At the age of thirty-three, Paul marries Martha and embarks on a lifelong adventure with the girl of his dreams. The couple lives the good life until the Great Depression and the effects of Prohibition bring them financial ruin. Leaving the family ranch, Paul begins working as a counterman at a local farm supply store to make ends meet. Unable to have children, Paul and Martha start volunteering at various youth activities. But Paul's greatest love is coaching youth baseball teams.
A small, timid man and a natural-born leader, Paul brings out the best in his young players by reminding them, "Ya gotta try." Even after his players grow up and start families of their own, they continue to rely on Paul for advice and support.
When Martha suffers a series of strokes, Paul has to quit coaching after his team wins the state championship. But that doesn't stop him from continuing to be the mainstay in many of his players' lives, proving that a man doesn't have to be big to make a big difference.
