Ballpark: The Story of America's Baseball Fields

by Lynn Curlee

Other authorsLynn Curlee (Illustrator)

Paper Book, 2005

Status

Available

Call number

796.357

Genres

Nonfiction

Collection

Ballparks, Stadiums, Arenas, Gyms, Recreational Centers

Publication

Atheneum Books for Young Readers (2005), Hardcover, 48 pages

Description

From the first ballpark converted from an ice rink in 1862 to the space-aged Houston Astrodome to the league's newest state-of-the-art stadiums, this book tells the history of baseball through its ballparks. As America changed so did its ballparks, and their various architectural forms helped shape the game we know today. If you love baseball, chances are you love one particular ballpark. Boston fans wax poetic about Fenway Park. Cubs fans are adamant that Wrigley Field is the classic ballfield. Busch Stadium is a hit with folks from Missouri, and Yankee fans are passionate about the House That Ruth Built.... Besides passionate fans, there's one other thing all ballparks -- from the Union Grounds in Brooklyn built in 1862 to the Baltimore Oriole's Camden Yards built in 1992 -- have in common: Each has its own vibrant and unique history. In Ballpark, Sibert Honor Award winner Lynn Curlee explores both the histories and the cultural significances of America's most famous ballparks. Grand in scope and illustrations, and filled with nifty anecdotes about these "green cathedrals," Ballpark also explores the changing social climate that accompanied baseball's rise from a minor sport to the national pastime. This is a baseball book like no other.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member JordanMyers

I liked this book mainly for the detail they put into explaining to the reader about baseball. Baseball is a complex sport and to tell about how soldiers were "playing at base at Valley Forge in 1823" is awesome to me. The authors use of writing allows the reader to get a grasp of baseball along

with informing them about certain ball parks. The title confused me. It says ballparks and that's what I was expecting. However the book was good and I actually learned about the sport I have been playing for 17 years. I love how they relate baseball to being a huge part of American tradition. They talk about the use of the National Anthem and also all of the early presidents influences and attendance at the games. The plot wasn't as organized but went through baseball chronologically. They would go year by years or skip 50 years giving the reader important information about baseball. The language was good and used very descriptive words. They add in exclamation marks and use words like sizzled and slammed to add effect. The illustrations were pretty dull. They were basic pictures with not much line work. I feel as though it tried to put an old look on what baseball used to look but it was very unattractive to my eyes. I enjoyed this novel and the main reason was for students to get a brief history on the most popular sport in America.

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LibraryThing member jrudnick

This book is a great book for kids interested in sports and baseball. Many students are interested in sports and want to know the culture and history. This book does a great job explaining baseball fields and the culture behind it. The best ages would be for 2-4 grade. This would be a good book for

a student to use for research and give information to students. This might not be a great read aloud because all students may not be interested and some students may not like it.

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