Life Is Yours to Win: Lessons Forged from the Purpose, Passion, and Magic of Baseball

by Augie Garrido, Wes Smith

Overview

PRACTICE PERFECT,PLAY FOR FUN

August “Augie” Garrido has led his baseball teams to more victories than any coach in any sport in NCAA Division I history. He is also the winner of more National Coach of the Year awards than any other college coach. Garrido’s former teams at Cal State Fullerton and, more recently, at the University of Texas together have compiled a total of five College World Series championships under his leadership.

But despite his unmatched record as a winner, Coach Garrido is not a win-at-all-costs coach. He teaches his players to focus on developing character, being good teammates, mastering all facets of the game, and playing with joy in the moment rather than focusing on the scoreboard.

Augie teaches that the challenges faced in the batter’s box or on the pitcher’s mound are universal—and that the lessons learned on the diamond are applicable off the field, too. Life Is Yours to Win follows the coach’s journey of self-discovery and his evolution from being driven by fear to being motivated by passion. His unique and compelling book offers this revered leader’s philosophy on life and his thoughtful approach to helping young men understand both who they are and how they can be successful in their work, their relationships, and their communities.

Every individual will find advice worth following including:

•BE A PLAYER, NOT A PROSPECT—If you want to be considered a star in your field, whatever that may be, you need to be fully engaged. Augie once had his Labrador retriever demonstrate the joy of play to a team that needed a reminder of why they loved baseball as children.

•STEP UP, SUPERMAN—Augie stages a costumed Superhero Scrimmage each Halloween to remind his players that their inner superhero is just waiting for the perfect moment when preparation meets opportunity, potential is fulfilled, and destiny is realized.

•THE FEARLESS FIELD—To be successful in the often cruel game of baseball, players must master fear and other emotions so they are energized rather than paralyzed. Augie once rented a hearse and placed a casket on the pitcher’s mound to help a slumping Cal State Fullerton team bury their fears and put losses behind them.

•BUDDHA AT BAT—Bunting and other “small ball” skills are not as glorified as home runs and big plays, but Coach Garrido’s teams are known for putting players in scoring position and winning games by following a Zen-like philosophy of claiming small victories during each at bat, in each inning that add up to winning records. Augie’s coaching methods are unconventional, but his creativity and wry humor provide masterful life lessons. His insights will help you both on and off the field by providing fresh approaches to conquering fears, living with joy and passion in each moment, establishing personal principles, and appreciating the value of both losing and winning. This is a book by a beloved college coach but it is packed with Major League insights and anecdotes featuring many of baseball’s greatest players and most inspiring spirits. Life Is Yours to Win will appeal to anyone who appreciates the wisdom of a proven winner in sports and in life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781439186954
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster
Publication date:	02/13/2024
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	274
Sales rank:	1,051,936
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Kevin Costner is an internationally renowned filmmaker. Considered one of the most critically acclaimed and visionary storytellers of his generation, Costner has produced, directed, and/or starred in such memorable films as Dances with Wolves, JFK, The Bodyguard, Field of Dreams, Tin Cup, Bull Durham, Open Range, Hatfields & McCoys, and Black or White, among many others. He has been honored with two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and an Emmy Award.

Table of Contents

Introduction Kevin Costner ix

Chapter 1 For Love of the Game 1

Chapter 2 A Chickenshit, Dooflopper, and Curb Cryer 14

Chapter 3 The Fearless Field 40

Chapter 4 The Game of Failure 89

Chapter 5 Be a Player, Not a Prospect 114

Chapter 6 Small Ball/Big Game 131

Chapter 7 Step Up, Superman 149

Chapter 8 The Tao of Teamwork 169

Chapter 9 The Reward Is Not on the Scoreboard 198

Chapter 10 Five Things I Think I Know about Baseball 221

Chapter 11 Be Your Own Best Friend 247

Editorial Reviews

A legendary college-baseball coach shares his thoughts on the game and how it can be used to improve one's life.

A self-described no-nonsense coach, Garrido has led his players to more NCAA victories than any other coach in the college dugout. His debut, the title of which is refreshingly direct and to-the-point in the delivery of the author's philosophy, is as much a biography of the author's life as a self-help manual. The author writes early on that he will refrain from using a baseball game as a metaphor for life, but he proceeds to do so in each chapter. While the author has decades of experience turning his young charges "into men," his attempt to cram years of leadership and mentoring within the pages of a book isn't as winning as his record. Garrido has a distinct voice, but he's a novice when it comes to structuring and framing a story. He reiterates material incessantly, his inability to stay on topic is often frustrating and the narrative is extremely male-oriented. Regardless, Garrido's book is an easy read that may attract non-veteran readers of nonfiction.

A stale rendition of a self-help trope that may appeal to college-baseball fans.

Kirkus Reviews