Pat Jordan (author)


Pat Jordan is an American sports writer. His work has been included in the Best American Sports Writing anthology series seven times. He is also the author of A False Spring, a bittersweet memoir about his minor league baseball career, which is ranked #37 on Sports Illustrated's Top 100 Sports Books of All Time. and Time magazine called “one of the best and truest books about baseball, and about coming to maturity in America…”

Minor league baseball player

Pat Jordan grew up in Fairfield, Connecticut where he became a highly pursued baseball prospect after going 17-4 over three seasons for the Fairfield Prep Jesuits. On July 9, 1959, after being pursued by over 15 major league baseball organizations, he signed a $36,000 bonus with the Milwaukee Braves, which at the time was reported to be the highest amount given to any new player signed by the organization. He reported to the McCook Braves of the Nebraska State League where he played alongside teammates and future major leaguers Phil Niekro and Joe Torre. He struggled in the minors for three seasons, despite being one of the hardest throwing pitchers in the minors at that time, as chronicled in his memoir, A False Spring, at which point he retired and returned home to Connecticut to pursue his writing career.

Writer

Jordan is the author of eleven books and a regular contributor to many periodicals. Jordan's work has been included in Best American Sports Writing eight times, the Best American Mystery Stories, Best American Crime Writing, Best American Essays, and the Norton Anthology of World Literature.

Best American Sports Writing

The following writings of Pat Jordan have appeared in the Best American Sports Writing anthology series:
The following writings of Pat Jordan have appeared in the Best American Mystery Stories anthology series:
The following writings of Pat Jordan have appeared in the Best American Crime Writing anthology series:
Jordan graduated from the Fairfield College Preparatory School in 1959 and received his bachelor's degree in English from Fairfield University in 1965.

Personal

Jordan is married to the mother of actress Meg Ryan. They reside in Abbeville, South Carolina.