Durham – Writer Jim Baumer will conduct two holiday book signings for his award-winning book on local baseball.

From 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, Baumer will be at Mr. Paperback in Lewiston, signing copies of his book, “When Towns Had Teams.” The following Saturday, Dec. 16, he will be at Books-n-Things in Norway, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Baumer’s book was awarded an “IPPY” by Independent Publisher, a national trade organization for independent publishing, as its top nonfiction title for the Northeast in 2006.

The book, released independently by RiverVision Press, is the first book of its kind to capture the connection between baseball and small-town life in Maine and highlight town team baseball’s heyday in the Pine Tree State.

“When Towns Had Teams” features an extensive section on both the semi-pro and town team baseball played in Lewiston and Auburn and surrounding communities from just after World War II to local baseball’s demise a decade ago.