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Baseball Card Adventures #7
Satch & Me
"You wanna know who threw the fastest pitch ever?"
Many baseball players claim that Satchel Paige was the fastest pitcher in the history of the game. Stosh and his coach, Flip Valentini, are on a mission to find out. With radar gun in tow, they travel back to 1942 and watch Satch pitch to power hitter Josh Gibson in the Negro League World Series. They soon learn that everything about Satch is fast -- whether it's his talking, driving, or getaways. But is he really the fastest pitcher who ever lived?
Many baseball players claim that Satchel Paige was the fastest pitcher in the history of the game. Stosh and his coach, Flip Valentini, are on a mission to find out. With radar gun in tow, they travel back to 1942 and watch Satch pitch to power hitter Josh Gibson in the Negro League World Series. They soon learn that everything about Satch is fast -- whether it's his talking, driving, or getaways. But is he really the fastest pitcher who ever lived?
192 pages, Hardcover
First published January 31, 2006
96 people are currently reading
448 people want to read
About the author
Dan Gutman
358 books1,029 followersThe author of over 80 books in a little over a decade of writing, Dan Gutman has written on topics from computers to baseball. Beginning his freelance career as a nonfiction author dealing mostly with sports for adults and young readers, Gutman has concentrated on juvenile fiction since 1995. His most popular titles include the time-travel sports book Honus and Me and its sequels, and a clutch of baseball books, including The Green Monster from Left Field. From hopeful and very youthful presidential candidates to stunt men, nothing is off limits in Gutman's fertile imagination. As he noted on his author Web site, since writing his first novel, They Came from Centerfield, in 1994, he has been hooked on fiction. "It was fun to write, kids loved it, and I discovered how incredibly rewarding it is to take a blank page and turn it into a WORLD."
Gutman was born in New York City in 1955, but moved to Newark, New Jersey the following year and spent his youth there.
Gutman was born in New York City in 1955, but moved to Newark, New Jersey the following year and spent his youth there.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
January 31, 2021
What a fun book! A look at Satch Paige from the negro leagues who was an amazing player. Part of a series where a boy travels in time when holding a baseball card. Paige is funny and the Indianapolis Clowns were interesting to hear about. Reminds me of the Harlem Globe Trotters.
April 19, 2020
Satch & Me is a fantasy book written by Dan Gutman. It is about a boy named Joe Stoshack (or Stosh) who has this special power to time travel through the use of baseball cards. He can travel to the year and the player that is listed on the card. In the past he’s gone to 1919 to visit Honus Wagner and 1932 to visit Babe Ruth. This time he’s on a different mission. Him and his coach Flip are trying to see who was the fastest pitcher alive. This leads them back in time to the days of the Negro League, a baseball league that served for African Americans to play in as the MLB was not letting them play in their own league. They bring a radar gun with them to see if Satchel Paige was actually the fastest pitcher in all of baseball.
I would read this book with 5th/6th graders in my social studies part of my class as this provides students with a unique perspective on how african american athletes were treated back in the days of segregation. It shows students that just because you may have been good at a sport, that you may not have had that chance to show people due to the color of your skin. It also shows students how much effort these people put into their craft just to be given a chance. They were working twice as hard to get half as far as their white counterpart. Paige is probably one of the best examples for students to look at. He played for a long time before finally getting a shot in the majors at 42. For reference the oldest player in the majors right now is Fernando Rodney who is 42 and has been playing in the major leagues for about 18 years (debuted in 2002).
This is a wow book for me because first off, I love baseball. It’s one of my favorite sports and in high school I even did a community service project where I taught elementary kids fundamentals of baseball. Second, I had never heard of Paige or the Negro League before. This provided me with tons of new information that got me to do even more research after I finished reading the book. It got me to take a deeper look into segregation and note that there was so much more going on besides African Americans not being allowed into sports leagues. Most people think of Jackie Robinson as a major part or integration, which he most certainly was. I just think that there’s other people who don’t get that credit or never got to see the hard work pay off like others did. This was an awesome book and there’s more in the series just like it!
