For Love of the Game is a novel by American author Michael Shaara, published posthumously in 1991.

The book tells the story of fictional baseball great Billy Chapel, thirty-seven years old and nearing the end of his career.

Just the night before, his girlfriend Jane did not show up at his hotel room, and Chapel reaches the conclusion that it is time to move on and finally make the transition from boyhood to manhood.

Over half the book tells the story of that final game, with flashbacks from the pitching mound and dugout to incidents throughout Chapel's life.

Nevertheless, he refuses to give up the pitching mound, and chooses instead to divert his attention by delving deeper into his life and his relationship.