Zak Ford
@zakford.bsky.social
Author of human-interest baseball stories ⚾️ “Called Up: Ballplayers Remember Becoming Major Leaguers” (2023) ⚾️ “Beyond the Last Inning: Life and Careers After Playing Professional Baseball” (2026)
www.ZakFord.com
www.ZakFord.com
Pinned
Zak Ford
@zakford.bsky.social
· Jun 7
“Called Up” captures 109 first-person player stories of becoming a major leaguer. Whether you’re a baseball fan, or just a fan of inspirational stories, I’m confident you’ll enjoy the book. If you’ve already enjoyed it, please tell your friends and leave a positive review on Amazon, Goodreads, etc.
JAMES LONEY: "Nomar Garciaparra got hurt before the first game of the season for Los Angeles. I was in my hotel room, getting ready for the Triple-A season, and Jerry Royster, the manager, called me... I remember facing John Smoltz, and he walked me the very first time."
November 21, 2025 at 3:43 PM
JAMES LONEY: "Nomar Garciaparra got hurt before the first game of the season for Los Angeles. I was in my hotel room, getting ready for the Triple-A season, and Jerry Royster, the manager, called me... I remember facing John Smoltz, and he walked me the very first time."
Watching Game One of the 1988 World Series on MLB Network. First World Series game I followed. Was at a Cub Scout campout and listened on the radio. Left for a campfire with A’s up. A scoutmaster announced during the campfire program that Kirk Gibson had just hit a walk-off. ⛺️🔥⚾️
November 20, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Watching Game One of the 1988 World Series on MLB Network. First World Series game I followed. Was at a Cub Scout campout and listened on the radio. Left for a campfire with A’s up. A scoutmaster announced during the campfire program that Kirk Gibson had just hit a walk-off. ⛺️🔥⚾️
I’m pleased Jason Jimenez is featured in both of my books.
November 18, 2025 at 3:33 PM
I’m pleased Jason Jimenez is featured in both of my books.
Reposted by Zak Ford
I’m pleased Jim Kern is featured in both of my books.
November 7, 2025 at 5:32 PM
I’m pleased Jim Kern is featured in both of my books.
Reposted by Zak Ford
Today, through Cyber Monday, 12/1, get 35% off “Called Up” at McFarland with code HOLIDAY25! Link below!
mcfarlandbooks.com/product/call...
mcfarlandbooks.com/product/call...
Called Up - McFarland
Called Up Ballplayers Remember Becoming Major Leaguers Zak Ford 978-1-4766-9279-1 978-1-4766-5085-2
mcfarlandbooks.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Today, through Cyber Monday, 12/1, get 35% off “Called Up” at McFarland with code HOLIDAY25! Link below!
mcfarlandbooks.com/product/call...
mcfarlandbooks.com/product/call...
TRUE STORY: I was the Philadelphia Phillies designated driver of 2014. I only attended 5-6 innings of a game while on a work trip.
(My Facebook memories documented me receiving this package 11 years ago, today.)
(My Facebook memories documented me receiving this package 11 years ago, today.)
November 15, 2025 at 4:23 PM
TRUE STORY: I was the Philadelphia Phillies designated driver of 2014. I only attended 5-6 innings of a game while on a work trip.
(My Facebook memories documented me receiving this package 11 years ago, today.)
(My Facebook memories documented me receiving this package 11 years ago, today.)
Today, through Cyber Monday, 12/1, get 35% off “Called Up” at McFarland with code HOLIDAY25! Link below!
mcfarlandbooks.com/product/call...
mcfarlandbooks.com/product/call...
Called Up - McFarland
Called Up Ballplayers Remember Becoming Major Leaguers Zak Ford 978-1-4766-9279-1 978-1-4766-5085-2
mcfarlandbooks.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Today, through Cyber Monday, 12/1, get 35% off “Called Up” at McFarland with code HOLIDAY25! Link below!
mcfarlandbooks.com/product/call...
mcfarlandbooks.com/product/call...
Reposted by Zak Ford
I share full “Called Up” stories regularly on Facebook. Follow me there.
👇⚾️👇
www.facebook.com/ZakFordBaseb...
👇⚾️👇
www.facebook.com/ZakFordBaseb...
