The nineteen-year veteran pitcher for the New York Yankees describes his life, discussing the difficulties in being a Latino baseball player in the U.S., how he keeps his Christian values in professional sports, and his championships and rivalries.

Includes index.

Prologue -- Fish and consequences -- Water torture -- Two buses, nine pitches -- Gulf Coast revelation -- Worst cut -- The call -- Relief and belief -- Shades of '27 -- Spirit and summit -- New York, New York -- The day the world changed -- Trophy -- Plans -- Losses -- Cheers and jeers -- Count me out -- Closing time -- New digs and old feelings -- Passages -- Wounded knee -- Exit Sandman -- Epilogue: Refuge of hope.