Winners Take All (All-Star Sports Stories: Baseball)
Gr 3-7-A story with plenty of play-by-play action, a good plot, a valuable lesson, and some interesting baseball history. During an important game, Kyle, 12, falls over the outfield fence while making a catch. The ball falls out of his glove, but he picks it up and pretends he caught it to win the game for the Reds. Jason, a member of the opposing team, saw what happened and later threatens to expose him unless the Cubs win the league championship. Kyle's sports-savvy grandma tells her grandson about Christy Mathewson, a pro pitcher in the early 1900s who was known for his honesty and sportsmanship, but Kyle still maintains his silence. After he scores the winning run in the final game, the Cubs protest the previous controversial catch. The league commissioners hold a hearing, at which Kyle confesses. The Cubs are declared the winners of the questionable game, and the two teams are tied. The Reds then beat the Cubs fairly in the game for the championship. The story is told in an interesting, nondidactic manner that makes it a good baseball tale with a lesson in honesty. Bowen pitches a winner here.-Kate Kohlbeck, Randall School, Waukesha, WICopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.