I would read this book with 5th/6th graders in my social studies part of my class as this provides students with a unique perspective on how african american athletes were treated back in the days of segregation. It shows students that just because you may have been good at a sport, that you may not have had that chance to show people due to the color of your skin. It also shows students how much effort these people put into their craft just to be given a chance. They were working twice as hard to get half as far as their white counterpart. Paige is probably one of the best examples for students to look at. He played for a long time before finally getting a shot in the majors at 42. For reference the oldest player in the majors right now is Fernando Rodney who is 42 and has been playing in the major leagues for about 18 years (debuted in 2002).
This is a wow book for me because first off, I love baseball. It’s one of my favorite sports and in high school I even did a community service project where I taught elementary kids fundamentals of baseball. Second, I had never heard of Paige or the Negro League before. This provided me with tons of new information that got me to do even more research after I finished reading the book. It got me to take a deeper look into segregation and note that there was so much more going on besides African Americans not being allowed into sports leagues. Most people think of Jackie Robinson as a major part or integration, which he most certainly was. I just think that there’s other people who don’t get that credit or never got to see the hard work pay off like others did. This was an awesome book and there’s more in the series just like it!
April 13, 2024
I somehow never discovered these books while in the appropriate age group to read them. Nonetheless, I'm glad I found this one at a used book store and added it to my to-read stack. If you're the parent or a reader who enjoys resetting your reading pallet by zipping through a short and entertaining book for a younger audience, "Satch & Me" and the other Dan Gutman baseball card adventures should be enjoyable.
Gutman was well into the series by the time he wrote this one and it makes for a great blend of sports action, history, and fantasy time travel (think "Back to the Future" with a baseball twist). Had I read this when it was age appropriate, this would have been a book written with a reader like me in mind. Admittedly, it still is and the twists and turns of the story still work well for me reading as an adult. If you appreciate the history of Negro Leagues Baseball, it may seem like lighter fare depending upon how well you know the marquee names and teams of the era. Gutman did well in pulling direct quotes from Paige to build him as a character rather than a caricature and even ensures longtime steward of Negro League history John "Buck" O'Neil has a cameo.
I can see why early critical response from publishers for the first novel in the series were particular in regard to the time travel elements and butterfly effect repercussions. When suspending disbelief, as one should likely do with this subject matter, "Satch & Me" is a satisfying read for fans of one or all of the genres mentioned above. Overall, a fun read and, if the others of the series read as well, I'll be scouring the shelves of my local use bookstore for the rest.
Gutman was well into the series by the time he wrote this one and it makes for a great blend of sports action, history, and fantasy time travel (think "Back to the Future" with a baseball twist). Had I read this when it was age appropriate, this would have been a book written with a reader like me in mind. Admittedly, it still is and the twists and turns of the story still work well for me reading as an adult. If you appreciate the history of Negro Leagues Baseball, it may seem like lighter fare depending upon how well you know the marquee names and teams of the era. Gutman did well in pulling direct quotes from Paige to build him as a character rather than a caricature and even ensures longtime steward of Negro League history John "Buck" O'Neil has a cameo.
I can see why early critical response from publishers for the first novel in the series were particular in regard to the time travel elements and butterfly effect repercussions. When suspending disbelief, as one should likely do with this subject matter, "Satch & Me" is a satisfying read for fans of one or all of the genres mentioned above. Overall, a fun read and, if the others of the series read as well, I'll be scouring the shelves of my local use bookstore for the rest.
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March 25, 2018Joe the main character and Satch want to see who the fastest pitcher is so the go back in time to see the fastest pitcher. So they go back to the Negro League to see who it Is. They like satchs awesome personality. they wanted to see who threw the fastest most wicked fastball in the negro league so they came out with satch. To find out who it is. they have to see the blood sweat and tears of how bad whit people treated blacks. When segregation was a thing in the south. Flip wasthe person to throw the fastest fastball. dan Gutman made a great series and he has more books that I want to read.
