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A Pitch for Justice
After a Major League Baseball player dies from a ball intentionally throw at his head by a rookie pitcher, it is up to veteran prosecutor Jaime Brooks to investigate the matter and handle the prosecution. What began as a feud between two teams ends in a national spectacle and a sensational trial when the pitcher is investigated for murder.
Brooks must confront a possible criminal conspiracy among team members, an uncompromising widow bent on avenging her husband's death, corruption in the grand jury, and a national debate over the inherent risks of baseball and the accountability of its players. Should the pitch have been handled by the baseball commissioner, or was it a crime to be prosecuted in the courts?
A Pitch for Justice examines the unwritten rules of baseball on the twenty-year-old rookie who threw the pitch, the game itself, and our legal system. Did he compromise his moral compass for the team's honor? What was in his heart when he threw the fatal pitch?
Author Harold Kasselman prosecuted criminal cases in New Jersey for three decades, and has practiced with a criminal defense firm there for the past several years. He spends his time in New Jersey and Florida with his wife, Robin.
Brooks must confront a possible criminal conspiracy among team members, an uncompromising widow bent on avenging her husband's death, corruption in the grand jury, and a national debate over the inherent risks of baseball and the accountability of its players. Should the pitch have been handled by the baseball commissioner, or was it a crime to be prosecuted in the courts?
A Pitch for Justice examines the unwritten rules of baseball on the twenty-year-old rookie who threw the pitch, the game itself, and our legal system. Did he compromise his moral compass for the team's honor? What was in his heart when he threw the fatal pitch?
Author Harold Kasselman prosecuted criminal cases in New Jersey for three decades, and has practiced with a criminal defense firm there for the past several years. He spends his time in New Jersey and Florida with his wife, Robin.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 16, 2012
52 people are currently reading
588 people want to read
About the author
Harold Kasselman
2 books80 followers I spent my formative years in Southwest Philadelphia where I played every inner-city baseball game imaginable to youngsters. I fell in love with the game of baseball.
I moved to Cherry Hill NJ. and later attended Rutgers College.I followed that up with a masters degree in teaching. I taught high school in Glen Ridge(the alma mater of Tom Cruise) and subsequently Cherry Hill East(alma mater of Orel Hersheiser).
I left teaching and went to law school and developed a love for criminal law.I was a prosecuting attorney for 30 years in Camden County N.J.where I handled literally thousands of cases including 25 murder trials.I worked in criminal defense for six years in the firm of Helmer, Conley, and Kasselman in Haddon Heights.
Now I am currently semi-retired. I know both sides of the criminal system and respect the roles both play.
This is my first novel and it combines my love of baseball and my passion for the criminal legal process.
The impetus for the novel was the increasing violence in sports and specifically retaliation in baseball. I began to wonder whether there would ever be an incident so tragic in its consequences that it would lead to a criminal charge. In my book I examine how that process would occur, whether it would be warranted, and whether it would effect the game of baseball.
I spend my time in Voorhees NJ near my daughter Jaime. I spend winters in Sarasota/Longboat Key Florida.
I hope you will add my book to your to-read list.
I have also recently begun a blog that will touch on legal criminal trials, novels, and baseball
http://apitchforjustice.blogspot.com/...
I moved to Cherry Hill NJ. and later attended Rutgers College.I followed that up with a masters degree in teaching. I taught high school in Glen Ridge(the alma mater of Tom Cruise) and subsequently Cherry Hill East(alma mater of Orel Hersheiser).
I left teaching and went to law school and developed a love for criminal law.I was a prosecuting attorney for 30 years in Camden County N.J.where I handled literally thousands of cases including 25 murder trials.I worked in criminal defense for six years in the firm of Helmer, Conley, and Kasselman in Haddon Heights.
Now I am currently semi-retired. I know both sides of the criminal system and respect the roles both play.
This is my first novel and it combines my love of baseball and my passion for the criminal legal process.
The impetus for the novel was the increasing violence in sports and specifically retaliation in baseball. I began to wonder whether there would ever be an incident so tragic in its consequences that it would lead to a criminal charge. In my book I examine how that process would occur, whether it would be warranted, and whether it would effect the game of baseball.
I spend my time in Voorhees NJ near my daughter Jaime. I spend winters in Sarasota/Longboat Key Florida.
I hope you will add my book to your to-read list.
I have also recently begun a blog that will touch on legal criminal trials, novels, and baseball
http://apitchforjustice.blogspot.com/...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
May 30, 2016
I have been a baseball aficionado from practically the time I was born. When I found the baseball book group here on goodreads I was ecstatic because it combines my two favorite things- baseball and reading. We discuss current events around baseball, and, recently, we explored the many angles of a fight that occurred between the Texas Rangers and Toronto Bluejays. In light of that, one of the group's longtime members Harold Kasselman let me know that he recently wrote a book titled A Pitch For Justice that he self published on Amazon, which is about what would happen if a baseball player actually was prosecuted for his actions on the field in a court of law.
The Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets are divisional rivals and have boiling blood between them. In a key three game series, a Mets pitcher hits a Phillies player in the hand, breaking his finger and putting him on the disabled list. The Phillies manager orders retribution; however, his pitchers do not want to face lengthy suspensions and try to get out of throwing at Mets batters. In the second game of the series, Mets second baseman Ken Leyton slides hard into second to break up a double play. Another Phillies player heads to the disabled list. The Phillies manager orders retribution again, and the next game, rookie pitcher Tim Charles hits Leyton in the head. Even though Charles claims he did not mean to throw at Leyton, in light of the events of the series, both he and his manager are ejected and subsequently handed long suspensions. The next day, the unthinkable happens: Leyton dies as a result of his injuries. His widow, Theresa, does not have time to process her loss and takes matters into her own hands: she takes her case to the DA's office and will not rest until Charles is behind bars.
