It’s 1989 and a historic yet largely forgotten baseball team is emerging just as a young fan’s world begins to unravel. Death of a Childhood is the memoir of one year in the life of a pre-teen: A time when oncoming puberty, family illness, a frightening new battle with anxiety disorders, an impending school switch, and a changing relationship with his closest confidant — his mom — threaten to change him from a happy, free-spirited kid into a fraught early adolescent. But as his world is rocked, he finds solace in an ongoing miracle: A rebuilding Major League Baseball team that is shockingly in contention for a coveted division title.
Ryan Basen, AB ’00, begins the year as a precocious, baseball-obsessed fifth grader, far from ready to grow up. Meanwhile, one season after losing a record 21 straight games to open a 100-loss season, the 1989 Baltimore Orioles, considered the worst team in baseball, have fielded a team of prospects and cast-offs to place around future Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr. Somehow, the unthinkable happens — the Orioles lead the division for months and are poised to become the first team in MLB history to go from last to first in one season. Struggling to hold himself together, Basen clings to this unlikely team on their impossible quest — a salve, an inspiration, and a last great adventure on his journey from childhood to adolescence.
About the author
Ryan Basen was a long-time sportswriter and news reporter with newspapers including the Charlotte Observer and a medical news site, earning investigative reporting awards from the North Carolina Press Association and Associated Press Sports Editors. He has also written features for The New York Times, Washington Post, and Baltimore Sun; authored several books aimed at the preteen audience; and even coached youth and high school baseball. A native of the Washington, D.C., area, he earned his bachelor’s degree from WashU and holds a masters in journalism from the University of Maryland.