The Boy Who Saved Baseball

Tom Gallagher finds himself in a tight spot. The fate of Dillontown rests on the outcome of one baseball game, winner take all. And it's all because Tom had to open his big mouth. If only he could get Dante Del Gato-the greatest hitter to ever play the game-to coach the team. But crazy ol' Del Gato hasn't spoken to folks in years, not after walking away from the game in disgrace just before his team played in its first World Series. Maybe Tom has one more hope: Cruz de la Cruz, the mysterious boy who just rode into town on horseback claiming to know the secret of hitting. Not to mention the secrets of Del Gato . . .
John H. Ritter grew up in the foothills of eastern San Diego County. He and his brothers built their own baseball diamond in the chaparral countryside while their grandmother entertained them with ballroom boogie-woogie on the piano. A poet, songwriter, blues guitarist, and former shortstop for the University of California, San Diego, John often incorporates the symbolism of baseball and the musicality of nature’s rhythms into his prose. Known for layering sports drama with real-life predicaments, John’s metaphorical first novel, Choosing Up Sides, won the 1999 International Reading Association Children’s Book Award for Older Readers and was designated an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults. In 2004, he received the Paterson Prize for Children’s Literature for his third novel, The Boy Who Saved Baseball. John and his wife, Cheryl, now divide their time between California and the island of Kauai. You can visit John H. Ritter at JohnHRitter.com. View titles by John H. Ritter
Enthralling . . . filled with memorable moments. (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

A baseball tale of legendary dimension . . . another stellar read. (Booklist, starred review)

About

Tom Gallagher finds himself in a tight spot. The fate of Dillontown rests on the outcome of one baseball game, winner take all. And it's all because Tom had to open his big mouth. If only he could get Dante Del Gato-the greatest hitter to ever play the game-to coach the team. But crazy ol' Del Gato hasn't spoken to folks in years, not after walking away from the game in disgrace just before his team played in its first World Series. Maybe Tom has one more hope: Cruz de la Cruz, the mysterious boy who just rode into town on horseback claiming to know the secret of hitting. Not to mention the secrets of Del Gato . . .

Author

John H. Ritter grew up in the foothills of eastern San Diego County. He and his brothers built their own baseball diamond in the chaparral countryside while their grandmother entertained them with ballroom boogie-woogie on the piano. A poet, songwriter, blues guitarist, and former shortstop for the University of California, San Diego, John often incorporates the symbolism of baseball and the musicality of nature’s rhythms into his prose. Known for layering sports drama with real-life predicaments, John’s metaphorical first novel, Choosing Up Sides, won the 1999 International Reading Association Children’s Book Award for Older Readers and was designated an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults. In 2004, he received the Paterson Prize for Children’s Literature for his third novel, The Boy Who Saved Baseball. John and his wife, Cheryl, now divide their time between California and the island of Kauai. You can visit John H. Ritter at JohnHRitter.com. View titles by John H. Ritter

Praise

Enthralling . . . filled with memorable moments. (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

A baseball tale of legendary dimension . . . another stellar read. (Booklist, starred review)

Books for LGBTQIA+ Pride Month

In June we celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual + (LGBTQIA+) Pride Month, which honors the 1969 Stonewall riots in Manhattan. Pride Month is a time to both celebrate the accomplishments of those in the LGBTQ+ community and recognize the ongoing struggles faced by many across the world who wish to live

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