Pop Flies and Line Drives

About the Book

Pop Flies and Line Drives recounts highlights of the author's personal visits with former professional baseball players who played in the 1940s and '50s, when he was growing up. Using his hobby of autograph collecting as a springboard, the author methodically locates, contacts, and visits many of the players he watched play in his youth, during baseball's "Golden Era" following World War II. The accounts of his visits stir nostalgic memories of the era and reveal interesting facts about what has happened with many of yesterday's heroes following their seasons in the sun. A "must read" for those who loved the game of baseball when it truly was America's pastime.

Pop Flies and Line Drives is also available in hardcover through www.amazon.com, www.chapters.indigo.ca and www.barnesandnoble.com.

About the Author

Jack Heyde was born in Cincinnati, where his love for the game of baseball began in the 1940s. He has been active as an amateur player and coach most of his life. A Dartmouth College graduate and former U.S. Navy aviator, he recently retired from a career in sales and marketing management and lives in Dallas, Texas with his wife, Barbara. When not pursuing his passion for baseball in some way, he enjoys reading political, military, and social history, and listening to good music. He and his wife, Barbara, like to travel, play golf and tennis, and spend time with their four children and five grandchildren.

Pop Flies & Line Drives is a "winner" particularly from a human interest standpoint. It was interesting to me to learn things about old friends that I haven't seen for awhile or had lost track of over the years. I found it to be very enjoyable reading.

Mel Parnell
Boston Red Sox 1947-1956

If you're into baseball, Pop Flies & Line Drives is great reading. Having lost contact with a lot of fellow players over the years, it meant a great deal to us to read about what has happened with them. It was like "old times" again!
George and Billie Spencer
New York Giants 1950-1955
Detroit Tigers 1958, 1960

I couldn't put it down! Should be a big seller in the baseball world. The Epilogue was an outstanding summation.
Frank Sullivan, pitcher (Boston Red Sox 1953 - 1960, Philadelphia Phillies 1961 - 1962)

"The book was GREAT and it brought back some wonderful childhood memories of when the Dodgers used to come to Mobile for spring practice games. The Epilogue was TOPS and I couldn't agree more with the conclusions."
Jim Duvall
Rancho Santa Fe, CA

"I really enjoyed Pop Flies & Line Drives. When I finished the book, I found myself wishing there were some more stories."
Don Morris
Dallas, Texas

"I started reading the book before I went to bed one night. My plan was to read a little each night, but I couldn't stop reading and wound up finishing the whole thing in one night."
Warren Hires
Irving, Texas

"I loved the book! I sent it on to a friend of mine in Pittsburgh that I played ball with 50 years ago. I know he will love it!"

Jim Louden, Lt.Colonel USAF (Retired)
Greensboro, NC
(Subject of the book, On God's Wings)

"I found the book to be very interesting. It reminds me of books by Donald Honig and his interviews with baseball players."

Kevin Sherrington
Dallas Morning News

"A friend of mine loaned me his copy of Pop Flies & Line Drives to read. I loved it and want a copy of my own for my baseball book collection."

Jack Schlemmer
Dayton, OH

"Readers will appreciate the opportunity to 'visit' with the players in the pages of this book. For lovers of the game of baseball, this will be an interesting read."

Writer's Digest
Cincinnati, Ohio