Baseball Books

The Journal of Biddy Owens by Myers, Walter Dean

Teenager Biddy Owens' 1948 journal about working for the Birmingham Black Barons includes the games and the players, racism the team faces from New Orleans to Chicago, and his family's resistance to his becoming a professional baseball player.

Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear by Namioka, Lensey

Recently arrived in Seattle from China, musically untalented Yingtao is faced with giving a violin performance to attract new students for his father when he would rather be working on friendships and playing baseball.

Heart of a Champion by Deuker, Carl

Baseball is the glue that holds Seth and Jimmy's friendship together. Will Jimmy throw away his natural talents and his future, or can Seth help him?

Heat by Lupica, Mike

Pitching prodigy Michael Arroyo is on the run from social services after being banned from playing Little League baseball because rival coaches doubt he is only twelve years old and he has no parents to offer them proof.

Safe at Second by Johnson, Scott

Paulie Lockwood's best friend Todd Bannister is destined for the major leagues until a line drive to the head causes him to lose an eye and they both must find a new future for themselves.

In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Lord, Betty Bao

In 1947, a Chinese child comes to Brooklyn, where she starts to feel at home and make friends when she discovers baseball and the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Gold Dust by Lynch, Chris

In 1975, twelve-year-old Richard befriends Napolean, a Caribbean newcomer to his Catholic school, hoping that Napolean will learn to love baseball and the Red Sox, and will win acceptance in the racially polarized Boston school.

Joey Pigza Loses Control by Gantos, Jack

Joey, who is still taking medication to keep him from getting too wired, goes to spend the summer with the hard-drinking father he has never known and tries to help the baseball team he coaches win the championship.

Two Hot Dogs With Everything by Haven, Paul

Although everyone credits him and his superstitions for the Sluggers' first winning streak in 108 baseball seasons, eleven-year-old Danny Gurkin believes that his discovery of a secret from the team's past may be the real reason behind the ball club's success.

The Boy Who Saved Baseball by Ritter, John

The fate of a small California town rests on the outcome of one baseball game, and Tom Gallagher hopes to lead his team to victory with the secrets of the now disgraced player, DAnte Del Gato.

Throwing Smoke by Brooks, Bruce

When his teammates on the Breadhurst Newts baseball team continue their losing ways, Whiz uses an unusual printing press to create several star players in hopes of winning a game.

Summerland by Chabon, Michael

When Summerland, an area known for its perfect weather and controlled by tiny beings known as ferishers, is threatened by an ancient enemy, they enlist the aid of baseball player Ethan Feld, who sets out to vanquish giants, goblins, and a magical ball club.

Baseball card adventures by Gutman, Dan

Mickey & Me: When Joe travels back in time to 1944, he meets the Milwaukee Chicks, one of the only all-female professional baseball teams in the history of the game.

Babe & Me: With their ability to travel through time using vintage baseball cards, Joe and his father have the opportunity to find out whether Babe Ruth did call his shot when he hit that home runin the third game of the 1932 World Series against the Chicago Cubs.

Abner & Me: With his ability to travel through time using baseball cards and photographs, thirteen-year-old Joe and his mother go back to 1863 and ask Abner Doubleday whether he invented baseball, but instead find themselves in the middle of the Battle of Gettysburg.

Jackie & Me: With his ability to travel through time by using baseball cards, Joe goes back to 1947 to meet Jackie Robinson turning into a black boy in the process.

Shoeless Joe & Me: Joe Stoshack travels back to 1919, where he meets Shoeless Joe Jackson and tries to prevent the fixing of the World Series in which Jackson was wrongly implicated.

Team Picture by Hughes, Dean

Trying to hold on to the new-found stability in his life in a foster home, thirteen-year-old David worries about the growing moodiness of his guardian Paul and the fluctuating fortunes of his Pony League baseball team.

Change Up: Mystery at the World Series by Feinstein, John

While covering baseball's World Series between the Washington Nationals and the Boston Red Sox, teenage sports reporters Stevie and Susan Carol investigate a rookie pitcher whose evasive answers during an interview reveal more than a few contradictions in his life story.

Under a Baseball Moon by Ritter, John

Andy and Glory, two fifteen-year-olds from Ocean Beach, California, pursue their respective dreams of becoming a famous musician and a professional softball player.

Extra Innings by Peck, Robert Newton

After a tragic airplane crash that claims the lives of most of his family, sixteen-year-old Tate goes to live with his wealthy great-grandfather and his adopted black great-aunt Vidalia and he finds unexpected solace in the stories of her childhood spent traveling with a Depression-era Negro baseball team.

Fielder's Choice by Norman, Rick

Short stories about baseball

Extra Innings by Peck, Robert Newton

After an airplane crash that claims the lives of most of his family, sixteen-year-old Tate finds unexpected solace in the stories of his great-aunt Vidalia's childhood travels with a Depression-era Negro League baseball team

Over the Wall by Ritter, John

Thirteen-year-old Tyler, who has a problem with anger, spends a summer with his cousins in New York City, playing baseball and sorting out his feelings about the Vietnam war that took his grandfather's life.

