From School Library Journal
Grade 3-5?The prolific writer of juvenile sports fiction takes a crack at nonfiction. He describes nine dramatic moments from baseball's historical past, featuring the likes of Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Reggie Jackson, and Jim Abbott. These accounts depict the courageous aspects as well as the spectacular, including Dave Dravecky's comeback after cancer surgery, and the hobbled Kirk Gibson's game-winning home run in the 1988 World Series. Christopher tends to drift to his fictional roots as a number of the stories are laced with manufactured feelings, thoughts, and quotes. He also tends to generalize: "As the crowd in Fenway Park watched Ted Williams run off the field for the last time, they told each other, 'There goes the greatest hitter that ever lived.' " While his portrayals of these moments are basically accurate, the sidelights he adds without documentation have him walking a fine line between fact and fiction. While Christopher's legions of young fans will enjoy the book, a more straightforward account of memorable events in America's pastime can be found in Geoffrey Ward's 25 Great Moments in Baseball (Knopf, 1994), which is based on Ken Burns's public-television series, Baseball, the American Epic.?Tom S. Hurlburt, La Crosse Public Library, WICopyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Card catalog description
Describes nine memorable moments from baseball's past, featuring Bill Wambsganss, Babe Ruth, Joe Nuxhall, Willie Mays, Ted Williams, Reggie Jackson, Dave Dravecky, Kirk Gibson, and Jim Abbott.
Great Moments in Baseball History ANNOTATION
Describes nine memorable moments from baseball's past, featuring Bill Wambsganss, Babe Ruth, Joe Nuxhall, Willie Mays, Ted Williams, Reggie Jackson, Dave Dravecky, Kirk Gibson, and Jim Abbott.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
The blur of a fastball, the crack from a slugger's bat, the seemingly impossible leap for a long-flying ball--Matt Christopher has captured all the suspense and play-by-play action of nine remarkable major league players and the personalities of the athletes who made them.
FROM THE CRITICS
Children's Literature - Rebecca Joseph
Best known for his sports related young adult novels, Matt Christopher tackles nonfiction in this well-written book that describes nine memorable moments from baseball's past. Christopher brings us into the careers of nine spectacular baseball players including Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Reggie Jackson, and Jim Abbott. Young lovers of sports will enjoy this informative, entertaining book.
School Library Journal
Gr 3-5-The prolific writer of juvenile sports fiction takes a crack at nonfiction. He describes nine dramatic moments from baseball's historical past, featuring the likes of Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Reggie Jackson, and Jim Abbott. These accounts depict the courageous aspects as well as the spectacular, including Dave Dravecky's comeback after cancer surgery, and the hobbled Kirk Gibson's game-winning home run in the 1988 World Series. Christopher tends to drift to his fictional roots as a number of the stories are laced with manufactured feelings, thoughts, and quotes. He also tends to generalize: "As the crowd in Fenway Park watched Ted Williams run off the field for the last time, they told each other, `There goes the greatest hitter that ever lived.' " While his portrayals of these moments are basically accurate, the sidelights he adds without documentation have him walking a fine line between fact and fiction. While Christopher's legions of young fans will enjoy the book, a more straightforward account of memorable events in America's pastime can be found in Geoffrey Ward's 25 Great Moments in Baseball (Knopf, 1994), which is based on Ken Burns's public-television series, Baseball, the American Epic.-Tom S. Hurlburt, La Crosse Public Library, WI
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