A Topps League Story: Book One: Jinxed!

Topps League Storys

by Kurtis Scaletta, Eric Wight (Illustrator)

It’s Chad’s first spring as a batboy, and the Pine City Porcupines are hot—until they come up against the league-leading Heron Lake Humdingers. Now Chad’s got a whole lineup of his favorite player, shortstop Mike Stammer, thinks he’s jinxed; Dylan, the other batboy, doesn’t even like baseball; there’s a goofy new porcupine mascot on the field; plus, Chad has to fill in as batboy for the Herons. It’s a good thing there’s something in the cards—his baseball cards, that is—that can help Chad sort it all out.

Genres: Sports, Realistic Fiction, Baseball, Fiction, Childrens, Chapter Books

112 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2012

About the author

Kurtis Scaletta is the author of several books for young readers including Mudville, which was short listed for the Mark Twain Readers Award, and The Tanglewood Terror, which was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award. He lives in Minneapolis with wife and son and some cats.

Reviews

[Christopher Salcedo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book because it is about baseball, and I am a big fan of the NEW YORK YANKEES. Another reason why I like this book is because this book is just like real baseball, because it has a shortstop player called Mike Stammer, a little bit just like Derek Jeter because he is also a shortstop player for the YANKEES. I know that this book is about baseball because in the book it states, it’s Chad’s first spring as a batboy, and the Pine City Porcupines are hot—until they come up against the league-leading Heron Lake Humdingers. Now Chad’s got a whole lineup of problems: his favorite player, shortstop Mike Stammer, thinks he’s jinxed; Dylan, the other batboy, doesn’t even like baseball; there’s a goofy new porcupine mascot on the field; plus, Chad has to fill in as batboy for the Herons. It’s a good thing there’s something in the cards—his baseball cards, that is—that can help Chad sort it all out.pg(1) I know that their is a shortstop called Mike Stammer because in pg 1 it also states,now Chad’s got a whole lineup of problems: his favorite player, shortstop Mike Stammer, thinks he’s jinxed.

Who would like this book is my uncle. He would like this book because he also likes baseball. He also likes to read about baseball.

One challenging I have for this book is that the setting. The settings of this story is a challenging aspect for me because their are so many settings that this book has but I don't where it is. Another reason why the settings of this book is challenging because if I don't know where the setting is of this book then I don't know where are the characters of this book.

A character that I can describe clearly in this book is Mike Stammer. Mike Stammer is a important character in this book. Mike Stammer's favorite color is green. His favorite animal is a Leporidae lagomorpha a.k.a rabbit. Mike Stammer promises that when he makes it back up to the major leagues , he'll return for the Pine City Porcupines opening day game... in a bunny suit including big ears and a cottontail!

[Amanda Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chad Snyder is just a kid, but he gets his dream job! He becomes a batboy for the Pine City Pinecones! There's one problem...so is Dylan, his classmate. In this first book, "Jinxed!", a part of "A Topps League Story Series", Chad and Dylan learn all the inner workings of how to take care of a baseball team, maintenance before, during, and after a game, and the players. One of the superstar players, Mike Stammer, has just been demoted to the minor leagues after a spell of bad plays in the majors. His bad luck continues until Chad helps him get back on his "A" game. How does he do it? Read and find out!

This was a cute book. It had a solid beginning, middle, and end that is just right for kids who are needing to work on their reading comprehension. I would hand this fast-paced, sports book to kids in 2nd-4th grade. I would also give this book to reluctant readers. There's really no characterization and the story-line is pretty straightforward.

Read-a-likes:
The Ballpark Mysteries by David A. Kelly, because they are both similar in format and about baseball.

Honus & Me by Dan Gutman, because they both have a boy as the main character and baseball cards play a significant roll in the story-line.

[Nikhil · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was pretty good.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Once summer vacation arrives, Chad begins his new job as a batboy for the local Pine City Porcupines baseball team, and this book describes that experience. One of the players, Mike Stammer, seems to be jinxed and keeps making costly errors when he's in the field. That is, until Chad finds a baseball card from his collection that inspires Mike. In addition, there are all sorts of problems for Chad to confront--another batboy who doesn't even like baseball, a rabbit placed on the bench in an attempt to get rid of Mike's jinx, even his classmates in the stands who beg for balls. The author does a good job of capturing the players' personalities, and baseball fans will relish this easy-to-read title with four collectible baseball cards in the back.

[Bfg1971 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not going to lie, I picked this book up for three reasons: 1) My wife brought it home from work 2) It is about baseball 3) I thought Easy-E of NWA (RIP) did the illustrations.

It's a quick cute read. It's probably good for an elementary school reader. My problem with it is that the book is a blatant advertisement for baseball cards. The main character loves them, is going to try to get a supporting character to love baseball through cards, and in the book's crescendo baseball cards save the day.

I don't know what else I expected from "A Topps League Story." I guess I just didn't expect the advertising to be so blatant. The only thing missing was a Topps Baseball Card order form in the back.

[Laela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chad gets to be batboy for the local professional baseball team, the Porcupines (not to be confused with hedgehogs). The team is jinxed and the only good way to get rid of the jinx is by Topps Baseball cards? Yea, it’s that kind of product placement book. I should have expected no less from a book called Topps League story.

I’m giving the book 4 stars because I learned 2 new things about baseball while reading this book. Anytime I can learn something in an interesting way makes me give it an extra star. This book is for a strong second grade reader or a regular old third grader. The art is epic especially the tattooed player.

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chad is about to spend his summer as a bat boy for the Pine City Porcupines. Chad loves baseball SO MUCH and this is a great opportunity for him - he even had to write a resume to get the job! Unfortunately, one of the players on the Porcupines seems to be jinxed - can Chad help him shake it?

Fun book about baseball that I wasn't completely bored by. Sports book don't really do it for me, but this book was interesting and funny. Perfect for a 3rd grader.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a terrific early chapter book for young baseball fans. Young baseball fanatic Chad gets his dream job as a batboy for the local minor league baseball team. He learns about hard work, friendship and sportsmanship and meets some inspiring and funny ball players. Hooray!

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh the minor leagues! Goofy players, strange superstitions, rodents, dugout gags, and desperate young players who will do ANYTHING to end a slump. Very funny sports book for the young fan.

[Colby Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really wish that this series existed when I was in elementary school. I would have read this book over and over and over.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good quick sports read.

[Wendy Loewenstein]

Audience: intermediate
Genre:realistic fiction

[Kristen Rusnak · Rating 2 out of 5]

Easy read. May be good for a lower level SSYRA book. It was okay.