James Buckley Jr., author of the Show Me History graphic nonfiction series, ushers young baseball fans into the annals of America's favorite pastime in the enthusiastic, well-researched Out of the Park!, featuring some of the greatest historical gems of the diamond.
Buckley offers readers eye-opening stats and fascinating facts about the most skilled players throughout baseball's history. The best hitters, fielders, pitchers, and runners take a turn in the spotlight while readers discover fun tidbits, such as how Satchel Paige threw a "be" ball ("Because it be where I want it to be!") or why some runners would run directly from first to third in the early days of baseball ("Because there was only one ump, and if he was watching home, he wouldn't see the other runners!"). The latter half of Out of the Park focuses on baseball's soft-skill heroes: clutch players, leaders, and champions. Buckley recognizes the value of players like Lou Gehrig and Cal Ripkin Jr., who showed up time and time again, playing more than 2,000 consecutive games each, and highlights Yogi Berra, who played in a record 75 World Series games, winning 10 rings but also losing 26 games.
Full of photographs, quotes, stats, and Hall of Fame-level baseball players, Out of the Park gives the audience a front-row seat to the evolution of a game that has thrilled fans for centuries. A new generation of baseball fans--and possibly even some future Hall of Famers--should enjoy learning about the men who made the game what it is today. --Jen Forbus, freelancer