The JUCO Life: Inside the Incredible, Bizarre, One-Of-a-Kind World of Junior College Baseball

Book excerpt: What do Jake Arrieta, Roger Clemens, Hunter Pence, and Andy Pettitte have in common? Other than being high-profile MLB players, all four cut their teeth in junior college before they developed into famous professional superstars. In The JUCO Life, Heath Clary gets to the bottom of why junior college baseball is so effective at developing baseball talent. Heath had the privilege of interviewing dozens of former JUCO players and coaches as well as MLB players and big-time college coaches, and the book intertwines stunning player profiles, interesting tidbits, and cold hard facts to show the reader what makes junior college baseball so special. From delving deep into the San Jac Trio - Clemens, Pettitte, and head coach Wayne Graham - for the first time ever, to narrating Arrieta's wild year at Weatherford College, to revealing crazy tales from Hutchinson College in middle-of-nowhere Kansas, The JUCO Life is the first book of its kind and guaranteed to entertain serious and casual sports fans alike. "With very little applause, fanfare, or glitz, JC baseball is about passion, grit, and love of the game. I thank God I had a chance to cut my teeth in the JC ranks. Heath does a remarkable job of bringing into crystal clear focus what makes JUCO baseball so pure and so beneficial. This is a great read that I highly recommend to all of those that truly love our incredible game!" - Matt Deggs, Louisiana-Lafayette Head Baseball Coach and Author of 15 to 28: A Story of God's Love, Power, and Redemption "We talk so much about Division I baseball, but I've always told people there's nothing wrong with starting at the junior college level. Some of baseball's greatest stars got their feet wet and developed into premier players at the JUCO level. This book takes an in-depth look at JUCO baseball that I've never seen before and is a great tool for anyone who wants to know the ins and outs of the junior college game." - Kendall Rogers, Co-Managing Editor, D1Baseball.com