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Ballpark: The Story of America's Baseball Fields
If you love baseball, chances are you love one particular ballpark. Boston fans wax poetic about Fenway Park. Cubs fans are adamant that Wrigley Field is the classic ballfield. Busch Stadium is a hit with folks from Missouri, and Yankee fans are passionate about the House That Ruth Built....
Besides passionate fans, there's one other thing all ballparks -- from the Union Grounds in Brooklyn built in 1862 to the Baltimore Oriole's Camden Yards built in 1992 -- have in Each has its own vibrant and unique history.
In Ballpark, Sibert Honor Award winner Lynn Curlee explores both the histories and the cultural significances of America's most famous ballparks. Grand in scope and illustrations, and filled with nifty anecdotes about these "green cathedrals," Ballpark also explores the changing social climate that accompanied baseball's rise from a minor sport to the national pastime. This is a baseball book like no other.
Besides passionate fans, there's one other thing all ballparks -- from the Union Grounds in Brooklyn built in 1862 to the Baltimore Oriole's Camden Yards built in 1992 -- have in Each has its own vibrant and unique history.
In Ballpark, Sibert Honor Award winner Lynn Curlee explores both the histories and the cultural significances of America's most famous ballparks. Grand in scope and illustrations, and filled with nifty anecdotes about these "green cathedrals," Ballpark also explores the changing social climate that accompanied baseball's rise from a minor sport to the national pastime. This is a baseball book like no other.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published February 8, 2005
27 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 8, 2023
Probably a bit too elementary for me. I was hoping for more of an overview/history of MLB fields, but it was more MLB history, with a little info about the stadiums dispersed throughout. Good read for a kid, just not what I was looking for.
November 6, 2020
If you love baseball, chances are you love one particular ballpark. Boston fans wax poetic about Fenway Park. Cubs fans are adamant that Wrigley Field is the classic ballfield. Busch Stadium is a hit with folks from Missouri, and Yankee fans are passionate about the House That Ruth Built....
Besides passionate fans, there's one other thing all ballparks -- from the Union Grounds in Brooklyn built in 1862 to the Baltimore Oriole's Camden Yards built in 1992 -- have in common: Each has its own vibrant and unique history.
In Ballpark, Sibert Honor Award winner Lynn Curlee explores both the histories and the cultural significances of America's most famous ballparks. Grand in scope and illustrations, and filled with nifty anecdotes about these "green cathedrals," Ballpark also explores the changing social climate that accompanied baseball's rise from a minor sport to the national pastime. This is a baseball book like no other.
Besides passionate fans, there's one other thing all ballparks -- from the Union Grounds in Brooklyn built in 1862 to the Baltimore Oriole's Camden Yards built in 1992 -- have in common: Each has its own vibrant and unique history.
In Ballpark, Sibert Honor Award winner Lynn Curlee explores both the histories and the cultural significances of America's most famous ballparks. Grand in scope and illustrations, and filled with nifty anecdotes about these "green cathedrals," Ballpark also explores the changing social climate that accompanied baseball's rise from a minor sport to the national pastime. This is a baseball book like no other.
November 5, 2017
Genre: Informational
Recommended Grade Level: Middle Grades
My dad played college baseball and went on to coach high school baseball, so I have been exposed to baseball my whole life. This book, however taught me a lot I didn't know about baseball, how it came to be, and how it even plays a role in American history. I really enjoyed this book because the colorful illustrations helped it to be much more than a boring history book. But don't let the colorful illustrations fool you, this book is still 48 pages full of text, which is why I would recommend it for the middle grades.
Recommended Grade Level: Middle Grades
My dad played college baseball and went on to coach high school baseball, so I have been exposed to baseball my whole life. This book, however taught me a lot I didn't know about baseball, how it came to be, and how it even plays a role in American history. I really enjoyed this book because the colorful illustrations helped it to be much more than a boring history book. But don't let the colorful illustrations fool you, this book is still 48 pages full of text, which is why I would recommend it for the middle grades.
November 26, 2019
Since this book deals with baseball facts and how it played a role in American history, I think my students would come to really love this book and the illustrations it has to offer.
February 20, 2023
Amazing read! If you love baseball, young or old, read this book!
November 5, 2015
Ballpark: The Story Of America's Baseball Fields by Lynn Curlee is a nicely illustrated history of baseball and the "green cathedrals" where it is played. Ballpark is full of interesting facts - can you answer these questions? 1.What was the name of the first professional team? 2. What were the three New York teams in the 1950s? 3. What's the oldest Major League ballpark in America still in operation?
Baseball began to take root during the time of the Civil War. Soldiers, prisoners and guards played it whenever they had free time. In 1845 in New York City, rules were created and modern baseball began. Soon ballparks were built and the play of the game became rougher and faster. The first World Series was in 1903. Later, during the WWII years, many players had to serve their country and fight in the war. This meant there weren't many players at home, yet the games continued. There were so few players in St. Louis, the Browns hired an outfielder with only one arm!
Ballpark playing fields have infields exactly alike, but the rest of the ballpark can be designed in many kinds of ways, so ballparks in America can be quite different from each other. Safeco Field in Seattle is not much like the Dodger Stadium in L.A. Ballparks have personalities and Curlee shows us the individual character of several great stadiums. A few famous players get mentioned too. We learn that during his first year for the New York Yankees, Babe Ruth hit 54 home runs - only one other TEAM had that many home runs all put together.
It's a great time of year for young fans to read books about baseball. Curlee's Ballpark is full of facts and the illustrations add a colorful touch.
Answers: 1. Cincinnati Red Stockings 2. Yankees, Brooklyn Dodgers and the NY Giants
3. Boston's Fenway Park
Baseball began to take root during the time of the Civil War. Soldiers, prisoners and guards played it whenever they had free time. In 1845 in New York City, rules were created and modern baseball began. Soon ballparks were built and the play of the game became rougher and faster. The first World Series was in 1903. Later, during the WWII years, many players had to serve their country and fight in the war. This meant there weren't many players at home, yet the games continued. There were so few players in St. Louis, the Browns hired an outfielder with only one arm!
Ballpark playing fields have infields exactly alike, but the rest of the ballpark can be designed in many kinds of ways, so ballparks in America can be quite different from each other. Safeco Field in Seattle is not much like the Dodger Stadium in L.A. Ballparks have personalities and Curlee shows us the individual character of several great stadiums. A few famous players get mentioned too. We learn that during his first year for the New York Yankees, Babe Ruth hit 54 home runs - only one other TEAM had that many home runs all put together.
It's a great time of year for young fans to read books about baseball. Curlee's Ballpark is full of facts and the illustrations add a colorful touch.
Answers: 1. Cincinnati Red Stockings 2. Yankees, Brooklyn Dodgers and the NY Giants
3. Boston's Fenway Park
May 3, 2011
Cool pictures. Lotsa words. We mostly just looked at this book.
December 28, 2014
3 1/2 stars. Awesome history of baseball. The pictures, however, were less than stellar.
October 19, 2015
My 8 year old son and I loved each and every single piece of this book!!
August 18, 2017
Explains a lot of baseball history and how ballparks are the dimensions and shape they are. A little light with information about what makes some parks unique.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews