Baseball Fiction

In this briskly paced novella involving far more than America’s pastime, an older man befriends an angry young boy following one of his disastrous practices. The boy is clearly the worst player on his team, yet he is desperate to improve. So the man sets out to give him some pointers about the game and possibly about life, amid initial reservations from the boy’s mother, and violent opposition from his vulgar and abusive stepfather.

In these 11 stories, Gary Soto scores again. With a sensitivity and humor born from his own experiences while growing up in California's Central Valley, the author brings to the surface issues such as success and failure, honesty and deceit, love and friendship.

My old high school crush just hired me. Me, the awkward, studious 4.0 student who spewed fire retardant all over him when he set the chemistry lab on fire. I doubt he remembers me because he went on to score a major league baseball contract. Can I plan his party, while keeping my heart safe from his magnetic charm that I unfortunately still find irresistible?

Baseball hotshot Jake Ross isn’t looking for love, only a good woman to come to his rescue. His bad boy rep lands him on the covers of gossip rags instead of sports magazines and could cost him a multi-million-dollar sponsorship deal. Enter Charlotte Jones. The shy media coordinator is determined to lose weight and avoid the health concerns that run in her family, but after months of middling results, she needs someone to talk her out of throwing in the towel. If Charlotte pretends to be Jake’s girlfriend, he’ll coach her on how to hit her numbers on the scales.

Tayla, Pippa, and Mitch love playing baseball outside. Their game is interrupted, however, when Mitch’s brand-new ball that was given to him by his grandad Mac is eaten by the Baseball Monster. The three kids realise they must find courage and work as a team to get the ball back from the greedy monster.

When modern baseball fans think of African-American players, they may think of Ken Griffey Jr. or Derek Jeter. But what about the Black stars who didn't play Major League Baseball? In the early 1900s, Black players were not allowed in the Major Leagues. The Negro Leagues provided an alternative for African-American players. Discover the Negro Leagues in this book packed full of facts and stories. Learn about the biggest games and wildest moments of the Negro Leagues era, as well as some of the greatest (and least well-known) players.

With the sting from not being drafted still fresh, Dalton Boyd gets sent to the strictest coach with the most rules in summer league ball. Was it mentioned the coach also serves as his host family? No? Well, everyone knows the player staying at the coach’s house has the most brutal regime. Dalton wouldn’t be in this situation had he not followed his heart and ended up ghosted. As much as he’d like to change the past, he can’t. So, he sets a goal to stay out of trouble long enough to get through this summer. It’s an obtainable goal. Or so Dalton thought.

Caitlin Dufresne has never loved anyone as much as she loves winning. A ruthless fifth-year associate at an elite Chicago law firm, she's on the fast track to partner - until a stupid, serious error enrages her bosses. Caitlin's continued refusal to share work - or credit - lands her a forced two-week vacation. She needs to regroup and learn to be part of a team, not just the star. When she meets Eli Grant, head of the firm's IT department, Caitlin knows the overgrown frat boy isn't her type.

David Falkner, noted author of five previous books about baseball, deftly portrays the rise to stardom of Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to play on a major-league team in baseball’s modern era. As Falkner traces the development of Robinson’s natural skill and tireless dedication, he focuses on the strengths that earned Robinson a unique place on the diamond and in the struggle for civil rights. This compelling biography illuminates a critical intersection of sports and cultural history.

The Roaring Twenties: America is dancing to jazz, gangsters are selling bootleg liquor, and the New York Yankees are building a baseball dynasty. In 1923, Yankee Stadium opens and Babe Ruth is about to lead the team to its first world's championship. But the promising season gets off to an ominous start when the body of a murdered bootlegger is found buried in the new ballpark.

This book contains everything you need to know to be a man. Everything. It will prepare you for every situation you can imagine, from the office to the bedroom. It will improve your life no matter what you're doing...whether you're in a bar, in a fight, in a wedding, in an argument, at a game, at work, or in a stranger's bed. It's time to be a man. Listen to this book.

A cloud hangs over Jack as he begins fifth grade. Two boys from his class, Steve and Cliff, who began bullying him last spring, harass him again as soon as school starts. Jack is miserable, but he’s ashamed to ask for help and doesn’t want to tell anyone about his problem. Lizabeth and C.J. are Jack’s best friends. C.J. has his own problems. He needs help to learn reading, and Steve makes fun of him, calling him "Retardo". A new boy in school, Hans Ollig from Germany, speaks only a little English and is trying hard to learn to talk like the other kids.

The Republic Baseball League tells the fascinating story of Kevin Dempsey, a college professor obsessed with baseball, and his quest to earn his PhD in economics. Professor Dempsey's PhD thesis and dissertation will change professional baseball forever....

When Luis joins his new baseball team, the Manatees, things seem pretty hopeless at first. Some of his new teammates—including "loud and obnoxious" home-run slugger Jimmie—are mean to him or to each other. His new coach doesn't tell the players everything to do like his old coach did. And some of the Manatees seem more interested in goofing off than in sportsmanship or working hard.

A young boy is determined to become the best baseball player in the world, no matter what. But can he copy his favorite player's bad habits and still make it to the major leagues?

Stories from the Baseball Diamond is a collection of short stories about baseball players and teams and it features little league and the minor leagues, as well as the major leagues. Most of the stories are set in recent times and some of the stories set in the golden age of baseball. If you like baseball or if you like stories about the relationships between people you will like these stories. "The Hooting Hoot Owls" is one of my favorite baseball stories.

In the third book in the New York Times best-selling middle grade series inspired by the life of iconic New York Yankee Derek Jeter, Derek's father keeps his promise to coach his son's youth baseball team. Derek is sure this will be the best season yet! He has it all planned: His dad will have him start at shortstop, and the team will cruise to a championship. But sometimes life doesn't go according to plan.

Connor Sullivan is an All-Star third baseman on his Babe Ruth League team, the Orioles. He can hit and field with the best of them, but he's got one big problem: his temper. When he strikes out or makes an error, he's a walking Mt. Vesuvius, slamming batting helmets and throwing gloves. His teammates are starting to avoid him, even his best friend Jason. His coach is ready to kick him off the team. To make matters worse, things aren't much better at home. His dad is having trouble finding a new job after being laid off. Money is tight.

Mike and Kate are in for an extra special treat! Two hometown baseball teams in one city! A Subway Series is when the New York Mets play the New York Yankees, and Mike and Kate can't wait to watch all the action! But someone is playing pranks at both ballparks! And when Mike and Kate hear mysterious mumblings at the famous Whispering Gallery at Grand Central Terminal, they just might be able to catch the culprit before the series ends.

The kids of Cooperstown made it to the World Series! Technically, Mike and Kate are just there to support their friend, Colin, and his teammates as they play for the championship. But the competition gets tricky when someone starts trying to sabotage Cooperstown's team - they punch holes in the tires of their bus, and the team's equipment goes missing! Can Mike and Kate find the trickster before it's too late? Or will these shenanigans cost Cooperstown the series?