What ensues is a fast reading law and order thriller. In addition to Charles and his legal team, we meet prosecuting attorney Jaime Brooks, the first officer in the DA's office who is assigned to the case. Brooks is a middle aged bachelor who is due to retire from the office at the end of the year. This case would be the crowning jewel of his career. In the first portion of the pre trial activities, one of the grand jurists Barbara Jay falls for Brooks. To counter the courtroom drama, Kasselman has Brooks and Jay develop a budding romance, which is a tension relief in the course of a heated trial.
I enjoyed the book a great deal. Only one time in the history of baseball has a player died from on field injuries. Players know they are taking a risk every time they step into the batter's box that a pitched ball of over 90 miles per hour could hit them. Despite these risks, the last on field casualty occurred in 1920. Brawls do occur; however, but the suspensions are usually kept to a minimal ten games or less, even if punches are thrown. Kasselman has the combatants in his scenario suspended for the duration of the season pending outcome of the court case. While this may be extreme, I believe that players should be handed more lengthy suspensions for their actions on the field.
This book was a fun baseball read for summer. It spurred some interesting conversations in my family as to whether or not an athlete's actions on the field should be punishable in a court of law. I was able to read it over the course of a day and recommend it to baseball and legal fans alike.
The Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets are divisional rivals and have boiling blood between them. In a key three game series, a Mets pitcher hits a Phillies player in the hand, breaking his finger and putting him on the disabled list. The Phillies manager orders retribution; however, his pitchers do not want to face lengthy suspensions and try to get out of throwing at Mets batters. In the second game of the series, Mets second baseman Ken Leyton slides hard into second to break up a double play. Another Phillies player heads to the disabled list. The Phillies manager orders retribution again, and the next game, rookie pitcher Tim Charles hits Leyton in the head. Even though Charles claims he did not mean to throw at Leyton, in light of the events of the series, both he and his manager are ejected and subsequently handed long suspensions. The next day, the unthinkable happens: Leyton dies as a result of his injuries. His widow, Theresa, does not have time to process her loss and takes matters into her own hands: she takes her case to the DA's office and will not rest until Charles is behind bars.
What ensues is a fast reading law and order thriller. In addition to Charles and his legal team, we meet prosecuting attorney Jaime Brooks, the first officer in the DA's office who is assigned to the case. Brooks is a middle aged bachelor who is due to retire from the office at the end of the year. This case would be the crowning jewel of his career. In the first portion of the pre trial activities, one of the grand jurists Barbara Jay falls for Brooks. To counter the courtroom drama, Kasselman has Brooks and Jay develop a budding romance, which is a tension relief in the course of a heated trial.
I enjoyed the book a great deal. Only one time in the history of baseball has a player died from on field injuries. Players know they are taking a risk every time they step into the batter's box that a pitched ball of over 90 miles per hour could hit them. Despite these risks, the last on field casualty occurred in 1920. Brawls do occur; however, but the suspensions are usually kept to a minimal ten games or less, even if punches are thrown. Kasselman has the combatants in his scenario suspended for the duration of the season pending outcome of the court case. While this may be extreme, I believe that players should be handed more lengthy suspensions for their actions on the field.
This book was a fun baseball read for summer. It spurred some interesting conversations in my family as to whether or not an athlete's actions on the field should be punishable in a court of law. I was able to read it over the course of a day and recommend it to baseball and legal fans alike.
June 2, 2017
Our own Goodreads author, Harold Kasselman, has written an outstanding and intriguing novel "A Pitch for Justice: A Legal Thriller" that keeps the pages turning and your mind working overtime, turning over and over your personal feelings about certain controversial but traditional tactics in professional sports. In this case it's the "bean ball" in baseball. The story is about a young, 20 year old pitcher with the Philadelphia Phillies, Tim Charles, who hits a NY Mets batter, Ken Leyton in the head during a game. This action culminated in a several year running feud between the 2 teams resulting in retaliations from both sides. Tradition is it seems, that players take care of their own by "doing unto others before they do you". If you hit my batter on purpose, I'm going to hit yours. The problem is that Ken Leyton died the next day from the "bean ball" thrown by Charles. Fans from both teams were up in arms and the grieving widow wants Charles charged for murder. The clincher is that the coach and teammates were pressuring Charles to retaliate.
Kasselman, the author and a lifelong Phillies fan, has been a criminal prosecutor for 30 years and very capably took me through the court battle and the emotional battle as well. On one hand, Charles, barely out of high school, was looking at a murder charge and maybe life in prison. On the other hand is the young Leyton widow and son who will be without husband and father.
The story had me saying to myself, that the batter knows of the risks when he steps up to the plate. Leyton had recently been involved in a "dirty, cleats high slide" into second base injuring the Phillies shortstop. A melee erupted on the field. When Leyton stepped up to bat, he must have been aware of the risk. Charles feeling the pressure, did not want to hurt anyone.
What would your assessment be? Should this action call for settlement in criminal court or should professional baseball authorities take the responsibility for meting out punishment. This is fiction, but in 1920, it really happened to a Cleveland Indians batter, hit by a NY Yankees pitcher. The batter later died from brain hemorrhaging. In that case, there were no criminal charges.
If you love sports and books about sports, this one is for you.
