Baseball Panel Discussion Scheduled At Fairfield Library

FAIRFIELD, CT — The Fairfield Public Library will host a discussion on baseball and its cultural impact during an author talk scheduled for April 16.

The event, titled "For the Love of the Game," will take place at 6:30 p.m. on April 16, and feature two local authors: former youth baseball coach Matt McGuire and MLB.com reporter Michael Clair. The discussion will be moderated by Town Librarian Scott Jarzombek.

McGuire, who spent about 15 years involved in Fairfield Little League as a coach, commissioner, board member and president while his four sons played in the program, is the author of Fairfield American: a Legacy of Little League Dreams. The book recounts his experiences in youth baseball and the role the sport has played in his family and community.

Clair, who reports on international baseball and the World Baseball Classic for MLB.com, recently published We Sacrifice Everything to Baseball: How the Czech Republic's Amateur Underdogs Became World Baseball Classic Heroes. The book tells the story of the Czech Republic’s national team during the 2023 World Baseball Classic, when a roster largely made up of amateur players—including firefighters, teachers and groundskeepers—defeated Spain and China to advance in the tournament.

Jarzombek said the event will explore the broader appeal of baseball and the personal stories that surround the game.

"There’s a reason why baseball is America’s favorite pastime; the love for the game goes beyond what happens on the field," Jarzombek said. "Conversations about baseball tend to be passionate ones, and we are lucky to have as guests two local authors whose passion for and insight into the game come through in their work."

Copies of both books will be available for purchase and signing at the event.

Advance registration is encouraged and can be completed online through the library’s event page.