the first ball he ever hit for a home run, ten-year old Billy Lawson finds instead a battered old baseball half-buried in the mud far beyond the outfield fence. Soon Billy realizes the ball is magic, that it talks out loud and can help him become a better player and person. With a mysterious connection to one of the most historic Major League players ever, the ball--which Billy has named "Buddy''-- also gives guidance to a pair of Billy's troubled teammates in separate stories. Only at the end is it revealed where the Magic Ball came from and why the fun and adventure is just beginning.

Written by former star Major League pitcher Steve Trout and Chicago Sun-Times sports columnist Rick Telander, this easy-to-read book is for all kids who play sports and enjoy fun reading.