Kasselman, the author and a lifelong Phillies fan, has been a criminal prosecutor for 30 years and very capably took me through the court battle and the emotional battle as well. On one hand, Charles, barely out of high school, was looking at a murder charge and maybe life in prison. On the other hand is the young Leyton widow and son who will be without husband and father.
The story had me saying to myself, that the batter knows of the risks when he steps up to the plate. Leyton had recently been involved in a "dirty, cleats high slide" into second base injuring the Phillies shortstop. A melee erupted on the field. When Leyton stepped up to bat, he must have been aware of the risk. Charles feeling the pressure, did not want to hurt anyone.
What would your assessment be? Should this action call for settlement in criminal court or should professional baseball authorities take the responsibility for meting out punishment. This is fiction, but in 1920, it really happened to a Cleveland Indians batter, hit by a NY Yankees pitcher. The batter later died from brain hemorrhaging. In that case, there were no criminal charges.
If you love sports and books about sports, this one is for you.
March 9, 2019
What I didn't know about Baseball.
It is an eye opener . I enjoy baseball and have followed both the Cincinnati Reds and the Atlanta Braves. I will view baseball with a whole new viewpoint from now on. Lookout pitchers i am watching you.
It is an eye opener . I enjoy baseball and have followed both the Cincinnati Reds and the Atlanta Braves. I will view baseball with a whole new viewpoint from now on. Lookout pitchers i am watching you.
September 23, 2024
Rated 4 stars. Very much enjoyed this contemporary fictional courtroom drama centered around baseball.
Have been a baseball fan since 1958. I was 9 and listened to the legendary Vin Scully call the Los Angeles Dodger games on the radio. Became a San Diego Padres fan since going to my first MLB game in 1970.
In the game of baseball it's like "war" between the pitcher and the hitter. Who will control home base? The author does a bang up job of explaining how pitchers try to intimidate hitters. As much as I love the game I've never wanted to play it myself as it takes nerves of steel to stand at home plate and have a ball thrown at you at over 80, 90 even 100 mile per hour!
So with that in mind, in this novel the young pitcher is encouraged by his manager to throw at a hitter in retaliation of the opposing teams hard slide into base in a prior game. This "bean ball" hits the player in the head and he collapses. Player is taken to hospital and then released and told to take it easy. A few days later he collapses again at home and dies.
The hitters widow wants this pitcher charged with murder. And that's when this story really caught my interest. I know very little about law and the author did a great job of explaining how this would play out in court. Very emotional for both families involved.
This was a fast read with some twists to the events that helps the reader to understand not just the legalities but also the culture of baseball.
Highly recommend this to readers who enjoy criminal fiction even if they don't follow baseball.
Have been a baseball fan since 1958. I was 9 and listened to the legendary Vin Scully call the Los Angeles Dodger games on the radio. Became a San Diego Padres fan since going to my first MLB game in 1970.
In the game of baseball it's like "war" between the pitcher and the hitter. Who will control home base? The author does a bang up job of explaining how pitchers try to intimidate hitters. As much as I love the game I've never wanted to play it myself as it takes nerves of steel to stand at home plate and have a ball thrown at you at over 80, 90 even 100 mile per hour!
So with that in mind, in this novel the young pitcher is encouraged by his manager to throw at a hitter in retaliation of the opposing teams hard slide into base in a prior game. This "bean ball" hits the player in the head and he collapses. Player is taken to hospital and then released and told to take it easy. A few days later he collapses again at home and dies.
The hitters widow wants this pitcher charged with murder. And that's when this story really caught my interest. I know very little about law and the author did a great job of explaining how this would play out in court. Very emotional for both families involved.
This was a fast read with some twists to the events that helps the reader to understand not just the legalities but also the culture of baseball.
Highly recommend this to readers who enjoy criminal fiction even if they don't follow baseball.
May 30, 2023
Well, there is no doubt that I am biased and have an interest in this book. I wrote it. It may not be award winning literary fiction , but I feel confident that you'll enjoy the premise, the evolution of the plot, the legal challenges inspired by the premise, and the courtroom and baseball endings.
It's a safe bet that for $3.99 you'll find the novel unique in its theme and a realistic concept. Thanks for adding it to your to read list.
It's a safe bet that for $3.99 you'll find the novel unique in its theme and a realistic concept. Thanks for adding it to your to read list.
October 11, 2013
Very nice crime novel based on baseball. The plot was well thought out and the characters (both the ADA and the pitcher) were very easy to relate to. The best part about this novel, however, was the thought-provoking premise. How would sports change if acts on the field of play could be prosecuted as crimes?
Highly recommend this novel!
Highly recommend this novel!
February 19, 2017
A Pitch for Justice, by Harold Kasselman, is a well-told story that weaves the American pastime of baseball into an interesting legal scenario. The matter-of-fact method used to convey the story makes the reader feel as if he or she is watching a live feed of the trial and circumstances surrounding the unfolding legal drama. The surprise ending makes for an unexpected plot twist and provides a compelling conclusion to the book.
Some have mentioned in earlier reviews issues with editing and punctuation, and while they exist, they don’t get in the way of a well-told story. A few instances of dialogue are difficult to follow, but for the most part, the story is well-told and genuine, and it presents a new and innovative storyline.
I would look forward to another book from Kasselman and would recommend this to anyone that likes legal thrillers and stories involving baseball.
Some have mentioned in earlier reviews issues with editing and punctuation, and while they exist, they don’t get in the way of a well-told story. A few instances of dialogue are difficult to follow, but for the most part, the story is well-told and genuine, and it presents a new and innovative storyline.
I would look forward to another book from Kasselman and would recommend this to anyone that likes legal thrillers and stories involving baseball.
