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On the Field with... Alex Rodriguez
The 24th title in this bestselling sports series reviews the life, history and stats of baseball superstar Alexander Rodriguez. 10 photos.
- GenresBiography
128 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2002
5 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Matt Christopher
467 books141 followersMatt Christopher is the writer young readers turn to when they're looking for fast-paced, action-packed sports novels. He is the best-selling author of more than one hundred sports books for young readers.
Matt Christopher is America's bestselling sports writer for children, with more than 100 books and sales approaching six million copies. In 1992, Matt Christopher talked about being a children's book author.
"I became interested in writing when I was 14, a freshman in high school. I was selling magazines such as the Saturday Evening Post, Country Gentleman, and Liberty, and I would read the stories, particularly the adventure and mystery stories, and think how wonderful it would be to be able to write stories and make a living at it. I also read detective, horror, aviation, and sports stories and decided I would try writing them myself.
Determined to sell, I wrote a detective story a week for 40 weeks, finding the time to marry, work, and play baseball and basketball before I sold my first story in 1941, "The Missing Finger Points," for $50 to Detective Story magazine.
After writing and selling children's sports stories to magazines, I decided to write a baseball book for children. I was living in Syracuse, New York at the time, working at General Electric. I spoke about my idea to the branch librarian. She was immediately interested and told me that they needed sports stories badly. So I came up with my first children's book, The Lucky Baseball Bat. I submitted it to Little, Brown, and the book was published in 1954.
I'm sure that playing sandlot baseball and then semiprofessional baseball with a Class C club in the Canadian-American League influenced my writing. I had my own personal experiences, and I saw how other players reacted to plays, to teammates' and fans' remarks and innuendoes, to managers' orders, etc. All these had a great influence on my writing. My love of the game helped a lot, too, of course.
Out of all the books I've written, my favorite is The Kid Who Only Hit Homers. It's a fantasy, but the main character in it could be real. There are a lot of boys who would love to play baseball but, for some reason, cannot. The only difference between a real-life boy and Sylvester Coddmyer III is the appearance of a character named George Baruth, whom only Sylvester can see and who helps Sylvester become a good ballplayer.
I've written many short stories and books for both children and adults, and find that writing for children is really my niche. Being the eldest of nine children (seven boys and two girls), I've lived through a lot of problems many children live through, and I find these problems excellent examples to include in my books.
Sports have made it possible for me to meet many people with all sorts of life stories, on and off the field, and these are grist for this writer's mill. I'm far beyond playing age now, but I manage to go to both kids' and adult games just to keep up with them, and keep them fresh in my mind.Very few things make me happier than receiving fan letters from boys and girls who write that they had never cared for reading until they started to read my books. That is just about the ultimate in writing for children. I would never trade it for another profession."
Matt Christopher died on September 27, 1997. His legacy is now being carried on by his sons, Duane and Dale Christopher.
Matt Christopher is America's bestselling sports writer for children, with more than 100 books and sales approaching six million copies. In 1992, Matt Christopher talked about being a children's book author.
"I became interested in writing when I was 14, a freshman in high school. I was selling magazines such as the Saturday Evening Post, Country Gentleman, and Liberty, and I would read the stories, particularly the adventure and mystery stories, and think how wonderful it would be to be able to write stories and make a living at it. I also read detective, horror, aviation, and sports stories and decided I would try writing them myself.
Determined to sell, I wrote a detective story a week for 40 weeks, finding the time to marry, work, and play baseball and basketball before I sold my first story in 1941, "The Missing Finger Points," for $50 to Detective Story magazine.
After writing and selling children's sports stories to magazines, I decided to write a baseball book for children. I was living in Syracuse, New York at the time, working at General Electric. I spoke about my idea to the branch librarian. She was immediately interested and told me that they needed sports stories badly. So I came up with my first children's book, The Lucky Baseball Bat. I submitted it to Little, Brown, and the book was published in 1954.
I'm sure that playing sandlot baseball and then semiprofessional baseball with a Class C club in the Canadian-American League influenced my writing. I had my own personal experiences, and I saw how other players reacted to plays, to teammates' and fans' remarks and innuendoes, to managers' orders, etc. All these had a great influence on my writing. My love of the game helped a lot, too, of course.
Out of all the books I've written, my favorite is The Kid Who Only Hit Homers. It's a fantasy, but the main character in it could be real. There are a lot of boys who would love to play baseball but, for some reason, cannot. The only difference between a real-life boy and Sylvester Coddmyer III is the appearance of a character named George Baruth, whom only Sylvester can see and who helps Sylvester become a good ballplayer.
