Authors use Game 1 of the 1988 World Series to launch what they hope is a series of books for kids

By Martha Lannan
Voice Community Editor
As the father of a 2-year-old, Tom Garcia was in the groove of reading bedtime stories to his son, but often he felt something was missing in terms of available children’s books he could read with enthusiasm to his child.
“My son and I always had fun reading together, but I was hoping to catch his attention more and hold his interest with stories I was excited about, too,” said Garcia, a corporate attorney for Mentor Corp.
One night when his little boy, Jack, asked him to tell him a story about baseball, Garcia related a true story about his favorite baseball team, the 1980 championship-winning Philadelphia Phillies, he said, with Mike Schmidt, Pete Rose and Tug McGraw. Garcia said he saw the sparkle he’d been hoping for in his son’s eyes as he told the story, and he realized he was on to something big.
Soon after, Garcia and Karun Naga co-wrote “Gibby’s Homer,” the story of Kirk Gibson’s home run against the Oakland Athletics in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, despite his being sidelined with injuries most of the game. Gibson was the MVP of the National League that year.
“We started thinking about it a little over a year ago,” he said. “And in August of 2006 we put together the text, got an illustrator and we were on our way.”
Garcia has found such success with his project he has decided the book would be the first in a series he would call “Daddy’s Heroes,” a concept he and Naga hope will enhance “the joy of reading, the love of sports, and an appreciation of history” in children and families. He said he has started book No. 2, another World Series moment, but the exact topic is still under wraps.
The creative team, including artist Jenifer Donnelly, ended up self-publishing, said Garcia, finding their own printer and proofing the pages themselves with the help of friends.
“My wife, Emily, has been very supportive,” he said, “providing invaluable feedback and doing the marketing.”
“Gibby’s Homer” is available at Amazon.com, Craigslist and eBay, Garcia said, and in some local bookstores. More information about the book, and the Goleta Valley author, is available at www.DaddysHeroes.com.
“We’ve gotten really good feedback,” he said, “and Dodger fans are very excited about it.” The concept of dads reading to kids hasn’t always been common, said Garcia, and he thinks his series of books will help turn that around.
Now that he has a 6-month-old daughter, Enna, he may even do some stories about the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team, who knows?