Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
142nd out of 265 books
—
86 voters
The Boy Who Saved Baseball (Cruz de la Cruz #2)
by
John H. Ritter (Goodreads Author)
Tom Gallagher is in a tight spot. The fate of the Dillontown team rests on the outcome of one baseball game, winner take all. If Tom's team loses, they lose their field too. But how can they possibly win? Just when everything seems hopeless, a mysterious boy named Cruz de la Cruz rides into town and claims to know the secret of hitting. Not to mention the secrets of Dante...more
Paperback, 224 pages
Published
March 17th 2005
by Puffin
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
1,023)
This book takes place in the little town of Dillontown, California right around baseball season & the annual baseball camp. At the end of this 5 day camp, they scrimmage another camp to a game. This game, though, actually counts this time. Doc, the owner of the land the ball field is on, is considering selling the land so the city can get a new neighborhood, golf course, & community center in efforts of bringing in more money for the city. But, Tom Gallagher & many other people don't...more
John Ritter's book, The Boy Who Saved Baseball, is a moving underdog story about our national pastime. In this story, a small California town is torn in half as developers come in to try to "fix up" the area. They're already made vast improvements on part of the town by fixing up homes, bringing in new businesses, and supplying their youth baseball team with a brand new field and equipment. Many of the townspeople, however, do not want to see this happen to the rest of the area despite the benef...more
I recommend this book to anybody who likes baseball or a good book to read. Tom Gallagher is in a tight spot. The Dillontown baseball field is about to be torn down by developers, and he has to save it. After all, Dillontown is a baseball town of legends. It's where the great Dante Del Gato became the best hitter baseball has ever known. Now the fate of the entire town rests on the outcome of one baseball game, winner take all. If Tom's team loses, they lose their field too. But how can they pos...more
The Boy Who Saved Baseball
John H. Ritter
Realistic Fiction
The fate of the town is in a little league baseball team's hands.
He wrote it for young males.
In this novel we meet Doc and Tom. Doc owns a big piece of land in town. A company wants to buy out Doc's land and do construction on it. The town baseball field is on that land and Tom plays for the baseball team. Tom talks to Doc about everything and Doc decides that a baseball game will make the final call. Tom's team against an all-star team....more
John H. Ritter
Realistic Fiction
The fate of the town is in a little league baseball team's hands.
He wrote it for young males.
In this novel we meet Doc and Tom. Doc owns a big piece of land in town. A company wants to buy out Doc's land and do construction on it. The town baseball field is on that land and Tom plays for the baseball team. Tom talks to Doc about everything and Doc decides that a baseball game will make the final call. Tom's team against an all-star team....more
2 likes · like · see review
Book Review
The Boy Who Saved Baseball by John H Ritter
Realistic fiction
Content is baseball and finding hope and ability
Young adults, likely male, but females would enjoy it also.
The Boy Who Saved Baseball starts off as a 12 year old boy goes to see an elderly friend who owns the land companies want to destroy and develop for years. The land is in the town and holds an historic ball park. The elderly friend decides to have a game of baseball decide wether he sells his land or not, Dillontown vs....more
The Boy Who Saved Baseball by John H Ritter
Realistic fiction
Content is baseball and finding hope and ability
Young adults, likely male, but females would enjoy it also.
The Boy Who Saved Baseball starts off as a 12 year old boy goes to see an elderly friend who owns the land companies want to destroy and develop for years. The land is in the town and holds an historic ball park. The elderly friend decides to have a game of baseball decide wether he sells his land or not, Dillontown vs....more
2 likes · like · see review
This book is not just about baseball. The story is more about lessons in determination, courage and confidence of a young boy that loves baseball and the town of Dillontown that he calls home. After finding out that a big out-of-town corporation wants to tear down the baseball field in Dillontown, Tom Gallagher springs into action. He refuses to let it happen and comes up with a plan.
The fate of Dillontown now rests on a baseball game…winner takes all. If Tom’s team wins, Dillontown gets to keep...more
The fate of Dillontown now rests on a baseball game…winner takes all. If Tom’s team wins, Dillontown gets to keep...more
Tom Gallagher Is up at the plate with Dilltowns fate resting on his shoulders, if Tom gets a hit the Dilltown summer camp wins and they get to keep their lucky strike field, and if they lose they sell lucky strike field to millionaires who will destroy the field.
