Product Description
Play ball! An out-of-this-world tale of a boy and his boisterous baseball is sure to have little ones hankering to get into the game. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Baseball book
My almost 2 yr old son really loves this book and has for several months!The pages are not as thick as a board book, but are much sturdier than a typically book page.We really get animated while reading this one, so I'm not sure if that is the fascination or if it's because he recently went to his first baseball game.Whatever the case, it's been a great read for him and he enjoys it very much.He likes the "I Love Dogs" super sturdy picture book too.

EXCELLENT BOOK
This is a great book.I would recommend this book to every kid and adult as well.This author writes books are easy to read; he is an inspiring author.I also bought several of his other books and have enjoyed reading them myself.My grand children just love the baby love books and Brown Sugar Baby. ... Read more

Product Description
Baseball history is full of unforgettable athletic achievements, heroic performers, and exhilarating moments that remind fans of everything they love about sports and honest competition.



The Underground Baseball Encyclopedia is not about any of those things.



Instead, prepare yourself for a decidedly snarky trip through the game s rich history of buffoonery, thuggery, fashion missteps, ballpark promotions gone awry, batboys with metal claws for hands, Afros, mustaches, mistresses, overzealous mascots, existence-of-dinosaurs deniers, inedible baseball-themed candy bars, and hundreds of other unbelievable-but-true aspects of America s national pastime. And did we mention the wife swapping?



For the casual fan, hard-core stat geek, pop culture junkie, or lover of trivia and miscellany, The Underground Baseball Encyclopedia provides a welcome kick to baseball history s baggy flannel pants. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Interesting if unfocused mismash of facts
I like the idea behind this book.It takes on the baseball books which treat baseball like the Vatican and don't dare mention anything negative.It deserves ample credit for mentioning everything from the ugly double knit uniforms of the 1970's along with Astroturf and big afro's.I enjoyed the more serious aspects of the game they called out.For example Hall of Famer Enos Slaughter is called out for being a racist for his opposition to Jackie Robinson playing baseball.

This is a fun, silly book and very enjoyable.It's not terribly revelatory but still enjoyable to read.I strongly recommend it!

Less than impressive on purpose
The subtitle is indeed accurate, but still, it would be a shame NOT to know much, if not most, of the trivia, minutia, and flotsam in this volume. The randomness of what is included and what is not may be part of the charm, but it did leave me a bit wistful for something more, well, encyclopedic. Trivia does have to BE trivial. But that aside, I certainly enjoyed the read, learned a little, laughed routinely and found myself reaching for other references to follow up on a morsel or ten as I went along. A good time, all in all.

A fun read, great gift idea for all sports fans!
If you're like me, you fondly recall playing RBI Baseball on Nintendo,
remember watching Jose Canseco on The Simpsons, and think the name
Rusty Kuntz is funny. Those are the kinds of things you'll read about
in the Underground Baseball Encyclopedia, a book that takes a
historian's commitment to research and accuracy and unleashes it on
baseball's pop culture connections, minutiae, and inanity. Not only is
this a great trip down memory lane, I also learned a few things I'd
never heard about (did you know the woman behind Mrs. Fields cookies
was an Oakland As ballgirl?). It's also got a lot of unusual and
interesting photos of mascots, board games, baseball cards, and so on.
One of the more enjoyable baseball books I've read in some time, and
one of those books your friends will want to borrow.

Baseball's Unique Quirkiness
I'm a baseball junkie who's not content just knowing the mundane statistical trivia associated with our National Pastime - such as Cobb's .367 lifetime batting average, Henry Aaron's 755 career home runs & Bob Gibson's 17 strikeouts in Game 1 of the '68 World Series - I want to know the weird stuff too; why Wade Boggs just had to eat chicken every day (for good luck), and why the Baby Ruth candy bar is still popular today, while the Reggie Bar never quite made the big time.

For anyone fascinated with every possible aspect of the game; especially the ludicrous and zany antics from all sections of baseball's inner sanctum; this book is for you.I loved it.

I also loved the reverse psychology Robert Schakenberg uses to convince readers they really need to have this book; the title explains that strategy.The truth of the matter is, the baseball junkie may be able to live without this particular piece of irreverent folklore, but life's more interesting knowing all this ridiculous stuff.So get a copy for yourself; you won't regret it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

2010 Baseball Card Price Guide
This book appears to be very well organized and complete.However, the print is so small, I have to use a magnifying glass.I would think even for a person with perfect sight, the print is ridiculously small. ... Read more

Product Description

On October 1, 1932, during Game Three of the Chicago Cubs -- New York Yankees World Series, Babe Ruth belted a long home run to straightaway centerfield. According to legend, just before he hit, Babe pointed to the bleachers and boldly predicted he would slam the next pitch there.

Did he call the shot or didn't he? Witnesses never agreed. Like other baseball fans, Joe Stoshack wants to know the truth. But unlike other fans, Joe has the astonishing ability to travel through time and solve one of baseball's greatest puzzles....

Customer Reviews (40)

Babe and Me
I'm not a sports fan and got this book for someone who is, but when I started read it myself I couldn't put it down. While baseball isa major part of the story, there's a lot more to it thanwho wins the games. I think kids will love it and maybe learn something besides.

Excellent Book
My 9 year-old has read all the books in this series and has enjoyed them all !The author does a great job of combining facts from history intertwined with his character that travels back in time.These books have led to much discussion with my child about some of the facts brought forward in the books.

In this particular book, Joe travels back to 1932 to see Babe Ruth and one of the topics brought forward was the Great Depression. The author did quite a bit of research to try & represent The Babe's personality in a juvenille book.

I have read 3 in this series (so far) and highly recommend them for young readers.What i like the best is that it creates further discussion on some of the American history topics brought forward in the book.

Whether the shot was called, or not, doesn't take away from the fact that Babe Ruth was the greatest ever to play the game & provided much necessary entertainment for a county in dire need of it at the time !

GOOD BOOK,I.E., AUTHOR MIXES FACT/TRUE HISTORY: '29 DEPRESSION, POLISH-CATHOLIC HOLOCAUST VICTIMS(3 MILLION)ACKNOWLEDGED,JOESIDE
Book drags a little in beginning, then really picks up some momentum. This is a very good book, not only about the babe, but the way real histoy fact, is mixed with a little fiction - time travel.

Fact: Joey's father has just lost his job and is down on his luck. Everyone, including his wife judge him for face value and are not very patient with him. Joey's father is really a 'good guy,' and a great father. Joey's father always seems mad and sad about something. That something, the author reveals later in the book, is the fact that Joey's father who is a Polish-Catholic, lost most of his family members when the Nazi's invaded Poland. Forgotten Holocaust: The Poles Under German Occupation 1939-1944

Few know that 3 Million Polish-Catholics were, also, murdered by the Germans in WWII Very few people know this fact, and to add to the horror, Stalin murdered another 2 million Catholic Poles.

