“Full Count: Top Ten Lists of Everything in Baseball”
by Bob Der
Sports Illustrated Kids Books, 2012, 96 pages, Grades 4-7
Baseball has a deep identity in American culture. Children love to play the game and families enjoy going to the ballpark. There is nothing quite like really smashing a fastball and watching it fly into the outfield. The physical game is the most obvious part of baseball, but there is another interesting aspect to the sport. That is the mental part of baseball. Relying on strategy, baseball managers must substitute players and pitchers throughout the contest. Fans like to enter into this part of the game as well. To do this well, they need to know players, the strategy and the statistical percentages of certain player moves.
Bob Der of Sports Illustrated has developed a fun-filled book with many of these important facts. The title of this enjoyable text is “Full Count: Top Ten Lists of Everything in Baseball.”
The book begins with leadoff hitters. This is a complicated position for a number of reasons. First, the hitters must be very fast. This allows them to beat out infield hits and to steal bases. Base stealing is one of the most exciting parts of baseball. The runners take their leads and everyone in the stadium watches the explosive start to second base. The catchers try to throw out these speedy runners and the tags at second base are often action-filled.
Of course, pitchers do not want to let any runners on base and will try to strike them out or have them hit into an out. To do this, pitchers either need blazing fastballs or slow moving, cunning breaking balls. Most fans easily realize the benefit of fastballs, but fewer understand how difficult slow curves can be to hit. Either way, these duals between hitters and pitchers set up tension in the game.
Der’s list on the top 10 most feared hitters is particularly interesting. While pitching and player movement is usually associated with strategy, home run hitting is connected with power and excitement. There is nothing quite as jaw-dropping as a soaring home run. The author’s list of top sluggers and intimidating hitters is fascinating. They include Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Jim Thome, Frank Thomas and massive Frank Howard. The writer of this column still relishes watching Howard hit a one-handed home run in Wrigley Field and a scorching grounder that sizzled all the way to the fence in Comiskey Park before the outfielders could hardly move. Luckily, the grounder missed the shortstop. But this book is filled with many more fun filled lists, too numerous to mention in this review.
What is your favorite part of baseball? Do you like to watch the managers argue? Der lists the top 10 managers of all time. How about base stealers? They are all here as well. What is your favorite stadium? Der ranks the top 10 and has pictures of all of them. So if you want to have some fun, go to the library and check out this fun book, “Full Count: Top Ten Lists of Everything in Baseball.”
This is an enjoyable book to read. It would be especially pleasurable to read with children or friends. The author will bring back many great memories of baseball. I hope you get a chance to read this book and share it with those you love. It is a great book. Enjoy!