June 23, 2020
The concept of the book is a good one: to what extent should baseball players "own" the consequences of their actions on the field? I applaud the author for having a passion and an interesting idea and getting it down on paper. The reader can tell he loves baseball and that interest does come across.
Unfortunately, the execution of this story idea is dreadful. Here are my biggest issues:
I understand that the book is self-published, but an AP English high school senior could have worked wonders on the grammar/punctuation alone.
The audience doesn't need a wikipedia lesson on every concept that may be unfamiliar (this isn't a research paper). Characters can be introduced in a way other than devoting several paragraphs to their entire backstory and why they are important.
The dialogue is totally unrealistic, nobody speaks like that. Characters can (and should) have unique "voices," they meld together when the only variation in character dialogue is when one person says "gee." And on that note, give that dialogue some inflection! Maybe a blah, blah, blah "she spat," or blah, blah, blah "he murmured." Make us feel something!
I found certain character's reactions to the events completely unbelievable. My husband was a pitcher into college and he balked at the idea that Tim would (mentally) ever be able to play the game again.
And finally: I know it's important to give the characters a life, but the random Jamie/Barbara romance chapters had me feeling like I was reading a dirty old dude's erotic fiction. No, thank you. Added zero to the story.
Unfortunately, the execution of this story idea is dreadful. Here are my biggest issues:
I understand that the book is self-published, but an AP English high school senior could have worked wonders on the grammar/punctuation alone.
The audience doesn't need a wikipedia lesson on every concept that may be unfamiliar (this isn't a research paper). Characters can be introduced in a way other than devoting several paragraphs to their entire backstory and why they are important.
The dialogue is totally unrealistic, nobody speaks like that. Characters can (and should) have unique "voices," they meld together when the only variation in character dialogue is when one person says "gee." And on that note, give that dialogue some inflection! Maybe a blah, blah, blah "she spat," or blah, blah, blah "he murmured." Make us feel something!
I found certain character's reactions to the events completely unbelievable. My husband was a pitcher into college and he balked at the idea that Tim would (mentally) ever be able to play the game again.
And finally: I know it's important to give the characters a life, but the random Jamie/Barbara romance chapters had me feeling like I was reading a dirty old dude's erotic fiction. No, thank you. Added zero to the story.
August 18, 2013
To be honest, I did not exactly read the whole book. I read the beginning, scanned the middle and read the ending. I did not like the documentary style, but I must admit that it was realistic and had me fooled. I started googling the names because I thought it was about real events.
Some of the conversations annoyed me. They kept saying each others name in every qoute.
- Well, Peter, what do you think?
- Well, John, I think...
- You know Peter, that's what I thought.
- Okay John, then we agree.
- Okay Peter, It's been nice talking to you.
- Yeah John, my pleasure.
I have later learned that sport show host in the US actually talk like that :-)
The subject is interesting. What kind of crimes can you get away with on the playing field without being prosecuted for violence, or as in this case, murder?
I have seen some acts in sports that could have merited prosecution.
Some of the conversations annoyed me. They kept saying each others name in every qoute.
- Well, Peter, what do you think?
- Well, John, I think...
- You know Peter, that's what I thought.
- Okay John, then we agree.
- Okay Peter, It's been nice talking to you.
- Yeah John, my pleasure.
I have later learned that sport show host in the US actually talk like that :-)
The subject is interesting. What kind of crimes can you get away with on the playing field without being prosecuted for violence, or as in this case, murder?
I have seen some acts in sports that could have merited prosecution.
April 11, 2023
This was really good. It has two of my favorite things - sports and legal drama. I wasn't sure where the author would go with the story until the end. I liked it a lot.
May 5, 2019
I found this book to be quite enjoyable. I love baseball and enjoy a good courtroom drama, and this delivered satisfaction in both areas. The book explores what might happen if a law court got involved in a case in which a pitcher hit a batter, resulting in the death of that batter. I found the premise plausible and fascinating. The narrative was well paced, and the many twists and turns in the plot kept me guessing until the end.
July 19, 2012
Only one time in the history of major league baseball was a player killed during a game. It happened on August 16, 1920 in a game between the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Indians. Carl Mays, a submarine pitcher for the Yankees hit Ray Chapman, a shortstop for the Cleveland Indians, in the left temple area. Helmets were not worn at that time and the pitch knocked Chapman to the ground. Chapman was able to walk off the field with the help of other players. Chapman died at 4:00 AM the next morning after an unsuccessful operation to stop the bleeding.
The police questioned Mays and he claimed the act was an accident and he was not throwing at Chapman. The District Attorney took Mays at his word and decided to close the case without filing any charges. The DA felt that it was a tragic accident that was unavoidable in a game that had inherent risks.
"A Pitch for Justice" is the story involving the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets in 2016 in which a young fastball pitcher for the Phillies intentionally throws at a Mets batter, on instructions from his manager, and hits him in the head killing him. There are a number of incidents that precede this tragedy, all of them revolving around the "code of honor" players follow to protect their team mates and to deliver payback for a perceived wrong.
The first 25% of this book involves the game of baseball and the events that lead to the players death. The remainder of the book is more about the legal issues after the Phillies pitcher is charged with first degree murder. The book poses some thought provoking questions, ie:
Should a pitcher be charged with first degree murder if he intentionally throws at a batters head and kills him?
Should the pitcher be charged with manslaughter?
Should no charges be made since this is an inherent risk all ball players must accept
Should the manager who instructs the pitcher to throw at a batter with the intention of causing injury be charged as an accomplice?
Is a baseball in the hands of a fastball pitcher a lethal weapon?