While the Germans were bringing terror to the Polish people in Poland, they also murdered 6 Million Jews from all of Europe. The author is fair to mention the Polish-Catholic suffering, in what is known as The Forgotten Holocaust or the 3 Million Polish-Catolics, murdered by the Germans (Joey's father's Catholic family in Lodz, Poland, were also victims). Forgotten Survivors: Polish Christians Remember The Nazi Occupation (Modern War Studies)

This is what constantly bothered Joey's dad. The divorce and not seeing his son enough, only made him more sad. In the time travel part, Joey's father reads about Hitler coming to power, he desperately tries to tell Roosevelt, when they are back in time, trying to stop the Holocaust by telling Roosevelt, but Roosevelt ignored him and did not believe him. Interesting fact is that: Joey's father, who is Polish (Gutman makes a clear point of his being Polish early in the book) tried to help stop the holocaust, as did real life hero Jan Karski, A Polish-Catholic courrier. Did the Children Cry: Hitler's War Against Jewish and Polish Children, 1939-1945

Jan Karski, who also told Roosevelt about the Holocaust, but Roosevelt wouldn't believe Jan Karski either(but in real life!!!), and, sadly, Roosevelt, did nothing about it. Karski: How One Man Tried to Stop the Holocaust

The time travel does bring father and son and family back together. Did the Babe point or not is secondary to the lessons of humanity, decency and history in this book. The Babe was, like Joey's dad, in the end, a very tortured soul, but ultimately, a really, really great father, husband and human being.

Credit to Dan Gutman for a piece of history
This was an enjoyable book. It explores one of the most thought of and talked about baseball historical events of all time. George Herman Ruth called his shot to center field on the third inning of the third game in the 1932 World Series against the Chicago Cubs. He stuck his left hand in the air and pointed to the center field bleachers and called his shot. I like how the author of this book Dan Gutman challenges the called shot it makes you feel like you are at that game it gives you a perspective the no film footage or pictures could ever give you. Reading this book made me have a stronger perspective of his called shot it shows how you can take a little known opinion and turn it into one of the most exciting cliff hanging books ever and if you've only known about the called shot for a little bit like me I suggest this book to anyone who doesn't know about the called shot or still want to know more about it. Dan Gutman gives a look at what it would be like to be one of George Herman Ruth's friend what it would be like to hold his bat be in his house and be a thought in his mind. I give credit to Dan Gutman for writing this book I enjoyed the first person look at George Ruth's life and the way he played ball. If you liked this book I also suggest the rest of the books in this series including ones that have not yet been published.

a great book to jump-start your kid's love of reading
My son was a reluctant beginning reader until his first grade teacher pulled out a copy of Babe and Me to read to his class. We went out and got it the next day, read it together, and he spent the next summer working his way through it by himself, slowly reading it aloud.
Since then, he has read this book and the others in the series several times. This novel is multi-layered, with storylines about a boy's relationship with his father (his parents are divorced), all told in the historical context of the Great Depression and during the rise of Hitler. Every time we read this together (and there have been countless times), my son finds something else to discuss. The mystery of the book---did Babe really call the shot?---almost doesn't matter when you consider the book as a whole.
Overall, I credit this book as jump-starting my son's love of reading and of baseball. I can't recommend this enough for anyone looking for an entertaining and interesting read, and parents will love reading it aloud with younger readers, as well. ... Read more

Product Description

It’s fun to watch a high-flying slam dunk, a perfect spiral thrown for a touchdown, or a batter fooled by a hard-breaking curveball. But how are athletes able to perform these moves? From the laws of physics on a skateboard to the effects of weather on a ball, the Science of Sports books explore all the science behind these amazing plays.

... Read more

Product Description

The story of black professional baseball provides a remarkable perspective on several major themes in modern African American history: the initial black response to segregation, the subsequent struggle to establish successful separate enterprises, and the later movement toward integration. Baseball functioned as a critical component in the separate economy catering to black consumers in the urban centers of the North and South. While most black businesses struggled to survive from year to year, professional baseball teams and leagues operated for decades, representing a major achievement in black enterprise and institution building.

Negro League Baseball: The Rise and Ruin of a Black Institution presents the extraordinary history of a great African American achievement, from its lowest ebb during the Depression, through its golden age and World War II, until its gradual disappearance during the early years of the civil rights era. Faced with only a limited amount of correspondence and documents, Lanctot consulted virtually every sports page of every black newspaper located in a league city. He then conducted interviews with former players and scrutinized existing financial, court, and federal records. Through his efforts, Lanctot has painstakingly reconstructed the institutional history of black professional baseball, locating the players, teams, owners, and fans in the wider context of the league's administration. In addition, he provides valuable insight into the changing attitudes of African Americans toward the need for separate institutions.

Customer Reviews (7)

Excellent but even handed review of black baseball
Great book, I bought it for my son and ended up keeping it for myself.Maybe he'll get his copy next year!

Fantastic History In One Volume
Neil Lanctot pens an outstanding history of Negro League Baseball and its historical significance in this brilliant one volume work.

There has been several important works on the Negro Leagues over the years, but none have been as inclusive on exploring the era as Lanctot. If the reader is looking for a book to quickly skim over, this is not the one to purchase. But you will be missing a vital book on a professional baseball league that has never received its true recognition.

It has angered me for many years that the Negro Leagues has become nothing more than a footnote in baseball history, seemingly "celebrated" a couple times a season with current pro baseball teams wearing "throwback" jerseys during games.

Lanctot's book should be a required reading for baseball's commissioner and other officials & then the steps should be taken to include the NLB statistics in "official" records, with additional classes of hall of fame inductees to follow the NLB Class of 2006.

A very well researched history that is about more than baseball
This is a very in depth book on the history of the negro leagues, but I feel more on the business side than the games.As I read this book I continually reflected on the business strategy and mismanagement of the league, the racism the players and owners faced, and the changing dynamics of a nation. A good book, but if you are looking to learn about the players and what they accomplished then this is not the book for you.If you want a book about sports management and history of race in the US from 1933 to 1960 then this is a great book.

Exellent History
The author is to be commended for the exellent research on a subject with few primary sources.The downside of this book is that it reads like an acedemic research paper rather than telling the story of a long gone istitution.Not an easy read but very detailed.Anyone truly interested in the old Negro Leagues would find this a very informative book.However if you are interested but would prefer something lighter then I would reccomend Mark Ribowsky's book "A Complete History of the Negro Leagues"

Great History, Boring Read
The book opened my eyes to a lot that I never knew about Negro League Baseball.I did not know how many leagues there were and how the players were treated in regards to Major Leagues.I did not know how the leagues were funded etc.There is a lot of good info in this book and there are parts where the story is good.After that it dies and some of it is quite boring, I mean the way Lanctot writes about certain things in dreadul. ... Read more

Product Description

Cooperstown! Josh is thrilled when all his hard training pays off in a big way and his team, the Titans, makes it to a national tournament in Cooperstown, home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. More is on the line for Josh than just a trophy. Winning would mean everything to his dad—now Josh's coach. Winning could mean a major endorsement deal for the Titans and the attention of big league scouts!

