The Final Nine

Even though this most recent failure has an extra sting to it, All-Star catcher Tom McKagan knows he must keep his cool. As the Oakland Athletics team captain, he is responsible for projecting just the right balance of concern and positivity to the fans and rallying his teammates to win the upcoming make-or-break matchup.

After a tough series of losses late in the season, the team is getting ready to battle it out in a three-game series against their archrivals, the Los Angeles Angels. The winners will advance to the playoffs, and the losers will stay home.

But this time it's not just about making the playoffs or winning the bitter rivalry because, at the end of the season, the team's longtime home stadium is scheduled for demolition. Everyone wants to close out the Oakland Coliseum's final chapter with a win; but for Tom, who's considering retiring, the stakes are even higher.

Like "Faithful" by Stewart O'Nan and Stephen King, "The Final Nine" by Jesse L. Cairns captures the essence of why baseball is so loved by millions of fans worldwide.