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Mike Murphey
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The Conman: A Baseball Odyssey Kindle Edition

by Mike Murphey (Author), Keith Comstock (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 out of 5 stars 69 ratings

Conor Nash has lived his life with a single purpose—to pitch in the Major Leagues. He’s been released from professional baseball contracts ten times over a sixteen-year career, but he’s overcome every obstacle to finally reach The Show when he’s a decade too old. As he faces the specter of injury-forced retirement, he becomes a man neither he nor his wife recognizes.

During his career, Conor avoided the trap of alcohol and drugs because his drug was baseball. And what can an addict do when he realizes he will never get that high again? Conor climbs treacherous Camelback Mountain, drinks a bottle of Champagne, recalls people and events, and seeks an answer. Who is Conor Nash if he can’t pitch?

The Conman is based on the Life of Keith Comstock. Keith pitched professionally for sixteen years, including Major League time with the Seattle Mariners, the San Diego Padres, the San Francisco Giants and the Minnesota Twins. Following his retirement in 1992, Keith has held minor league coaching and managing positions with several organizations. For the past decade he has served as the rehabilitation instructor for the Texas Rangers.

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  1. Print length
    311 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    November 11, 2019
  4. File size
    2.9 MB
  5. Page Flip
    Enabled
  6. Word Wise
    Enabled
  7. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Conman is a truly enjoyable fictional retelling of a true story. From the highs (being signed with amazing teams, marriage, loyal friends) to the lows (being released from contracts with amazing teams, relationship difficulties, losing loved ones to illness), Murphey and Comstock really encapsulate the human experience from an athlete's perspective." - Five Star Review by Steve Quade

About the Author

Mike Murphey is a native of New Mexico and spent almost thirty years as an award-winning journalist in the Southwest and Pacific Northwest. He also freelanced for several magazines in both regions. Following his retirement, he entered into an eighteen-year partnership with the late Dave Henderson, All-Star centerfielder for the Oakland Athletics, Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners, to produce the A's and Mariners adult Baseball Fantasy Camps, as well as other amateur baseball events throughout the country. Mike loves baseball, sailing, fiction and cats. He splits his time between Spokane, Washington, and Phoenix, Arizona where he enjoys life as a writer and old-man baseball player.

The Conman is based on the Life of Keith Comstock. Keith pitched professionally for sixteen years, including Major League time with The Seattle Mariners, the San Diego Padres, the San Francisco Giants and the Minnesota Twins. Following his retirement in 1992, Keith has held minor league coaching and managing positions with several organizations. For the past decade he has served as the rehabilitation instructor for the Texas Rangers.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07ZJNDSHD
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Acorn Publishing (November 11, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 11, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.9 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 311 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 69 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Mike Murphey

    Mike Murphey

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    A native of eastern New Mexico, Mike Murphey spent nearly thirty years as an award-winning newspaper journalist in the Southwest and Pacific Northwest. Following his retirement from news journalism, he and his wife Nancy entered in a seventeen-year partnership with the late Dave Henderson, all-star centerfielder for the Oakland Athletics, Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners.

    Our company, Dave Henderson Baseball, produced the Oakland A’s and Seattle Mariners Fantasy Camps for twenty years. The Murpheys have also partnered with the Roy Hobbs adult baseball organization in Fort Myers, Florida. Mike’s love of fiction, cats, baseball and sailing affords him to split his time between Spokane, Washington, and Phoenix, Arizona, where he enjoys life as a writer and old-man baseball player.

    To receive a free Short Story - OLD MAN BASEBALL here .... https://www.mikemurpheybooks.com/freebies

    or visit my website ....https://www.mikemurpheybooks.com/

    See more on the author's page
  2. Mike Murphey

    Mike Murphey

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Michael Murphey grew up in Eastern New Mexico, and spent nearly thirty years as a newspaper journalist in the Southwest and Pacific Northwest. Following his retirement from journalism in 1998, Murphey began his second career in baseball, where he is one of three partners in a company called Dave Henderson Baseball Adventures, which produces the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners fantasy camps as well as other adult amateur baseball events throughout the country. His life as an old man baseball player has also afforded him time in recent years to resume writing. He has been an avid lover of the written word all his life. He divides his time among Spokane, Washington, Phoenix, Arizona, and Fort Myers, Florida.

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
69 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book very entertaining, with one mentioning it has belly laughs. Moreover, the story quality receives positive feedback, with one customer describing it as a highly recommended story of perseverance. Additionally, the writing style is appreciated, with one customer noting it's written with a baseball lover's appreciation for the industry.

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9 customers mention "Humor"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book humorous and entertaining, describing it as a great baseball book with belly laughs.

"...This is not to be missed!!! It provides comedy relief at just the right moment...." Read more

"A great read if you like stories of persistence, commitment and a never quit attitude...." Read more

"...A great book." Read more

"...Baseball life can be complicated, fun, depressing, and laugh-out-loud crazy... enjoy the journey." Read more

6 customers mention "Story quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story of the book, with one describing it as a highly recommended tale of perseverance.

"...Mike Murphy brings the story alive with a unique writing style where you feel like you were there all along the way. Highly recommended." Read more

"Being a fiction book but based on the real life of the author made it fun trying to think of the people he was talking about...." Read more

"...But if you're looking for a good story about someone with relatively modest native talent who manages to achieve his dream through sheer will and..." Read more

"As a baseball fan and lover of good stories, I thoroughly enjoyed Mike Murphy's take on the life most professional athletes lead...." Read more

6 customers mention "Writing style"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the writing style of the book, finding it easy to read and appreciating the author's love for baseball.

"...Written with a baseball lovers appreciation for the industry our authors paint an all encompassing portrait of everyday ups and downs of a career..." Read more

"...Mike Murphy brings the story alive with a unique writing style where you feel like you were there all along the way. Highly recommended." Read more

"...Well researched, written, and shows a true love for baseball. Thanks." Read more

"...us a slice of Major League Baseball in a funny, informative, easy read." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Headly
    5.0 out of 5 stars This should have been called "The Grind"
    Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Baseball..America as apple pie, but this pie can really leave a sour taste in your mouth and in your life. Read this tale of The Conman and you will understand the life of a man who lived and dreamed and believed baseball. Read about the numerous times he was summarily fired,dismissed,kicked off a team after performing at maximum level all season. Discover how a a glamorous baseball career starts off with living with your parents for seven years and having a whopping salary of $1000.00 a month actually look good. Conman is traded again and again ( seven?? nine??..I lost count) going from raggedy single A teams to his short lived stint with the majors ,all the while bringing his family along.

    At this point remember his wife moves with him, her name is Kate, and usually she followed him place to place while driving alone or pregnant or with children and sometimes both. Always there with kind words or a determined look that Conman may have needed at that moment.

    This shows baseball in a clear bright light with all its wrinkles and pain that none of us in the stands ever realise how difficult "playing" a game can be.

    But baseball is also about silly and somewhat childish hijinks to garner the crowds appreciation or just to screw with the heads of the opposition. At about 80% into the story we make the acquaintance of Starman! This is not to be missed!!! It provides comedy relief at just the right moment.

    Written with a baseball lovers appreciation for the industry our authors paint an all encompassing portrait of everyday ups and downs of a career in baseball. The ending was a bit too.. "Its A Wonderful Life".....but I'll give them a pass.

    It a great and enjoyable read!!
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  • JNick
    5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended story of perseverance.
    Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    A great read if you like stories of persistence, commitment and a never quit attitude. It has been said that it is not what happens that matters, but how you deal with it. Mike Murphy brings the story alive with a unique writing style where you feel like you were there all along the way. Highly recommended.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Greg
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book
    Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Being a fiction book but based on the real life of the author made it fun trying to think of the people he was talking about. Being a big baseball fan and having played through college, I understood the feelings the character was experiencing. A great book.
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  • anneu53714
    4.0 out of 5 stars An interesting baseball memoir
    Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This book is a cross between a memoir and a roman a clef; sometimes it's hard to tell what's an actual memory and what is fictionalized in the manner of "The names have been changed to protect the guilty." I found the writers' technique of going back and forth between 3rd person storytelling and 1st person memories somewhat confusing, which is why I didn't give it 5 stars. But if you're looking for a good story about someone with relatively modest native talent who manages to achieve his dream through sheer will and determination (with hijinks and calamities along the way), you would probably enjoy this book.
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars What Happens Outside the Lines...
    Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Every kid dreams of making it in the majors, but is any kid aware of the real sacrifice involved? Front office folks with agendas, caught in a numbers game, dealing with injuries (and injustices) are potential roadblocks.
    Conor Nash deals with all these and some personal demons besides. Baseball life can be complicated, fun, depressing, and laugh-out-loud crazy... enjoy the journey.
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  • Mickey D. Barnett
    5.0 out of 5 stars Funny and memorable
    Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Great read. The Conman is a fascinating character that as a reader I couldn’t wait to see how his life turned out. He and his circle of friends were really funny and sentimental. The book has belly laughs and some tears and a great look behind the scenes of professional baseball. Get it.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • mikemacdonald72
    5.0 out of 5 stars An odyssey indeed
    Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I've had the privilege of knowing a couple of guys who come close to living this story. I could listen to them talk baseball all day long. We as fans never get to see the true drama that goes with the life of a pro ballplayer, but The Conman brings us as close to living it as we'll get.
    Well researched, written, and shows a true love for baseball. Thanks.
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  • Mets fan.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fun book for baseball fans
    Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Great baseball book. Maybe It's really worth 5 stars. Of course it's fiction, but I'm sure a lot of the incidents have more or less happened in real life. Perhaps not all to the same player, though.
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