What risks does a batter assume when facing a pitcher who throws an 100 mph fastball?
The legal proceedings are right out of a John Grisham novel. The chapters on the grand jury investigation were quite educational for me since I really did not know how a grand jury investigation works. The trial itself presents the issues that must be considered in order to arrive at a just verdict. Even if you aren't a fan of baseball I think you will enjoy this book.
The police questioned Mays and he claimed the act was an accident and he was not throwing at Chapman. The District Attorney took Mays at his word and decided to close the case without filing any charges. The DA felt that it was a tragic accident that was unavoidable in a game that had inherent risks.
"A Pitch for Justice" is the story involving the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets in 2016 in which a young fastball pitcher for the Phillies intentionally throws at a Mets batter, on instructions from his manager, and hits him in the head killing him. There are a number of incidents that precede this tragedy, all of them revolving around the "code of honor" players follow to protect their team mates and to deliver payback for a perceived wrong.
The first 25% of this book involves the game of baseball and the events that lead to the players death. The remainder of the book is more about the legal issues after the Phillies pitcher is charged with first degree murder. The book poses some thought provoking questions, ie:
Should a pitcher be charged with first degree murder if he intentionally throws at a batters head and kills him?
Should the pitcher be charged with manslaughter?
Should no charges be made since this is an inherent risk all ball players must accept
Should the manager who instructs the pitcher to throw at a batter with the intention of causing injury be charged as an accomplice?
Is a baseball in the hands of a fastball pitcher a lethal weapon?
What risks does a batter assume when facing a pitcher who throws an 100 mph fastball?
The legal proceedings are right out of a John Grisham novel. The chapters on the grand jury investigation were quite educational for me since I really did not know how a grand jury investigation works. The trial itself presents the issues that must be considered in order to arrive at a just verdict. Even if you aren't a fan of baseball I think you will enjoy this book.
January 31, 2013
Author Harold Kasselman has given us a uniquely realistic story of the ramifications that could result from a baseball pitch hitting a batter in the head and ultimately resulting in the death of the batter. Is this a situation that should be handled by the Commissioner of Baseball or is it one that should be treated as a crime and brought before a Grand Jury?
The rivalry between the Phillies and the Mets is palpable and retaliation is the name of the game. Rookie pitcher Tim Charles is embroiled in a conspiracy endorsed by manager Buck Sawyer to throw a pitch to intimidate and hit second baseman for the Mets Kenny Leyton. The pitch hits Leyton in the head and he drops to the ground. He suffers a concussion and against doctor's orders goes home to rest. The next day he is having great difficulty and is rushed to the emergency room where he subsequently dies from his injuries. Leyton's Widow Theresa masks her grief behind anger and vengeance and is determined to get justice for her husband's death no matter what the cost.
This book brings to the surface the competitive nature of baseball and the lengths that players are expected to go to in order to be competitive and support the players on their team. Does the fact that this type of retaliation has always been part of the game make it acceptable?
This is not just a book about baseball; it is also about the morals and values of those in the game and the inner workings of the legal system in their quest for justice. The process of the Grand Jury deciding to prosecute and the inner workings of this process as well as the trial that ensues are riveting and informative. You have a glimpse into the inner workings of the legal system and the compromises and deals that are made before a case gets to trial.
The characters of Tim Charles the pitcher, Buck Sawyer the team manager and Jamie Brooks the prosecutor and an avid baseball fan are extremely well-developed. They successfully draw you into their lives as the drama and intensity of the legal issues bring them together.
This is a very realistic story written with knowledge and depth. The Author's background as an attorney is evident as he leads the reader through the court system with intelligence and ease. The style of writing is easy to follow, filled with interesting characters and portrays the inner working of the legal system with great fascination.
The rivalry between the Phillies and the Mets is palpable and retaliation is the name of the game. Rookie pitcher Tim Charles is embroiled in a conspiracy endorsed by manager Buck Sawyer to throw a pitch to intimidate and hit second baseman for the Mets Kenny Leyton. The pitch hits Leyton in the head and he drops to the ground. He suffers a concussion and against doctor's orders goes home to rest. The next day he is having great difficulty and is rushed to the emergency room where he subsequently dies from his injuries. Leyton's Widow Theresa masks her grief behind anger and vengeance and is determined to get justice for her husband's death no matter what the cost.
This book brings to the surface the competitive nature of baseball and the lengths that players are expected to go to in order to be competitive and support the players on their team. Does the fact that this type of retaliation has always been part of the game make it acceptable?
This is not just a book about baseball; it is also about the morals and values of those in the game and the inner workings of the legal system in their quest for justice. The process of the Grand Jury deciding to prosecute and the inner workings of this process as well as the trial that ensues are riveting and informative. You have a glimpse into the inner workings of the legal system and the compromises and deals that are made before a case gets to trial.
The characters of Tim Charles the pitcher, Buck Sawyer the team manager and Jamie Brooks the prosecutor and an avid baseball fan are extremely well-developed. They successfully draw you into their lives as the drama and intensity of the legal issues bring them together.
This is a very realistic story written with knowledge and depth. The Author's background as an attorney is evident as he leads the reader through the court system with intelligence and ease. The style of writing is easy to follow, filled with interesting characters and portrays the inner working of the legal system with great fascination.
June 17, 2014
Baseball fans and law enthusiasts, I highly recommend that you read A Pitch for Justice by Harold Kasselman. I recently read this novel while on a 10-day, guided vacation tour. As I got deeper into the book, I couldn't wait for the guide to stop talking so that I could continue reading. I felt a little guilty not watching out the window all the time, but not guilty enough to make me stop reading entirely.
