I like this book because i like baseball and i also like Derek Jeter. This story tells how Derek Jeter wanted to be the yankees shortstop it shows how he had to acommplished his goals by going through different obstacles in his way to make it to the major league.one of the obstacles was when he got drafted in 1992 but did not play until 1995. this book also talks about his great awards like becoming the american league rookie of the year.he also won the world series a couple of times. before Derek Jeter played for the yankees the yankees did not win a world series in 15 long years.so Derek Jeter is one of the big reasons that the yankees have been winning the world series.

As with other juvenile biographies in the Matt Christopher "On the Field/Court with..." series, this look at New York Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter emphasizes work ethic and family life as much as it does achievements on the baseball diamond. Since Jeter dreamed of being the Yankee's shortstop since he was a little boy, the first half of the book follows the "dreams come true" motif, while the second half of the book, covering how Jeter's Yankees won three World Series in his first four seasons in the Major Leagues comes under the "succeeding beyond your wildest dreams" heading. In relating key moments for Jeter at bat, on the bases or in the field, there is an admirable attempt to provide the details and not merely refer to things you might remember having seen on television. But there is always something of an educational purpose behind these sports biographies, so young readers will also learn that despite all his talent, Jeter had to work very hard to become a baseball star. Being considered the top high school player in the country does not mean you are ready for professional baseball, even at the lowest minor league level. Young readers will be informed to learn that Jeter's fielding style and batting swing had to be readjusted to make him a better player. They might also learn something from the relationship he enjoyed with his parents and his attitude towards people and school, as well as towards sports, that make him such an admired sports figure.

I believe this biography is written by Glen Stout, although it is copyrighted by Catherine M. Christopher for whom Matt ChristopherTM is a trademark. It only sounds confusing. One of the fun thing with these books is that they are not written "down" to the level of their readers. You should always keep an eye out for words that will send kids running to their dictionaries. In this book the biggie is found in the following sentence: "Near the end of the season he magnanimously offered to move to third base so Derek could play shortstop for the varsity." Other titles in this series look at Kobe Bryant, John Elway, Wayne Gretzky, Mia Hamm, Lisa Leslie, Tara Lipinski, Sammy Sosa, and Tiger Woods to name but a few. "Matt Christopher" is, by its own admission, the number one sports series for kids and based on the few books I have read to date, I have no reason to suspect there are engaging in hyperbole.

I LOVED THE BOOK. I LOVED IT BECAUSE I LOVE DEREK JETER, THE NEW YORK YANKEES, AND BASEBALL. IT HAD A GOOD SETTING. I LOVE THE BOOK IT WAS THE BEST BOOK I HAVE READ IN A REALLY LONG TIME!!*!!

Boston has long been home to a number of professional and amateur athletes and sports teams. Curator of the Sports Museum of New England Richard Johnson's A Century Of Boston Sports celebrates this athletic heritage with a chronologically organized text comprised of illuminating, informative essays by journalist and historian Glenn Stout, historical vignettes, and more than 150 vintage photographs highlighting teams, events, and personalities that are indelibly associated with the city of Boston. A Century Of Boston is "must" reading for all Boston sports fans as well as students of American sports history.

Written with aplomb and great respect for all the athletes that are featured, A Century of Boston Sports is a joy to read. The variety of photographs and layout of the book are eye catching and unique. No matter your team loyalty, this book provides wonderful stories of athletes from all walks of sport. Humour and joy in sport make this a wonderfully inspiring read. Johnson shows a genuine fondness for each chosen member in this gem of a book. Give this book to any sports fan or anyone who would be inspired by reading all these diverse stories.

At Thanksgiving time this book is a feast for sport fans across the country. It is all inclusive,entertaining, and informative. Great snap shots in time. If you are a sports fan this book covers some of Americas top sport heros. Well written and extremely well organized

Kobe Bryant is gonna be Scary in 5 years is what I tell everybody who I talk to about Basketball.right now along with Shaq&the Rest of the Lakers they are on the Verge of a serious Dynasty run.this Book shows the start of how Kobe Bryant has been making choices&the way He has picked the path for his destiny.He has overcome alot already more than most folks truly give Him Credit for.i enjoyed the way this book out-lined everything He is About thus far&the road that has lead Him to the Player He has become.

First off, you have to love any juvenile book, even a biography of Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, that uses the word "exponentially." Obviously there is no dumbing down the writing by Glenn Stout. But apart from the style "On the Court with . . . Kobe Bryant" has a substantive point to make. When Bryant finished his senior season of basketball in high school he had to make a decision about going to college or trying to jump right to the NBA. Stout does a solid job of explaining both sides of the controversy, but he has also set up the decision in terms of Bryant's life. The first part of the book talks about the important of Bryant's father, a former NBA player, who gave his son not only some nice basketball genes but also taught him about the game. Stout emphasizes that Bryant's understanding of the game and his work ethic were as important as his physical skills in preparing him for the NBA. Also, when their son was suddenly a teenage millionaire in the pros, the Bryant family moved to L.A. to provide a support system that a lot of other phenoms never had and certainly could have used. Hopefully any young player who wants to grow up to be like Kobe will understand the lessons embedded in this biography, because, as Charles Barkley and many others have repeated noted, most of the kids in the NBA today simply do not know how to play the game. Bryant is an exception to the rule and this book clearly explains why. I also like the fact that most of the book is not about Kobe Bryant in the NBA, but pays as much attention to his high school career and to the time he spent living in Italy. Young readers will not just read about what Bryant has done but will understand the hows and whys of his success. This book includes 10 black & white photographs from Bryant's career, along with his NBA statistics through the Lakers's first championship in 2000 and a short list of career highlights. The cover of this book proclaims it to be "The #1 Sports Series for Kids." Well, if the other titles are as good as this one, then it deserves to be.

