--Bob Mitchell, author of Once Upon a Fastball Dirk Hayhurst is a part time professional baseball player who enjoys comic books, video games, and a good sugar high. Dirk is a former member of the San Diego Padres, and currently a member of the Toronto Blue Jays where he is temporarily on the disabled list. He makes his home in Twinsburg, Ohio, with his wife Bonnie and their pet garfoose.
Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Citadel Press
Published: 04/01/2010
ISBN: 9780806531434
Pages: 340
Weight: 0.67lbs
Size: 8.26h x 5.62w x 0.94d
Review Citations: New York Times Book Review 06/06/2010 pg. 28
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4.8 ★★★★★
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Product Reviews
★★★★★ 5
Pant perfect
Size: 32, Color: White With White Strip, Size: 32, Color: White With White Strip
Love this pant
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Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Pleased Customer!
Size: 42, Color: Red With Black Strip
Perfect fit!
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Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2026
★★★★★ 4
Reasonable quality, slightly small, definitely unhemmed
Size: 42, Color: White With Black Strip, Size: 42, Color: White With Black Strip
If these pants are the right look for what you want/need, they're a reasonably good quality option. But that said, in practice these looked a little "cheesy" with the black stripe. I can't say for sure that's a result of how the product is made/how it looks, but I just couldn't see myself wearing them. That's assuming I could wear them... In terms of fit, they were slightly small in the waist for both pairs I ordered.
I'm not sure what I thought they meant when I read that they were unhemmed, but for those looking for pants to take out of the box and wear... these aren't for you. The ankles are not "finished" and require hemming to make them look acceptable. (This was my fault, so I didn't count off for this)
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Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2021
★★★★★ 3
They stand out, and are flashy, but sizing is complicated.
Size: 34, Color: Black With White Strip, Size: 34, Color: Black With White Strip
High-quality pants and flashy. The stripe adds a lot of attention for reasons both good and bad.
The materials they were made are excellent quality. Pants are thick, but not too thick, and are lightweight, guaranteeing easy movement. Comfortable - could wear these all day.
I do love their appearance. They made me feel like a million bucks. :)
The only problem is sizing and fit. I normally wear size 34 for waist in jeans and dress pants like these, but the 34 I got didn't fit at all - too tight. So, I ordered a 36, and it fit, but barely. When I sat down, there was too much tightness in my "masculine area". I also ordered a 38, and, well, they were just too big - practically hung off me.
A 37 would probably work for me in these, but they don't offer such a size. I have to return the 34 and 38. Will keep the 36, see if I can have it altered in some way.
Length was fine. Being 1.86 meters, often the length in these pants is a little on the short side.
In the photo, I'm wearing size 36 and the black pair with the gold stripe, which is actually more of a flashy yellow. I liked how I looked in them, but they were a little too tight at times, the belt wasn't even necessary. It enhanced the outfit though, don't you think.
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Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2025
★★★★★ 5
Good as a standard "Tuxedo" pants
Size: 42, Color: Black With Red Strip
Red Striping could be wider. These are good as a standard "Tuxedo" pants but if you are looking more fore a "Security Guard" style pants the striping needs to be wider.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2025