Customer Reviews

Great Moments in Baseball History

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My boys (9 and 14) have read many of Matt Christopher's books. All are good, some are great treats. I gave a copy of "The Kid Who Only Hit Homers" to each boy on my baseball team last year. They loved it! This year I am giving each player a copy of Christopher's "Great Moments." I read this collection of great moments (an unassisted triple play in the World Series for example) to my boys and enjoyed every page. We re-read some of the stories they were so much fun. This is a must read for all young/new baseball fans.

Matt Christopher is one of the best baseball writers for young readers out there. This is another notch in his belt. Pick this up.

In Great Moments In Baseball History, you can learn a lot about some of the greatest players in major league history. Matthew Christopher, the author of this book, put together his view of a 9 tremendous, and courageous pitching performances, hitting clinics, catches, and life stories in this book. Some people who are in the book are strong, courageous, have stamina, but most of all, each person has their own little characteristic different than everyone else's. Anyone who asks me about this book, all I have to tell them is that it is a great read and a wonderful grouping of stories that any true baseball fan can enjoy time and time again.
All of these stories are incredible in their own special way. For example, there is a story about a pitcher who only had one hand and he threw a no hitter against a team who had in the previous week scored 7 runs against him, he showed to everyone that he had courage. Another story describes a pitcher who had cancer and was told that he would never pitch in the majors again, and it would be considered lucky to be able to play catch in the backyard with his son. Against all odds, after just 11 short months he was back in the majors and he was pitching great. Unfortunately he was diagnosed with cancer again and had his arm removed but he is still alive and well. Finally there is my favorite story of Joe Nuxhall who pitched in his first ever major league game at the tender young age of just 15. Although he was nervous he pitched well and was signed to a contract with the Cincinnati Reds at 16 years old (he was the youngest player ever to play major league baseball).
Matthew Christopher added great little details to every story to kind of add some drama to each one. For example, he told the audience how even though Babe Ruth was old and out of shape he could still hit three homeruns in a baseball game and have fun doing so. Another example is in the story of the pitcher with cancer, Christopher added in the detail of how he "might" be able to play catch with his son in the backyard to add some drama to the already dramatic situation. There are also so great word usages in the stories and he places every one of them in the perfect spot to help the reader make sense of everything.
Great Moments In Baseball History is a great book about heart warming, funny, and enlightening stories and people. Every story is different and exciting in that one special way that you can always remember. Also the author describes everything very well and it is easy to understand every word that is being said. Finally you can learn a lot from every person in the book and a piece of their life that may reach out and touch your own life.

I found this book to be very good. Its reading level is 9th grade or so but that didnt stop this 41 year old from enjoying it. The book talks about 9 great moments in baseball and shares a few interesting perspectives on the game. Every fan should know of these charming and touching moments. If you love the game check it out.

My son used this book for a non-fiction assignment. He enjoyed reading about the famous moments in baseball. Book was an easy read.

There have been many great moments in the wonderful game of baseball and Christopher does an excellent job in describing some of the best. Christopher is a superb writer about sports and he brings the action to life once again. The events that he describes are:

*) Bill Wambsganss' unassisted triple play in the 1920 World Series.
*) Babe Ruth hitting the last three home runs of his career in one game in 1935.
*) Joe Nuxhall pitching in the major leagues at the age of 15 in 1944.
*) The incredible catch made by Willie Mays in the 1954 World Series.
*) Ted Williams hitting a home run in his last major league at bat in 1960.
*) Reggie Jackson hitting three home runs on three consecutive pitches in the 1977 World Series.
*) Dave Dravecky coming back from cancer in 1989.
*) The injured Kirk Gibson hitting a home run in the 1988 World Series.
*) Jim Abbot pitching a no-hitter in 1993.

Baseball has a long and memorable history and while these nine moments capture only a small part, they are very memorable and a delight to read.