Orange Crush: The Neglected 1971 Houston Astros - Paperback

Barrett, Samuel: - Samuel Barrett, 24, has worn numerous hats in the baseball realm. He played high school baseball in his senior year of 2019 at Central High School in Phenix City, AL. He began an ongoing career as an umpire in 2021 when he attended the Wendelstedt Umpire School, from which he earned his first league placement and was spurred to begin calling high school games in Alabama as well as college-level games for three years. Barrett's story through his first year as an umpire is told in his first book Umpire Diary: My Personal Journey and Experiences Beginning an Umpire Career, which was published in July 2024. He joined the brand-new Columbus Clingstones, double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, as a pitch clock operator in 2025. Barrett first began watching the Astros in 2015 since his father's lineage originates in south Texas, and soon started researching baseball history, including Astros history, which eventually developed into the inspiration for this book. He is grateful for the opportunities he has created and received, especially given his status on the autism spectrum, which thanks to proactive early intervention at a time before Barrett can remember, is now not noticeable without being told so. He is humbled and honored that you, the reader, believe his work to be worthy of your time reading it, and he can be reached at rsbarrett00@gmail.com.