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October 13, 2016Satch and me was actually a pretty decent book. i love sport books. It was about satch which known to be the fastest pitcher ever. stosh and his coach, Flip Valentini, are on a mission to find out. With radar gun in tow, they travel back to 1942 and watch Satch pitch to power hitter Josh Gibson in the Negro League World Series. They soon learn that everything about Satch is fast. I recommennd this book to who ever like real true books that have nothing but facts.
February 22, 2021
I would give Satch and Me a five out of five stars. This book had a great plot and the author executed it very well. Dan Gutman organized his book at an elite level. He put in situations in every right spot. I liked how he added a second quest after the main quest had ended.
The first connection I made to Satch and Me was a quest in literature. A quest happens in just about every single book. Satch and Me had two very important quests. Gutman used one main quest then added a side quest to add more depth to the story.
The next connection I made to Fosters book was violence in literature. In Satch and Me there was one very specific scene in the book that was a big deal. Towards the end of the book right before Stosh and Flip were going to finish their main quest it all turned south. When Laverne’s father shot at Stosh holding the speed gun this type of violence led to a side quest. This type of violence in literature is an advancement in plot even though it isn’t the most basic type of violence like a fight it is still violence.
The final connection I made towards Foster's book was an act of communion. In Satch and Me at the end of the book an act of communion was made. After the quest had been achieved and Flip was now and MLB legend friends and family came together to celebrate the achievement. This act of communion was a celebration of his career with food involved. Foster says in his book that an act of communion is normally a celebration over food which happened in the book.
I recommend this book to middle schoolers and high school students. I also think people with the love for sports would enjoy this type of book. This book gives a good twist to the normal type of sports books. I would compare this book to a lot of other Dan Gutman sport books that include this same type of plot. I think all age ranges can enjoy this book with the knowledge of Foster’s book.
The first connection I made to Satch and Me was a quest in literature. A quest happens in just about every single book. Satch and Me had two very important quests. Gutman used one main quest then added a side quest to add more depth to the story.
The next connection I made to Fosters book was violence in literature. In Satch and Me there was one very specific scene in the book that was a big deal. Towards the end of the book right before Stosh and Flip were going to finish their main quest it all turned south. When Laverne’s father shot at Stosh holding the speed gun this type of violence led to a side quest. This type of violence in literature is an advancement in plot even though it isn’t the most basic type of violence like a fight it is still violence.
The final connection I made towards Foster's book was an act of communion. In Satch and Me at the end of the book an act of communion was made. After the quest had been achieved and Flip was now and MLB legend friends and family came together to celebrate the achievement. This act of communion was a celebration of his career with food involved. Foster says in his book that an act of communion is normally a celebration over food which happened in the book.
I recommend this book to middle schoolers and high school students. I also think people with the love for sports would enjoy this type of book. This book gives a good twist to the normal type of sports books. I would compare this book to a lot of other Dan Gutman sport books that include this same type of plot. I think all age ranges can enjoy this book with the knowledge of Foster’s book.
May 21, 2020
Stosh is back in a new time-travel baseball adventure. This time, his vintage baseball cards carry him and his elderly friend Flip Valentini to 1942 to use a radar gun to determine if Satchel Paige really threw the wickedest, speediest fastball in baseball history. They meet up with Satch on the way to the Negro League World Series. As they travel, they enjoy Satch’s eccentricities and unique personality, as well as the camaraderie and competitive spirit among the enormously talented ballplayers. But they are also witness to the humiliation, pain and hopelessness of segregation. The trip also results in a life-changing alteration of Flip’s personal history. Stosh is a terrific narrator, a thoroughly modern kid who understands that the past has much to teach us.