Bull Catcher by Carter, Alden

Pete and Jeff continue their friendship and love of baseball as they progress from ninth grade through high school in their small Wisconsin town.

Painting the Black by Deuker, Carl

When star athlete Josh Daniels moves in across the street, Remy Ward doesn't realize how much his life will change during his senior year at Seattle's Crown Hill High.

The Brooklyn nine : a novel in nine innings by Gratz, Alan

Follows the fortunes of a German immigrant family through nine generations, beginning in 1845, as they experience American life and play baseball.

Samurai Shortstop by Gratz, Alan

While obtaining a Western education at a prestigious Japanese boarding school in 1890, sixteen-year-old Toyo also receives traditional samurai training which has profound effects on both his baseball game and his relationship with his father.

No Problem by Gaetz, Dayle Campbell

Curt has it all: friends, summer job, a promising career in baseball; then he begins experimenting with drugs.

Out Standing in My Field by Jennings, Patrick

Fifth-grader Ty Cutter, named after baseball great Ty Cobb, has lots of enthusiasm for the game but very little talent, which makes life difficult for him and his father, who is coach of Ty's team.

The Big Field by Lupica, Mike

When fourteen-year-old baseball player Hutch feels threatened by the arrival of a new teammate named Darryl, he tries to work through his insecurities about both Darryl and his remote and silent father, who was once a great ballplayer too.

The Batboy by Lupica, Mike

Even though his mother feels baseball ruined her marriage to his father, she allows fourteen-year-old Brian to become a bat boy for the Detroit Tigers, who have just drafted his favorite player back onto the team.

Dugout Rivals by Bowen, Fred

Twelve-year-old Jake, who was one of his mediocre baseball team's best players the previous season, unexpectedly finds himself overshadowed when a new player shows up and the team starts winning.

Baseball Crazy: Ten Short Stories that Cover all the Bases by edited by Nancy E. Mercado

Ten stories about the love of baseball, the fear of baseball, and everything in between.

The great Gus Zernial and me / by Jerry Spinelli -- Mark Pang and the impossible square / by Frank Portman -- Fall ball / by Sue Corbett -- Great moments in baseball / by Paul Acampora -- Riding the pine: a play / by Ron Koertge -- Tomboy forgiveness / by David Rice -- Smile like Jeter / by Maria Testa -- Baseball crazy / by John H. Ritter -- Just like Grampy / by Charles Smith, Jr. -- Ball hawk / by Joseph Bruchac.

The girl who threw butterflies by Cochrane, Mick

Eighth-grader Molly's ability to throw a knuckleball earns her a spot on the baseball team, which not only helps her feel connected to her recently deceased father, who loved baseball, it helps in other aspects of her life, as well.

Keeping Score by Park, Linda Sue

In Brooklyn in 1951, a die-hard Giants fan teaches nine-year-old Maggie, who is a "Bums" (Dodgers) fan, how to use a technique to keep score of a baseball game which creates a special friendship between them.

Mudville by Scaletta, Kurtis

For twenty-two years, since a fateful baseball game against their rival town, it has rained in Moundville, so when the rain finally stops, twelve-year-old Roy, his friends, and foster brother Sturgis dare to face the curse and form a team.

My thirteenth season by Roberts, Kristi

Already downhearted due to the loss of her mother and her father's overwhelming grief, thirteen-year-old Fran decides to give up her dream of becoming the first female in professional baseball after a coach attacks her just for being a girl.

Top of the Order by Coy, John

Ten-year-old Jackson lives for baseball, but becomes distracted by the approach of middle school, his mother's latest boyfriend, and the presence of a girl--his good friend's sister--on his team.

All the Broken Pieces: A Novel in Verse by Burg, Ann E.

Two years after being airlifted out of Vietnam in 1975, Matt Pin is haunted by the terrible secret he left behind and, now, in a loving adoptive home in the United States, a series of profound events forces him to confront his past.

Baseball Great by Green, Tim

All twelve-year-old Josh wants to do is play baseball but when his father, a minor league pitcher, signs him up for a youth championship team, Josh finds himself embroiled in a situation with potentially illegal consequences.

The Desperado Who Stole Baseball by Ritter, John H.

In 1881, the scrappy, rough-and-tumble baseball team in a California mining town enlists the help of a quick-witted twelve-year-old orphan and the notorious outlaw Billy the Kid to win a big game against the National League Champion Chicago White Stockings.

The Aurora County All-Stars by Wiles, Deborah

For most boys in a small Mississippi town, the biggest concern one hot summer is whether their annual July 4th baseball game will be cancelled due to their county's anniversary pageant, but after the death of the old man to whom twelve-year-old star pitcher House Jackson has been secretly reading for a year, House uncovers secrets about the man and the history of baseball in Aurora County that could fix everything.