Baseball Great

Written by Tim Green

Narrated by Tim Green

From New York Times bestselling author and former NFL player Tim Green comes a baseball book pulsing with action. Baseball Great offers a baseball story attuned to today’s headlines, a totally involving, character-driven, sports-centered thriller. Perfect for fans of Mike Lupica. As a young reviewer on Brightly.com said: “Great book with many exciting, surprising events that make you want to keep reading.""

When the school paper calls him “Grant Middle’s best hope for its first-ever city-wide championship,” Josh feels like he’s starting to get noticed—in good and bad ways. Seeing Josh’s talent, his father drags him out of the school baseball tryouts and gets him in the running for the Titans, the local youth championship team coached by Rocky Valentine.

All Josh really wants to do is play ball, but now Rocky wants him to gulp down protein shakes and other supplements. Suspicious, Josh and his new friend, Jaden, uncover a dangerous secret—and catch the attention of one man who will do anything to keep them from exposing it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Mar 24, 2009
• ISBN: 9780061805448

Tim Green

Tim Green, for many years a star defensive end with the Atlanta Falcons, is a man of many talents. He's the author of such gripping books for adults as the New York Times bestselling The Dark Side of the Game and American Outrage. Tim graduated covaledictorian from Syracuse University and was a first-round draft pick. He later earned his law degree with honors, and he has also worked as an NFL commentator for FOX Sports and NPR. His first book for young readers, Football Genius, inspired in part by his players and his own kids, became a New York Times bestseller and was followed by Football Hero, Football Champ, The Big Time, and Deep Zone. He drew on his experiences playing and coaching Little League for Rivals and Pinch Hit and two more New York Times bestsellers: Baseball Great and Best of the Best. Bestselling author Jon Scieszka called Tim Green's Unstoppable, a book about a boy's struggle with cancer that debuted at #2 on the New York Times bestseller list, "Absolutely heroic. And something every guy should read." Tim Green lives with his wife, Illyssa, and their five children in upstate New York.

Reviews for Baseball Great

[Tiesha Williams · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This audiobook was amazing!!!!! I love Tim Green's stories. Just Fantastic!

[shannonkearns · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

another fun baseball book, this time with a dash of mystery thrown in. a good read.

[wrighty_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

All Josh really wants to do is play ball, but as he gets in deeper with youth championship team the Titans, there are questions he just got to ask! Together with school reporter Jaden, Josh investigates his suspicions of steroid use - until the two friends find themselves in a desperate struggle with a dangerous man who doesn't want them to expose the nasty secrets they uncover.This story involves an adult issue that has unfortunately become prominent in the sport's world. And even more unfortunate is the fact that this behavior has been passed on to younger athletes. This story's tackles that issue for a middle school baseball team. Tim Green writes with great detail and knowledge of sports without being too technical to be good. Each chapter ends with a bit of a cliff hanger that makes you want to read more although some of the chapters end rather abruptly mid-scene. The topics are timely as this twelve-year-old boy and his family deal with financial difficulties, bullying, peer pressure and illegal steroid use. Although Josh and his friends have very mature conversations for their age they are dealing with serious subjects.Josh's father is a minor league baseball player who has recently lost his job. While it creates hardship for the family it also allows Josh to settle down in one town, Syracuse, NY (near me!) and play ball with the school team. But his father is eager for him to have advantages that he didn't have as a child so he pressures him into joining the travel team with older kids where he has recently found a new job. The school teammates feel let down and the new teammates aren't very welcoming. To make matter worse, the coach is very intense and wants to win at any cost. When Josh becomes suspicious of a new sports drink and pills that are being passed around the team to help make them bigger and stronger he isn't sure where to turn. He doesn't want to jeopardize his father's job or their fragile relationship. He looks to his two friends to help him do the right thing. This was a good read that will keep you interested until the end.Tim Green has previously written adult novels, middle-grade books about football and now has branched out into baseball. He knows his subject matter. As a previous coach of baseball and football and a professional athlete, he's lived through the sports experience. And as a father of five children he has certainly lived through the kid experience!