Customer Reviews

The Basement Baseball Club

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I'm often asked why I became a writer. My answer? Because of books like Jeffrey Kelly's The Basement Baseball Club, a book I've devoured perhaps a couple dozen times over the years. From the book's very first word--"Fungofandanglefat!"--to the last page, the story captures childhood at its simple yet emotionally complicated best. The best baseball games, any true player knows, happen in cramped yards and other makeshift fields. They're played according to modified rules that suit the enviroment. This book captures a time (are we still in it?) when kids biked from neighborhood to neighborhood, checked in with parents only occasionally, spent their money on mini-golf, and grew up without being monitored by adults each step of the way. Author Kelly plays with language and brings to life the action and thrills of life's most bitter and healthiest rivalries. I became a writer to tell stories like this one.

My book was about a group of kids from a rural neiborhood. They loved to play baseball and even started their own club. The club consisted of all the players that were on the team. They were all best friends.
The team faced a problem however. Their arch rivals were a team from right across town. The two teams were pretty much evenly matched. However, the other team had a pitcher that was extraordinary. They called him "Bull," for the fact that his fastball came charging in like a bull. He was unbeatable. Ever since he moved into the town, the other tea, was undefeated. It's been real tough.
Then this new kid moved into town. He's calm, strong, and afraid of something. He doesn't play baseball because of an accident that happened a long time ago, keeping it a secret from the players of the town. He's sort of like a ghost.
The kids were able to get a baseball game together in the town park on the day of a festival. All the memebers of the community would be there to watch them play. They would have to be extra well to be able to beat the other team. (...)
I would recommend this book to another person who likes to read humurous baseball stories. It is a fun-filled adventure, and full of excitment. The story was a great book and easy to read.

I had this book for a long time and I never read it. And I sat down to read it a couple of days ago and it's so good! The characters are great, from the Roader's leader Shooter, the mysterious Cinderella Kid to Games... the character that reminds me of myself. When I bought this book it was easy to find. Even though it's out of print you've got to find this book! It's really, REALLY good!