A 'Rubber Arm' Wonder Pitcher -- New Novel Explores Ingenuity, Cleverness of Successful Baseball Player

SUN CITY, Fla., April 25, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Before shipping out to World War II, Seth Eaton was a promising college pitcher. Now that the war is over, his baseball comeback begins when he devises a contraption that sends his pitches flying toward home plate at 115 mph in Eric J. Phillips Jr.'s new book, Rubber Arm (now available through AuthorHouse).

Seth learns that if he wraps his arm in a latex sleeve pumped with helium, the lifting power of the gas takes the severe strain of the throw off his arm, thereby giving him incredible speed. He starts pitching again for the Collwood Bruins, a sandlot team in the South Jersey Twilight League. It is here that Seth learns that using two sleeves allows him to hit as hard as he can throw. When the manager realizes that Seth's leg injuries from the war make it difficult for him to pitch more than five innings, he makes him a relief pitcher.

Dubbed "Rubber Arm" by adoring fans, Seth signs with the Philadelphia Colonials. He shows off his sensational abilities here when he helps the Colonials pick up two games on the rival Yankees by striking out two leading hitters. Suspicions about his sleeves are suppressed when Seth tells inquisitors that they are only filled with plain air.

A nosy newspaper reporter, Noah Chapman, acts as Seth's nemesis in the book. He wastes no time in publishing the details of Seth's war injury, which opposing teams use to their advantage. A love interest, Ann Blakely, is reintroduced into Seth's life. An officer in the OSS, Ann was believed to be dead but contacts Seth, an old flame, after seeing his story in the papers.

In a race for the pennant, Seth is on fire. Phillips pounds out thrilling plays and suspenseful descriptions of a packed stadium watching Rubber Arm take on hitter after hitter with his helium sleeve. When the World Series approaches, Seth continues his exceptional run, only to see Noah Chapman's face at the end of his winning streak.

Rubber Arm is a baseball novel filled with the best of what's great about the sport. Upsets, hits, steals, tricks of the trade, locker-room brawls and pitches like lightening add to an already clever storyline and powerful imagery of America's favorite pastime.

Phillips worked as a metallurgist in the automotive industry for 30 years. He is a World War II U.S. Cost Guard veteran and graduate of Temple University. Rubber Arm is his second novel. His first, The Second Day of Infamy, is also available through AuthorHouse.

AuthorHouse is the world leader in publishing and print-on-demand services. Founded in 1997, AuthorHouse has helped more than 18,500 people worldwide become published authors. For more information, visit www.authorhouse.com.

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