Good Sports (Stout)

Baseball Heroes is the first book in the 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 exemplifies 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.

Not very long ago, many people said girls and women were too weak and delicate to play sports. Fortunately, a lot of girls didn't listen. Trudy Ederle, Louise Stokes, Tidye Pickett, Julie Krone and Danica Patrick sure didn't. Trudy Ederle swam the English Channel, Louise Stokes and Tidye Pickett made it into the Olympics running track, Julie Krone became jockey, and Danica Patrick decided to drive Indie cars. Yes, She Can! tells the inspiring stories of these pioneers in sports. Thanks to them, everyone knows now that girls can do anything they want. Perfect for young athletes, ages 9-12.

Able to Play shares the inspiring stories of four baseball players. Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown, Ron Santo, Jim Abbott, and Curtis Pride faced physical challenges other players didn't have. With determination and guts, they didn't just overcome, they excelled. This book is a game-changing celebration of overcoming odds.

Stories of bravery and self-sacrifice from well-known athletes who have served in the military. -Ted Williams, Boston Red Sox outfielder, whose career was interrupted by service as a pilot during both World War II and Korea, where he saw combat and survived a crash landing. -Rocky Bleier, Pittsburgh Steelers running back: Drafted in 1968, nearly lost a foot on a land mine during Vietnam War. -Carlos May, Chicago White Sox outfielder, an emerging star whose fought to remain in the major leagues after a training accident during National Guard service caused him to lose his thumb. -Pat Tillman, Arizona Cardinals defensive back who turned down a multi-million-dollar contract to join the military after 9/11and was later killed in Afghanistan.

Many of the baseball greats overcame huge challenges to be sports heroes-here are five inspiring stories of men who did just that. Baseball is considered America's pastime, but not all players grew up living the American dream. Babe Ruth, Jim Peirsall, Torii Hunter, Ron LeFlore, and Joe Torre sure didn't. Poverty, abuse, and addiction are a few of the issues they had to deal with as kids, but they turned their lives around to play the game they loved.