Swinging for the Fences: Hank Aaron and Me

By Mike Leonetti and David Kim

As Hank Aaron closes in on a historic home-run record, a Little Leaguer watches from the stands—and hopes to become a baseball hero himself . . .
 
Mark, a young boy who plays Little League and idolizes Hank Aaron, is playing close attention as the slugger gets closer and closer to break Babe Ruth’s home run record. Then Mark gets a chance to meet his hero—and learns that there’s more to being a great baseball player than hitting the ball out of the park.
 
This story by an experienced author of sports fiction for children features outstanding illustrations, some exciting baseball history and biography—and a winning message for young athletes.
 
“The paintings showing Aaron standing heroically in huge stadiums are very effective.” —Booklist

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Apr 2, 2013
• ISBN: 9781452126708

Mike Leonetti

MIKE LEONETI is a lifelong hockey fan who is the author of several hockey books, including The Toronto Maple Leafs Trivia Book; The Montreal Canadiens Trivia Book; three books in The Games We Knew series; Hockey’s Golden Era: Stars of the Original Six; Shooting for Glory: The Paul Henderson Story; Hockey Now!; and four children’s books. Mike Leonetti lives north of Toronto.

Book preview

strikeout

Mark, we just need a hit to tie the game, Coach Parker told me as I went to bat. Try for a base hit and we can even the score.

I nodded, but what I really wanted to do was hit a home run and win the game.

I took a mighty swing at the first pitch.

Strike one, yelled the umpire.

The next pitch was on the outside corner of the plate. I managed to get a piece of it, but the ball went foul—strike two.

The next pitch came right over the middle. I watched the ball as it left the pitcher’s hand. I could see the stitches on the ball spinning toward