Customer Reviews (3)

RIVALS continues Green's captivating series with his familiar style
One minute you're riding on the shoulders of your teammates after a great victory, and the next your eye has swollen shut from a dirty play during the championship game and threatens to keep you from playing baseball. That's the opening action from RIVALS, the latest offering by Tim Green in his well-written Baseball Great series for young readers. Josh LeBlanc and his team, the Syracuse Titans, are one game away from a spot on the cards at the annual youth baseball Hall of Fame Tournament in Cooperstown, New York. When he steps up to bat, Josh tries to imagine all the possible balls he could get (fastball, high ball, etc.). He wasn't prepared for the curve ball that hit him squarely in the face.

They win the game and the chance to play in the tournament, but Josh and his family are faced with a major medical decision because of the nasty cut he received from the wild ball that seemed intentionally thrown to remove Josh and the Titans from contention. The umpire, however, didn't call anything.

The doctor gives Josh two choices to protect his optic nerve: surgery that would leave a permanent scar, or rest for several weeks and no baseball. Resting would mean Josh could not play at Cooperstown and lose out on a chance to help his team win it all. The surgery would mean playing right away but living with the constant reminder every time he looks in the mirror. He and his dad think it's a no-brainer, but mom is against taking any risks with Josh's eyesight.

Still, as every baseball lover knows, Cooperstown is a slugger's mecca. It's the place you want to be because it's all about baseball. Playing there and getting to see the Baseball Hall of Fame are dreams come true for a teen player whose college chances are dependent on a baseball scholarship. The Cooperstown tournament seems to hold all the keys to Josh's future as a player, to say nothing about the fact that a major sports equipment manufacturer is looking at the Titans and considering an offer of a sweet sponsorship deal. Everything is riding on Josh playing and winning at Cooperstown. But at the moment, he can't see through his left eye.

RIVALS continues Green's captivating series with his familiar style that delivers a great sports story with writing that is easy to read but engaging because of his ability to create colorful characters. Green focuses on the action of the game while artistically penning some really nice images with similes and metaphors that make his work so enjoyable to read. For instance, he describes a private jet on the tarmac as looking "...like a white shark with wings," and a mass of groupies as "...people orbiting around him like he was the sun, even as he moved." The pictures he writes for readers' minds are brilliant and sometimes surprising in their comparisons. And the literary merits found in his previous baseball and football books are prominent in this new offering.

Josh goes to Cooperstown and comes face to face with understanding what rivalry means in sports and in his personal life. Then he stumbles onto a potential mystery when he witnesses what he thinks is a payoff to an umpire calling the Hall of Fame games. Baseball, relationships, and scandal all meld together as Josh finds out how a rivalry can make you deliver the best you have on and off the field.

RIVALS continues Green's captivating series with his familiar style
One minute you're riding on the shoulders of your teammates after a great victory, and the next your eye has swollen shut from a dirty play during the championship game and threatens to keep you from playing baseball. That's the opening action from RIVALS, the latest offering by Tim Green in his well-written Baseball Great series for young readers. Josh LeBlanc and his team, the Syracuse Titans, are one game away from a spot on the cards at the annual youth baseball Hall of Fame Tournament in Cooperstown, New York. When he steps up to bat, Josh tries to imagine all the possible balls he could get (fastball, high ball, etc.). He wasn't prepared for the curve ball that hit him squarely in the face.

They win the game and the chance to play in the tournament, but Josh and his family are faced with a major medical decision because of the nasty cut he received from the wild ball that seemed intentionally thrown to remove Josh and the Titans from contention. The umpire, however, didn't call anything.

The doctor gives Josh two choices to protect his optic nerve: surgery that would leave a permanent scar, or rest for several weeks and no baseball. Resting would mean Josh could not play at Cooperstown and lose out on a chance to help his team win it all. The surgery would mean playing right away but living with the constant reminder every time he looks in the mirror. He and his dad think it's a no-brainer, but mom is against taking any risks with Josh's eyesight.

Still, as every baseball lover knows, Cooperstown is a slugger's mecca. It's the place you want to be because it's all about baseball. Playing there and getting to see the Baseball Hall of Fame are dreams come true for a teen player whose college chances are dependent on a baseball scholarship. The Cooperstown tournament seems to hold all the keys to Josh's future as a player, to say nothing about the fact that a major sports equipment manufacturer is looking at the Titans and considering an offer of a sweet sponsorship deal. Everything is riding on Josh playing and winning at Cooperstown. But at the moment, he can't see through his left eye.

RIVALS continues Green's captivating series with his familiar style that delivers a great sports story with writing that is easy to read but engaging because of his ability to create colorful characters. Green focuses on the action of the game while artistically penning some really nice images with similes and metaphors that make his work so enjoyable to read. For instance, he describes a private jet on the tarmac as looking "...like a white shark with wings," and a mass of groupies as "...people orbiting around him like he was the sun, even as he moved." The pictures he writes for readers' minds are brilliant and sometimes surprising in their comparisons. And the literary merits found in his previous baseball and football books are prominent in this new offering.

Josh goes to Cooperstown and comes face to face with understanding what rivalry means in sports and in his personal life. Then he stumbles onto a potential mystery when he witnesses what he thinks is a payoff to an umpire calling the Hall of Fame games. Baseball, relationships, and scandal all meld together as Josh finds out how a rivalry can make you deliver the best you have on and off the field.

Five Stars For Rivals
This is a great sports book by a great sports author. And even if you don't love sports you will still love this book and lessons and theme. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

Great Sports Books for Toddlers
David Diehl's sports books are GREAT for little toddlers.Our son has been enjoying these books since he was 1.We take the book to the park to 'learn' about what the bigger kids are doing at practice.

Great Book for the Baseball Loving Toddler
We purchased this book for our 2 1/2 year old grandson who loves baseball. It is a sturdy little book with colorful illustrations.

Little Slugger Info
This book is for the very young child who needs a sturdy book, and also likes to look at pictures of a sport he or she enjoys.

baseball book for toddler
Hard pages easy to turn.Baseball pictures with precise, simple wording.Little sluggers will love this colorful baseball lesson. ... Read more

Product Description
Provides an extensive collection of baseball signs and signals for every situation in a game. The book covers umpires' signals, offensive and defensive gestures and coaching signs that make up baseball's silent communication system. Entertaining and informative to coaches, players, and even fans of baseball! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Book satisfaction
This book is a book of excellence,every coach needs to have it on his hands, you learn baseball from this book.
Also I must say I learnt new defensive & offensive situations, this is very important for me.

