Starred Review for Publishers Weekly

With a catchy, conversational style, the authors present a potpourri of anecdotes and facts that reveal the many ways baseball has changed over the years. One of the many entertaining aspects of the book is the way the writers weave insider slang into the narrative, highlighted in bold and defined in the margin (e.g., "gappers: hits between outfielders"; "tweeners: hits between infielders"). Fans will lap up details of the evolving style of the players' uniforms, the evolution of the jerseys' numbering system, the genesis of some of the stars' nicknames, and the ways that teammates have "doctored" balls and bats to enhance their performance. Among the kid-pleasing bits of trivia are the facts that, with only one umpire in the field in professional baseball's early days (rather than the current total of four), incidents of cheating regularly occurred, including players running directly from first to third base, and fielders tripping base runners. The book provides dates for events and incidents on a spotty basis, rendering some of the comparisons between yesteryear and the present murky. With a signature style that recalls vintage cartoons, MacDonald's (<EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">Another Perfect Day) watercolor and pencil crayon illustrations pleasingly convey the text's lighthearted tone. Baseball buffs will find this a diverting—and occasionally wild—outing indeed. Ages 6-10. <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">(Feb.)

ALA Booklist (Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 CST 2007)

The authors present a lively, puckish history of baseball's earliest years, relating what young readers actually want to know: Was it harder then? (No.) Did players cheat? (Yes, in inventive ways.) Where did a player's numbers come from? (Originally from his spot in the lineup) And those team names? And all the equipment? Those questions are also answered. Boldface words in the text identify jargon, most of which is still used today, and definitions stud the page borders. The jaunty tone is flawlessly matched by MacDonald's illustrations, with their wriggling lines and Katzenjammer Kids colors. Old-timey letterpress wood fonts are used to great effect as section titles and on the endpapers. Source notes or a bibliography would have made this more useful, but it could hardly be more fun.

Horn Book (Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2007)

Joey is a fine farm horse sold for cavalry use in World War I. Through Joey's Black Beauty-esque narration, readers learn of the futility of cavalry against machine guns; the loss of Joey's companion, Topthorn; and Joey's reunion with the farm boy who loves him. At times deeply affecting, the story balances the horror with moments of respite and care.

Kirkus Reviews

When did baseball players start wearing numbers on their uniforms? How did the rules of the game change and evolve? What are the meanings of the terms "senior circuit" and "twin bill?" These and many more questions are asked and answered as the authors span the history of baseball with a liberal mixture of facts and anecdotes. There are sections concerning uniforms, team names, equipment, umpires and just about every aspect of the game. The whole package is presented in breezy, conversational language, and MacDonald's trademark lively, amusing, action-filled art illustrates many of the most unusual facts. But there are several problems. Old-style baseball slang is liberally sprinkled throughout the text, but the reader must look to margins for the definitions. The sections seem to be in no particular order, and the information flies so thick and fast that young readers might end up totally overwhelmed. Not for the casual fan, it will take a die-hard baseball aficionado to appreciate this effort. (Picture book/nonfiction. 8-12)

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6-Segments of this light and breezy overview focus on uniforms, players' numbers, catchers' equipment, team names, players' nicknames, tricks, trades, and more. Throughout, there's a delightful emphasis on the game's colorful lexicon of words and phrases. Many of the terms reflect baseball's humble beginnings: in the 1880s fans were called "cranks," an "Uncle Charlie" meant a curveball pitch, and a player who "patrolled the pasture" played in the outfield. A "can of corn" (a slow-moving fly ball) meant an easy out, while a "frozen rope" (a hard-hit line drive) could spell trouble for a fielder. The text is highly readable, if loosely organized, and buoyantly carried along on the strength of MacDonald's cartoon illustrations. The watercolor and pencil-crayon pictures have an old-fashioned flavor and add plenty of detail and slapstick humor. For both fans and newcomers to the sport.-Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.