December 7, 2020
4.5
This is my second read in this baseball series for middle-graders, but it is the 7th book in the over-all series. This time travel series takes place via Stosh, a little-league player who can visit the past via baseball cards, This novel goes back to 1942, to the Negro World Series, and to the great pitcher Satchel Paige. This novel might appeal to dads and granddads more than today’s little-leaguers as it takes the readers back to the past and the giants of baseball history. The story is well written and the humor of time travel weaves itself well into the different times in which we live.
This is my second read in this baseball series for middle-graders, but it is the 7th book in the over-all series. This time travel series takes place via Stosh, a little-league player who can visit the past via baseball cards, This novel goes back to 1942, to the Negro World Series, and to the great pitcher Satchel Paige. This novel might appeal to dads and granddads more than today’s little-leaguers as it takes the readers back to the past and the giants of baseball history. The story is well written and the humor of time travel weaves itself well into the different times in which we live.
August 1, 2024
Read this book because I want to have historical fiction books in my classroom and thought this would be a good addition. Didn’t love a lot of the messages this book seems to pass on. For starters, the use of derogatory language to describe individuals with dwarfism made this a book I would not use. Laverne being a character who only cares about a guy and literally nothing else is not great for the only female in the book. Time travel aspect was dumb and I really don’t like that in media so that didn’t help either. I know this is a kids book and I should get over it but wanted to jot down my thoughts for any other teachers looking to see if this book belongs in their classroom.
September 13, 2018
I enjoyed this book because it has sports in it even though basketball is my most favorite sport , this book is still intriguing. For example the kid Stosh is someone that I closely resembles too, a curious kid that wants too learn as much as he can about a sport and tries too help people. Also how much intellect he has over a sport and how he questions a play the coach called cause it’s not correct in the situation. The kid can time travel using basketball cards which makes for a twist at the end I didn’t suspect.
March 29, 2019
My favorite of the series, of which I've read several with my kids. Maybe it's because Paige's known life is much less filled in than, say, Babe Ruth's or Jackie Robinson's. Or maybe it's because his plot idea was a little more complicated, but Gutman seems to tell a more complete story than in some of the other books of the series. He doesn't just talk baseball, but of course, covers the Negro Leagues and the implications thereof, and works the time travel ethics into the story more than usual. Very, very enjoyable and my kids loved it as well.
June 9, 2025
I love the fact that Buck O'Neil is mentioned in the book. Satchel Paige was mentioned several times in Buck's stories so I love the fact that his in even in a fictional account. Satchel was defiantly an interesting person even living off the land while traveling. He was a talented man that isn't as recognized as he should be which is sad. I'm glad that he is being recognized. I know Buck had said there were many great players in the Negro Leagues that was even better than Jackie Robinson, but they didn't have the temperament.
How did this book find me? It is part of a series.
How did this book find me? It is part of a series.
August 17, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up. My 12 year old and I listened to this audiobook as part of a roadtrip and enjoyed the magical realism of a boy go can travel through time to see baseball heroes if he holds their baseball card.
Satchel Paige was arguably one of the best pitchers, but never officially had his pitch speed clocked in the 1940s when he was in the Negro leagues.
The best part is that we heard more about him from a local news article from a man that met him and got his autograph in 1965. https://www.ksl.com/article/51356666/...
Satchel Paige was arguably one of the best pitchers, but never officially had his pitch speed clocked in the 1940s when he was in the Negro leagues.
The best part is that we heard more about him from a local news article from a man that met him and got his autograph in 1965. https://www.ksl.com/article/51356666/...
October 16, 2019
This book Satch and Me is definitely one of my favorite books. It is by Dan Gutman, he writes a lot of really good books. I really liked the ending of Satch and Me because it was really surprising. I like how Stosh always has to find a baseball card to go back in time and isn’t able to just go back in time so easily. Part of this book is about Stosh and Flip’s friendship and what happens when they go back in time. By the way Flip is Stosh’s little league baseball coach.