More plays than signs
In a book that is mildly disappointing, the author -- a knowledgeable coach with years of experience -- attempts to compile a "complete book of baseball signs and plays."The result is a text that alternates between an insider's perspective of the game and a number of chapters that are repetitive or seem out of place.

It's not clear who the book is written for: serious fans and coaches at any level will already be familiar with all but the most unusual strategies described, while casual fans may not find the repetitive descriptions and diagrams all that engaging.The author begins by providing some historical background to the origin of signs and plays that most readers will find informative.Then he moves on to break down offensive signs and plays to a degree that is almost unncessary (e.g., listing all possible base-running situations -- "nobody on, man on first, man on second...").The author provides a nice summary of the types of signals (flash, holding, block, etc.), but leaves one with the false impression that all possible signals have been described (e.g., "folding the arms: delayed steal"). In the same chapter, he also includes a number of strategies that teams can use to produce more offense, and then lists almost seven pages of "points to remember as base coaches... duites of base coaches...," once again leaving the reader wondering about the central purpose of the book.Consequently, the bulk of this second chapter is probably of most value to little league and high school coaches with limited experience.

The longest chapter, "Defensive Plays and Signs," details over 50 plays with separate charts that illustrate the positioning and movement of defensive players, but again, this section may tax the patience of readers who are not serious students of the game.

Chapter Four is one section that strikes me as a bit odd to include in this text: "Umpires' Calls and Signs" gives us an interesting window into the "third team" (p. 250) on the field, but it takes the reader some time to wade through all 77 situations that describe and illustrate how umpires position themselves for plays and how they communicate verbally and nonverbally with players, coaches, and each other.Again, coaches, players, and serious fans will be well versed in the bulk of the chapter's content, while casual readers may find this section of the text too involved and repetitive.
The book ends with two short chapters, an intriguing section on stealing signs, and a collection of humorous anecdotes that the author witnessed -- entertaining, to be sure, but one gets the impression that the closing chapter is an unncessary add-on.
"The Complete Book of Baseball Signs and Plays" is written in a fairly clear, albeit repetitve, style, and the diagrams do attempt to clarify the various complex situations.Its strength lies in its organization, while it is somewhat lacking in overall content.This book will be most valuable to little league and high school coaches as a reference tool that attempts to summarize a wide range of offensive and defensive plays.

Thin on Content
After reading the editorial reviews I eagerly anticipated receiving this book. When I did I was somewhat disappointed. I found it thin on content. The diagrams are clear, but the writing is not. It's not very well-organized. There wasn't much that was new to me, and calling it a "Complete Book of Baseball Signs and Plays" is a stretch - it's far from complete.

If you want a better book, get Ron Polk's Baseball Playbook - an animated playbook CD is also available from some suppliers online.

Definative Coaches play book with signs too!
This book is a gold mine for coaches information on baseball plays and strategies. Hundreds of diagrams and more information than can be consumed. It will become your baseball bible during the baseball season. Get it! ... Read more

Product Description

When Joe Stoshack hears about Shoeless Joe Jackson -- and the gambling scandal that destroyed the star player's career -- he knows what he has to do. If he travels back in time with a 1919 baseball card in his hand, he just might be able to prevent the infamous Black Sox Scandal from ever taking place. And if he could do that, Shoeless Joe Jackson would finally take his rightful place in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

But can Stosh prevent that tempting envelope full of money from making its way to Shoeless Joe's hotel room before the big game?

Customer Reviews (33)

Fun Fantasy Reading
My 9 year old son and I really enjoyed reading this one. He loves baseball and enjoyed this historical fiction story. We recommend it to other boys of a similar age who love baseball. For older boys though, the story might be alittle far-fetched.

Great Time-Travel Book
Shoeless Joe and Me is one of my favorite books! The book is about a kid who can Time-Travel by using Baseball Cards. He tries to go back in time to stop the Black Sox Scandal. The Black Sox Scandal was when 8 players on the White Sox were tricked by gamblers into losing the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds on purpose.

Even if you don't like Baseball, I'm sure you will love this book. I loved it SO much that I couldn't take my face away from the book. I recommend this book to ANYONE, as long as they love a good book. It is part of a series, which include:

Honus and Me
Jackie and Me
Babe and Me
Mickey and Me
Abner and Me
Satch and Me

Brian's Review
One of my students wrote the following review:
If you are a baseball fan you should read this book. This book is about a kid with a power. He can go back in time. He goes to 1919 to make the White Sox win the World Series by not letting Shoeless Joe Jackson take money. What will happen next?
It was so fun to read it! I couldn't stop reading this book. It is a long book but it is fun when you read it. There are more books that this author wrote about baseball.
-Brian

CHVK
Haven't you ever wanted to go back in time to prevent something that happened to you? Shoeless Joe Jackson was one of the best baseball players in 1919. His career was destroyed by a gambling scandal. Joe Stoshack was a young boy and he heard about the famous player from a guy named Flip who worked at the baseball card shop he always went to. Flip told Joe that Jackson was not allowed to make the Hall of Fame because of the scandal he was in. Flip gave him Joe Jackson baseball card and the little boy thought to himself what it would be like to go back in time to see what the scandal was all about and even maybe prevent it from happening. He thought if it works in movies then it should work now. The next day Joe Stoshack found himself going back to the 1919's and found Joe Jackson at the stadium. He talked to Joe and asked him to leave the game before it started. He told Joe if he didn't something bad would happen. He told Joe he came back from the future and he knew that if the great Joe Jackson did anything to lose this game, he would never get all the rewards he deserved. He wanted to prevent the "Black Sox Scandal" from happening so Shoeless Joe Jackson could get into the Hall of Fame.
I would rate this book a 5, on a scale of 5, with 5 being the best. Grades 4th and up would love it and its great family story.