I've written many short stories and books for both children and adults, and find that writing for children is really my niche. Being the eldest of nine children (seven boys and two girls), I've lived through a lot of problems many children live through, and I find these problems excellent examples to include in my books.
Sports have made it possible for me to meet many people with all sorts of life stories, on and off the field, and these are grist for this writer's mill. I'm far beyond playing age now, but I manage to go to both kids' and adult games just to keep up with them, and keep them fresh in my mind.Very few things make me happier than receiving fan letters from boys and girls who write that they had never cared for reading until they started to read my books. That is just about the ultimate in writing for children. I would never trade it for another profession."
Matt Christopher died on September 27, 1997. His legacy is now being carried on by his sons, Duane and Dale Christopher.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
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June 17, 2009On the field with Alex Rodriguez is about Alex Rodriguez play baseball when he was little. Alex Rodriguez was playing baseball in Dominican Republic. Alex Rodriguez was play baseball when he was six year old. Alex Rodriguez drafted from high school. Alex Rodriguez was playing out side with his friends and family membrane. Alex Rodriguez played for there team. It is Seattle mariner, Texas Ranger, and the New York Yankees. Alex Rodriguez was playing shortstop and now he played third base.
I like when Alex Rodriguez was play when he was little. I like when they did to his career statistics. I like it because Alex Rodriguez was brave to play baseball when he was little.
Alex Rodriguez hit a lot of homerun more than Gary Sheffield and Joe DiMaggio. Alex Rodriguez hit 423 homerun in 3 different team. Alex Rodriguez was the biggest homerun and hit in the game. The hit that Alex Rodriguez hit 1881 in the game. Alex Rodriguez was the best player for 3 team.
Yes it did change my life and the world .people like Alex Rodriguez as a baseball player. People want Alex Rodriguez be the best baseball player in the world. People want to see Alex Rodriguez in the statiumor in the locker. Alex Rodriguez want to see the fan.
I like when Alex Rodriguez was play when he was little. I like when they did to his career statistics. I like it because Alex Rodriguez was brave to play baseball when he was little.
Alex Rodriguez hit a lot of homerun more than Gary Sheffield and Joe DiMaggio. Alex Rodriguez hit 423 homerun in 3 different team. Alex Rodriguez was the biggest homerun and hit in the game. The hit that Alex Rodriguez hit 1881 in the game. Alex Rodriguez was the best player for 3 team.
Yes it did change my life and the world .people like Alex Rodriguez as a baseball player. People want Alex Rodriguez be the best baseball player in the world. People want to see Alex Rodriguez in the statiumor in the locker. Alex Rodriguez want to see the fan.
Currently reading
February 10, 2014this book made me realize that everything you want isn't always going to be handed to you and that you have to work hard and be dedicated if you want to do somethings or reach your dreams. one thing that i have observed about Alex Rodriguez is that he is determined to reach his goal as an baseball player for example in sophomore year Alex was a skinny kid but he knew that if he wanted to make it to the mlb n be a prospect he had to gain some muscle weight... when the season started in Alex Junior year the coach couldn't believe what he saw Alex gained 30 pounds of muscle and looked like a prospect.
April 16, 2009
Alex Rodriguez is one of my favorite baseball players. Although all is controversy with him and steriods has hit the media, I still believe he is one of the best baseball players alive. This book highlights his journey in baseball and the teams hes been on, his records, etc. This book basically shows most thingst hat have took place in his career. Although I am a Mets fan, A-rod is always a player that I like to watch. This book is recommended to all Alex Rodriguez fans.
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May 21, 2009my favorite scence is when alex rodriguez was playigg for three team.the first team when alex rodriguez was playing with the taxes rangers.the second team is the seattle mariners.the three teamis the new york yankees.in 2005 alex rodrigues hit a lot of homerunand he hit 42 homerun in the game.
February 3, 2009
i loved it cause it showed me how he grow up
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May 22, 2009Alex rodriguez to me is one my favorite players becuase of the he has done throughout his whole career and the things that he is also projected to do in the future.
December 14, 2009
it is really good book
January 29, 2010
This book was interesting to read and the author gives good background information about the story.
February 16, 2010
The newer version of "On the Field with... Alex Rodriguez" is much better than the older one.
May 17, 2010
That he had to go though all the days he had to wait to be picked in the draft
April 24, 2009
eh it was ok
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews