Tag Archives: Baseball

Baseball Records

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Baseball has been around for a very long time. As a result, there are many records that have been achieved and broken over the years. This book, part of the Incredible Sports Records series, goes into many team and individual records. Readers will learn about the longest game on record (26 innings!) to pitcher Cy Young’s long-time win record set in 1911. Not only are current, record-holders described; their predecessor is listed as well.

Young sports enthusiasts can rejoice in a book chock full of information about baseball greats over the long history of the sport. Glossy pictures and short write-ups detailing important records in the baseball are a pleasing addition to a somewhat crowded field of sports trivia books. Recommended.

Hank Aaron: Groundbreaking Baseball Slugger

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This is an excellent biography of the man often called “Bad Henry” because no one pitcher could stop him. It begins with the story of his life before baseball, back to the time when his father played for a local team. Aaron played both football and baseball in high school, but it was when he saw Jackie Robinson play for the first time that Aaron told his father that he would play professional baseball while Robinson was still playing ball. It goes on to describe Aaron’s career, particularly when he approaching Babe Ruth’s home run record. Instead of it being a time of joy, it was one of the most stressful times in his life because of the hate mail and death threats he received.  The work he considered even more important was opening doors for others, helping African Americans move into management and executive positions in baseball. Filled with pictures and sidebars, this is an excellent addition to the sports section in any school library.

Brothers at bat: the true story of an amazing all-brother baseball team

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Summary:  Here’s a story that seems almost impossible to believe, but yet it is a true story about an American family.  The Acerra family had 16 children.  Twelve were boys, just enough to field a baseball team!  This was the 1930s, and times were tough, but they stuck together as a family.   They had one passion: baseball!  It brought them a lot of joy and a lot of fun! And they were really good players!  In 1938, the brothers ranged in age from seven to thirty-two.  The oldest nine brothers formed a semi-pro team!  They played around on the East Coast and the always drew a crowd!   In the 1940s six of the brothers went to war, but they all came back and played in a baseball league another six years.  They played their last game in 1952.

 

What I liked about it: It’s a positive story about a family working together.  Salerno’s illustrations have a retro feel from the period from the 40s and 50s that match the time period perfectly.   Author and Illustrator add historical detail on the last page.

 

Who would like it:  The picture book format would suggest a younger audience:  K-3rd grade, but anyone would enjoy this all-American story.  Highly recommended.

How Georgie Radbourn saved Baseball

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Synopsis:  When baseball player Boss Swaggert is booed and jeered off the field during a slump in his career, he vows revenge.  Years later Boss Swaggert is a very rich man and so powerful he is able to make baseball illegal.  The consequence of this is continuous winter.  Without baseball there will never be a spring or summer. Then little George Radbourn is born, a boy born for baseball!  Every time he opens his mouth it is about baseball, such as “batter up” or “line drive back through the box!”  Eventually there will be a showdown with Boss Swaggert and a contest on the baseball field!

What I liked about it and who would enjoy it:  This is a reprint from 1994 and winner of the New York Times Best Illustrated book of the year award.  David Shannon’s illustrations set a somber mood and may remind you of William Joyce’s work.   A fun title that baseball lovers and any age will enjoy!  Grab it before it goes out of print again!

Recommended for grade  K-Gr-4