[needle]

When I was a boy, I read something--I feel like the title was something like, "A stranger in centerfield." 

Think something like those Clair Bee books, though the characters in this novel were adults.

Almost certainly written in the 1950s or earlier, it was about a young and hungry (literally) baseball player who tries out and, to the surprise of everyone, finds success. Later, it's found out he has a criminal record, which is info that he had feared becoming known. 

I think all ended up being forgiven, with the final chapters about a big game.

Anyone remember reading this?

[needle]

When I was a boy, I read something--I feel like the title was something like, "A stranger in centerfield." 

Think something like those Clair Bee books, though the characters in this novel were adults.

Almost certainly written in the 1950s or earlier, it was about a young and hungry (literally) baseball player who tries out and, to the surprise of everyone, finds success. Later, it's found out he has a criminal record, which is info that he had feared becoming known. 

I think all ended up being forgiven, with the final chapters about a big game.

Anyone remember reading this?