The Longest Season [Hardcover]

Cal Ripken (Author), Ron Mazellan (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 5, 2007 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Even with a 12-0 loss to start the ’88 season, Cal Ripken, Jr. had plenty of reasons to love being a Baltimore Oriole. He was playing alongside his brother Bill, and his father, Cal Sr., was managing the team. They’d win the next one. But the Orioles didn’t win their next game, or the next, and soon what was supposed to be a dream season for Cal slid into a nightmare of losses no one saw coming.

With brilliant and expressive color paintings from Ron Mazellan, future hall-of-famer Cal Ripken, Jr. shares the ups and downs of the Orioles’ record 21-game losing streak, and reflects on the rewards of hard work, regardless of what’s on the scoreboard.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-5–A Hall of Famer baseball player takes a pensive look back at a difficult period in his long career. The 1988 season began on a hopeful note for the Orioles: Cal's brother, Bill, had been called up from the minors to play second base and their father was their manager. They still felt hopeful even after they lost their first few games at home. After the first week, though, they were 0-6, and Cal Sr. was fired. Cal felt that he had let his father down. Frank Robinson, a former player and Hall of Famer, was brought on board as the new manager, but the Orioles continued to struggle until their streak finally ended at 21. From this experience, the author is able to draw some lessons, noting: Winning is easy on a person, but you learn more from losing. He asserts that losing forces you to keep trying, makes you realize how much you need your teammates, and can even teach you how to win. Mazellan's color-drenched illustrations capture the emotional intensity of the narrative. Ripken's straightforward observations and heartfelt recollections make this a book that should connect with many young readers.–Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA
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About the Author

Cal Ripken, Jr. lives in Maryland.

Ron Mazellan lives in Marion, Indiana.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Philomel (April 5, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399244921
• ISBN-13: 978-0399244926
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 10.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,207,976 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Cal Ripken, Jr. played twenty-one seasons with the Baltimore Orioles and has broken numerous baseball records, including Lou Gehrig's record for consecutive games played (Ripken played 2,632). He is one of only seven players in history to reach 400 home runs and 3,000 hits. His previous books include The Only Way I Know (which was a New York Times bestseller and a #1 Washington Post bestseller) and Play Baseball the Ripken Way: The Complete Guide to Fundamentals, coauthored with his brother Bill Ripken, also a national bestseller.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific Cal Ripken book, May 12, 2007

By 

Eddie Murray (Birmingham, AL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Longest Season (Hardcover)

If you're an Orioles fan, the 1988 season was a horrible time. The O's lost 21 in a row to start the year. Cal Ripken retells this season in a children's book that teaches perseverance.

I bought this book for my 6-month-old son, knowing he won't be able to understand it for several years. The pictures are outstanding. (If you're an O's fan like myself, you'll get a kick out of seeing familiar names drawn as art.) And the message is a positive one.

I highly recommend the book. One question, Cal: When's the book on the 1989 "Why Not?" Orioles?

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Illustrations are excellent in this book., July 13, 2008

By 

Lon Allen Tuin (Indiana) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Longest Season (Hardcover)

Ripken tells his story of a frustating beginning to a season. The story is interesting to young ball players who often do not find instant success when they begin their own careers.

The beautiful illustrations in this book would make it worth the cost of the purchase at twice the price.

Should be in the library of every elementarty school.