BASEBALL CRAZY

All the bases are truly covered in this uncommon collection of stories that are a cut above the usual baseball fare. The authors vary considerably in their approaches and choices, and that’s what makes the collection interesting. The young players and spectators who are the narrators are also dealing with family problems, growing pains, relationships and self esteem. Some stories are set in the present, some in the past. Characters are children, adults, Asian, Native American, male and female. Two of the stories involve female players who will have to give up the game they love because there are no teams for them as they reach their teens. Koertge presents a play in two acts with the team statistician as hero. Testa tells her story via a series of poems. The format of the collection is unique as well. The title page is a diagram of a baseball field with each of the authors assigned a position. The table of contents looks like a scorecard lineup. Preceding each story a baseball card gives the author’s “stats,” including number of books published, career highlights, favorite team and more, all in the author’s own voice. A winner through and through. (Short stories. 8-14)