The Chicken Runs at Midnight

A Daughter’s Message from Heaven That Changed a Father’s Heart and Won a World Series

By: Tom Friend, Tim Kurkjian - foreword

Narrated by: Ben Holland - foreword, Mark Schlicher

One of the most inspirational stories of sports and faith ever told, The Chicken Runs at Midnight introduces us to a Major League baseball coach whose dying daughter's words changed his heart for good - and reached him in a surprising way through a World Series sign from heaven.

As a Major League Baseball coach, Rich Donnelly was dedicated, hardworking, and successful. But as a husband and father, he was distant, absent, and a failure. He'd let baseball take over his life, and as a result his family suffered. That is, until one day his daughter called with harrowing news.

"Dad, I have a brain tumor, and I'm sorry." These words from his 17-year-old daughter, Amy, turned his world upside down. Now, more than ever, he was determined to put his family first.

The time they spent together in the months before her death will be treasured and remembered forever, but especially the inside joke that became a catchphrase for the Donnelly family as well as the Pittsburgh Pirates team that played in the National League Championship Series that year: "The chicken runs at midnight."

This book shares the heartwarming story behind the odd catchphrase - and how it still lives on as a symbol for never giving up - and proves that God can work in the life of any person, even through their mistakes and failures.

Weaving baseball history with personal memoir, this book is one that will make you thrill to victory, believe in hope, stand up to cheer for what is good in peoples' lives. It's a powerful story of redemption and faith that reminds us that God can work in our lives even when we think it's too late to change - and sometimes he sends us signs from heaven if we only have eyes to see.

©2018 Tom Friend (P)2018 Zondervan

Heartwarming

It’s not always easy to listen to as a man admits and details the mistakes he’s made in his life, but through the courageous example of his daughter and an amazing connection of good things associated with what seemed to be a meaningless phrase, he turns his life around and becomes the example for others.

LOVED IT!

I absolutely loved this story! Tears, laughter and a warm fuzzy feeling. Thank you for sharing your story Rich Donnelly!

Far more than "just a baseball book"

Wonderful, sad, joyous, heartwarming and tear inducing story. My only mistake was listening to it during my exercise walks...I was either laughing or fighting back tears! Highly recommended!

This is an awe inspiring book

Just a heartwarming story you will be laughing and then crying a moment later. I can't imagine anyone not loving this True Story.

Hidden gem

I had no idea this story and the book about it existed. Well written and great narration. Loved every Demond of it.

great book

great story . made my eyes sweat a little. I'm not crying your crying. cram

CRAM

I love baseball and have cancer for the 2nd time. My mother passed with cancer a few years ago. Everything in this book just seemed to hit home. Great book.

not really a sport's fan

I loved this book. I am not a big sport person I dont really watch sports but for some reason I love true sport Stories and movies. this is by far my favorite one yet.

Outstanding read

This is a powerful story of loss and redemption set against the backdrop of professional baseball

When the Impossible Happens, We All Learn

I finished this the day before the Angels endured their first home game after the fall of their Angel teammate, Tyler Skaggs. That improbable and incredible resulting game was the perfect dessert to this book, reinforcing that there's GOT to be a higher being. Angels watch over us, and we continue to learn about the beauty of those in our lives.
Any baseball fan, regardless of faith, this is a must read.