I think kids from the age 10-13 would really like this book. The character Stosh is around 12 years old.
The reason Stosh and his baseball coach Flip went back in time was to see how fast Satchel Paige could throw. Apparently Satch throws the hardest pitches in the Negro League history.
Satch and Me is a Fantasy book with lots of mysteries throughout the book. I really like those types of books so if you like Fantasy books then I would definitely recommend that you read this book.
I think that the last couple chapters are the best part of the book just because of how surprising the ending was. Also, the last mystery that you’ll find out will blow your mind.
The last thing I’m going to say is that you have to read this book.
I think kids from the age 10-13 would really like this book. The character Stosh is around 12 years old.
The reason Stosh and his baseball coach Flip went back in time was to see how fast Satchel Paige could throw. Apparently Satch throws the hardest pitches in the Negro League history.
Satch and Me is a Fantasy book with lots of mysteries throughout the book. I really like those types of books so if you like Fantasy books then I would definitely recommend that you read this book.
I think that the last couple chapters are the best part of the book just because of how surprising the ending was. Also, the last mystery that you’ll find out will blow your mind.
The last thing I’m going to say is that you have to read this book.
November 13, 2018
This is another one of my favorites by Dan Gutman and is part of the baseball series. I love how in this book he doesn’t just go back in time by himself but takes a friend along with him. The plots are always entertaining and keeps you wanting to read more and more. This book is historical fiction and is in the 4th-6th grade range
June 16, 2022
Great, quick read that packs a lot of historical facts in, alongside the fun fictional story. This book mentioned some of the great ball players from the Negro Leagues, and gave some insight into what those gentlemen went through in a segregated America, for the love of the game. I recommend this to any baseball fan and to anyone who wants a lighthearted break from the stresses of everyday life.
December 13, 2024
I started reading this series because my now-ten-year-old loves baseball and I was looking for some books that would feature baseball and at the same time teach him about the U.S. history. I really enjoy Dan Gutman's writing - it's well researched but I like the way the author takes liberty in constructing dialogues with the historical figures.
October 9, 2017
Stosh went back in time and met Flip, Laverne, and Satch. He changes the future. He went and Flip was in a Bad apartment now he is in a nice house. He is a lot happier and loves life. Stosh said "He seemed so much happier now."
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May 10, 2021BTSYA / Young Adult Reader (Age 23):
Satch and Me is entertaining and educational. I consider myself a big sports fan and was impressed by how much history I learned. Black and white pictures are included throughout the story which assists in creating a mental image of how the times were.
Satch and Me is entertaining and educational. I consider myself a big sports fan and was impressed by how much history I learned. Black and white pictures are included throughout the story which assists in creating a mental image of how the times were.
April 4, 2018
It was not as good as the other ones but there was some good parts
January 19, 2019
The first book I read in the series. I enjoyed the way he brought the characters to life and even changed history.
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October 9, 2019Very good book. Like how it is a mystery and has some fake elements to it.
November 27, 2019
It is a good book, with a good story. The only thing bad is that there is some cussing.
May 25, 2020
Another good entry into the Baseball Card Adventure Series. An attempt at dealing with the effects of time travel included!
June 24, 2021
Not the best sport centric story I've ever read
August 21, 2023
I think this was my favorite one of the series so far, it offered a good, fun, adventurous timeless when he was back in time which I didn't get as much from the others.
August 10, 2024
Packer loves all of them! This is Ethan's favorite after Babe and Me!
