She's on First [Paperback]

Barbara Gregorich (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1988

She's on First is back! Full of riveting baseball action and captivating characters, this is the story of Linda Sunshine, first female major leaguer, shortstop for the never-in-first-place Chicago Eagles. It's also the story of Big Al Mowerinski, the owner who hired her for ulterior motives; Neal Vanderlin, the reporter who supports her; and the various teammates who want her on - or off - the Eagles. Published to stellar reviews in hardback in 1987 and paperback in 1988, full of warmth, humor, and tough sentiment, She's on First is a great read with great baseball action, as commanding as a fastball, as surprising as a curve, and as satisfying as a home run. Too long out of print, this novel is a welcome-back addition to the field of baseball literature - don't miss it!

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Barbara Gregorich is the author of She's on First, a well-received mainstream novel about the first female major leaguer. After writing a novel about the subject, Gregorich wondered whether there really were women who played baseball. Her curiosity led to four years of intensive research and the publication of the ground-breaking nonfiction book on the subject, Women at Play: The Story of Women in Baseball. This book won the SABR-MacMillan Baseball Research Award after its publication in 1993. In addition to writing adult fiction and nonfiction, Gregorich also writes children's fiction and nonfiction. She has published more than 150 texts and activity books. Among her many books for children are two humorous early readers, Waltur Buys a Pig in a Poke and Other Stories and Waltur Paints Himself into a Corner and Other Stories. More information is available at www.barbaragregorich.com. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Paperjacks (April 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0770108008
• ISBN-13: 978-0770108007
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,319,997 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Barbara Gregorich is the author of Waltur Buys a Pig in a Poke and Waltur Paints Himself into a Corner (Houghton Mifflin), early readers featuring Waltur, a bear who learns folk wisdom as expressed in idioms and proverbs -- but only after humorous results. She is the author of numerous early readers and workbooks published by School Zone Publishing, as well as the author of Workman's Brain Quest Workbook Grade 4.

Her adult fiction includes She's on First, a well-received mainstream novel about a woman major league baseball player, and Dirty Proof, a mystery featuring Frank Dragovic, Chicago Croatian private detective. Her nonfiction work, Women at Play: The Story of Women in Baseball (Harcourt Brace), won the SABR-Macmillan award for best baseball research of the year.

Visit her Facebook Page at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Barbara-Gregorich/277960097025?ref=ts

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Baseball story, a personal triumph store, a love story., August 7, 2006

By 

andiesenji (SoCal,USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: She's on First (Paperback)

I have re-read this book several times and always with much enjoyment.
Perhaps it appeals to me so much because I grew up in a time when women athletes were always "second or third-best" if that.
In my early teens I got to see Babe Didrikson play in a golf tournament and one of my aunts recalled seeing her play baseball with a touring exhibition group in the 30s. She said in the game Babe hit 3 home runs and was on base twice more from being struck by a pitch.
In this story, Linda Sunshine knows from an early age that she is good enough to play baseball with the boys and is secure in that knowledge, not apologetic, whining about discrimination, she proves that she has what it takes.
When one learns her history, it is obvious where the talent originated and the only question is, will she be allowed to develop to her potential or will she be shackled by a bunch of guys who apparently feel threatened by this one woman.
I wish they would make this one into a movie. I think it is a terrific story.
I also believe there are women who could excel in major league baseball.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Like a good game of baseball -- this one's for fun, July 17, 2002

By 

R. Tiedemann "Sunnye" (Bellevue, NE USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: She's on First (Hardcover)

Linda Sunshine is the very first female pro baseball player ever and this is her story. She's first noticed playing shortstop on her college baseball team but scout T.M. Curry dismisses the idea of recruiting her because she's ...well, a woman. When Linda gets a chance to demonstrate her ability to Big Al Mowerinski, owner of the Chicago Eagles, he's impressed and, businessman that he is, has visions of unsurpassed attendance records with a woman on a pro team. So he hires her.

Linda fights prejudice and bitterness from players and fans. Events lead to confrontation in this very different, sometimes humorous look at the world of baseball -- and prejudice.

Light, entertaining reading with a predictable but interesting story and good, strong characters.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still Current After All These Years!, May 1, 2010

By 

Robin Koontz - See all my reviews

This review is from: She's on First (Kindle Edition)

I read this book in 1986 and was completely drawn in by the story of Linda Sunshine becoming the first woman playing on a major league baseball team. I was shocked to find out it wasn't true! I am delighted to see it reissued and hope a new generation or two enjoy this book as we did over twenty years ago.

This story is not only a terrific read, well written and believable, it encourages women to continue to seek equality in their lives.