Widely praised for novels that celebrate the game of baseball while offering valuable life lessons, John H. Ritter has won such prestigious awards as the Paterson Prize for Children's Literature. Fenway Fever honors the 100th birthday of Fenway Park, the iconic home of the Boston Red Sox. Nothing makes "Stats" Pagano happier than his beloved Red Sox and his family's stadium-side hotdog stand. So when the team goes on a losing streak and the stand can no longer support itself, Stats comes up with a plan to turn things around.
Luke Bledsoe has a wicked fastball. But he shouldn't be pitching, or even playing ball especially not left-handed. That's the side of the devil, says his pa' a fundamentalist preacher. But Luke's new-found friends and left-handed uncle say he's blessed with God-given talent.
Luke doesn't know who to believe anymore. All his life, this young teen's been trying to please his pa. Now it's time to sort out what he wants for himself. To do so, Luke will need the same steely determination he calls up when running for home plate. But what about his pa? Can Luke's father balance his strict interpretation of good and evil with the love and encouragement his son needs?
Johnny Heller's narration of this powerful first novel by John H. Ritter captures young listeners, and draws them to the startling conclusion. Also included is an interview with Ritter, recipient of The Judy Blume Award for contemporary fiction.
In this ALA Jr. Literary Guild selection by John H. Ritter, a rough-and-tumble band of batsmen from a California boomtown insist they're the country's best baseball team. To back up their boast, they make a wager with the 1881 champion Chicago White Stockings. Into this high-stakes climate rides 12-year-old baseball virtuoso Jack Dillon with his newfound friend, Billy the Kid. This sets the stage for a fun-filled, rip-roaring baseball shootout.
In his 3rd book on baseball, John Ritter takes the reader to Dillontown where, through a series of events, the fate of the town rests on the outcome of a baseball game. Tom and a newcomer, Cruz, convince a former Major-League Baseball player to coach the team. The team prepares for the big day by using unorthodox training methods. While the team wins the game, it still takes an unusual set of circumstances to save the town.
Thirteen-year-old Tyler loves spending the summer in New York with his cousin. Each day, they play baseball in a Central Park league. Tyler is a sharp hitter, so he hopes to become an All-Star. But he has a temper that is quicker than his swing. If he can't control it, he will lose his place on the team. There's trouble off the diamond, too. An awful accident has turned Tyler's dad into a distracted stranger. People tell Tyler that time will heal his father's wounds, but what about the hurt Tyler feels? He just wants to bat it away. John H. Ritter, author of the ALA Award-winning Choosing Up Sides, has created a realistic story of one boy's struggle with fear and forgiveness. Narrator Johnny Heller captures the emotions of a young teen beginning to understand the impact of his choices-on the baseball field and in his life.
