The 33-Year-Old Rookie: My 13-Year Journey from the Minor Leagues to the World Series - Softcover

"Anyone who has played in the minors can respect what Chris went through to reach his goal. He endured eleven minor league seasons and should be applauded for never giving up. We have all fought through difficulties to achieve our dreams and Chris's story speaks volumes about determination, drive, and perseverance."
-Cal Ripken, Jr., baseball's all-time "Iron Man"

"If baseball gave out awards for fortitude or stubbornness, the biggest trophy would go to catcher Chris Coste. . . . Wives less patient than Marcia Coste may want to hide this book from aging husbands who have dreams of their own."
-USA Today

"[Coste] has a wide-eyed affection for the game that is contagious."
-Sports Illustrated

"Remarkable . . . may inspire young readers to follow their dreams."
-The Boston Globe

"What's not to love? A hardworking, dedicated man overcomes odds and obstacles to fulfill his dream."
-The Philadelphia Inquirer

"Highly recommended . . . [an] intriguing rags-to-not-quite-riches tale."
-Library Journal

"Uplifting . . . Don't give up on a dream."
-The San Diego Union-Tribune

"What amazes me most about Chris Coste's unlikely career is that he did it playing the hardest position on the field, enduring the daily barrage of nicks, bruises, and head-on collisions that are the life of a catcher. The 33-Year-Old Rookie is a great story of a man's triumph over adversity, but it's also a fascinating account of the view from behind home plate."
-Tim McCarver, broadcaster, Fox Sports

"The 33-Year-Old Rookie is the best of Rocky, Rudy, and The Rookie-it brought out all the emotions . . . especially when Chris made the team, and the tears started flowing. If you have an impossible dream, and want to see a man and family who paid the price to make theirs come true, you have to read this book."
-Vince Papale, subject of the Disney movie Invincible

"Chris Coste's story inspires us because he is a man driven not only by his loyalty to team over self, but also by his love for his family, strong morals, and passion for the great game of baseball. The 33-Year-Old Rookie will remind everyone who's ever had a dream to keep fighting for it."
-Mike Schmidt, Hall of Fame third baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies

"Chris Coste is the epitome of the phrase 'never give up hope.' His dream was to be a major-league baseball player, and at the age of thirty-three, Chris not only reached the majors but showed that he belonged."
-Harry Kalas, Hall of Fame broadcaster for the Philadelphia Phillies

Chris Coste dreamed of playing major-league baseball from the age of seven. But after eleven grueling years in the minors, a spot on a major-league roster still seemed just out of his reach–until that fateful call came from the Philadelphia Phillies in May 2006. At age thirty-three (“going on eighty”), Coste was finally heading to the big time. The 33-Year-Old Rookie is a real-life Rocky, an unforgettable and inspirational story of one man’s unwavering pursuit of a lifelong goal. Beginning in a single-parent home in Fargo, North Dakota, and ending behind home plate on the flawless diamond of the Phillies’ Citizens Bank Park–where fans and teammates call him “Chris Clutch” because of his knack for getting timely hits–this intimate account of Coste’s baseball odyssey is a powerful story of determination, perseverance, and passion.