June 14, 2025
What a great book for anyone who loves baseball. Definitely a young adult fiction but it can be enjoyed by anyone
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February 28, 2017Kai C block 5 Dan Gutman Satch and Me
Stosh and his coach Flip love baseball and they wonder who the fastest picker in baseball history was. Flip borrowed a speed gun from the high school for his baseball team and decides to take it with them to go back in time. They decide to go back in time to 1942 to meet Satchel paige and track his pitching speed. They go back in time to a diner in south Carolina. Flip becomes his eighteen year old version of himself. They buy twenty hamburgers for a bus of negro league baseball players. They leave the diner after making friends with the 17 year old waitress Laverne. They try to hitch hike and eventually a car pulls over and the driver is Satchel Paige. He takes them to the negro league World Series where he will be playing. After the game Laverne came to them because she liked Flip. They went to the empty stadium with satchel to see his speed. Right when they were going to see his fastest pitch, Laverne's dad came and shot at them with a rifle. Stosh went back to the future without Flip and Flip was a famous baseball player now.
The main idea of this book was that enjoying the trip is more important than getting to the destination. Trough out the book Flip and Stosh went through some crazy stuff and sometimes forgot what they were supposed to be doing. They had a lot more fun doing other interesting things in 1942 and meeting Satchel Paige was a big highlight. It sort of seemed unimportant to find out Satch's fastest pitch. In the end they never did find out his speed because the radar gun was shot. And even though they didn't find that out they still had loads of fun and changed history.
Stosh and his coach Flip love baseball and they wonder who the fastest picker in baseball history was. Flip borrowed a speed gun from the high school for his baseball team and decides to take it with them to go back in time. They decide to go back in time to 1942 to meet Satchel paige and track his pitching speed. They go back in time to a diner in south Carolina. Flip becomes his eighteen year old version of himself. They buy twenty hamburgers for a bus of negro league baseball players. They leave the diner after making friends with the 17 year old waitress Laverne. They try to hitch hike and eventually a car pulls over and the driver is Satchel Paige. He takes them to the negro league World Series where he will be playing. After the game Laverne came to them because she liked Flip. They went to the empty stadium with satchel to see his speed. Right when they were going to see his fastest pitch, Laverne's dad came and shot at them with a rifle. Stosh went back to the future without Flip and Flip was a famous baseball player now.
The main idea of this book was that enjoying the trip is more important than getting to the destination. Trough out the book Flip and Stosh went through some crazy stuff and sometimes forgot what they were supposed to be doing. They had a lot more fun doing other interesting things in 1942 and meeting Satchel Paige was a big highlight. It sort of seemed unimportant to find out Satch's fastest pitch. In the end they never did find out his speed because the radar gun was shot. And even though they didn't find that out they still had loads of fun and changed history.
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June 4, 2012Title: Satch and Me
Author: Dan Gutman
Date Published: 2006
Genre: Fiction, Historical Fiction, African American Segregation
There are many baseball players who claim that they are the fastest pitcher in the history of baseball and that’s what Stosh, the protagonist in the story, and his coach Flip Valentini want to find out. In the story, Satch and Me, Joe Stoshack a thirteen year old boy who is know as “Stosh” in the story. His Louisville little league baseball team is coached by Flip Valentini a baseball card shop owner. Stosh and Flip have a great relationship together. Flip is a coach who lives and breathes baseball for them. Flip is not only their coach, but he even drives the kids to and from practice if their moms are late. Flip is someone who cares for the kids on his team. Their story starts to take place on the east side of Louisville, Kentucky. But then, Stosh and Flip travel back in time so they can see who is the fastest pitcher in baseball history. They are arrive in Spartanburg, South Carolina in 1942.
The theme of the book is discrimination. Both Stosh and Flip face racial discrimination throughout the story. In chapter seven, when an African American kid walked into a diner and wanted to order twenty hamburgers, the owner of the diner ran out of the kitchen and told the kid that he couldn’t help him. The owner then told the kid that he was sorry but that the kid would have to use the bathroom out back. Another example of discrimination was in chapter 18, when Satch was unable to play baseball at the highest level due to the color of his skin. Another example was when Satch and his new friends were unable to eat at a local diner. The owner of the diner told Satch and his friends that the diner was full and there were no seats available, when it was clear that the diner was empty. The diner owner then told them they could have some chicken pieces in a paper bag outside and away from the entrance of the diner.