Tom Gallagher loves the game of baseball but he gets in a pickle when When Doc decides that the Dilltown Summer camp baseball team will play the all-star wildcats, and if Dilltown loses they sell the field along with 320 acres of land t...more
Tom Gallagher loves the game of baseball but he gets in a pickle when When Doc decides that the Dilltown Summer camp baseball team will play the all-star wildcats, and if Dilltown loses they sell the field along with 320 acres of land t...more
Baseball is the only sport I even remotely understand, and I certainly wouldn't want to read about it. I feel obligated, as an English teacher, to read at least some of these books that would appeal to my sports enthusiast tweens, but it's a duty I can't actually fulfill because of the torturous conditions of the job. I HATE it. HATE IT.
When I realized that a fellow English teacher forces ALL of her 7th grade students to read this one, my first reaction was to feel sorry for them, and then to fe...more
When I realized that a fellow English teacher forces ALL of her 7th grade students to read this one, my first reaction was to feel sorry for them, and then to fe...more
The Boy Who Saved Baseball
John H. Ritter
Realistic Fiction
Content includes baseball, determination, and triumph.
Teenage baseball players.
In this book, a boy named Tom Gallagher gets himself in a pickle. Doc, the owner of several acres of land in Dillontown, is planning to sell his land including the baseball field. Just before he gets ready to sell his land Tom tries to talk him out of it. Doc decides to put the field's fate on the game. Now the fate of the Dillontown baseball field lies in the...more
John H. Ritter
Realistic Fiction
Content includes baseball, determination, and triumph.
Teenage baseball players.
In this book, a boy named Tom Gallagher gets himself in a pickle. Doc, the owner of several acres of land in Dillontown, is planning to sell his land including the baseball field. Just before he gets ready to sell his land Tom tries to talk him out of it. Doc decides to put the field's fate on the game. Now the fate of the Dillontown baseball field lies in the...more
2 likes · like · see review
This seems to be what you get when you cross a late 20th-early 21st Century baseball story with a Western and throw in some elements of magical realism. I really liked this book, which is reminiscent of Maniac Magee in characterization, including mysterious characters with legendary qualities as well as ordinary good people. A part of its appeal is that the rugged western setting is such a strong element. The landscape is one of dust, horseback riding, and side by side mountain and desert landsc...more
The novel is geared toward late elementary school, but will fit into a lower Junior High class library. The text is full of clever dialogue and snappy give and take in conversation. The premise is out there a bit, but so be it. The hermit, Dante del Gato, comes back into the mix to teach the local town kids how to win. The story includes a nice mix of girls and boys and carries a distinct multicultural flavor. Cruz de la Cruz is a interesting character throughout the story.
References make the s...more
References make the s...more
The fate of a town relies on one baseball game. A small town of Dilltown puts a lot into their baseball team. There is a game played to determine if the city is ruined. Dilltown teams plays a team put together by millionaires. IF Dilltown wins the get to keep the rights to the field and secure their city. If they lose they hand over the baseball field and the town to the millionaires. They would tear down the baseball filed and build a mall. The game is played and Dilltown pulls off the upset an...more
The Boy Who Saved Baseball
John H. Ritter
Realistic fiction
The content is about baseball
The intended audience would be for mainly any kid
The book is about a boy named Tom who's dad coaches him and his friends baseball team, and it is up to his team to win a game to save their field. The field means a lot to Tom and to people in his town, many people have played on this field, but others question whether they should leave the field or tear it down and build now housing and roads. One very exciting...more
John H. Ritter
Realistic fiction
The content is about baseball
The intended audience would be for mainly any kid
The book is about a boy named Tom who's dad coaches him and his friends baseball team, and it is up to his team to win a game to save their field. The field means a lot to Tom and to people in his town, many people have played on this field, but others question whether they should leave the field or tear it down and build now housing and roads. One very exciting...more
Exposition-is in the beginning where all characters get introduce the setting is introduced and they explain why the neighborhood baseball parks needs to be saved.