Shop for Shoeless Joe! by: TF from North Boulevard School
The book I am reviewing is Shoeless Joe & Me written by Dan Gutman. I think this book deserves five stars because Dan Gutman doesn't stretch the book and he does not rush it. This book is about a boy named Joe Stoshack who can travel through time with baseball cards. The problem in this story is that when Joe had lost a game because of a bad call, he complains to the sponsor of his team, Flip Valetini. He says that it wasn't fair, and Flip tells him about the Black Sox sandal and Joe Jackson. Now he wants to fix it. But the rest... you will have to figure out. I would recommend this book to anyone from 3rd to 5th grade that loves fantasy books. ... Read more

Product Description
In this engaging book, sportswriter Jeff Kisseloff gives readers the facts, along with tips, for analyzing, comparing, and deciding for themselves who might be baseball's greatest pitcher. Given the longevity of the game and the many candidates, it's not as easy as it seems. How to compare the stats of a righthanded pitcher throwing a 19th-century baseball with those of a lefty from the next century with the latest training and state-of-the-sport equipment? A companion to Who Is Baseball's Greatest Hitter?, this book helps readers understand the variables: how lively the ball was in various eras, how far the mound was from home plate, and how many games were played in a season. The introduction offers a thumbnail sketch of the game's history, while the two- to five-page discussions of each pitching champ offer vivid profiles of the men, their achievements, and the elusive qualities that made them the winners they were. Arranging his subjects in alphabetical order, and including profiles and statistics for 38 great pitchers, Kisseloff makes the case for each pitcher and includes suggestions for further reading. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Perfect Book For Pitchers
This great book by Jeff Kisseloff is loaded with stats from pastimers such as Nolan Ryan, Walter Johnson, Satchel Paige, Steve Carlton, (Let's go Lefty!) the great Cy Young, and others. Pitchers who still play are Greg Maddux, Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson, and much, much more! In fact, there are mini biographies of 33 different pitchers!
This book not only mentions stats and a section of the pitcher's life, but it also states the superstitions and routines that pitchers had. You should read Eddie Plank's. His pitching routine is more annoying than Nomar Garciaparra's batting habit!
At the end of this book, Jeff Kisseloff describes how to figure out who is the best. He wonders about how Randy Johnson would do in the Dead Ball Era, and how Walter Johnson would do against today's competition. He tells you to "give him a call" about who you chose and why. I chose Steve Carlton. GO LEFTY!
By writing this 177-pager, Jeff Kisseloff (who still has his Sandy Koufax Scrapbook that he made when he was ten) definitely pitched a no-hitter!


By Sammy K
10, 4th Grade
... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (6)

Grandson's favorite book
I bought this for my grandson and it's now his favorite book.He carries it and sleeps with it and keeps it with him.He loves it!!!which makes me very happy!!!

yeah
We had bought this for a baby shower gift.... the babies room is all red sox! They loved it! thank you! Also really fast shipping which worked perfectly since I ordered it soooo late! thanks again!

Confusing for little kids
My Son (who is 4) loves Curious George! I ordered this book for him. The only problem is that the story talks all about baseball in terms that only someone older can comprehend. Everytime I read it to him and try to explain he is totally lost... This is the ONLY Curious George story that I have been disappointed in and we have at least 75% of the old and new books.

Good
Good book.It's one of the older George stories and drawings, not one of the newer George stories and drawings.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game...
Published in 2006, this 24-page book tells the story of Curious George going toa baseball game. The Man With the Yellow Hat happens to be friends with the head coach of the Mudville Miners and arranged for them to watch the game from the dug out.

George sees the coach sending hand signals to the runner on second base--and thinks this is a new way to cheer on the Miners. So he begans to wave his arms--but his gestures distract the runner and he gets tagged out. Needless to say, those in the dugout are angry at George!

So George and TMWTYH watch the rest of the game in the stands. George notices a camerawoman roving through the crowds--and was excited to see people around him appear on the large screen in the stadium! So he tries to climb on the camera and ends up angering the camerawoman. But the good news is that his antics help reunite a lost boy with his father!

This past weekend we visited a bookstore and my son wanted not one, but SEVEN Curious George books to add to his collection (he already had several at home). Written by Laura Driscoll and illustrated in the style of H.A. Rey by Anna Grossnickle Hines, Curious George at the Baseball Game was one of the books we bought at the store.

This engaging tale--one of the best in the CG series--is geared towards ages 4-8, so it's a good book for beginner/intermediate readers. It's also makes a great bedtime story!

In addition, Curious George at the Baseball Game contains two Bonus Activities: The inside of the back cover has two black and white illustrations for a Spot the Difference activity (I loved those as a kid!). There is also a circular maze on the back cover; George must get through the maze to find his baseball cap and ball.
... Read more

Product Description
“Football is force and fanatics, basketball is beauty and bounce. Baseball is everything: action, grace, the seasons of our lives. George Vecsey’s book proves it, without wasting a word.”
–Lee Eisenberg, author of The Number

In Baseball, one of the great bards of America’s Grand Old Game gives a rousing account of the sport, from its pre-Republic roots to the present day. George Vecsey casts a fresh eye on the game, illuminates its foibles and triumphs, and performs a marvelous feat: making a classic story seem refreshingly new.
Baseball is a narrative of America’s can-do spirit, in which stalwart immigrants such as Henry Chadwick could transplant cricket and rounders into the fertile American culture and in which die-hard unionist baseballers such as Charles Comiskey and Connie Mack could eventually become the tightfisted avatars of the game’s big-money establishment. It’s a celebration of such underdogs as a rag-armed catcher turned owner named Branch Rickey and a sure-handed fielder named Curt Flood, both of whom flourished as true great men of history. But most of all, Baseball is a testament to the unbreakable bond between our nation’s pastime and the fans, who’ve remained loyal through the fifty-year-long interdict on black athletes, the Black Sox scandal, franchise relocation, and the use of performance-enhancing drugs by some major stars.

Reverent, playful, and filled with Vecsey’s charm, Baseball begs to be read in the span of a rain-delayed doubleheader, and so enjoyable that, like a favorite team’s championship run, one hopes it never ends.

“Vecsey possesses a journalist’s eye for detail and a historian’s feel for the sweep of action. His research is scrupulous and his writing crisp. This book is an instant classic——a highly readable guide to America’s great enduring pastime.”— The Louisville Courier Journal



From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Disapppointing
Every sportswriter has a need to reveal his childhood experiences with the great game - usually baseball but occasionally other sports. This tendency occurs in this volume. How about a different approach, especially in a thin description of the entire history of baseball? I am slightly above novice status as far as baseball knowledge and the history of baseball, yet this slim volume is way too breezy and facile for me. I believe the Modern Library series aims at brief but definitive surveys of its subject, yet this objective is not met in the current volume. I have read magazine articles and essay with more depth of analysis and description in twenty pages or less. Yet this volume assumes a basic knowledge of baseball, so I am not clear on the audience intended for this book.

Choppy and hard to follow.
This book could have been much better. The author constantly jumps around so the historical time-line is very hard to follow. I felt the author spent way too much time on insignificant portions of the history of baseball and ignored other crucial areas. I would only read this book if you have exhausted all other baseball history books.

Good Writing, But Less Than The Sum Of Its Parts
Vecsey has written some terrific columns for the New York Times, and this volume includes some very well written vignettes.Of particular interest are the description of Hall-of-Famer Cap Anson's successful lead of the boycott of African American players of the 19th century; the American need to claim baseball as its own unique sport despite evidence of a long international history of bat and ball games; a concise narrative of the Black Sox scandal; the extremely clear explanation of the Curt Flood and Andy Messersmith litigation that led to the free agent era; and an even-handed treatment of the steroid & drug scandals.On this last point, Vecsey is a sensitive observer who is able to admit his own personal fault in looking the other way at a long history of drug and alcohol abuse by players.