Zak Ford
Zak Ford. 16,604 likes · 428 talking about this. Author of human-interest baseball stories ⚾️ “Called Up: Ballplayers Remember Becoming Major Leaguers” (2023) ⚾️ “Beyond the Last Inning: Life and...
www.facebook.com
November 8, 2025 at 7:59 PM
I share full “Called Up” stories regularly on Facebook. Follow me there.
👇⚾️👇
www.facebook.com/ZakFordBaseb...
👇⚾️👇
www.facebook.com/ZakFordBaseb...
KIP GROSS: “They came out with a video at the end of the 1990 season, and the video starts off with me throwing the last pitch of that ninth game, my debut, and shaking Joe Oliver's hand.”
⚾️ Full “Called Up” story on his MLB call-up and debut is posted on Facebook, and is one of 109 in my book.
⚾️ Full “Called Up” story on his MLB call-up and debut is posted on Facebook, and is one of 109 in my book.
November 9, 2025 at 4:24 PM
KIP GROSS: “They came out with a video at the end of the 1990 season, and the video starts off with me throwing the last pitch of that ninth game, my debut, and shaking Joe Oliver's hand.”
⚾️ Full “Called Up” story on his MLB call-up and debut is posted on Facebook, and is one of 109 in my book.
⚾️ Full “Called Up” story on his MLB call-up and debut is posted on Facebook, and is one of 109 in my book.
I share full “Called Up” stories regularly on Facebook. Follow me there.
👇⚾️👇
www.facebook.com/ZakFordBaseb...
👇⚾️👇
www.facebook.com/ZakFordBaseb...
Zak Ford
Zak Ford. 16,604 likes · 428 talking about this. Author of human-interest baseball stories ⚾️ “Called Up: Ballplayers Remember Becoming Major Leaguers” (2023) ⚾️ “Beyond the Last Inning: Life and...
www.facebook.com
November 8, 2025 at 7:59 PM
I share full “Called Up” stories regularly on Facebook. Follow me there.
👇⚾️👇
www.facebook.com/ZakFordBaseb...
👇⚾️👇
www.facebook.com/ZakFordBaseb...
Whose MLB call-up and debut story from the “Called Up” book should I share next?
Options from the table of contents are below.
Options from the table of contents are below.
November 8, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Whose MLB call-up and debut story from the “Called Up” book should I share next?
Options from the table of contents are below.
Options from the table of contents are below.
I’m pleased Jim Kern is featured in both of my books.
November 7, 2025 at 5:32 PM
I’m pleased Jim Kern is featured in both of my books.
My great-uncle, Larry Powell, as the featured player in a 1939 San Francisco Seals program. I recall seeing this same program among items in one of his old scrapbooks when I was a kid.
November 6, 2025 at 2:16 AM
My great-uncle, Larry Powell, as the featured player in a 1939 San Francisco Seals program. I recall seeing this same program among items in one of his old scrapbooks when I was a kid.
Reposted by Zak Ford
Looking for something to address your offseason baseball needs? Looking for Christmas presents for the baseball fans in your life? “Called Up” captures 109 first-person player stories of becoming a major leaguer.
November 3, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Looking for something to address your offseason baseball needs? Looking for Christmas presents for the baseball fans in your life? “Called Up” captures 109 first-person player stories of becoming a major leaguer.
Six years ago, today, I conducted my first interview for my “Called Up” book. ⚾️📖
November 4, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Six years ago, today, I conducted my first interview for my “Called Up” book. ⚾️📖
Looking for something to address your offseason baseball needs? Looking for Christmas presents for the baseball fans in your life? “Called Up” captures 109 first-person player stories of becoming a major leaguer.
November 3, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Looking for something to address your offseason baseball needs? Looking for Christmas presents for the baseball fans in your life? “Called Up” captures 109 first-person player stories of becoming a major leaguer.
The Senior Professional Baseball Association (SPBA) began play on this date in 1989. Steve Luebber and Randy Lerch, who are both featured in the “Called Up” book, pitched in the league. Here are their 1990 SPBA cards.
November 1, 2025 at 5:09 PM
The Senior Professional Baseball Association (SPBA) began play on this date in 1989. Steve Luebber and Randy Lerch, who are both featured in the “Called Up” book, pitched in the league. Here are their 1990 SPBA cards.
