Ted Williams hit .406 for the season in 1941? a feat not matched since. In this inspirational picture book, authentic sportswriting and rich, classic illustrations bring to life the truly spectacular story of the Red Sox legend, whose hard work and perseverance make him the perfect role model for baseball enthusiasts of all ages.
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From School Library Journal
Grade 2–5—Bowen's picture-book tribute introduces readers to a baseball great whose strong, smooth swing, eagle eye, and tireless work ethic accompanied him from an impoverished childhood to the major leagues. In his rookie season with the Boston Red Sox, he hit .327, belted out 31 home runs, and earned nicknames like "the Splendid Splinter." In 1941, many players were readying to fight in World War II; Williams would join up once the season finished. Nonetheless, it was "a magic summer for baseball" with Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak and, as the summer wore on, the thrilling possibility that Williams might hit .400 for the season. Red Sox fan Bowen wears his heart on his sleeve, but he captures all of the drama as Williams's pursuit of the record books came down to the final games of the season. Pyle's brilliantly composed paintings, reminiscent of 1940s book illustrations, underscore the baseball action and teem with period details. Newsboys hawk papers on street corners, soda jerks serve up ice-cream cones, and through it all strides the tall, determined figure of Williams. Two-color borders, plenty of white space, and a smattering of black-and-white photos add to the overall appeal, and Williams's 1941 stats are reproduced on the back cover. Together, the text and artwork create a warmly realized portrait of this icon and his significance in baseball history. This winning book should resonate with a wide audience.—Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
Usually, only a handful of Major League baseball players hit .300 or better for a full season, making the fact that Boston Red Sox slugger Ted Williams hit more than .400 in 1941 seem all the more incredible. Bowen’s recounting of Williams’ remarkable year begins with a young boy’s determination to become “the greatest hitter who ever lived” but quickly moves on to the last day of the 1941 season. At that point, Williams was batting .39955, which would have rounded up to .400, prompting the notion that Ted should sit out the final doubleheader. Williams, however, was having none of it: he always knew there was “no easy way” to become the greatest, so he played both games, amassing six hits and ending the season at .406. Unlike many decades-old baseball stories, this one hasn’t lost its appeal over the years, and Bowen makes the most of it in terms kids will understand. Pyle’s illustrations, combined with vintage photographs, capture the drama of Williams at bat, especially his long stride and powerful follow-through. Grandparents will enjoy reading this one to young fans. Grades 1-3. --Bill Ott
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Read to grades 3 & 4 in the school library. The book was enjoyed by all. We are working to get the Fred Bowen Series into our school library.
By Ted Anderson
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Liked the book but I feel it's more of a child's book to learn about one of the best hitters ever to play baseball, I felt like I was a ten year old reading abook in the school library..
By Irish Eddie
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Bought this book for my nine year old son (of course with hopes of him being the next Ted Williams). He needed a book to read for a book report from school and he read this in an afternoon. He loved it, got a good grade. I also use it as motivation to go out and practice referring to Ted's work ethic. Nice book to get your kid reading, especially if he is into sports!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
great for baseball fans young and old
No matter who does the ranking, no baseball fan would argue about Ted Williams being one of the greatest baseball players of all time. Read more
Published on July 31, 2010 by M. Tanenbaum
5.0 out of 5 stars
This exciting book will bring back memories for the old timers and...
Ted Williams loved baseball. No, you can't really say that because he had a passion, a real passion. Read more
Published on March 12, 2010 by D. Fowler
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