A Kids’ Guide to the National Baseball Hall of Fame: The Greatest Players from Hank Aaron to Derek Jeter to Cy Young

Gr 4 Up–This well-crafted book offers thumbnail sketches and photos of 180 players who have been inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame. Sections also highlight notable broadcasters, commissioners, executives such as Branch Rickey, international all-stars, managers, and umpires. Some of the greatest National Negro League players, barred from the major leagues during their lifetimes have been posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame. These include Josh Gibson, “Cool Papa” Bell, and Oscar Charleston, the only player to have won a batting triple crown three times. The only woman in the Hall of Fame, Effa Manley, co-owner of the Negro Leagues’ Newark Eagles, is also mentioned. Helpful appendices add context: the full list of all Hall of Fame inductees, glossary of baseball terms, time line of baseball history, other awards such as the Cy Young award for pitching, and rules for election to the Hall of Fame. This is an excellent resource for fans and browsers, with an attractive design and plenty of colorful trivia and quotes, including manager Casey Stengel directing his players to “line up alphabetically by height.” ­