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Shoeless Joe & Black Betsy
This inspirational picture book is based on the true story of Shoeless Joe Jackson and his bat, two of the greatest players in baseball history.
Some say Shoeless Joe Jackson was the greatest hitter ever. But Shoeless Joe had a his bat, Black Betsy. And if not for the faithful Black Betsy, Joe might never even have made it to the major leagues.
Some say Shoeless Joe Jackson was the greatest hitter ever. But Shoeless Joe had a his bat, Black Betsy. And if not for the faithful Black Betsy, Joe might never even have made it to the major leagues.
40 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2002
About the author
Phil Bildner
36 books118 followersPhil Bildner is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous books for kids. His latest book is the groundbreaking, #OwnVoices middle grade novel, A High Five for Glenn Burke. He is the author of many children’s picture books including the Margaret Wise Brown Prize winning Marvelous Cornelius, the Texas Bluebonnet Award winning Shoeless Joe & Black Betsy, Martina & Chrissie, Twenty-One Elephants, and The Soccer Fence. Phil is also the author of A Whole New Ballgame, Rookie of the Year, Tournament of Champions, and Most Valuable Players in the critically acclaimed middle grade Rip & Red series.
Phil grew up in Jericho, New York, a Long Island suburb of New York City. He studied political science at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland and then attended law school at New York University School of Law. After passing the bar in New York and New Jersey, Phil worked as an associate at a large Manhattan law firm, but he quickly realized the legal profession wasn’t for him. So he followed his heart and went back to school, earning a master’s degree in early childhood and elementary education from Long Island University.
For eleven years, Phil taught in the New York City Public Schools. Teaching fifth and sixth grade in the Tremont section of the Bronx in the 1990s, he built an innovative ELA curriculum around song lyrics and music. Dave Matthews, Barenaked Ladies, Blues Traveler, Lauryn Hill, and Wyclef Jean all visited his classroom. Teaching middle school English and American History in Manhattan in the 2000s, Phil continued to integrate music and the arts into his curriculum, working with the Lincoln Center Institute, Broadway shows (Wicked, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), and Off-Broadway shows (Def Poetry Jam, De la Guarda).
After leaving the classroom to write full time, Phil began chaperoning student-volunteer trips to New Orleans to help in the post-Hurricane Katrina recovery effort. He founded The NOLA Tree, a non-profit youth service organization and served as the co-Executive Director.
These days, Phil lives in Newburgh, New York with his husband in a two hundred year old farmhouse. Most of the time, you’ll find him out in the yard playing with his dog named Kat or writing on the back porch (aka, his office) overlooking the Hudson River.
Phil grew up in Jericho, New York, a Long Island suburb of New York City. He studied political science at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland and then attended law school at New York University School of Law. After passing the bar in New York and New Jersey, Phil worked as an associate at a large Manhattan law firm, but he quickly realized the legal profession wasn’t for him. So he followed his heart and went back to school, earning a master’s degree in early childhood and elementary education from Long Island University.
For eleven years, Phil taught in the New York City Public Schools. Teaching fifth and sixth grade in the Tremont section of the Bronx in the 1990s, he built an innovative ELA curriculum around song lyrics and music. Dave Matthews, Barenaked Ladies, Blues Traveler, Lauryn Hill, and Wyclef Jean all visited his classroom. Teaching middle school English and American History in Manhattan in the 2000s, Phil continued to integrate music and the arts into his curriculum, working with the Lincoln Center Institute, Broadway shows (Wicked, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), and Off-Broadway shows (Def Poetry Jam, De la Guarda).
After leaving the classroom to write full time, Phil began chaperoning student-volunteer trips to New Orleans to help in the post-Hurricane Katrina recovery effort. He founded The NOLA Tree, a non-profit youth service organization and served as the co-Executive Director.
These days, Phil lives in Newburgh, New York with his husband in a two hundred year old farmhouse. Most of the time, you’ll find him out in the yard playing with his dog named Kat or writing on the back porch (aka, his office) overlooking the Hudson River.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
November 28, 2022
Feeling nostalgic for summer and the sunny days of baseball games? Let Phil Bildner take you back to the days when Shoeless Joe was struggling with a batting slump. He relied on Ol' Charlie (Charlie Ferguson) to make him just the right bat. Joe did not come out swinging with the first bat, so they tried a different wood. Then the bat had to look fierce -- tobacco juice did the trick. Even after being called up to the majors twice, Joe still struggled. Each time he would go to Ol' Charlie and get a new tip. As a result, Joe made Black Betsy famous and batted .408 in his rookie season in Cleveland. Persistence and pursuit of excellence brought a poor boy from Greenville to the major leagues and two world series. Includes notes about the Black Sox scandal and efforts to exonerate Joe as well as his stats. Play ball!
October 5, 2021
Really good book a little short but over all a great book and you should read it
May 31, 2014
It was a bit wordy for a children's book, but it was still a fun and educational book to read.
February 23, 2020
Shoeless Joe & Black Betsy is a book about Shoeless Joe Jackson and his path to being one of the greatest baseball players ever. Because Shoeless Joe wants to be great, he has one of the best baseball bat makers create a bat that will help him hit well. On a few different occasions, Joe hits super well in the minors but then slumps when he gets to the majors prompting advice from the bat maker each time. At long last though, Shoeless Joe finds the right combination of taking care of his well-made bat and hitting and wins rookie of the year in the majors while hitting some incredible numbers. He will eventually go on to become one for the history books.
A major theme of this book is persistence. Shoeless Joe is persistent in his dream of becoming one of the best, and ensures that he does everything possible to make it to the big leagues and hit well. His hard work and persistence take him to incredible heights.
