They Came from Center Field

by Dan Gutman

A team of youngsters takes on a crew of extraterrestrials determined to learn the game of baseball. Original.

Genres: Science Fiction, Middle Grade, Fiction, Baseball, Sports

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

The 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.

Reviews

[Mary Lavallee · Rating 5 out of 5]

So delightful!

[Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

8/17/2022

[Nader Nate · Rating 2 out of 5]

5.6/10

[Matthew G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I really love baseball. I love stories about aliens, too. It is really fun.

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good easy book for young early readers

[Kai Katoch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Defiantly adventure throughout this book. And by the look of the cover you can tell that the book is about aliens. And for people that like baseball it's a good book!

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dan Gutman, the author, used to visit the school I taught at. Since he lives not far away in Haddonfield, he was a natural guest author.

Gutman likes baseball and science fiction. He is probably best known for his "& Me" series. Honus & Me deals with a young boy who travels back in time and meets Honus Wagner. It's okay.

With that as a backdrop, I finally got around to reading this book, which I have had for about 16 years.

It's an easy read. It deals with baseball, science fiction, and young boys.

Playing baseball is what Bloop likes. He and his buddies are out late playing when nine aliens show up. These aliens are like hovering refrigerators with no arms or legs. They have traveled 25 light years to learn the game of baseball.

A wager is made for the boys to get a ride in the spaceship should they win. How could they not win since the other team had no appendages?

Well, things don't turn out so well for the boys as the aliens can throw 700 mph and hit equally well. But Bloop knows his game. Since the aliens never make an out, the game never leaves the first inning. Eventually the aliens want to leave, but they have to forfeit the game in order to do so. By forfeiting, the boys win and earn their spaceship ride.

Yeah, rather contrived. Boys may enjoy it, but it is not an award winner. ;)

[Ashlan Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book tells the peculiar story of a boy named "Bloop" Jones and his baseball teammates, called Silent But Deadly. As an almost always winning team, things take an interesting twist when they must play the strangest team ever--aliens! Filled with humor and and sports, Dan Gutman's book is easily loved by students.

Dan Gutman's, They Came From Center Field, is a science fiction novel for fourth and fifth grade students. It would be appropriate for a read aloud and a great introduction to the genre of science fiction. Students who are interesting in sports or the idea of aliens could be motivated to read by sharing this book. An extension activity for the book could be integrated with creative writing by prompting students to write an interesting science fiction story of their own or a sequel to the story!

[Mrs. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has a lot rolled into it from being a sports book and a science fiction book to being filled with humor. As they ask the aliens what are your names and they reply, I am Wendy, he is Taco Bell and he is called Burger King. My kids love this book. Great read aloud as well as an easy read for budding independent readers.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Today was standardized testing day so I wanted something easy to read for my breaks. This one seemed to fit the bill: short with pictures and lots of white space.

I read it easily in about half an hour. It made me laugh in a couple of places. It's really cute!

It has a 4th grade interest level. I would recommend this to a kid who likes baseball or UFO/alien stories.

[Hernan · Rating 5 out of 5]

i like this book because is about aliens and sports.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A UFO suddenly showes up in a baseball field and what will happen to the kids who were playing baseball? The ailiens are going to verse the kids in baseball!

[Neal]

1 They came from center field is a good book it a like a mystery book and i like mystery book.

2 Because its a mystery book and Im eager to find out the mystery.

3

[Jonathan · Rating 1 out of 5]

i give it a 1/10

[Deborah Harris]

AR Quiz No. 106867 EN Fiction
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: MG - BL: 4.4 - AR Pts: 2.0
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP

[Maggiemyre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read a loud, or a good intervention book for 4th/5th grade students. Students who are interested in baseball or aliens.

[Nessa]

Reading this right now in my book club. I'm in middle school and we really enjoy this book. I recommend that u read it!