A Damn Near Perfect Game

Reclaiming America's Pastime

By: Joe Kelly, Rob Bradford - contributor

Narrated by: L.J. Ganser

Baseball’s most outspoken fireballer brings the high heat—calling out the hacks, cheats, and ridiculous rules that have tarnished the game—and pitches A-plus stuff on how to make baseball pure, fun, and damn near perfect.

Baseball has an image problem. The chorus of nonbelievers gets louder every year, and the Major Leagues have made an art of tuning them out. Enter Joe Kelly: a walking, talking, fastball-throwing embodiment of why baseball matters. He and his All-Star team of athletes and celebrities have some things to say about what’s gone wrong with our once great game and how to fix it.

A Damn Near Perfect Game is the loudest insider’s exposé of the laws and culture of Major League Baseball since Jim Bouton’s classic Ball Four. From Kelly’s perspective as a two-time World Series champion and baseball’s most memeable player according to ESPN, he takes listeners on a house-cleaning tour of the clubhouse, the field of play, the bullpen, the front office, the commissioner’s office, and a ballplayer’s restricted life off the field. Kelly has something to say about baseball’s rule changes (pitch clocks, limiting defensive shifts, the designated hitter); hacks (overused analytics, sign-stealing); stale promotion to new fans; and encouraging players’ emotions (let them fight, bat-flip, and talk sh*t!). Plus, he details how he aired his complaints in an illuminating meeting with commissioner Rob Manfred.

And to show what happens when baseball has some piss and vinegar, Kelly gives the inside scoop on his legendary exploits—starting a bench-clearing brawl with the Yankees’ Tyler Austin, his famous “pouty face” scene when calling out the notorious sign-stealing Houston Astros, and wearing a mariachi jacket to visit the White House with his World Series champion LA Dodgers.

©2023 Joe Kelly (P)2023 Audible, Inc.

Could use a better narrator

Didn’t love the narrator, but great book overall. I think Joe shows he has a great perspective on the game of baseball.

Great but...

I loved Joe's part of the story, very solid and entertaining. What I didn't like was how they added a bunch of short stories by other people at the end. It was a little too much and felt like they were just padding the book.

Loved every minute of it!

I’m a lover of baseball, almost addicted to it. Joe Kelly’s perspective is so accurate and his narrative was fun to listen to. L J Ganser did a great job; he’s a natural!

Love Letter to Baseball

I enjoyed this cool little book from Joe Kelly and Rob Bradford. While nothing terribly insightful or groundbreaking, it is an authentic love letter to the game of baseball. Partly a memoir of Kelly's life in baseball, from t-ball to pro ball, it includes Kelly's reflections on the state of the game today and what he thinks it needs, as the title claims, to reclaim it's honored place as America's pastime. He discusses his run-ins with MLB brass and surprisingly productive meetings with commissioner, Rob Manfred. The last third of the book includes contributions from many other ball players and managers. From Mookie Betts and JD Martinez to Terry Francona and David Ross, and many more, we get a first hand perspective from those that have played the game on why they love the game. This book will speak to anyone who loves baseball.

Baseball isn’t boring!

Loved Joe’s stories and also all of the stories & perspectives of other baseball lovers. This is a fun, easy read that reminds us that America’s game is so much fun! Get it today.

Like baseball

Like baseball the book has great highlights interesting facts, and it’s slow sometimes. I thought some areas needed more depth. It would’ve made the book more interesting. Overall it was a nice presentation concerning today’s baseball game. I’m suffering Mets fan since the beginning, and I love the sport. And my team. Let’s go Mets!

Finally An Honest Look Into The MLB Insight

Love the honesty of Joe Kelly’s experience in the MLB. Such a rare thing these days!

Great Baseball Book

If you love baseball this is a great read. Changed my view of the current commissioner and enjoyed the stories of how others became fans.

The Best!!

I loved this book! What a great look at the inside of baseball from a players perspective. Joe Kelly honest and raw about his feelings towards the game is refreshing, because as a fan of baseball, it’s what I think as well about some of the issues he talks about. If you are any kind of fan of baseball, this is a must read.

Something goes on between the lines thats magic

A Damn Near Perfect Game is part biography and part a look at the game through the eyes of the fiery relief pitcher Kelly. Kelly does an outstanding job in describing the beauty and timeless aspects of the game. Full of stories from his childhood all the way to explaining how he obtained the mariachi jacket that he wore to the White House. Somewhat of a surprise is that JK is all for making the game more adaptable to today's fans. Quicker pace and players showing their personality on the field. All in all a delight for this 65 year old Dodger fan who will perhaps look at the changes in the game with a more open attitude. Ganser does an outstanding job as the narrator. Highly recommended if you love the "damn near perfect game"