Stosh and Flip get into a great discussion about who is the fastest pitcher in baseball history, when Flip brings a radar gun to one of their practices. Because Stosh has a special gift of being able to travel back in time, by holding an old baseball card or old photo, Stosh and Flip are able to clock the pitch of a famous negro league baseball pitcher named Satchel Paige. Stosh has to find something else to hold on to go back in time when he runs into some trouble and his abilities no longer work. The author shows how blacks were discriminated against in 1942 for no good reason. Adventure is also another style that the author gives the reader. On page 32, the author Dan Gutman shows another example of discrimination when Flip explains to Stosh that “they can’t go back in time to clock Satchel Paige’s fast ball.” Flip says, “I completely forgot, there are no baseball cards of negro league players, they never made any.” I feel that kids that are interested in baseball would enjoy this book and understand just what it means to be a great hero. I have not read any other books like this before. Other books have had heroes in them, but not like the hero “Satch” was.
I felt that I could connect with this book because my grandfather talks about old-time baseball players all the time. He shows me pictures and tells me stories about how the black players were treated. I felt this is why I enjoyed the book so much.
Author: Dan Gutman
Date Published: 2006
Genre: Fiction, Historical Fiction, African American Segregation
There are many baseball players who claim that they are the fastest pitcher in the history of baseball and that’s what Stosh, the protagonist in the story, and his coach Flip Valentini want to find out. In the story, Satch and Me, Joe Stoshack a thirteen year old boy who is know as “Stosh” in the story. His Louisville little league baseball team is coached by Flip Valentini a baseball card shop owner. Stosh and Flip have a great relationship together. Flip is a coach who lives and breathes baseball for them. Flip is not only their coach, but he even drives the kids to and from practice if their moms are late. Flip is someone who cares for the kids on his team. Their story starts to take place on the east side of Louisville, Kentucky. But then, Stosh and Flip travel back in time so they can see who is the fastest pitcher in baseball history. They are arrive in Spartanburg, South Carolina in 1942.
The theme of the book is discrimination. Both Stosh and Flip face racial discrimination throughout the story. In chapter seven, when an African American kid walked into a diner and wanted to order twenty hamburgers, the owner of the diner ran out of the kitchen and told the kid that he couldn’t help him. The owner then told the kid that he was sorry but that the kid would have to use the bathroom out back. Another example of discrimination was in chapter 18, when Satch was unable to play baseball at the highest level due to the color of his skin. Another example was when Satch and his new friends were unable to eat at a local diner. The owner of the diner told Satch and his friends that the diner was full and there were no seats available, when it was clear that the diner was empty. The diner owner then told them they could have some chicken pieces in a paper bag outside and away from the entrance of the diner.
Stosh and Flip get into a great discussion about who is the fastest pitcher in baseball history, when Flip brings a radar gun to one of their practices. Because Stosh has a special gift of being able to travel back in time, by holding an old baseball card or old photo, Stosh and Flip are able to clock the pitch of a famous negro league baseball pitcher named Satchel Paige. Stosh has to find something else to hold on to go back in time when he runs into some trouble and his abilities no longer work. The author shows how blacks were discriminated against in 1942 for no good reason. Adventure is also another style that the author gives the reader. On page 32, the author Dan Gutman shows another example of discrimination when Flip explains to Stosh that “they can’t go back in time to clock Satchel Paige’s fast ball.” Flip says, “I completely forgot, there are no baseball cards of negro league players, they never made any.” I feel that kids that are interested in baseball would enjoy this book and understand just what it means to be a great hero. I have not read any other books like this before. Other books have had heroes in them, but not like the hero “Satch” was.
I felt that I could connect with this book because my grandfather talks about old-time baseball players all the time. He shows me pictures and tells me stories about how the black players were treated. I felt this is why I enjoyed the book so much.
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