 "[F]irst-time author [Gary Moore] exhibits the confidence and pacing of a pro. His gripping material certainly helps. . . . [A] 20th-century epic that demonstrates how, sometimes, letting go of a dream is the only way to discover one's great fortune."
- Publisher’s Weekly (starred review)
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"Gary Moore's touching book about his father's baseball career serves as a reminder that life is all about second chances and people inspiring each other to chase their dreams. . . . I loved Playing with the Enemy. You will, too."
- Baseball legend Jim Morris,
former pitcher for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
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"A true story of one man's reaching out to the enemy during a very dark time in our history. Gene Moore and his fellow sailors teach all of us that compassion and tolerance does exist, especially when the bridge builder happens to be that great American pastime: baseball. History and baseball buffs alike will revel in this episode of man's ability to reach out, even during a time of war."
- Gerald R. Molen,
Academy Award-winning producer of Schindler's List
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"Playing with the Enemy is a story of the American Dream-the power, the pain, the sacrifice, the triumph, and most of all, the heart. It's about making peace with your enemies and, in Gene Moore's case, the story of a man learning to make peace with himself. A great read."
- James Riordan,
author of The New York Times bestseller Break on Through: The Life & Death of Jim Morrison
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“...This is the best book I have read in the last decade. It is a great story that is told with sensitivity and well constructed prose. Moore has captured the spirit and the heart of his father’s story through the use of insightful dialog that gives real understanding to the life experiences and to the people in the story. The book is alive with emotions. It grabs your heart and will not let go of it.”
- William H. McDonald,
President, Military Writers Society of America
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"A superlative book. . . . Gary Moore's epic story about his father reminds one of the importance of dreams and self-sacrifice."
- Steve Canter,
Baseball Agent
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"Good writing is storytelling, and Playing with the Enemy tells a story well. Sports fans will love it for its portrait of the minor leagues and the long-forgotten days when town baseball was everything. With its tremendous plot full of twists and turns, this story touches on lost dreams and found family."
- Phil Angelo,
Senior Editor, The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Illinois)
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"Gary Moore's heartwarming story about his father's life is an 'E' ticket-the one for admission to the best ride in the amusement park. Playing with the Enemy carries readers on a roller coaster ride through the highs and lows of a life well worth living. Thank you, Gary, for sharing with all of us this incredible success story."
- Gloria Beverage,
Editor, Folsom & El Dorado Hills Telegraphs
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"Playing with the Enemy SOARS! Any man who ever played catch with his dad will be reminded of the powerful bond between fathers and sons- and how sports can bring them together. A moving story of love and loss, Playing with the Enemy is a classic all-American sports tale that encourages us to remember where we came from-and more importantly, where we can go."
- David Ranes,
Producer / Screenwriter
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"Although its premise is baseball, Playing with the Enemy is much more than a baseball book. It's a story of perseverance that runs the gamut of human emotions. Once you read it, you'll wind up recommending it to others."
- Dave Zweifel,
editor, The Capital Times (Madison, WI)
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“Playing with the Enemy is a multifaceted narrative; a tale where several unlikely plot lines converge with intriguing—and at times, heartrending—results. Author Gary Moore sets up a brisk pace, advancing through the events of his father’s life with regard and care. As a result, Playing with the Enemy is a pure joy to read. It surprises you—and then surprises you again while you’re still nodding in thought over the previous pages. I highly recommend this genuine and touching account.”
- Neal Stevens,
www.subsim.com
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"The story of Gene Moore, as written by an exceptional storyteller who happens to be his son, is an uplifting message that baseball lovers and fans of the human spirit will treasure for generations to come. Gary W. Moore captures the essence of a generation in Playing with the Enemy, an entertaining and informative biography about a baseball prodigy from Sesser, Illinois. The young prospect is sought after by a major league scout who sings praises for “the finest ballplayer” he ever saw. Contracts are signed and minor league games are played with a bright future on the horizon - until Japan bombs Pearl Harbor and the world changes forever. What happens from that point on is at the heart of this magnificent story about hope, destiny, the effects of war, and the importance of family. Playing with the Enemy is a must read for every athlete whose field of dreams may have been (in baseball terminology) tagged out at home. It is an inspirational tale for sports enthusiasts and historians alike. Simply put, it is a homerun."
- Kerry Frey,
Spokesman for the literary idol.com
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"Gene Moore was a great baseball player and a dear friend. I fondly remember watching him play behind the plate at the Sesser 'Lumberyard' while I sat in the stands picking my guitar. His son Gary has captured the people and places perfectly. I love Playing with the Enemy, and I know you will, too."
- Billy Grammer,
international recording artist, star of the Grand Ole Opry, and inventor of 'The Grammer Guitar'"
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"When we consider the amazing achievement of what has come to be known as 'the Greatest Generation,' it's easy to forget they were individual flesh and blood human beings, young people whose dreams were interrupted by the need to save the world. Playing with the Enemy is the compelling story of one such young American, an astoundingly gifted athlete who found himself fighting a war when he would have preferred to have been battling opposing players on the baseball diamond. Amusing at times, sad at others, but always heartwarming, it is a uniquely American and personal story of one man-one of many who sacrificed so much for our freedom."
- Teri O'Brien,
WLS 890 AM, Chicago
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"Pick this book up. I dare you to put it down! Gary Moore's riveting account of his father's triumphs, his tragedies, his talent, his gritty personality, and his great love of the game of baseball is an instant classic. If you enjoyed 'The Rookie,' 'The Natural,' 'Rudy,' 'Friday Night Lights,' 'Cinderella Man,' or any story about athletics and the human spirit, you will not forget Playing with the Enemy."
- Bill Guertin,
author, motivational speaker, and CEO of The 800-Pound Gorilla
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"Playing with the Enemy is a story that ranks right up there with Field of Dreams or The Natural -- except that unlike those stories, this one actually happened to one remarkable man and is re-told with love and admiration by his son. Of the many baseball stories I've ever read or heard, this may be the most moving. Everyone who's ever had a dream -- in or out of baseball -- will shed a tear for Gene Moore and his lost destiny."
- Susan Sloate,
author, FORWARD TO CAMELOT
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"Playing with the Enemy is the real-life story of Gary Moore's father, Warren E. 'Gene' Moore. The elder Moore was recruited by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1940 at fifteen years old, but his baseball dream was cut short when the United States entered WWII. Moore's tale is a heartwarming story of a baseball tragedy, turned real-life triumph."
- Marilee McInnis,
Southwest Airlines SPIRIT Magazine
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"A baseball passion play... A small town American dream...rescued by a woman working through heartache herself."
- Bob McNamara,
Veteran CBS News Correspondent
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"Playing with the Enemy is bigger than just a baseball book. It's a captivating story of a powerful man, a heroic family, a depression-era town, and a world at war. Gary Moore's writing places readers in the middle of it all. Just as Ray Law's forkball was unpredictable, Playing with the Enemy is unforgettable-a must 'can't put it down' read for everyone who loves history, baseball, and America."
- Timothy Milner,
President and General Manager, Milner Broadcasting
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"Gene Moore earns the audience's respect more for his humanity than his skill on the field. For Southern Illinoisans, it is a matter of pride to see the spirit and spunk of our slice of small-town America exemplified. The story's hero lives out the values we hold dearer than fortune and fame- reminding us why we make the choices and sacrifices we do."
- Marleen Shepherd,
The Southern Illinoisan
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www.PlayingWithTheEnemy.com
