Baseball Heroes (Good Sports) [9780547417080]

Overview

Baseball Heroes is the first book in the new middle grade nonfiction series Good Sports, about the inspiring life stories of major league athletes who have overcome obstacles in the course of their life and careers.   Each book tells the stories of athletes who have encountered and overcome significant obstacles, and whose story exempifies character and nerve in the face of adversity.  Baseball Heroes highlights players who were among the first to break through barriers of race, ethnicity and even sex in order to play professional baseball. Subjects include Jackie Robinson, Hank Greenburg, Fernando Valenzuela, and Ila Borders.

These true stories from sports history show how four trailblazers changed the game forever.

• Breaking the Color Line: Follow Jackie Robinson as he endures racist taunts and proves he belongs, changing the face of the major leagues with his courage and talent.
• Fighting Prejudice: Discover the story of Hank Greenberg, one of the first Jewish superstars, who battled vicious slurs on the field to become a Hall of Famer.
• Sparking Fernandomania: Meet Fernando Valenzuela, the young pitcher from Mexico whose incredible rookie season brought a new generation of Latino fans to the ballpark.
• A Woman in the Game: Learn about Ila Borders, the trailblazing pitcher who became the first woman to play and win in men’s professional baseball.