The Best Players, Games, and Teams in Baseball (Legends #1)
by Howard Bryant (Author)
Experience baseball's most exciting moments, World Series heroics, greatest players, and more! Baseball, America's pastime, is a sport of moments that stand the test of time. It is equally a sport of a new generation of heroes, whose exploits inspire today's young fans. This combination makes for a winning debut in Legends: The Best Players, Games, and Teams in Baseball. This is no traditional almanac of mundane statistics, but rather a storyteller's journey through baseball's storied game. Told in fun, accessible chapters and accompanied by iconic photos, a slew of Top Ten lists for kids to chew on and debate, and a Timeline of the 40 Most Important Moments in Baseball History, this collection covers some of the greatest players from Babe Ruth to Hank Aaron; the greatest teams to take the field and swing the bats; the greatest social triggers, such as Jackie Robinson's breaking of the color barrier; the greatest playoff rivalries, including the 2004 showdown between the Red Sox and Yankees that turned into an instant classic; and, of course, the edge-of-your-seat World Series moments that left some cheering while others wept. This is the perfect book for young fans eager to learn more about the sport that will stay with them for a lifetime.
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School Library Journal
Gr 3-6—This collection of short pieces outlines the history of baseball. The text is divided into three sections: "Spring," which showcases standout players; "Summer," which focuses mostly on teams; and "Fall," which highlights memorable playoffs and the World Series. A sports writer with ESPN and formerly with the Boston Herald and Washington Post, Bryant often takes a big picture view, considering events in a historical context. But there are plenty of moments of individual glory, such as Pee Wee Reese putting his arm around Jackie Robinson when the latter was being showered with racial epithets and Willie Mays's "perfect catch" over his shoulder in game one of the 1954 Series. Bryant doesn't shy from the darker chapters in the game's history, including the 1998 steroid scandal, which destroyed the reputations of sluggers Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, and the player strike of 1994. An upbeat, exuberant tone runs through this work. Some sections are thick with statistics, but this is clearly a book for sports lovers, who likely won't be dissuaded. The volume concludes with 12 pages of photos and a time line of key moments. VERDICT A strong choice for rounding out sports collections, this work knocks it out of the park.—Bob Hassett, Luther Jackson Middle School, Falls Church, VA
Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
Praise for LEGENDS:
An Amazon Best Book of the Month! "With the LEGENDS series, Howard Bryant brings to life the best that sports has to offer—the heroes, the bitter rivalries, the moments that every sports-loving kid should know."—Mike Lupica, #1 bestselling author of Travel Team, Heat, and Fantasy League * "A terrific gathering of heroic hacks and legendary near misses."—Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW * "Each story is engaging and offers readers a glimpse into baseball's past and American history. [A] terrific addition to engage reluctant readers."—School Library Connection, STARRED REVIEW"[T]his is clearly a book for sports lovers. A strong choice for rounding out sports collections, this work knocks it out of the park."—School Library Journal
"Any fan of baseball will enjoy this compilation . . . Fans of all ages will find this a useful guide; teachers might find this an interesting mentor text for a student reporting on a particular topic since the approach is unique."—VOYA "[T]his book will attract all manner of analysis and discussion among lovers of America's favorite pastime. Fans of other sports will cheer: this is only the first in a series devoted to sports."—BooklistJNF007100 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography | Sports & Recreation
United States
Baseball players
Baseball
