Baseball Great CD [Audiobook, Unabridged] [Audio CD]

Tim Green (Author, Reader)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

Josh feels like he's starting to make it big! Jaden, the school reporter, says he's going to take the baseball team to number one. Then his dad pulls him off the field and signs him up with Coach Rocky Valentine's youth championship team, the Titans. He says Josh has what it takes to be a baseball great—and the Titans will help him get there.

Now Josh is gulping down Rocky's "Super Stax" milkshakes to build muscle and trying to fit in with his new teammates—older, tougher kids who can suddenly become violent. All Josh really wants to do is play ball, but as he gets in deeper with the Titans, there are questions he's just got to ask. As Josh and his new friend Jaden investigate their suspicions, they find themselves in a dangerous struggle with a desperate man who doesn't want them to expose the nasty secrets they uncover.

Pulsing with action, baseball great offers a baseball story attuned to today's headlines, a totally involving, character-driven, sports-centered thriller.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tim Green played Little League baseball for many years before specializing in football. After graduating as covaledictorian from Syracuse University, he was a first-round NFL draft pick and played as a star defensive end for the Atlanta Falcons for eight years. He earned his law degree with honors and has worked as an NFL analyst for FOX Sports and an NFL commentator for NPR.

When his sons began to play baseball, Tim drew on his early love of the game to coach their teams. His exciting books for young readers include the New York Times bestselling Baseball Great, Rivals, and Best of the Best. He has also written the novels Football Genius, Football Champ, and The Big Time, starring Troy White, and Football Hero, starring Ty Lewis. Troy and Ty meet in Tim's exciting new Football Genius novel, Deep Zone.

Tim lives with his wife, Illyssa, and their five children in upstate New York.

From AudioFile

Peanuts, popcorn, Cracker Jack . . . performance-enhancing supplements, helicopter parents, win-at-all-cost coaches. Welcome to baseball in the twenty-first century! Author and narrator Tim Green smacks one out of the park with his portrayal of Josh, a gifted middle school baseball player who is faced with painfully intense pressures that make him question the game that he was born to play. Listeners learn how adults can, through egotism, selfishness, and greed, skew a child's fascination for a simple game. As narrator, Tim Green breathes life and depth into the characters of this story, leaving an indelible impression. J.P.D. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Audio CD
• Publisher: HarperFestival; Unabridged edition (March 24, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061714526
• ISBN-13: 978-0061714528
• Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,204,539 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars BATTER UP!, April 14, 2009

By 

Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Baseball Great CD (Audio CD)

A star defensive end for the Atlanta Falcons, Tim. Green played Little League baseball for a number of years before changing his focus to football. As of now he has worked as an NFL analyst for FOX Sports and an NFL commentator for National Public Radio. He knows what he writes about as many have seen in Football Genius and Football Hero - the same may certainly be said of Baseball Great, which is gauged for young readers ages 8 -12.

Green begins his story with young Josh wondering why when something really good happens, something else comes along to spoil it. Kids his age have probably wondered the same thing numerous times. However, chances are what they consider a spoiler may not be as dramatic as what faces Josh.

Josh is happy playing baseball with his school team. Not only happy but optimistic as a new girl from Texas, Jaden Neidermeyer, is the school reporter, and she has big plans for the team, even to calling him the school's best hope for a first ever citywide championship. But then Josh's Dad intervenes by taking him off the school team and signing him with Coach Rocky Valentine's youth championship team. Undoubtedly, this was well meant but it doesn't turn out to be a good move after all.

The other kids on Valentine's team are not only older but tougher, a rough bunch. Josh doesn't really fit in with them for countless reasons including possible steroid use.

What price a championship? Young readers will not only enjoy this exciting story but may find they have much to think about as they examine their own standards.

- Gail Cooke

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun for young sports fans, great narration!, June 16, 2009

By 

Jessica Teel (Hawaii) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Baseball Great CD (Audio CD)

Real life sports star Tim Green has created a baseball mystery that will delight young sports players. Baseball Great follows Josh as he joins a youth championship baseball team. The transition is hard and he discovers some of his fellow players to be more violent than friendly. Josh and his budding journalist friend Jaden are determined to uncover any dastardly secrets lurking in their new world. Sports fans will really enjoy this realistic and compelling audio production. Author Tim Green is a wise choice for narration due to his experience in broadcasting. His audio performance is a home run.