But the column method of writing does not translate well to a full volume, and is likely to frustrate most fans who pick up this book.

A more evenly-told chronological narrative would have been more effective.

Great Book
One of the best books I've ever read. Well written & puntuated with humour. Started reading it as soon as the book arrived and couldn't put it down until it was finished. If you like to read about the history of the game I recommend this book.

Readable, Informative, Romantic
Author George Vecsey has written a very readable and informative semi-history of the national pastime.He begins with a look at the game's 19th Century evolution (perhaps even 18th Century), and we learn about the game both before and after the Civil War.Then he comes to the modern era, and informs us of starts like Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb, pioneers like Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey, and even looks at the commissioners, and the cheaters from the recent power surge.This book has quite a bit, for both casual fans and hardcore fanatics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Best fan guide to understanding baseball available
I've been watching baseball for years and there was a lot about the game I didn't realize or know I was missing out on.This book really gives you a better understanding of all aspects of the game.Bench goes over some important baseball history, then covers some of the basics like the baseball field, equipment, etc.He then has a chapter on the rules of baseball, and although it won't explain every rule of the game (that would take a lot of writing) it explains the ones that are most important to watching a game regularly.He also explains a lot of the strategy involved in baseball that I never completely understood, like which pitcher to start and close with, how managers decide the batting lineup, what kind of hit a batter might go with, how the defense can handle fielding the ball, etc.He explains how the Major Leagues work, discusses how they recruit players, and other stuff, and explains most of the stats you will see during a game or when reading about a game or player.The other reviews are right, he does throw in a lot of personal stories about his days with the Reds but honestly it didn't bother me that much.That's the beauty of the book; if it's not something you think is essential to read, you can skip over it.You'd be hard pressed to find a better book out there for learning baseball.

Good basic guide to baseball
I have both the "Idiot's Guide to Baseball" and "Baseball for Dummies" (I must be really stupid!). While either is acceptable as a good overall guide to baseball, I'd lean toward Johnny Bench's book; there seems to be more 'meat on it', even though I agree with one reviewer that there's a few too many personal anecdotes. One positive about either of the books mentioned is that while many of the 'Idiot's/Dummies' books had way too much 'forced humor', it's kept to a reasonable level on these.

Once you've digested either book, you might consider "Men at Work" by George Wills, "A Thinking Man's Guide to Baseball" by Leonard Koppett, "Tim McCarver's Baseball for Brain Surgeons and Other Fans" and the controversial but enjoyable book, "Ball Four" by Jim Bouton.

One of the best books about the sport
There's no better way to get into the game than by reading this wonderfully informative, thoroughly delightful overview of the sport. Not just the rules and procedures but the history, personalities, nuances and a wealth of inside information. As someone once said, "The only people who think baseball is dull are dull people."

5 Star Look at Learning the Game!
Bench imparts his knowledge of the game well in this book. Each chapter is devoted to a different aspect of baseball and is full of informative tips. I'm a casual fan and I learned so much reading though this book.

Ilearned about different pitches, offensive and defensive strategies, whateach player's important jobs on defense and offense are, and how themanager tries his best to win the game.

There are also sections at theend of the book containing a glossary of baseball terms, all-time records,and a list of Hall of Famers.

I always admired Bench as a player; now Irealize Bench is an excellent student of the game as well.

Very Helpful for anyone interested in the game
I bought this book for two reasons.One, I am a fan of Johnny Bench and two, my wife wants to learn more about baseball.What I found was a comprehensive "single source" for baseball info. I found the history and insight very interesting (baseball is after all nothing if nothistory) and the explanations are complete without being to complex for theneophyte to comprehend.

Johnnys personal insight into the game is veryinteresting, he certainly has the credibility to make observations andlacks the self aggrandizment that plagues so much sports writing (hedoesn't include himself in his "All time greatest line up" whenmost people include him in theirs, deservedly so).

His pointers on thetechnique are both simple and thorough enough to get anyone started andcomplete enough to include even pointers on starting a local league and howto properly fill out a scorecard.

Johnny does include his own opinions onmany things baseball related and while some may find that irritating, theinsight of someone who has actually played the game and played it well areboth interesting and compelling whether you agree with him or not.

If aperson loves the game of baseball, or simply wants to be able understandthe game enough to enjoy it, this book is for you.If you are looking forthe "star gazing" and bloated, self serving commentary so commonin sports writing, this will seem pretty dry. ... Read more

Product Description
Some ball players are remembered for their home runs and great plays--but imagine being famous for blowing the game. Offering play-by-play descriptions of the games, historical trivia, and lifetime statistics of key players, this book shows how life goes on even after the worst moments--and how a little mistake can sometimes make a very big difference. Photos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Great book to inspire readers
A perfect book to both inspire less than enthusiastic readers.Well written and very interesting subject matter.My grandson, age 9 loved it.

So, other people make mistakes, too? Not just me?
We all make mistakes and if you love baseball and if you enjoy hearing about how other people made bigger mistakes than you ever will - mistakes that cost World Series titles - then Dan Gutman has written a book for you.

"Baseball's Biggest Bloopers" is a pleasure to read, because "Biggest Bloopers" reviews the charming history of twelve (12) major league mistakes in baseball's past, provides follow-up information so that we know the mistake-makers recovered and lived a happy and productive life, and prepares us to expect mistakes in the future that could cost us and our friends a lot of money - and to not get excessively upset about it. Gutman refreshingly writes in the introduction, "Even the best in the world screw up now and then. Nobody's perfect. Mistakes are a part of life. We're only human. The greatest players in the game make mistakes" (p. x).

A person might object and say that there are only 12 mistakes reviewed in the book and the history of baseball clearly has a bunch more. My response is to say that while it is pleasurable to read about another person's major blunders and to learn how he humbly admitted his mistake and laughed it off, the chapters deal with tragic experiences that can bum a person out. So thankfully Gutman includes only twelve.

Gutman's "Biggest Bloopers" makes a perfect birthday or Christmas gift, since his book is easy to read, gives touching and personal information about the "goats" who blew major games, has a handy review of stats and baseball history at the end of each chapter and contains vintage photographs of early baseball players.

Baseball's Biggest Bloopers The Games That Got Away
I read the book Baseball's Biggest Bloopers The Games That Got Away by Dan Gutman.This book was about players that blew it big time!Many of thwe games lost the World Series for the team.But somtimes it just lost the game and the team came back and won the Series. In this book there are 12 humiliating stories that will make even you, fell bad for the players.My favorite story was Herb Washington Designated Pick-Off Victim.It was about an olympic runner that was taken to the Oakland A's.When he got to the Statdium he didn't even know how to play baseball, and teh A's tought him how to paly and then n one game he got picked-off.I would recommend this book to anyone that likes baseball or any sports.

