Lovers of America's greatest game once again have the chance to spend time in the compassionate, funny, and oh-so-humane presence of author Marty Slattery with this new publication of his novel Diamonds Are Trumps. Through his character Bill Mahoney, Slattery shares his personal knowledge of the game (he pitched in the minor leagues) and his consuming passion for its players. With bone chips in his elbow that make his arm hurt all the way up to his ear, and scars on his middle-aged soul, Mahoney is something of a wounded knight errant. But when the umpire yells "Play ball " Bill rises to dance to baseball's perpetual melody. Emotionally hollow and growing more passive with each birthday, Bill is skidding through his life, aching from lost loves and unfulfilled hopes. But the Dream is not done with him yet, and gradually, Bill understands the gifts the game can give him. In this 2008 publication of Diamonds Are Trumps-with a new introduction by Dr. James P. Elliott-author Marty Slattery gives his readers the gift of a funny, poignant, and lyrical novel about baseball as it's played in the minor leagues and life as it's played beyond the dugout.