The Phenomenon: Pressure, the Yips, and the Pitch that Changed My Life

The Phenomenon is the story of how St. Louis Cardinals pitching prodigy Rick Ankiel lost his ability to pitch — not due to an injury or lightning, but a mysterious anxiety condition known as "the Yips." It came without warning, in the middle of a playoff game, with millions of people watching. It's never gone.

Ankiel's character was tested not on the mound, but in the days and nights that followed as he tried to get back in the game. For four and a half years, he tried psychotherapy, medication, deep-breathing exercises, self-help books, and eventually vodka. After rethinking his life at 25, Ankiel returned to the majors as a hitter and played seven successful seasons.

Overall, Rick Ankiel played in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves, Washington Nationals, Houston Astros, and New York Mets.

This book is about pressure and what happens when a person on the brink must decide who he will be.