Small Ball Big Results

by Joel Goldberg

Small Ball Big Results is about the little things that add up to the big wins in baseball, business and life. Leaders and team players alike will draw vital lessons from stories that transport you from the baseball field to the board room, revealing what it takes to build an unbeatable culture. Emmy Award-winning sports broadcaster Joel Goldberg shares tales of perseverance, patience, grit and gratitude from soldiers, executives, entrepreneurs, baseball players and many more. The essence of a strong culture shines through with chapters like "Purpose," "Trust," "Do the Right Thing" and "Every Role Matters." Structured like a baseball game — including extra innings and pre- and post-game shows — Joel is an unending well of stories that will make you laugh, cry, and most importantly, take action in your own life or business. “Joel has always been a great broadcaster and storyteller, and I know this book will continue to prove that!"
- Alex Gordon, Eight-Time Gold Glove Winner, Kansas City Royals 2007-2020 “I know that you will be inspired and encouraged when you lean in and hear these Small Ball stories. Once you read one, you’ll be eager to hear Joel tell you the next one!”
-Susana Eshleman, President and CEO, Children International "Using metaphors from baseball and learnings from sport and business, Joel covers the topics most relevant to leaders today—being guided by purpose, building trust, the importance of talent, dealing with the uncertain and unexpected, and what it means to do the right thing, just to name a few."
- Jeff Jones, H&R Block

202 pages, Paperback

Published December 9, 2020

About the author

Joel Goldberg is a motivational speaker and longtime television broadcaster. He has served as the pre-game/post-game host and in-game reporter with the Kansas City Royals since 2008. Joel also hosts the podcast Rounding The Bases. He lives with his wife, Susan, and their son, Mason, and daughter, Ellie, in Leawood, Kansas.

Reviews

[Matt Woodward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good filler book. Some good lessons and interesting stories from the KC world and some fun behind the curtain Royals stories.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring!

This book is filled with amazing stories of success against the odds. It's a quick read that engages you whether you're a baseball fan or not! Joel has a knack for storytelling, and the way the book is set up like a baseball game is really clever. Great messages for all!

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting book about how people should be treated in business. Mr. Goldberg writes about his experiences as a broadcaster with stories to inspire and encourage people. He is an excellent story teller. I enjoyed the book because it made me reflect on how people have treated me as a worker. I often wished that I had bosses who would have inspired me to be a part of a team. I think that some people who are bosses in a company need to read this book and think how they treat their people in business from the CEO to the person who dumps the trash. We all need to be treated as equal and feel like we are apart of the team. I also like the way he describes how things are at the Kansas City Royals organization. The people, ticket takers, the guys driving the golf carts around for the fans, and the medical staff are the most friendliness of people. When you have people who work for an organization, you know that it comes from the leadership within the company. Treat everyone equal. Great read. Hoping to see more books from Joel Goldberg. I enjoy watching him on Royals broadcasts too.

[Carmen S. Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring Read. Rich in history and full of meaning. Prepare to be mentored.

I have enjoyed Joel for years in his role with the Royals. I wanted to read his book based on the loyalty I feel for him. I don't know what I was expecting, but this book blew me away. The stories are priceless. The lessons herein are going to stay with me. I recommend small ball to all!
Thank you Joel. Forever Royal.

[Britta Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting for people with KC or MLB connections/interest — some cool stories about Royals players or coaches that I hadn’t heard before. I don’t think it would be as enjoyable for people uninterested in KC or baseball. I didn’t learn any lessons that I haven’t read a hundred times from other sources.

[Brent Ross]

A good reminder of how the little things in life add up to the fullness of life and make even the most unlikely people successful. Many stories about Kansas City and the KC Royals that are a must for anyone who lives in the area.

[Leigh O · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decided to read this book since I’m a KC native and big Royals fan. It was cool hearing about Joel’s time with the Royals and the relationships he’s formed with people over the years, plus he seems like a nice guy. I will say that if you’re not a Royals fan or from KC, there’s probably not going to be much in this book for you. That being said, I did like how short it was. Short, sweet, and to the point, just the way I like my books.