Reviews/Blurbs

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“Aaron Fischman’s A Baseball Gaijin: Chasing a Dream to Japan and Back takes a universal sports story and in Fischman’s meticulous retelling of Tony Barnette’s alternately harrowing, amusing and heroic journey, gives anyone who has ever set a seemingly impossible goal the inspiration to continue. Barnette clearly had to go through what he did, a stranger in a strange land succeeding and failing and rising again over six seasons, to ultimately reach the big leagues. From the moment Tony steps off the plane in Tokyo, you root for a young man chasing the American dream in the most unconventional of ways.”  

“What a fun ride! Aaron Fischman’s delightful A Baseball Gaijin brings us along on American pitcher Tony Barnette’s journey to Japan, where he drives himself to reach his full potential as a professional baseball player. As Tony searches for the secret to getting an invite to the world’s top league back home, he confronts an unfamiliar culture and a different form of baseball that push him out of his comfort zone and into a new level of success – on and off the field. A very personal and inspiring story of how following the path less traveled can bring out the best in us.”

—Ethan Scheiner, author of Democracy Without Competition in Japan and Freedom to Win: A Cold War Story of the Courageous Hockey Team That Fought the Soviets for the Soul of Its People―And Olympic Gold 

“When Tony Barnette decided to continue his baseball career in Japan, he knew he was in for an experience. He just didn’t know what the experience would entail. . . . And that was just at the beginning of his six-year sojourn with the Yakult Swallows of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, as told in detail by Aaron Fischman’s interesting and illuminating book A Baseball Gaijin: Chasing a Dream to Japan and Back that any baseball fan will enjoy. There would be much more to experience—some good, some bad; some frustrating, some rewarding. . . . While certainly not the first story about foreign players in Japan, Fischman’s book focuses primarily on one person, so he is able to into greater detail about the challenges and potential rewards of taking a leap of faith to live and play in a completely different environment. . . . It is a very interesting and inspirational story that Fischman tells expertly and in a very readable style. The book would be a worthwhile addition to the library of any baseball fan.”

—Carter Cromwell, JapanBall.com

“Books about baseball’s superstars and legends are abundant. What makes Aaron Fischman’s A Baseball Gaijin distinct and delightful is the care he takes in profiling one of the game’s anonymous grinders: Tony Barnette, a young pitcher trying to find his groove in a faraway continent. Under Fischman’s guidance, Tony’s story is familiar and revelatory; empowering and awkward. It’s also unabashedly human. Yes, we fully understand Japan’s interpretation of the national pastime, but we appreciate that professional athletes are as vulnerable and unsure as us. Filled with insight and empathy, A Baseball Gaijin is a fine addition to any baseball lover’s bookshelf.” 

—Pete Croatto, author of From Hang Time to Prime Time: Business, Entertainment, and the Birth of the Modern-day NBA 

“A Baseball Gaijin is the kind of great sports read that has become hard to find in our superstar-saturated attention economy. Tony Barnette was nobody’s GOAT, but his journey from Arizona State to the minor leagues to Japanese baseball and eventually to the Texas Rangers—all told with Aaron Fischman’s narrative flair and eye for detail—is as inspiring as any story in sports.” 

“Fischman’s meticulous research and captivating storytelling reveals the culture, charming traditions, economics, and prejudices of Tokyo’s Yakult Swallows and Nippon Professional Baseball through the lens of American pitcher Tony Barnette. Readers will be inspired and fascinated by Barnette’s experiences as he navigates the curveballs of a foreign land in pursuit of his dream of playing professional baseball. His courageous journey serves as a reminder that the feeling of being a gaijin, or foreigner, is essential for personal growth in all of us.”     

—Paul Knepper, author of The Knicks of the Nineties

“In the enjoyable and well-written A Baseball Gaijin, Aaron Fischman has you rooting for underdog Tony Barnette as he overcomes numerous obstacles in pursuit of his major league dream through the unlikely path of Nippon Professional Baseball. Featured throughout the uplifting story is an accurate and nuanced discussion of both Japanese baseball and Japanese culture, largely from the Yakult Swallows great’s perspective.” 

—Robert Fitts, baseball historian and author of Wally Yonamine, Banzai Babe Ruth, Mashi and Issei Baseball

“For a moment, forget about Shohei. Ichiro, too. Instead, learn about the far lesser-known professional Japanese ballplayer-turned-big leaguer Tony Barnette, whose inspiring and (who knew?) enlightening story of traveling halfway around the planet in pursuit of his ultimate dream is painstakingly crafted here by Aaron Fischman.”

—David Ostrowsky, author of Roberto Alomar: The Complicated Life and Legacy of a Baseball Hall of Famer

“An inspirational story of passion, perseverance and perspective. Fischman’s ability to bring Barnette – and the people in his life – to life will be praised by readers and writers and may even pique the interest of television series producers. I cried, laughed and learned – a lot. And you don’t have to love (or know much about) baseball to enjoy this thoughtfully-told story, though enthusiasts of the sport will appreciate Aaron’s attention and dedication to detail.”

—Gabriel Allen, author of Around the League in 80 Days

“In this wonderful tribute to baseball, Tony Barnette, and iconic stories of dreams, hardship, and grit, Aaron Fischman gives the reader a front-row seat on the wild ride of Tony’s career from Arizona to Japan and back to the US with his rookie major league season. If you’re a baseball aficionado, there are all the stats and context you could want, with a thorough education on the sport in Japan. The main narrative is Tony’s heartfelt story, extensively researched and informed by years of interviews with the player, his colleagues and his family. An inspiring story, well written, and well told.” 

—Barbara Stark-Nemon, author of Even in Darkness and Hard Cider

“A great read that provides insight into the Japanese professional baseball league and the difficulties adjusting to a new culture for an American ballplayer who doesn’t know the language. It also provides a sense of what superstar Shohei Ohtani and other foreign-born baseball players are going through living and playing in the US.” 

—Julio Moran, former Los Angeles Times reporter and adjunct professor, University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism