THE EASTERN STARS How Baseball Changed the Dominican Town of San Pedro de Macoris

Two things mean economic freedom in the town of San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic—sugar cane and baseball. The latter is the focus of Mark Kurlansky's portrait. He describes how baseball rescues some young men from a life of poverty and how the game has shaped the entire community. While he goes into sometimes-unneeded depth when explaining the history of the community, his eye for detail in describing the village offers a vivid portrait. The author explores both the success stories and the seamy underside of exploitation. Ed Sala offers an engaging narration that is reminiscent of a grizzled former ballplayer spinning yarns about his playing days. His occasional slips on Spanish pronunciations can be forgiven, as his throaty voice gives the reading a character to match the material. R.C.G. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2010]