I Was Barry Sanders: Running Back Exchange - Book #2

by Gordon Korman

Elliot Rifkin does not believe that his friend actually changed places with John Elway during Monday Night Football, but when he tries the mysterious football jersey on for himself, he finds himself looking through the eyes of Barry Sanders. Original.

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1900

About the author

Gordon Korman is a Canadian author of children's and young adult fiction books. Korman's books have sold more than 30 million copies worldwide over a career spanning four decades and have appeared at number one on The New York Times Best Seller list.

Reviews

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was originally published in 1997, with four different editions publishing that year under a variety of imprints. It is the second in a series of 6 volumes. I was really surprised by the first volume in this series and have been greatly enjoying them. My introduction to Korman’s works was the 39 Clues back in 2009. Since then I have read 71 of his books including this volume, a few of them more than once. I set the goal of reading all his books about 2020. I am over half way thorough his canon, and have completed all the stand alone books and at least 1 in each series. Not counting omnibus editions I believe that as of the summer of 2025 Korman has published 109 books. With each that I read I am entertained and often challenged, and I am always entertained. My son, who is 17 often, reads these books to me or with me, and he still loves them.

The description of this volume states:

“Elliot Rifkin isn't quite sure he believes that his best friend and fellow Monday Night Football club member really changed places with John Elway. Then he tries the jersey on and finds himself looking through the eyes of his all-time idol Barry Sanders. But now Sanders is wide awake and in Nick's basement, watching himself on TV!

The description on the back of the edition I read states:

“PRESTO CHANGO

Elliot Rifkin doesn't quite believe that his best friend really changed places with John Elway during a Monday Night Football game. He's determined to figure out whether Nick just had a really k freaky dream, or whether something fantastical occurred. Now it's his turn - but maybe switching bodies with superstar running back Barry Sanders is more than Elliot bargained for!”

The inside cover of the book has a letter from Barry Sanders:

“Welcome to the Monday Night Football Club!

I hope you enjoy reading this book as much as I did.

I may have rushed for more than 10,000 yards in my career with the Detroit Lions, but I love to stop running sometimes to read a good book. In this book, Elliot Rifkin turns into me with the help of a magic football jersey. He gets to see life inside the NFL. And he plays in a Monday Night Football game.

But I didn't get to the NFL by magic. I got there through hard work and with the help of coaches and my parents. Every day, I have to work hard to stay in shape for football. I have to eat the right foods and do lots of exercise. It's more than just showing up on game day. Playing in the NFL is the best! It's just as awesome as you dream it is. So enjoy this NFL adventure with Elliot and his friends in the Monday Night Football Club. Maybe someday, this book will be about you when you're a star in the NFL!

Go Lions!”

The chapters in this volume are:

1 Laugh Attack
2 No Such Thing as Magic
3 The Freak Show
4 The Trampoline-Block Pogo Punt Return
5 nag on the Play
6 The Secret Weapon
7 Mr. Unstoppable
8 The Blahaholic
9 Touchdown, Barry Sanders
10 The Perfect Souvenir
11 Ninety-Seven Long Yards
12 Heartbreaker
13 Too Cool, Out of Control. Awesome

At the end of the book are some bonus sections:

Monday Night Football dub Story of the Incredible Barry Sanders
The United Negro College Fund
NFL/Monday Night Football Club Fantasy Sweepstakes Official Rules

I highlighted a passage while reading this volume, it was the beginning of the story:

“"The School Yard Elastic-Powered Net Bomb!"

A crowd gathered as quickly as ants on a dropped ice cream cone. The name of the new trick play was whispered excitedly around the circle of students. The Monday Night Football Club was already famous for their weekly sleep-overs to watch Monday Night Football. But they drew even more attention at Middletown Elementary School for their weird handoffs, wild passes, and breakneck tackles.”

I said it in my first review and state it again, I am a much bigger fan of the CFL than the NFL, I could never really get into the four downs and smaller field and balls. But I follow sports enough to know the names and personalities; I just wish Korman had done a book in this series on Warren Moon, which could have had a CFL crossover element. Though reading the first 2 in this was like a throw back to conversations in high school about the games the night before.

This was a really fun story. And the departure from the first one, with the double swap made it extra interesting. The three friends and their crazy football plays, to a kid playing in a NFL game, a great story. The magical football jersey that somehow transports a youth into the body of Barry Sanders; and Barry Sanders to a kids sleepover when he is suppose to be on the field. It is sort of a sports themed Freaky Friday. Again I could hardly put it down.

It’s a great pity this one is out of print! I really enjoyed this volume, and the previous and look forward to reading the rest of the series. An interesting note the cover of the book has the title as: “Running Back Conversion I Was Barry Sanders” but Goodreads and amazon list it as Running Back Exchange I Was Barry Sanders”.

A great read from Korman’s masterful pen.