Rising Action-The rising action is when Tom Gallagher and his friend are trying to figure out how they can save the baseball park.
Climax-the climax is when they are playing the baseball game to save the park.
The Falling action-is when the game is winding down it's in the eighth inning and the hardest hitter in MLB (Major League Basebal...more
Rising Action-The rising action is when Tom Gallagher and his friend are trying to figure out how they can save the baseball park.
Climax-the climax is when they are playing the baseball game to save the park.
The Falling action-is when the game is winding down it's in the eighth inning and the hardest hitter in MLB (Major League Basebal...more
This novel follows main character Tom Gallagher as he attempts to prevent his town's baseball field from being developed. Through an unlikely friendship and by organizing a team to try to win the rights to field back from the developers, Tom uses his passion for baseball and the preservation of the culture of his hometown to work for what he believes is right and protect the historic field. This novel will help children to engage in themes of personal values, environmental preservation, and the...more
Mar 22, 2013
Brady
added it
John H. Ritter
Realistic Fiction
213 Pages
This book is about a boy named Tom Gallagher. His baseball field is about to be torn down by people who want to build. That was the field where baseball legend Dante Del Gato became the best hitter ever known. But they made a bet, if Toms baseball team loses the game they lose the field but if they win they keep the field. Just when they think they will lose a kid named Cruz de la Cruz comes to town and says he knows the secret to hitting. Does he win it f...more
Realistic Fiction
213 Pages
This book is about a boy named Tom Gallagher. His baseball field is about to be torn down by people who want to build. That was the field where baseball legend Dante Del Gato became the best hitter ever known. But they made a bet, if Toms baseball team loses the game they lose the field but if they win they keep the field. Just when they think they will lose a kid named Cruz de la Cruz comes to town and says he knows the secret to hitting. Does he win it f...more
I read the book the boy who saved baseball it was a good book.Tom Gallegher is in a tight spot.Now the fate of the entire town rests on the baseball game.The winner takes all.if toms baseball team loses they lose there field but he said how can we win.A boy Cruz de la rides into town and he is the secret hitting and everyone gets happy that he is the secret hitter.If you want to find out what happens read the book and is a good book.
I liked this book because it was good and how toms team loses t...more
I liked this book because it was good and how toms team loses t...more
This book is written by John H. Ritter. The genre of this book is fictional. This book is about baseball and the struggle of a team trying to become great. This is intended for anybody who is a sports fanatic or a huge baseball fan.
There is a team in dillontown that isn't very good. They barely have enough players. They are so terrible that some kids are leaving the town and finding baseball somewhere else. They are trying to get the mystery man del gato to solve their problems, will it happen?
H...more
There is a team in dillontown that isn't very good. They barely have enough players. They are so terrible that some kids are leaving the town and finding baseball somewhere else. They are trying to get the mystery man del gato to solve their problems, will it happen?
H...more
When I read the Boy Who Saved Baseball by John H. Ritter I thought it was really good. It had a good story line and a good plot. I like how he added in about Dante Del Gato. The player that played there that went on to play professional baseball. I also loved how they got him to coach the team. Also when at the end, well I dont wanna spoil the ending. This is a great book and you should read this. And every kid out there that is trying to use this review for a book report you better not! Not re...more
In this book a new baseball player moves into the city. Tom Gallagher finds himself in a tight spot,the city of Dilltown depends on him winning the most important game of his life. He needs to get the best player to ever play the game to coach his team, in order to save the town. He eventually gets the coach to come and work for them. In conclusion they win a tight game thanks to Tom, and the entire city is saved thanks to this native kid. All and all this was a great book. I highly recommend th...more
I thik that this book is a good book.This book is about a boy who tries to save baseball for his nieborhood becuase thenieborhoods baseball field is about to be torn down.but this wasnt any baseball field itwas a famouse baseball feild because thats were a baseball player became a very famouse for his hitting.So that field was very famouse.so the olny way he could save it is by challenging another team and beat them.if you like a book you cant what to finish it until tommawoow and your into some...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I really enjoyed this book. There was a chapter or two toward the end that wasn't as strong as the rest of the book, but overall I loved it. The author uses language that makes you think and imagine and see what's going on. Like when the mayor of the town is described as being "as crooked as a snake in a rake." That gave me an image that has stuck with me. For me, the theme was summed up by this quote from one of the characters when she said, "I just believe that when people do things with good...more
Ritter, John H., The Boy Who Saved Baseball. 216 p. Philomel Books. 2003. ISBN 978-0-399-23622-8.
