The Boy Who Saved Baseball

Baseball is the only sport I even remotely understand, and I certainly wouldn't want to read about it. I feel obligated, as an English teacher, to read at least some of these books that would appeal to my sports enthusiast tweens, but it's a duty I can't actually fulfill because of the torturous conditions of the job. I HATE it. HATE IT.

When I realized that a fellow English teacher forces ALL of her 7th grade students to read this one, my first reaction was to feel sorry for them, and then to feel sorry for myself, as surely I'll need to actually read this one (for reals) since I may have some of those kids for 8th grade next year, and I ought to be familiar with its characters and plot for reference. So I bore up and prepared for the show more worst.

I never expected that I'd raise my voice at my boys when they dared to interrupt me at "the best part" or "a really important part"(which happened many times, not just the climax). I never expected to read every word with anticipation, to pause and reflect and predict in earnest, to smile at all of the baseball imagery in the rich metaphorical descriptions of people, animals, non-baseball movements, and the landscape, and definitely I did not expect to cry at the end. I loved the story, the author's craft, and in the end, I actually loved the baseball. Quite surprising. Quite pleasant. Thanks for the assignment, Ms. Parzych. show less

Dillontown has always been a baseball town and Tom loves it. He's not the best player on the team, but he eats, sleeps and breathes baseball. The problem is that the mayor would like to build a golf course and houses and a new baseball field where the old one is...and somehow the landowner has put whether or not he will sell on the fate of the team. If they win - the field and mountains stay. If they lose...Tom doesn't want to think about it. Chances are slim until the first day of baseball camp when Cruz de la Cruz shows up and convinces the team to get the crazy ex-baseball player for their coach.

This is a baseball book first and foremost, but it is also a book with a lot of heart. I liked the emphasis on the underdog, as well as on show more the culture of the community. However, there is enough baseball in here that you would need to know and like the sport to enjoy the book. show less

This might be the first sports story I've ever read, and I'm glad to say that I liked it=) This is the story about a small town in Southern California, close to the Mexican border, where a bunch of land developers want to buy all land and make strip malls and new houses. It might sound good to some people, but for the people who live there they like it just the way its been for hundreds of years, rich with history and life. The person who pretty much decides what will happen decides to let the fate of the town rest on a baseball game between the town team of kids and the team in the next city over. A great underdog story with fun, believable characters and a lot of heart.

A children's book that I would compare most to Bad News Bears. Similar characters with a touch of Mexico. There's a coach who was a drunk and depressed baseball player, but no more. I liked this book alot because there is an underlying reason for the game and the main characters are all likable. Two things that I think detract from the book is a videogame sim that get the kids to learn the hitting in two days (unlikely) and the sudden disappearance of a main character for unexplained reasons. Where did that character go? Maybe, he was similar to the coach who played pro ball and then quit suddenly. I didn't understand why the author chose to get rid of one of the most likable characters and I am sure most children will be just as if not show more more confused. show less

This book is about a boy, Tom Gallagher, who attempts to save his town from greedy developers and their historical baseball field. The only way for the town and field to be saved is for the towns youth baseball team to win the big game. Tom then meets a boy name Cruz de la Cruz who teaches the team some ways to improve their game while giving them hope and new confidence. They then enlist the help of Mr. Delgato, a baseball legend, who lives in the town to coach their team. In the end the team wins the big game and the town is saved!

This was an excellent book. Well-written, great metaphor, and a good message.

This was a great action book for me, since I love baseball. It is packed with baseball action and drama. Tom Gallagher is a young boy trying to preserve a tradition in his home town. He wants to save the old baseball field that might get sold for development. It is a struggle between keeping what is old and traditional to bringing in the new norms. Tom gets help from a young stranger, Curz de la Cruz, and learns about life and friendship.