Best baseball books for kids

[tonyarmasjr]

So, my son is 8 (though reads at a high level for his age) and is really starting to get into the game this year. He's moved beyond the "it's fun to hit and run around the bases!" stage and is exploring things like baserunning situations, positional differences, and even basic swing mechanics. Does anybody have recommendations on books for kids that a) are lively and engaging for their young minds and b) delve into some of the nuances of the game in an educational way? I can't really think of anything that I read when I was younger that taught more than an appreciation of the history of the game and players. Thanks in advance.

(Sorry if there is a thread on this already. I didn't find one. Wasn't there an "Ask us anything" thread? Can't seem to find that, either.)

 

[barbed wire Bob]

The first books that come to my mind are The Art of Hitting by Tony Gwynn and the Science of Hitting by Ted but I don’t know if they would be too advanced for an eight year old.

 

[timlinin8th]

(Sorry if there is a thread on this already. I didn't find one. Wasn't there an "Ask us anything" thread? Can't seem to find that, either.)

Maybe, but thanks for starting this thread, my son is the same age and is in the same place about discovering the game. I’d be curious to see what books get mentions, because I want to keep him reading through the summer.

 

[Mugsy's Jock]

"The Kid Who Batted 1.000" (Bob Allison, 1951)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kid_Who_Batted_1.000

I read this book about a jillion times, probably around 2nd grade, and for whatever reason it stuck with me. [I am now many many years removed from 2nd grade.] It's a long short story (or a short novel) for kids -- not about how to play baseball or about great players, but a lovely fable.

Edit: Apparently there is also a 2002 rewrite of this story, in which the protagonist is not a bumpkin chicken farmer but rather a SABR-obsessed stats geek. Please don't read that one, or at least don't read that one first.

 

[h8mfy]

"How To Play Baseball Better Than You Did Last Season" by Jonah Kalb was a gift to 10 year old me in 1974 when it came out, and it sounds just like what you're looking for. I referred to it a lot as a young player trying to learn those nuances.

You may be able to find a copy here:

Edit - Amazon link not working correctly, but they seem to have a few used copies though they are pretty expensive. I'll look at home tonight and PM you if I can find mine.

 

[Kliq]

When I was 7, my father got a copy of Bill James' revised historical Abstract (he should really do another one of those). Now, I'm not going to act like I understood 5% of what James was talking about, but it was such a massive book and as someone that loved the history of the game it was a blast to read. Plus, since most of the book is formatted into short entries on different things; it was easy for a kid to thumb through and see a few paragraphs on Willie Mays, or on the Negro Leagues, or anything that may interest them. If your kid is a good reader for his age and really likes baseball, I'd look into getting a copy. If he is like me (or a bunch of other people) he'll keep going back to it over the years.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Mugsy's Jock already listed my favorite book.

 

[stp]

"The Kid Who Batted 1.000" (Bob Allison, 1951)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kid_Who_Batted_1.000

I read this book about a jillion times, probably around 2nd grade, and for whatever reason it stuck with me. [I am now many many years removed from 2nd grade.] It's a long short story (or a short novel) for kids -- not about how to play baseball or about great players, but a lovely fable.

Edit: Apparently there is also a 2002 rewrite of this story, in which the protagonist is not a bumpkin chicken farmer but rather a SABR-obsessed stats geek. Please don't read that one, or at least don't read that one first.

I remember this one too (the chicken farmer version). I loved it. Again, it's not about how to play, but a cute story. Thanks, Mugsy, for the memory.

 

[The Talented Allen Ripley]

Dan Gutman has written a series of historical fiction books about various baseball stars, the titles are invariably "[Insert Ballplayer Name] and Me," there are books about Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente, Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, Satchel Paige, Babe Ruth, etc. My youngest son will be 10 in July, he's been devouring them over the past few months. He dropped the name Al Gionfriddo the other day, so they've been making an impression.

 

[riboflav]

"The Kid Who Batted 1.000" (Bob Allison, 1951)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kid_Who_Batted_1.000

I read this book about a jillion times, probably around 2nd grade, and for whatever reason it stuck with me. [I am now many many years removed from 2nd grade.] It's a long short story (or a short novel) for kids -- not about how to play baseball or about great players, but a lovely fable.

Edit: Apparently there is also a 2002 rewrite of this story, in which the protagonist is not a bumpkin chicken farmer but rather a SABR-obsessed stats geek. Please don't read that one, or at least don't read that one first.

Along the same lines is Matt Christopher books. Can't wait until my son is a year or two older so I can read them again!

 

[Hagios]

I was never into baseball as a kid but I bought Men at Work by George Will for my stepfather. I got hooked and read the whole thing (supercarefully so I wouldn’t wrinkle the spine) before Christmas. I was only a little older than your son is now.

 

[Twilight]

Just wanted to mention local author and illustrator Matt Tavares, who was born in Boston, went to Bates, lives in Maine, and has a strong baseball bent to his work. His books may not be the best choice for tonyarmasjr's son as they may be a little young for an advanced 8-year-old and more story/bio based than fundamentals, but he's perhaps a useful name for others. He's quite good, and I presume a Sox fan as well based on the content.

I'd also say that it might not be too early to have a copy of Ted Williams' book lying around. Maybe just let him find it, rather than giving it to him, so he doesn't assume you expect him to read it. If he's not ready for it, he'll put it down.

 

[StupendousMan]

"The Kid Who Batted 1.000" (Bob Allison, 1951)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kid_Who_Batted_1.000

I read this book about a jillion times, probably around 2nd grade, and for whatever reason it stuck with me. [I am now many many years removed from 2nd grade.] It's a long short story (or a short novel) for kids -- not about how to play baseball or about great players, but a lovely fable.

+1 for this book.

Which, by the way, will instill into your young player a proper respect for On-Base Percentage.

 

[Saints Rest]

Any suggestions for books for someone a tad younger (my son is 6 and just finished his second year in T-ball)?

 

[ookami7m]

For slightly older and for the geekier kids like mine - Alan Nathan's Physics of Baseball is great.

 

[Cumberland Blues]

Dan Gutman has written a series of historical fiction books about various baseball stars, the titles are invariably "[Insert Ballplayer Name] and Me," there are books about Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente, Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, Satchel Paige, Babe Ruth, etc. My youngest son will be 10 in July, he's been devouring them over the past few months. He dropped the name Al Gionfriddo the other day, so they've been making an impression.

+1
When my kid (now 13) was 9-10, he read every one of these multiple times.

 

[The Talented Allen Ripley]

The series of books is called The Baseball Card Adventures, the main character is a boy who can travel through time by touching old baseball cards. Each book focuses on a different player and his interactions with the boy. I can't recommend the series highly enough for any budding baseball fans.

 

[h8mfy]

The mention above about traveling through time made me remember "Summerland" by Michael Chabon, which is not really an instructional book but a cool young adult fantasy centered on a young baseball player. May be a little advanced for an eight-year-old but I enjoyed reading it aloud to my son when he was that age.

 

[Van Everyman]

It’s not done anymore but will no one rep for The Complete Handbook of Baseball? That thing was my bible when I was 10.

 

[Twilight]

My brother is currently reading one of my favorite books to his 10-year-old: The Last Days of Summer, by Steve Kluger. The protagonist is 12, which might be a more appropriate age b/c of the subject matter, but it's a wonderful piece of art. Absolutely hilarious, too.