A must for baseball fans
Baseball is a tough sport to play sometimes. Many times players make mistakes called bloopers. These bloopers you see in almost every game. Sometimes they cost a regular game, a pennant, or to make it worse theworld series! This book has tons of it. It talks about players who mess upthe game so bad they have the rest of their life to think what they didwrong! You will enjoy this book so much that once you done reading, youcan't stop! So buy this book. It's called Baseballs biggest bloopers thegames that got away. This will be one of the greatest baseball books youwill ever get! ... Read more

Product Description
It's the ultimate collection for armchair umpires and baseball fanatics:

Fun and perplexing facts, trivia, games, quotes and zany moments from our nation's favorite pastime.

The only thing a true baseball fan enjoys as much as cheering on his or her team is swapping stats, facts, trivia and golden moments from the Great American Sport. This thoroughly enjoyable compilation of all-things-baseball includes such fan-talizing topics as Little-known Rules, Trick Plays, Quotes of the Game and Funny Moments. And, perhaps most fun of all, readers can play coach, making such tough calls as these:

- Can a runner ever steal first base?

- What happens when a catcher fields a ball with his mask?

- Can a game continue with eight players on the field?

With information and anecdotes, this big little book is sure to hit a homerun with fans of every stripe.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

3 hits in 10 chances - great for batting, bad for a book
There are some interesting and funny stories, but the book mostly swings and misses.IT is also pretty outdated.It was published in 2001, but is a compilation from other books that were published earlier.(So you get stories about McGwire, Sosa and Bonds without any hint of PEDs.)

The "You're the Manager" section is a mess.The idea is good: they set up a scenario, ask what you think the manager should do, and then tell you what really happened.Half the time the time they can't even get this right.They just tell a story of something that happened in a game that had absolutely nothing to do with managing.In one case, they set up a scenario from a critical playoff, ask you if you would pitch to a certain batter - and then they never tell you what actually happened.
Then there is the story about Ken Griffey JR of the Yankees robbing a Red Sox player of a HR with a leaping catch at Yankee Stadium.I'm not sure what this how this is supposed to fit into the idea of "You're the Manager", but I do know that Junior never played for the Yankees! (The story was probably really about his dad who did play for them.)

As mentioned by another reviewer, the trivia section is lame.

Some of the unusual characters and situations that are part of the great game of baseball
Baseball is a game where many very unusual things can happen. While the rule book is thick and detailed, it cannot cover every situation. Furthermore, the people who have played the game over the years have tended to be more unusual that those who made their living in other professional sports. This book describes some of the unusual people and events that have graced the great game of baseball over the years.
There was the home run that Henry Aaron hit that was disallowed because he stepped out of the batters box. The runner who actually ran from second back to first, not by mistake, but in an attempt to confuse the opposition. There is also the famous incident where three runners actually ended up on third base. My favorite stories are those that involved unusual situations where the umpires had to make a judgment call and reinterpret the rules.
For example, what happens if a runner accidentally loses his batting helmet and the batted ball hits the helmet? Suppose the plate umpire calls a pitch a ball and the team on field appeals to a field umpire about a possible swinging strike. What happens if there is a runner running on the play? What happens if a player refuses to get back into the batter's box after arguing a call?
All of these questions are answered and there were many answers that I did not know. Baseball is simultaneously a simple and a complex game, after over one hundred years, there are still situations that arise that force the creation of new rules. I really enjoyed reading this book, devouring it in one sitting.

Baseball Bafflers: Fun for Kids
This book, Baseball Bafflers, is fun for kids (hence this review's title).Fastball Makov wrote an interesting book about strange and funny plays in baseball.It requires some knowledge of baseball to comprehend, however.The trivia was interesting, but answerable if you read the rest of the book beforehand.So, if you are going to read it, read the trivia section first.Also, the Baseball's Strangest and Baseball's Funniest Moments sections of the book were enjoyable.They were certainly unusual and descriptive.You're the Manager and You're the Umpire were my two favorite chapters.This was because they allowed you to use baseball-thinking skills to make decisions.Like the trivia, these sections should be read before the first two.

My conclusion is that this book is enjoyable if you're under the age of 14 and you know just the minimal amount about baseball rules.

Keep your money
This book doesn't tell any average baseball fan more than they already knew.Most of the funny quotes are pretty famous, and most of the rest of them aren't even funny.Most of the 'You be the Umpire' section consists of presenting a hypothetical situation (using real players and teams, and not always reminding us that it is hypothetical), explaining the umpire's ruling, then telling the reader that this actually happened on such-and-such date to so-and-so player(s).A handful of these situations were interesting and informative to the average baseball fan, but not most.And the trivia section was WEAK. ... Read more

Product Description
It's a quirky marriage of the New Age and the sportspage.Bringing the ancient wisdom of divination by cards to thefamiliar actions, characters, myths, and metaphors of America'sfavorite pastime, Baseball Tarot is a novel way to seek answers tolife questions.From being thrown a curve to hitting in the clutch tocoming out of left field, clarification is in the cards.

Expertly translated from traditional wisdom by Mark Lerner, author ofthe Page-A-Day Horoscope Calendars, and Laura Phillips, BaseballTarot offers insights into love, work, relationships, dreams,decisions, and dilemmas.Each set includes a custom-designed,full-color 78-card Tarot deck - exquisitely illustrated by baseballartist Dan Gardiner and edged in a fifth color of gold - plus a336-page illustrated book on how to lay out and interpret the cards.There are The Majors (major arcana) - The Rookie, The Manager, ThePitcher, The Catcher, The Ump, The Goat.The Minors (minor arcana) -Mitts, Balls, Bats, Bases.Even original layouts - The Change-up, TheDiamond.As Roger Angell once said, "Baseball seems to have beeninvented solely for the purpose of explaining all other things inlife."Step up to the plate. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Take Me Out to the Ballpark
I'm not kidding.Take this deck with you to the next home game.Sit there between innings and enjoy the cards and all the wonder that is baseball.I'm a total baseball addict.There is no doubt that, as they say in the introduction, the folks that designed this deck did their (baseball) homework.The art is (gush) WOW. The choices and decisions they made on how to relate tarot to The Great American Pasttime show a true love for both The Game and Tarot.Every time I handle these cards (and they've become my favorite deck) I just get gooseflesh. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for making the 7th inning stretch just plain fun!