From the “Called Up” introduction…
(That’s me as a right-handed Will Clark for Halloween in 1989. 🎃⚾️)
(That’s me as a right-handed Will Clark for Halloween in 1989. 🎃⚾️)
October 31, 2025 at 2:03 PM
From the “Called Up” introduction…
(That’s me as a right-handed Will Clark for Halloween in 1989. 🎃⚾️)
(That’s me as a right-handed Will Clark for Halloween in 1989. 🎃⚾️)
Jim Rushford’s story is one of 49 that will be featured in “Beyond the Last Inning: Life and Careers After Playing Professional Baseball.”
October 29, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Jim Rushford’s story is one of 49 that will be featured in “Beyond the Last Inning: Life and Careers After Playing Professional Baseball.”
The World Series starts tonight, and I’m just hoping the Dodgers don’t take it in a sweep. The last sweep began 13 years ago, today.
I attended Game One of the 2012 World Series and watched Pablo Sandoval hit three homers! I took the selfie at the bottom right immediately after his third jack!
I attended Game One of the 2012 World Series and watched Pablo Sandoval hit three homers! I took the selfie at the bottom right immediately after his third jack!
October 24, 2025 at 2:50 PM
The World Series starts tonight, and I’m just hoping the Dodgers don’t take it in a sweep. The last sweep began 13 years ago, today.
I attended Game One of the 2012 World Series and watched Pablo Sandoval hit three homers! I took the selfie at the bottom right immediately after his third jack!
I attended Game One of the 2012 World Series and watched Pablo Sandoval hit three homers! I took the selfie at the bottom right immediately after his third jack!
SCOTT FORSTER “CALLED UP” STORY EXCERPT: “I faced one hitter. It was Henry Rodriguez, who was actually a former Expo. I got him to hit a ground ball and I got a hold. Felipe Alou came out, patted me on the butt, and said, ‘Great job.’ Then, later that night, I proposed.”
October 22, 2025 at 2:19 PM
SCOTT FORSTER “CALLED UP” STORY EXCERPT: “I faced one hitter. It was Henry Rodriguez, who was actually a former Expo. I got him to hit a ground ball and I got a hold. Felipe Alou came out, patted me on the butt, and said, ‘Great job.’ Then, later that night, I proposed.”
Reposted by Zak Ford
“Called Up” captures 109 first-person player stories of becoming a major leaguer. Whether you’re a baseball fan, or just a fan of inspirational stories, I’m confident you’ll enjoy the book. If you’ve already enjoyed it, please tell your friends and leave a positive review on Amazon, Goodreads, etc.
June 7, 2025 at 11:51 PM
“Called Up” captures 109 first-person player stories of becoming a major leaguer. Whether you’re a baseball fan, or just a fan of inspirational stories, I’m confident you’ll enjoy the book. If you’ve already enjoyed it, please tell your friends and leave a positive review on Amazon, Goodreads, etc.
“Called Up” arrived in the mail, two years ago, today! I’m looking forward to receiving “Beyond the Last Inning” sometime next summer! 📪⚾️📖
October 18, 2025 at 3:36 PM
“Called Up” arrived in the mail, two years ago, today! I’m looking forward to receiving “Beyond the Last Inning” sometime next summer! 📪⚾️📖
“Beyond the Last Inning: Life and Careers After Playing Professional Baseball” will be the official title of my second book on the post-playing career transitions of former professional ballplayers. Therefore, I removed prior titles from the name of this profile and decided to just use my name. 👍⚾️📖
October 17, 2025 at 9:09 PM
“Beyond the Last Inning: Life and Careers After Playing Professional Baseball” will be the official title of my second book on the post-playing career transitions of former professional ballplayers. Therefore, I removed prior titles from the name of this profile and decided to just use my name. 👍⚾️📖
"Next Up" has been the working title for my current book project on the post-playing career transitions of former professional ballplayers. However, my publisher and I are currently working on a final title that's more clearly connected to baseball.
October 13, 2025 at 3:50 PM
"Next Up" has been the working title for my current book project on the post-playing career transitions of former professional ballplayers. However, my publisher and I are currently working on a final title that's more clearly connected to baseball.