Matt christopher is best known for writing fiction with sports themes but he has also written some great biographies of sports stars aimed at the 9-12 age group. This is a biography of pitching star Greg Maddux of the Atlanta Braves. It is written in an easy-to-follow format and provides interesting facts about Maddux's life both on and off the field. Any young baseball fan would appreciate this book. Christopher is a fine writer and has done a good job with this book.

i think the book was great.it talked about his childhood ,and all the rest of his life.i think that matt christopher should be the author of the year!i think the best book is on the court with michael jordan though well i g2g c ya world

There are a great number of Ted Williams books available, ranging from those that are primarily illustrations to those that are only text. This fine book, which was a NY Times Notable Book of the Year when it was first published, is now back in print and offers the best of both worlds. I think it also provides the best portrait of Williams ever put together, stripped of the sentimentality of most other books, and full of information not revealed elsewhere, such as the when the shift was really first used against Ted and what really happened in the 1947 MVP vote. The essays add to this portrait, and the photographs, while all in black and white, are absolutely classic. Stout and Johnson also wrote the extraordinary Red Sox Century - if you already have that you must get this.

For many Ted Williams remains a mystery wrapped in an enigma. This well written and nicely crafted book does much to untangle the mystery, intrigue, and controversy that seems to orbit Ted Williams to this day.

Williams, like Ruth, was both wonderfully flawed and wonderfully talented. This book reveals both with honesty and candor.

It has been said that in learning about others we find ourselves. I found this to be the case here. For example, which is not specifically a book about and for adult children of alcoholics Ted Williams definitely was one (in his case, the son of a religious addict). If you find yourself on the recovery path you will find much to glean from here! I found myself in this book time and time again. Perhaps you will too. Now if only I could HIT like Williams...

And on top of everything else it's a Baseball book with photos and stats galore! What more could you ask for?

I adored this book and believe that you will too!

I enjoy reading all of Matt Christopher's books because they are fun to read while at the same time discuss interesting topics. This book was especially interesting. It is a sports biography about the famous baseball player Sammy Sosa. At the Plate With Sammy Sosa is a great book because it goes from all the hardships Sammy faced from his childhood in the Dominican Republic through his early years as a pro when he wasn't very popular to now when he is an international icon. This really is a great book especially for a younger audience.

I recently (in 1997) read the 1993 and 1994 books of this series, and am anxious to get copies of the others. A problem with putting a year in the title of a book is that it makes the book seem dated and maybe no longer of interest. Don't be misled by that notion. This is good stuff and just as intersting now as when it was published. Also, I find myself recommending many of the pieces to people who are not necessarily interested in sports. Appreciation of the material is independent of whether you care about sports. It's all very good writing about interesting people.

As a longtime reader of this consistently satisfying series, this years' edition just might be the best one yet. It is meatier than the last few years and each story in the book seems a little bit better than the last one. As always, there are surprises, too, not only of more obscure sports (wreck diving, poker and surfing) but in point of view, re: Gene Collier's farewell to sportswriting and Charles Young's meditation on losing. But there's plenty of straight sports, too; Tiger Woods, DiMaggio, Ripken, etc., and big names like Reilly, Pierce and Bissinger. And maybe it's me, but there's an odd, antidotal prescience to this book in these strange times. Collier's story alerts us to the real heroes, and if you need an uplift, read the story called "Toughest Miler Ever," for a true profile in courage. Collins introduction is vintage, and well, that's it. I don't want to spoil it for you, but I enjoyed this so much I rather wish I had another to read right away.

This is THE definitive Red Sox history. It tells the whole story just as it happened. Of course, for Red Sox fans that is both good and bad. If you want a happier ending, read Bill Lee's The Little Red Sox Book, which changes Red Sox history and provides dozens of happy endings, including Ted Williams killing Hitler with a line drive, Babe staying in Boston and Jackie Robinson joining the Red Sox. I suggest you read them both...one to put you out on the ledge and the other to coax you back in.

For fans wanting some reading during the next 6 months, I can recommend the brand new title RED SOX CENTURY. There have been a lot books over the years which were histories of the Red Sox, but I believe this one is clearly the best. It's a hefty 473 large pages, and very comprehensive. Exhaustive, even.

There are a lot of photographs included. The book is written by Glenn Stout and Dick Johnson, noted for their collaborations on books about Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio and Jackie Robinson. This will be my standard reference book, but it's also a book with opinions.