"Take me out to the old ball game!"/Visionaryprophetdaniel
This novel Kit is a good fair play of an old sports institution that uses a theme song based upon "The Old Timers Waltz" music piece for singing "Take Me Out to the old Ball game!"...etc... The cards have a beautiful air-brushed picture on each card all the way through the deck with their own card titles.But, if there any "dislikers" of this Tarot; that's ok..."cause we can shake it off!" A Beginner or an Initiate who knows the game can learn the Tarot quicker (My ex-wife did and enjoyed it immensely learning the Tarot).However, one has to know the standard card titles.The "Fair Play" meanings are a departure from the Rider-Waite-Smith Industry standard.Sports Fans out there should have Tarots done for other major sports such as NFL/AFL;NBA;NHL; and so on- Let's get creative at TheOldBall Game,shall we!??...Blessings...

A real home run!
The interpretations and graphics on these cards make them a real delightto use. I am actually playing tarot. I have used many different decks butthis is by far the clearest for me. This is a great way to introduce sportsminded men to this wonderful practice.

What a great gift
I just purchased this set as a his/her wedding shower gift and everybody just loved them.They were passed around from person to person, the ladies and the gents each finding something of value from them.The art work isbeautiful, the book very complete, and the card discriptions are reallyvery insightful.They explain things in an easy to understand, applicableto today way.They were a hit.I have about 4 more people I'm going tobuy decks for including myself.I doubt anyone would be dissapointed inthis set.Certainly unique for a collector of either Tarot cards, orbaseball paraphernalia.Thanks :-)

Great fun
The Baseball Tarot made the tarot understandable and enjoyable for my boyfriend. It is written in terms that are meaningful to him. We really enjoy our Tarot readings with these cards. ... Read more

Product Description
"Play Ball!" These words resonate with special meaning inthe minds of anyone who has ever enjoyed a game of baseball. Every fanwill be amused and touched by stories of sportsmanship and victorygathered from the clay diamonds of America.

A tribute to America's favorite past time, Chicken Soup for theBaseball Fan's Soul is written by people at every level ofcompetition, from World Series champions to tee-ball moms. Theirinspiring stories highlight the best of baseball, the importance ofsportsmanship and a love of the game. Whether these stories take placeon the field of a local YMCA or under the bright lights of a majorleague ballpark, the focus is the same: The Love of the Game. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Chicken Soup fills soul
The outside covers were a little bent, but the book itself was in good shape.Excellent stories to warm a baseball fan's heart.

Chicken soup is good for the soul
If you love baseball and appreciate it's personality and if you love kid's baseball, playing catch with your kid and like to cry - this is your book. Just a great read.

Wrong Year
I love this book, but someone ought to tell Bill Goldberg (The Whistle Story)that the Bucky Dent playoff game was 1978 not 1977. What true NYY fan - from the Bronx, no less - not only doesn't know that, but let's it get to print??????????? Pretty shameful if you ask me.

very inspiring
this book was very inspiring. The stories are all well written and ammussing. I haven't read any of the other books in the series and I don't plan on reading them either but I really enjoyed this one though and I recomend this book to all baseball fans

A great read!
As a baseball fan, I thought it was wonderful to read about the many sides of baseball.There are stories from both fans and people actually involved in the baseball world.With baseball having such a depressing last couple of years, and not having the results as we have come to expect, it was wonderful to know that there are people in the world that still love this sport!I am one of them. :o)
(I would have said still the American sport, but since I am Canadian I don't think that always applies...) ... Read more

Product Description
Cam Jansen and her friend Eric want to play baseball in the park with some other kids. But they need to find their lost ball first. Everyone gets together to search, and Cam says "Click!" to start up her photographic memory. What was going on when the ball disappeared? Who has it? Where can it be now? Cam is ready to find out. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Just Right
I ordered this book for my seven year old son and it was spot on reading for his age. Not too easy and not too hard. Just Right!

Young Cam Jansen helps her friends track down a missing baseball
Cam Jensen's real name is Jennifer and she has an amazing memory.Her memory is like a camera: she has a picture of her head of every thing that she has seen.Whenever she wants to remember something she closes her eyes and says, "Click."Because of her great memory people started calling her "the Camera," and then they shorted it to just "Cam.""Young Cam Jansen and the Baseball Mystery" takes place one afternoon when Cam and her friends are playing a game of baseball at the park.When Amy hits the ball so far that it sails over Robert's head, she ends up hitting a home run.But the ball disappears and Cam and her friends have to find it because otherwise the game will be over.Can Cam catch all the clues?

Written by David A. Adler with illustrations by Susanna Natti, "Young Cam Jansen and the Baseball Mystery" does a nice job of finding a comfort level for its young readers when it comes to solving the mystery.Kids reading this book might not be as quick as Cam to figure out the clues, but they should be ahead of Cam's friends in that regard.There is also an opportunity for readers to test their own memory and see if it as amazing as Cam Jansen: Right before the opening chapter there is a full-page illustration of Cam and Robert walking through the park.Young readers are supposed to look at the picture, blink their eyes and say "Click," and then turn to the last page of the book to answer some questions and see how well they remember the details of the picture.

There are other books in the Young Cam Jansen series, including "Young Cam Jansen and the Dinosaur Game," "Young Cam Nansen and the Missing Cookie," and "Young Cam Jansen and the Library Mystery."These are all Level 2 readers aimed at ages 5-8 (Grades K-2), and students who are beginning to read.The reason these are all Young Cam Jansen mysteries is because Adler has written even more books about his young heroine in the Cam Jansen adventure series, which are aimed at ages 8-12 (Grades 1-3) and kids who are reading alone.Helping young readers make the transition to chapter books, this series includes "Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Babe Ruth Baseball," "Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Monkey House," and "Cam Jansen and the First Day of School Mystery."I certainly like the idea of Adler different types of books for readers at two different levels and think it would be interesting for Adler to write a Level 1 Cam Jansen story and another for her at some reading level higher than 3.

Baseball has never seen the likes of Cam before!
You have to love Cam Jansen.When you're a kid, you read all of these stories about magic powers, mystery, and adventure.But everyone tells you magic can't exist.Cam Jansen manages to solve every case without the use of magic... she's a real girl.That's what makes her special and what makes you want to red more and more.Cam Jansen is a real kid superhero, and the thought that a person like her could actually exist... makes her the best kid detective ever!Our family loves Cam Jansen!

Review of Cam Jansen and the Baseball Mystery
This book is great for those who are just becoming independant readers.The sentences are short and the vocabulary is simple enough so it is easy for them to understand.Also the pictures correspond well to the story.The story will keep their interest, they will follow the pursuit to find the baseball, seeing how Cam uses her photographic memory to help solve the mystery.This story teaches young children how photgraphic memories work in a simple way.I liked how they used Cam, short for camera as her nickname. ... Read more

Product Description
The Scholastic Ultimate Guides will provide the fun facts that kids want to know about sports, history, entertainment, and other topics. Presented in easy-to-grab, cool-to-browse, fun-to-read style, every page of this new series will be chock full of information. From the basic to the obscure, from the well known to the brand-new, fans of these sports will all find tons of info to enjoy. ... Read more