The Wax Pack

On the Open Road in Search of Baseball's Afterlife

By: Brad Balukjian

Narrated by: Brad Balukjian

Is there life after baseball? Starting from this simple question, The Wax Pack ends up with something much bigger and unexpected - a meditation on the loss of innocence and the gift of impermanence, for both Brad Balukjian and the former ballplayers he tracked down.

To get a truly random sample of players, Balukjian followed this wildly absurd but fun-as-hell premise: he took a single pack of baseball cards from 1986 (the first year he collected cards), opened it, chewed the nearly 30-year-old gum inside, gagged, and then embarked on a quest to find all the players in the pack. Absurd, maybe, but true. He took this trip solo in the summer of 2015, spanning 11,341 miles through 30 states in 48 days.

Balukjian actively engaged with his subjects - taking a hitting lesson from Rance Mulliniks, watching kung fu movies with Garry Templeton, and going to the zoo with Don Carman. In the process of finding all the players but one, he discovered an astonishing range of experiences and untold stories in their post-baseball lives, and he realized that we all have more in common with ballplayers than we think.

While crisscrossing the country, Balukjian retraced his own past, reconnecting with lost loves and coming to terms with his lifelong battle with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

©2020 Brad Balukjian (P)2020 Tantor

Enjoyed hearing about what became of ballplayers

I like baseball from the 1970s and 1980s and baseball cards, so really enjoyed this book. Best parts are when author talks to the actual, lesser known players so we can find out "where are they now". Can go off subject and be too introspective at times. But overall one of those books I looked forward to getting back to whenever I could to continue the story. If author writes another baseball related book would anxious to buy it!

The stories of the 70's and 80's players

Loves how the author spoke with the players and gave background on their playing days

GREAT STORY AND FOLLOW-THROUGH OF A GREAT BASEBALL FAN'S TRIP...

Mr. Balukjian did himself and his former MLB Players a great service with his trip, and the account of his terrific journey.

Mulliniks, Yeager, Templeton, Ready, Cocanower, Mazzilli, Hebner, and Sutcliffe, along with childhood hero Don Carman, all came through with big Hits as willing interviews for Mr. Brad, several of them going above and beyond typical interviews. They shared their time, homes, and generous spirit.

Only Vince Coleman, Gary Pettis, Doc Gooden, and Carlton Fisk were disappointments. Coleman needs to grow up and learn some humility, as he did much to sabotage his own MLB career. Pettis had some excuse, but could have followed through with a phone call.

One hopes Doc Gooden finally defeats drugs and finds peace. Will Carlton Fisk ever get over himself and 86 the distant bitterness? His refusal to

Regardless of self-centered snobbery, this author hit a Home Run - A GRAND SLAM!

GRADE: A+

Enjoyable nostalgic trip

Every year during this time I read/listen to a baseball book and this was the one this year. It’s fun, introspective, and read by the author really well. He could get a second job doing narration of audiobooks. I guess you’d expect the author to know his material best. The premise of this book sounds like an amazing experience to have. Too bad he couldn’t get in touch with Fisk or especially Vince Coleman who is still pretty popular in St Louis. I always knew he was a bit of a malcontent but forgot how much his narcissism took him.

Much more than baseball.

I don't even like baseball and I loved this book. The meaning the author finds in our shared experiences is the real star.