This is a funny book, in two ways. Lupica has some good lines, and Wild Pitch is good-humoured all the way through. The really funny thing, though, it that he can concoct a storyline with few real surprises and make it work.

In one sense, this is nothing more than a feel-good come-back story: a retired has-been of a pitcher gets one more chance at the big leagues and along the way gets to make amends with his ex-wife and estranged son.

Lupica makes it work, however, with characters have enough humanity and intelligence to make you want the fairy tale to be true. There aren’t any deep lessons or insights into the human condition, but it’s a nice tale for all that.