The story writes itself when it comes to baseball fans’ love for the game. No matter the age, fans from all over will come together for a day at the ballpark.
While some fans grow to love the game through family members, playing themselves, or even just having an interest, many fans have grown to love the game through reading the stories of baseball. It is often stories like the ones mentioned below the introduce young readers to the joy of reading, leading to a lifetime of reading.
The 2022 season was full of stories itself – with Aaron Judge hitting 62 home runs, only 11 players batting a .300, Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina’s legendary battery, and so many more. While these stories will go down in baseball history, there are others that draw in the younger generation of baseball fans.
So if you have a young baseball fan in your life, perhaps these are the books to add to your Holiday shopping list.
In a true story based on family and baseball, Brothers at Bat by Audrey Vernick follows the Acerra family. The Acerra’s story is one of great numbers, as Louis and Elizabeth Acerra had 17 children. The large family formed a semi-pro baseball team and went on to play for 14 years together. Vernick tells this true story, emphasizing that to the Acerras, it was about more than just baseball – it was about something bigger.
Another beloved children story is The Boy Who Saved Baseball by John H. Ritter. This book tells the story of a hometown team trying to save their field. Tom Gallagher has to save the Dillionstown team, but just when he thinks all hope is lost, Cruz de la Cruz shows up with secrets to the game. While fictitious, Ritter’s story teaches young readers about overcoming challenges and teamwork.
Dan Gutman’s Casey Back at Bat is a story all sports fan are familiar with. It is a story about overcoming a bad game – having the courage to walk back up to the plate, strike out after strike out.
In the true story We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball, Kadir Nelson tells the story of the unsung heroes of baseball. Overcoming segregation, low pay, hatred, and many other obstacles, these players showed resilience and did what they enjoyed – they played baseball.
For the young readers with inquisitive minds, try James Buckley Jr.’s It’s a Numbers Game! Baseball: The math being the perfect pitch, the game-winning grand slam, and so much more, a story that dives into the science of baseball.
There is no shortage of stories – both fictional and true – in the world of baseball. Not only do these books introduce readers to all things baseball, but as most great stories do, they include live lessons that can be carried on outside of baseball.
So whether an interest is spiked because of Judge’s next 50+ home run season, or because of a new Dan Gutman story, let the magic of baseball kickstart your young reader’s love for the game.
