Babe Ruth and the Baseball Curse

by David A. Kelly

Before 1918, the Boston Red Sox were unstoppable. They won World Series after World Series, thanks in part to their charismatic pitcher-slugger Babe Ruth. But some people on the Red Sox felt the Babe was more trouble than he was worth, and he was traded away to one of the worst teams in baseball, the New York Yankees. From then on, the Yankees became a golden team. And the Red Sox? For over 80 years, they just couldn’t win another World Series. Then, in 2004, along came a scruffy, scrappy Red Sox team. Could they break Babe Ruth’s curse and win it all?

Genres: Sports, Childrens

112 pages, Paperback

First published February 24, 2009

About the author

David A. Kelly is the author of over 30 children's books, including the bestselling Ballpark Mysteries series, the MVP series, the brand-new Football Mysteries series, and more.

Mr. Kelly is also the author of the early reader, Babe Ruth and the Baseball Curse and the picture books Tee Time on the Moon and Miracle Mud: Lena Blackburne and Secret Mud that Changed Baseball.

He has written about travel and technology for the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Chicago Sun Times, and many other publications. Mr. Kelly lives in Newton, MA, with his family.

For more information, visit David’s webpage – www.davidakellybooks.com. He's available for school and library visits, in person or virtually.

Reviews

[Jaclyn Knight · Rating 2 out of 5]

Based on the cover & description of this book, I was not expecting literally 1/2 of it to be about the 2004 Red Sox team. Obviously that would be included but I didn’t expect it to take up so much of the book instead of talking mostly about Babe Ruth. I would suggest that a kid reading it be old enough & have enough baseball knowledge to be able to follow play by play descriptions. Some sections are very little story & more action description so could be hard for younger kids to follow. My 6 year old boy knows quite a bit about baseball & plays it himself but he had some trouble following this book despite his ability to handle many chapter books. The illustrations in the book are very good & chapters are a good length.

[Katie Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book aloud to my 6 and 9 years old children and they LOVED hearing about The Babe, the curse, and Red Sox history. A great read for any baseball fan, especially those up and coming members of Red Sox Nation.

[Kent · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bad....sounds like it was written by and for a 9 year old!!...I will keep an eye out for a decent biography of this great baseball player....

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book very straightforward and informative. I consider myself a baseball person and I still felt like I learned a lot of new information. Very interesting.

[Shilo Quetchenbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this with my baseball-obsessed 7-year-old as a bedtime story (a chapter a night). They'd already read it on their own but asked for it again. I have a feeling they've memorized just about every bit of it. It was easy for them to read, but also is well-written enough that it's not tedious for an adult to read. It packs quite a lot of information and is told in a way that is quite exciting.

Edit to add: We've read this three times now XD It's a comfort read I think for kiddo. They needed something familiar to lull them to sleep and this seems to be what they want right now.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Babe Ruth and the Baseball Curse by David Adler is a biography about the famous baseball player Babe Ruth. Before 1918, the Boston Red Sox were unstoppable. They won World Series after World Series. This was all because Babe Ruth was the homerun record holding baseball player, but some people on the Red Sox felt that Babe Ruth was too much trouble, and was traded to one of the worst teams in baseball, the New York Yankees. From then on, the Yankees became an amazing team. And the Red Sox didn’t win another World Series for over 80 years. Until eventually a guy named Hank Aaron broke his record.
I thought this book was a very eventful book and great for little boys who love sports especially baseball. I thought the illustrations were very good. They were very colorful and very vibrant. I think the age group appropriate for this book would probably be 7 years and older. The theme would be Babe Ruth and baseball although I don’t think that is considered a theme. I think this book would be appealing to young readers because it is fun, interesting, and about something all young boys like. On the other hand, I don’t necessarily think most young girls would be interested to read this book.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember as a kid liking the Babe Ruth story from that "Childhood of Famous Americans" series. So this book caught my eye, and though I don't consider myself a baseball fan, I really enjoyed it! The author's descriptions of great moments in game history are full of suspense, but in simple enough vocabulary for early chapter book readers. Age-and-reading-level-appropriate details about Ruth's life, the history of the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and the lengendary curse over the Red Sox, as well as the overall appearance and readability would make this a good read for young sports fans.

[Jessica Haider · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this aloud to my 7 year old since he is a big baseball fan and he really enjoyed it. It is a non-fiction account of Babe Ruth's time with the Boston Red Sox and "the curse". It follows the curse through to current times when the Red Sox finally reversed the curse. The book is just the right level for young readers and middle grade kids. There are lots of facts but the book holds the kids' interest.

[Daniel H · Rating 3 out of 5]

the game has ended the red sox had won the world series and freed the curse! Jason Varitek the boston catcher leapt with excitment into the arms of the pitcher Keith Foulke. The fans held up their signs that said "the curse Is Reversed" for the first time in eghty six years. Boston held the world series trophy over the huddle cried with joy.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book that's right for everyone. Baseball, Babe Ruth, the Boston Red Sox--it's perfect!

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nonfiction account of Babe Ruth and the supposed 'baseball curse' that kept the Red Sox from winning the World Series for 86 years. Written for kiddos. Interesting for grown-ups.

[Nicholas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! I think it is really good to read and I recommend it for a lot of people.