Kasselman also provided some interesting side stories on several of the characters in order to break up the legalese and baseball jargon. These stories helped make me care more about the individuals involved rather than just viewing the book as a documentary. Overall this book was a great first novel! I look forward to reading his future books.
Now on to the more documentary portions of the novel: The concept of considering a pitched ball a lethal weapon put a new spin on how baseball might be played in the future. It also made me think about the other high-contact sports like football, ice hockey, and rugby. Will we start having the police on the sidelines waiting to arrest any player that gets too rough?
I don't think reasonable sports fans would ever want the laws to go in that direction. Roughness is all part of the game, in my opinion. I'm okay with having the referees/umpires take care of penalizing players for their actions. Professional players get paid huge salaries to take the risk that they might have a career-ending injury at any time. They have access to all kinds of training and protective equipment, if used properly, to minimize their odds of severe injuries. Having said this, I still wish that everyone would remember that these sports are still just games. No one should ever die because of playing a game.
Kasselman also provided some interesting side stories on several of the characters in order to break up the legalese and baseball jargon. These stories helped make me care more about the individuals involved rather than just viewing the book as a documentary. Overall this book was a great first novel! I look forward to reading his future books.
Now on to the more documentary portions of the novel: The concept of considering a pitched ball a lethal weapon put a new spin on how baseball might be played in the future. It also made me think about the other high-contact sports like football, ice hockey, and rugby. Will we start having the police on the sidelines waiting to arrest any player that gets too rough?
I don't think reasonable sports fans would ever want the laws to go in that direction. Roughness is all part of the game, in my opinion. I'm okay with having the referees/umpires take care of penalizing players for their actions. Professional players get paid huge salaries to take the risk that they might have a career-ending injury at any time. They have access to all kinds of training and protective equipment, if used properly, to minimize their odds of severe injuries. Having said this, I still wish that everyone would remember that these sports are still just games. No one should ever die because of playing a game.
August 10, 2016
A Pitch for Justice is a novel that combines the great sport of baseball with a good old-fashioned legal trial that kept me guessing throughout. The book started with an excellent premise, although it was one I thought was a little more speculative and hypothetical than realistic.....until I got into reading the book. There was one line in particular, and I'm going to paraphrase it, which stated that committing a murder (or manslaughter) during a sporting event doesn't mean you automatically get away with it. So true and I have no doubt that if a player were killed by a beaning they might well end up on trial and that Pitch for Justice would be a rationale.
The book is an overall good story, too as there is a love interest which develops over time, a few surprises that come out of the woodwork and are likely derived from the authors's 30-plus year career in the law. I learned a lot about the real workings of a legal case from this book--I especially enjoyed the grand jury process and the way the jurors impacted the charges.
This was a book I picked up on a Friday and finished by Sunday. Definitely put me in the mood for baseball season. I truly was not sure which way the verdict would come out and I'm not sure if I would have voted the same way if I was on the jury. Kasselman's book does an effective job of creating sympathy for characters who are on opposite sides of the issue which means there's not any cliche of good guy-bad guys but instead a realistic depiction where each side does their best in making their "pitch" for what they believe to be justice.
RC
The book is an overall good story, too as there is a love interest which develops over time, a few surprises that come out of the woodwork and are likely derived from the authors's 30-plus year career in the law. I learned a lot about the real workings of a legal case from this book--I especially enjoyed the grand jury process and the way the jurors impacted the charges.
This was a book I picked up on a Friday and finished by Sunday. Definitely put me in the mood for baseball season. I truly was not sure which way the verdict would come out and I'm not sure if I would have voted the same way if I was on the jury. Kasselman's book does an effective job of creating sympathy for characters who are on opposite sides of the issue which means there's not any cliche of good guy-bad guys but instead a realistic depiction where each side does their best in making their "pitch" for what they believe to be justice.
RC
January 3, 2014
This is Kasselman’s first novel, yet he writes like a seasoned pro.
If you like the intrigue of court and the workings political working of the DA’s office mixed with real character development along the lines of the Butch Karp and Marlene Ciampi series by Robert Tanenbaum you are in for a double treat. A Pitch For Justice is a great book and you have found a new author to follow.
This book will delight you all the way from the realism of the set-up, the characters that build the story, and the twists and turns bringing this story to some unexpected places. Is it murder? That is the question that many people try to figure out – and I found myself wondering the same thing. Given that I knew exactly what happened it is a testament to the excellence of the writing that I was wondering if a legal murder or manslaughter had happened. This is a suspense sports psychology novel of the best type. You’re gonna love it.
You will learn a lot about baseball – the nitty-gritty insider stuff that only real players or die-hard fans understand. What I found amazing is that while I am not particularly a strong baseball fan, the ‘education’ about the why the game is played as it is, was fascinating because it is so well told.
My only hope is that Mr. Kasselman publishes his next novel soon.
If you like the intrigue of court and the workings political working of the DA’s office mixed with real character development along the lines of the Butch Karp and Marlene Ciampi series by Robert Tanenbaum you are in for a double treat. A Pitch For Justice is a great book and you have found a new author to follow.
This book will delight you all the way from the realism of the set-up, the characters that build the story, and the twists and turns bringing this story to some unexpected places. Is it murder? That is the question that many people try to figure out – and I found myself wondering the same thing. Given that I knew exactly what happened it is a testament to the excellence of the writing that I was wondering if a legal murder or manslaughter had happened. This is a suspense sports psychology novel of the best type. You’re gonna love it.
