School Library Journal

Series Review: For readers looking to gain a nearly encyclopedic knowledge of their favorite team, this series is almost impeccable. Spanning the history of each team, from creation to present day, Goodman and Whiting provide thorough, well-researched histories that are engaging and informative. The narratives flow naturally, broken up only occasionally by short “Extra Innings” sections highlighting star players and unique moments in the teams’ histories. Particularly interesting tidbits include the so-called “Black Cat Mystery,” a moment in a Mets game where a black cat crawled out of the stands and spooked the Chicago Cubs into a loss. Mentions of mascots and between-inning fanfare, like the Milwaukee Brewers’ homer-celebrating Bernie Brewer and the Washington Nationals’ racing presidents, will intrigue casual readers and delight avid fans, giving them more insight into the creation of these unique characters. VERDICT Overall, this series is a grand slam. Buy ’em all if you can!