RED SOX CENTURY questions a few long-held beliefs, and fears not treading on sacred Yawkey toes. It goes further than any other book to suggest that Tom Yawkey, more than any other person, held the team back from success. Yawkey ownership clearly dominated Red Sox history, spanning from 1934 until the present, in one form or another. Noting that the Red Sox have so very often been one or two players short, the competition (frequently the Yankees) rarely are. The ultimate goal is, of course, a world championship. The "commitment of the franchise to this goal has not matched the devotion of their fans."

Tom Yawkey was one of the wealthiest men of his time, far wealthier than I had ever realized (the authors calculate the money he inherited in 1933 as being equivalent to somewhere between 4 1/2 and 7 billion dollars today.) His lineage is traced back to Johann Georg Jaky, who came to the new world from Germany in 1736. From time to time, Tom Yawkey paid a lot of money for specific players. The purchase price for Joe Cronin was an unheard of $250,000. Sounds like a lot, but Stout and Johnson translate that into 1999 dollars and the equivalent today would be a staggering $37.5 million! Anyone think we could pry loose a player or two from the competition with an outright cash purchase price of $37.5 million?

Yet Yawkey never quite achieved what he could have. Oftentimes, he was out of Boston for months at a time in mid-season. He had a private side - even his own GM Dick O'Connell had no idea that Yawkey had a daughter Julia, adopted by Tom and his first wife Elise. RED SOX CENTURY makes the case that Yawkey never made the moves he could and should have made to see the Red Sox triumph. The refrain is that he held the team back.

While Yawkey is lionized in Boston, Harry Frazee has always been held in contempt. After all, this is the former Sox owner who sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees - and gave them the mortgage on Fenway Park as well. The legend has it that Frazee was forced to sell the Bambino to finance losses caused by gearing up to present the Broadway show NO NO NANETTE. Stout and Johnson make a persuasive case for Frazee fighting for right against the machinations of Ban Johnson in the early days of the American League, and losing out in that struggle. Frazee was hardly broke, though. He died a very, very wealthy man. Frazee was a successful promoter who staged several successful efforts between the sale of Ruth and the opening of NO NO NANETTE.

There are quite a few interesting side notes found throughout the text. In the early Twenties, there was more Boston-area enthusiasm for the Twilight League, which could draw 20,000 fans to Hoyt Field in Cambridge - more than either the Red Sox or the Braves could attract. The level of play was often higher in such leagues, for semipro players could often earn more than major leaguers in this era - and thus often attracted higher quality players.

One amusing line caught my fancy. Discussing why Joe Morgan was replaced as manager by Butch Hobson, they write of the Sox ownership of the period, "They couldn't fire each other, so they fired Joe Morgan...."

There are very few errors that I noted - misspellings such as Elden Auker, Ted Williams' mother May Venzor and Johnny Pesky's birth name, Paveskovich - and a few very minor errors of fact, such as the idea that Pesky had been taken under the wing of former major leaguer Carl Mays (Pesky spent a few days at a camp Mays ran.) These errors are very minor indeed and in no way detract from a masterful job. I do highly recommend this solid, comprehensive work.

-- Bill Nowlin, co-author TED WILLIAMS: A TRIBUTE; FENWAY SAVED; TALES FROM THE RED SOX DUGOUT

What a sensational book. I have read Red Sox books in the past, and nothing seemed to capture the essence of the ball club's trials and tribulations than Red Sox Century. This book is as tragic as any classic story and examines 100 years of "what ifs." This book leaves no stone unturned and gives fans the ability to learn and love the former players of seasons past. It is the best Red Sox book I have ever read and will give one a deeper appreciation for the organization and it's tragic history. A futher note of excellence for this book are the points the authors make in putting to rest, the "cursed" theory and many other false misconceptions of the organization. It is a tremendous book and is a must read for any diehard Red Sox fan. Hell, it's a must read for anyone who wants to read a good tearjerker...

This is a good anthology of Red Sox writing, but none of these excellent writers is able to change history so that the Red Sox win THE BIG ONE once in awhile. Read Bill Lee's The Little Red (Sox) Book to see a whole bunch of happy endings told in a hilarious way by the one and only Spaceman!

This is a great look at the history of the Boston Red Sox through the eyes of writers who covered the team throughout the years. From Babe Ruth to the 1975 series, it's all here. A great book for Sox fans and all baseball fans.

This book is really deceiving. There are tons of Red Sox books out this year and this book is not only the cheapest but the cover, except for the Fisk photo, is sort of a weird color. But it's one of the best Sox books I've ever read. The book is a collection of stories from 1901 until the present written by people covering the Red Sox. About 95% of it was new to me and about 95% of that was great. There are stories about the Red Sox world championships (!!!) in 1903 and 1918, Gammons and Ray Fitzgerald on the 1975 World Series, tons of stuff on the Impossible Dream team and even a really really funny poem about Bill Lee. There's a whole section on Ted Williams and the Jackie Robinson tryout, too. It's sort of like reading Red Sox history as it happened. When I showed it to my Dad he remembered some of the old writers and started telling me stories about them and we stayed up late skimming throuigh the book and talking about them. It was really fun.