You will learn a lot about baseball – the nitty-gritty insider stuff that only real players or die-hard fans understand. What I found amazing is that while I am not particularly a strong baseball fan, the ‘education’ about the why the game is played as it is, was fascinating because it is so well told.
My only hope is that Mr. Kasselman publishes his next novel soon.
March 4, 2013
Harold Kasselman's "A Pitch for Justice" is not the sort of book I'd normally stay up late reading, but I found its combination of baseball and a tense courtroom drama absorbing. At one level it's a straightforward story of a young man pushed across a bright line by a mentor he admires, to the point that he will throw a fatal beanball to avenge perceived slights and injuries inflicted by the other team. In other words, it's schoolyard bullying brought to the major leagues.
There are interesting subplots aplenty. The victim's widow, who morphs from faithful wife to vindictive harridan and then abandons any pretense of self-control; the DA who gets rid of the case so it won't endanger her re-election; the coach who zealously manipulates a 20-year-old pitcher (after a more experienced one turns him down); and a nice romantic subplot between the prosecutor and a night-club singer who was a member of the grand jury. Given Kellerman's background as a prosecutor I suspect the assistant DA Jaime is an autobiographical figure; he publicly credits his wife Robin as the model for the singer.
The book would benefit from a strong editor, both for the story line and basic grammar and punctuation, which is why I gave it four stars rather than five, but it was a good read that I enjoyed.
There are interesting subplots aplenty. The victim's widow, who morphs from faithful wife to vindictive harridan and then abandons any pretense of self-control; the DA who gets rid of the case so it won't endanger her re-election; the coach who zealously manipulates a 20-year-old pitcher (after a more experienced one turns him down); and a nice romantic subplot between the prosecutor and a night-club singer who was a member of the grand jury. Given Kellerman's background as a prosecutor I suspect the assistant DA Jaime is an autobiographical figure; he publicly credits his wife Robin as the model for the singer.
The book would benefit from a strong editor, both for the story line and basic grammar and punctuation, which is why I gave it four stars rather than five, but it was a good read that I enjoyed.
June 14, 2012
This is a very good idea and for the most part I enjoyed the ride more than the read. By that I mean this... I (for the most part) enjoyed the story although I do think the characters could have been developed a little more. There was no individual character that I could read about and feel "Yessss I know just how it feels" or "wow.. if that was me it would SUCK!".
The development work that IS there is shallow and predictable and some of the dialogue could have been improved.
Dont get me wrong. This is a good idea and a great first effort and I hope this review isn't too harsh. The least enjoyable part of the book was the ending, which was again predictable and almost beyond the my ability to accept. How many major league ball players are going to get lost and stop to ask a gang banger for directions? I bet a person would be hard pressed to find a MLB player that does not have a vehicle that is GPS equipped.
Over all, I give this one 3 notes of "chin music" out of a possible 5
TI just read the updated and alternate ending and this is JUST what the story needed. Great idea, great story and the new ending put this one out of the park! Worthy of 4 hit batters out of a possible 5!
The development work that IS there is shallow and predictable and some of the dialogue could have been improved.
Dont get me wrong. This is a good idea and a great first effort and I hope this review isn't too harsh. The least enjoyable part of the book was the ending, which was again predictable and almost beyond the my ability to accept. How many major league ball players are going to get lost and stop to ask a gang banger for directions? I bet a person would be hard pressed to find a MLB player that does not have a vehicle that is GPS equipped.
Over all, I give this one 3 notes of "chin music" out of a possible 5
TI just read the updated and alternate ending and this is JUST what the story needed. Great idea, great story and the new ending put this one out of the park! Worthy of 4 hit batters out of a possible 5!
August 13, 2016
A Pitch for Justice is based on a nightmare scenario that takes place during a baseball game in front of a stadium of fans and a national television audience. What follows is a well-written, detailed and fascinating account of the prosecution of a young pitcher who throws a fatal pitch. This is a work of fiction, and even though I was aware of the fact, the book is so well-researched and true-to-life that I found myself double-checking the dates and the last note from the author just to be sure.
I'm not a big baseball fan, but you don't have to be a fan of the sport to be intrigued by A Pitch for Justice. Kasselman deftly draws his reader into the story and the drama that leads up to the tense and exciting moments of the trial. Kasselman does a great job of showing all sides of the controversy from the devastated widow to the cynical but hardworking lawyers and the young man on trial. I found myself looking into the early case referred to in the book of a real-life instance when a batter was killed by a pitch. Kasselman's love of baseball, and his knowledge of the inner workings of the criminal justice system combine to create a very enjoyable and readable courtroom drama.
I'm not a big baseball fan, but you don't have to be a fan of the sport to be intrigued by A Pitch for Justice. Kasselman deftly draws his reader into the story and the drama that leads up to the tense and exciting moments of the trial. Kasselman does a great job of showing all sides of the controversy from the devastated widow to the cynical but hardworking lawyers and the young man on trial. I found myself looking into the early case referred to in the book of a real-life instance when a batter was killed by a pitch. Kasselman's love of baseball, and his knowledge of the inner workings of the criminal justice system combine to create a very enjoyable and readable courtroom drama.
December 17, 2014
A Pitch for Justice is a story about the unwritten rule of baseball conveyed through the mechanism of a court forum. As stated in the book, Baseball is a game for kids – but played by adults.
As an uninformed individual of both baseball and the legal system, I read this story as pure entertainment. I was not disappointed.
I learned a couple of baseball terms, such as, beaning and chin music. As far as courtroom drama goes, it maintained the suspense of an unpredictable trial. Kasselman’s background affords him to educate readers regarding law issues, without sounding condescending.