Whether you like baseball or not, I think you’ll like this book! This book obviously has a sports focus that will get boys attention. However, this book will definitely appeal to girls too. The story and characters in this book are developed so well, that the book will appeal to a large audience.
Dillontown, a small, sleepy town between San Diego and the desert, is about to change forever. Old and wis...more
Whether you like baseball or not, I think you’ll like this book! This book obviously has a sports focus that will get boys attention. However, this book will definitely appeal to girls too. The story and characters in this book are developed so well, that the book will appeal to a large audience.
Dillontown, a small, sleepy town between San Diego and the desert, is about to change forever. Old and wis...more
This is the beginning of chapter 9 (i think) and it's the quiet strength reflected here that makes this book special. I read it to my 7 y.o. and he loved it. Oh, and yes, it's a book that uses baseball to tell it's tale.
"A boy needs to read the earth. This is a truth older than the iron dust that redpaints the boulders. It's older than the woolback mammoths that're fossiled in these hils. It's a feeling truth, a gut truth from deep inside, that leads a boy to bouldertops on mountaintops, scanni...more
"A boy needs to read the earth. This is a truth older than the iron dust that redpaints the boulders. It's older than the woolback mammoths that're fossiled in these hils. It's a feeling truth, a gut truth from deep inside, that leads a boy to bouldertops on mountaintops, scanni...more
This book is in my top five. It is an incredible story of the building of courage, the building of confidence, and learning how to stand up for yourself. I realllllllllllllllllllllllllly, really, really, liked this book. This is a must read for all my friends. John h Ritter did a great job of writing this story.
Again TOP FIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Again TOP FIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brandon Goodwin
The boy who saved baseball by John h. Ritter
Tom is trying to save his home towns baseball, they play baseball their all the time and just want the field to not be tore down. So their gonna play a game to see who gets the field. If they win they get the field but if they lose the baseball is gone forever. They could win this thing with the help of Cruz de la Cruz who says he knows the best way of hitting.
The boy who saved baseball by John h. Ritter
Tom is trying to save his home towns baseball, they play baseball their all the time and just want the field to not be tore down. So their gonna play a game to see who gets the field. If they win they get the field but if they lose the baseball is gone forever. They could win this thing with the help of Cruz de la Cruz who says he knows the best way of hitting.
This book is a good underdog story that will have you cheering for them. If they do not win this important baseball game, the people who have a lot of money in the town will be able to claim it. Throughout the book the reader can almost develop relationships with each of the characters which I think this is why I liked the book. The book also shows you to not give up even when the odds are against you.
Good book -- A lot of description of the West, small town, relationships. Mystery of a former baseball phenom who just quit fires up a small town team that is about to lose their baseball field to developers. Some really good surprises -- but not great resolution (for my liking) at the end.
Juv Fic -- not YA
Strong lead character is a boy, but there are good strong girl characters portrayed also.
Juv Fic -- not YA
Strong lead character is a boy, but there are good strong girl characters portrayed also.
First of all, let me say that I am not the target audience for this book, so I know my review won't be as useful as some others. I know of several young male readers who will disagree with me entirely. I found the book mildly interesting, albeit a bit predictable. For some readers, this will actually enhance its value, but for me, I was unable to connect with the team and feel invested in the conflict. Even so, it remains a decent read for sports fans with a solid message.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Novelist John H. Ritter (born October 31, 1951, in San Pedro, California) grew up in the summer-dry hills east of San Diego. "I grew up in a baseball family," says John. "But we were also a family of musicians and mathematicians, house painters and poets. My dad was a sports writer in Ashtabula, Ohio, who moved the family out west, just before I was born, to become Sports Editor for The San Diego...more
More about John H. Ritter...
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
Dec 07, 2012 07:01am