Review of "Perfect Game," by Robert Sidney Bowen

 Review of

Perfect Game, by Robert Sidney Bowen

Four out of five stars

Perfection followed by disaster

 Johnny Brown is a pitcher and is in his last game of high school. In dramatic fashion, it is for the championship and Johnny throws a perfect game. A major league scout was in the stands and is ready to sign Johnny to a contract with a substantial bonus. However, Johnny’s friends convince him to attend an end-of-season party and alcohol is involved. Although Johnny doesn’t drink any, he is driving when there is an accident and some of his friends are killed. 

 Due to false testimony, Johnny is convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to a term in prison. He is a model prisoner, but when he gets out he just wants to make a new start elsewhere, so he adopts an alias, moves away and gets a job in a factory. The factory sponsors a baseball team, and Johnny quickly becomes their star pitcher. However, he continues to be fearful of exposure, so he is reluctant to get too close to anybody.  Fortunately, he perseveres and eventually everything works out for Johnny. 

 While this story has a baseball theme, it is really about perseverance, believing in oneself and learning to overcome the most significant of adversities. Johnny proves to be a winner on the diamond as well as in life. Unlike most sports books, this one does not end with the big game at the end. The climax is about a positive twist in Johnny’s life rather than a baseball game.