A Pitch for Justice is thought provoking. The dilemma concerns a baseball player who kills another player throwing a bean ball. Does this constitute murder, or a lesser degree of murder, or none at all?
I recommend A Pitch for Justice by Harold Kasselman for readers who enjoy a good story well told.
As an uninformed individual of both baseball and the legal system, I read this story as pure entertainment. I was not disappointed.
I learned a couple of baseball terms, such as, beaning and chin music. As far as courtroom drama goes, it maintained the suspense of an unpredictable trial. Kasselman’s background affords him to educate readers regarding law issues, without sounding condescending.
A Pitch for Justice is thought provoking. The dilemma concerns a baseball player who kills another player throwing a bean ball. Does this constitute murder, or a lesser degree of murder, or none at all?
I recommend A Pitch for Justice by Harold Kasselman for readers who enjoy a good story well told.
September 7, 2013
Any good novel has to be built around a single premise. The premise should be able to be summed up in one sentence. What if a man was killed by a pitch (ala Ray Chapman) and the pitcher was charged with murder? Very interesting. Now you have your high concept if you will. And that is the premise of a Pitch For Justice. Harold Kasselman integrates the legal with the baseball in the seamless style of any well written bestseller. He does have the legal knowledge but he also has the knowledge of the game and sticks to the premise of the novel. Can a man murder another man with a baseball pitch? Less is more. I have read Scott Turow. I have heard him speak and we traded emails a few times. And I have read Bang the Drum Slowly. You can tell Harold Kasselman loves the law and baseball. A Pitch for Justice is a seamless integration that I could not put down. The Pitcher
April 15, 2013
This is an intriguing story about what might happen should a Major League hurler kill a hitter with a pitched ball. Harold Kasselman decided to play it out in the courtroom. The author does a nice job of bringing to life some very believable characters - the pitcher facing possible conviction, the prosecutor torn between doing his job and wondering if the pitcher should even be on trial, and the victim's mother who's intent on seeing justice done. Kasselman's book is a nice read and isn't cluttered with arcane legal matter. He also has a passion and great knowledge about the game of baseball. But you certainly don't have to be a fan of the national pastime to enjoy this page turner.
May 28, 2014
Author Harold Kasselman's first novel successfully combines the intricacies of law with the love of baseball. The plot centers around a case of fatally misdirected chin music. As I read the story, I learned a great deal about baseball, including the "fear factor" -- the controversial, but seemingly accepted practice of pitchers hitting batters as an unwritten rule of retaliation, or intimidation. I could only empathize with an inexperienced defendant who tried to conform to team expectations with fatal results. In the end, I was grateful that justice did prevail. Bravo to Harold Kasselman for an entertaining experience.
June 9, 2012
A great premise. A pitcher beans a batter, killing him.. The DA decides to charge the pitcher and manager with murder, or at least manslaughter. I was totally into it, having played and coached baseball for a number of years... I think everyone who has played can relate to retaliation from a pitcher, so this book really caught and held my attention. Harold Kasselman also read and responded to my first review, where I and some others had criticized his ending. He took the criticism and rewrote the ending and in my mind has created a great baseball book of which there are not enough...
June 4, 2013
I love baseball & I love a good crime drama. Unfortunately, this book did not live up to its potential. The characters were not fully developed, ESPECIALLY the female characters. The women were either psychos, filler, or bimbos. In the first 1/3 of the book, the writer introduced a female character, then just dropped her. It was odd. Also, the writing sounded like someone from my dad's generation wrote it. It was really awkward & phony at times. Could have been a contender, but fell flat...especially at the end.
September 11, 2013
I started this book and then put it down. I'm not a huge baseball fan.
But then i was encouraged to finish it and I will say I'm glad I took the time.
This book is in a class by itself. It's technically fiction but it reads like nonfiction. It has baseball but what was really interesting to me was the legal drama. Mr. Kasselman spent years as a prosecutor and those scenes were very well done.
Definitely worth a read. Good job!! So glad I finished it.
But then i was encouraged to finish it and I will say I'm glad I took the time.
This book is in a class by itself. It's technically fiction but it reads like nonfiction. It has baseball but what was really interesting to me was the legal drama. Mr. Kasselman spent years as a prosecutor and those scenes were very well done.
Definitely worth a read. Good job!! So glad I finished it.
November 3, 2015
I enjoyed this quite a bit. It doesn't read like your typical fiction novel. Instead it reads more like a news article or a memoir, but never was I bored. It states the "facts" with only a bit of side commentary. In fact, many times I had to remind myself that the events weren't real. It also dives into facts and history regarding baseball and explains details of the legal system. My interest was caught from beginning to end. Definitely a unique book.
April 12, 2015
Very impressive first novel concerning violence in sports and the legal implications of that violence, with a primer for laymen about the workings of the criminal justice system. Highly recommended. Whether it's a beanball in baseball or a high stick in hockey, society has long labored with the issue of what should be the consequences of sport thuggery, and this book discusses those issues with intelligence and balance.
April 9, 2018
How this book is so highly rated is really suspicious.Most of the 5 star ratings come from Pa. and Fla.which happens to be the home states, if you will, for the author. The characters have little to no background or build up while other character disappear for no apparent reason.
I just re-read this book and it's no better the second time around. Juvenile effort, at best.
I just re-read this book and it's no better the second time around. Juvenile effort, at best.
July 1, 2013
This book poses an interesting question: Is a pitcher who purposely hits a batter in the head guilty of murder? Read it and find out! It's an enjoyable read whether you're a baseball fan (I am ) or not, but it does contain some stats, which might not be all that interesting to non-fans. It has an interesting twist at the end.
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