Barnstormers: Game 3

The Sluggers #3

by Loren Long, Phil Bildner

PREGAME RECAP

As the Travelin' Nine head to Chicago, the team is filled with hope and optimism. After a disappointing loss in Cincinnati at the start of their baseball tour, the heroes of the Spanish-American War bounced back in Louisville. Doc and Woody came through with timely fielding, Crazy Feet and Tales smacked clutch hits, and champion horses provided that extra kick, helping the barnstormers to their come-from-behind victory.

By the end of the thrilling contest, there was no doubt in the minds of Griffith, Ruby, and Graham that the baseball their Uncle Owen had given to them on the night of their father's funeral was magical.

Indeed, the mysteries surrounding their baseball, which their uncle had urged them to keep secret, were deepening. And as excited as they were by the barnstormers' win, the Payne siblings' fears and worries continued to grow. Uncle Owen's tattered, bloody letter had warned them about the Chancellor. What's more, they'd seen the Chancellor's men lurking at the Louisville game. Griffith and Ruby now realized that their adventure was about far more than raising money to pay off a family debt. But what exactly was it about?

After the Louisville match, Griffith confronted his mother. She denied that the Chancellor could be involved, but she promised to answer all of Griffith's questions on the train to Chicago...

Genres: Baseball

197 pages, Hardcover

First published March 4, 2008

About the author

I grew up in Lexington, Kentucky in the 1970’s. We had no artists of any kind in the family. We didn’t know any artists. I liked sports, especially baseball. My mother read to me a lot. But I have to admit, my favorite subject in school was gym class. I also liked to draw. My parents encouraged me to keep drawing.

Reviews

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe this book isn't as exciting as the tablesetters (yeah that's baseball jargon), that is, the two books that came before this one. And maybe having the very young Joe Tinker and Johnny Evers play in this game isn't as exciting as having the voluble Rube Waddell in the Louisville game in the previous book. But it's still a lot of fun and if you know anything about the Cubs (which the pro Chicago team will be known as in just a few short years after the time of this book) you will enjoy the subtle (or maybe not-so-subtle, if you're an adult) :) nods to their history, their fans, their future stadium and Chicago's quirky weather.

I knew about Tinker and Evers, of course, but wasn't previously familiar with Ed Reulbach, who also appears in this book as the hurler (pitcher) for the Chicago Nine.

This book ends on more of a cliffhanger than the first two did. I think I know where Ruby is, but I'm looking forward to reading on and finding out for sure.

[Silvia Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this series!

[Carter Kokoskie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book Great Balls of Fire in about a baseball team. They are a team that formed and cuba. They travel all around the country. They play teams just like them. Whoever wins gets the money for the game. They were playing their next game in Chicago. Before the game they met a man sitting on the bench. He said "Hi I'm preacher Will." He taught them about the Chicago fire and agreed to help them keep the baseball that their father left him before he died in the war.

I liked this book alot because I love baseball. Its very interseting and moves along fast. The characters are all very different but they have some simallar qualities. The three siblings all love baseball but they also have other differnt intrests.

[Bill Prosser · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series for 2nd and 3rd graders, but it can be enjoyed by all elementary. There is mystery, history, baseball, magic, and awesome illustrations. Each book takes place in a different city that played an important role in the beginnings of baseball. Kids love them.

[Great Lakes Booksellers Association]

Finalist for 2008 Great Lakes Book Award in Children's Chapter Books