The book was a little slow to read, especially with a lot of repetition of previous lines used. However, because I grew up knowing about and reading about Shoeless Joe Jackson, I loved reading more about how he became one of the greatest of all time.
Because repetition works well with children, I would recommend this book especially since it teaches the valuable lesson of persistence, hard work, and fighting for what you want to achieve. Children need to know that the world is at their fingertips if they want it to be.
A major theme of this book is persistence. Shoeless Joe is persistent in his dream of becoming one of the best, and ensures that he does everything possible to make it to the big leagues and hit well. His hard work and persistence take him to incredible heights.
The book was a little slow to read, especially with a lot of repetition of previous lines used. However, because I grew up knowing about and reading about Shoeless Joe Jackson, I loved reading more about how he became one of the greatest of all time.
Because repetition works well with children, I would recommend this book especially since it teaches the valuable lesson of persistence, hard work, and fighting for what you want to achieve. Children need to know that the world is at their fingertips if they want it to be.
July 6, 2020
" Shoeless Joe", nicknamed because of playing in his socks after new cleats blistered his feet, began life as Joseph Jefferson Jackson in 1888. He played minor league baseball for several years, getting called up to the majors a number of times before he began hitting consistently with the aid of Black Betsy, his specially made bats: hickory from the north side of the tree, exactly 48 ounces, and rubbed black with tobacco juice. The story is told in repeating patterns as interchanges between Joe and the batmaker Ol' Charlie, who gives increasingly precise instructions for the care of Black Betsy until Joe makes it into the big leagues and stays.
Afterward gives details of Joe's life and career, with a full page of stats at the end of the book. Interesting, even for a casual fan. Recommended.
Afterward gives details of Joe's life and career, with a full page of stats at the end of the book. Interesting, even for a casual fan. Recommended.
October 25, 2017
Shortly before "Shoeless Joe" Jackson (so named for having played a game in his stocking feet) joins the minors, he falls into a slump, and out of desperation ends up in the workshop of "the finest bat smith in all of South Carolina." Joe names the bat Ol' Charlie Ferguson makes for him Betsy ("Pitchers are going to honor and respect this bat the way they respect the flag Betsy Ross.
October 9, 2019
A bit repetitive, and I wish there was more emphasis on the determination and persistence he had. The authors note is amazing, though, and earned a star all on its own. Now I have to go watch Field of Dreams again so I can look for Shoeless Joe.
January 5, 2021
Fictionalized story about an early professional baseball player and his favorite bat (and his preferences for his bats and how he took care of them).
Back matter talks about the player's relationship to (involvement with?) the Black Sox scandal.
Back matter talks about the player's relationship to (involvement with?) the Black Sox scandal.
December 7, 2021
I like how this book can be used in a classroom to show students how to care for things we love and not take them for granted. The book shows readers that although we may have the perfect shoes, the perfect car, or the perfect bat, it won't work or be useful if we treat it as if it were nothing.
November 6, 2019
Told in tall-tales style about Shoeless Joe Jackson and the bat that helped him make it to the big leagues.
March 8, 2021
I love learning about history in story books!! I couldn't help thinking of all the Shoeless Joe facts I learned in the movie Field of Dreams as I read this. Great story, loved the illustrations.
June 10, 2022
The illustrations are beautiful and emotionally evocative!
August 9, 2022
An interesting book about Joe Jackson for the young reader. It covers the highlights of Jackson's life.
April 7, 2026
4 stars
This book looks at the early career of Shoeless Joe Jackson, BEFORE he was permanently called up to the majors.
This book looks at the early career of Shoeless Joe Jackson, BEFORE he was permanently called up to the majors.
March 22, 2016
This is the story about Shoeless Joe Jackson and his bat, Black Betsy. Both of them are great in baseball history -- Shoeless Joe and Black Betsy story by Phil Bildner and illustrated by C. F Payne. Jackson struggles in his life many times before he becomes one of the greatest hitters in major league baseball. His nickname was shoeless because he was playing a game wearing socks, not shoes. The story can support and help inspire students to follow their dreams and do not give up easily.
The illustration is gorgeous, actually the best thing in this book because the story was kind of uninteresting. However, the realistic fiction story with a realistic drawing made the story more understandable. The first and the end page of the story are just the pages which have a double page spread and all the other pages have a different style which is the left page contain the text with the white background the opposite page contain the picture. This book uses an oil paint and colored pencil images which make these images like photographs, so most of the children will like that. Also, I like that the angular vision was different depending on what the story want to focus on. For example, some picture looks like you watch the men from above place and he draws the bat as the biggest thing in the page because he wants from the reader to focus on that.
In the end, I like this book and I think it will be interesting to the child who love the baseball.
The illustration is gorgeous, actually the best thing in this book because the story was kind of uninteresting. However, the realistic fiction story with a realistic drawing made the story more understandable. The first and the end page of the story are just the pages which have a double page spread and all the other pages have a different style which is the left page contain the text with the white background the opposite page contain the picture. This book uses an oil paint and colored pencil images which make these images like photographs, so most of the children will like that. Also, I like that the angular vision was different depending on what the story want to focus on. For example, some picture looks like you watch the men from above place and he draws the bat as the biggest thing in the page because he wants from the reader to focus on that.
In the end, I like this book and I think it will be interesting to the child who love the baseball.
March 9, 2011
This is a story of “Shoeless Joe” – Joseph Jefferson Jackson, one of the greatest hitters in major league baseball. Before he became famous, Joe went through a terrible hitting slump. Then, with the help of his old friend, the bat smith Charlie Ferguson, Joe was able to regain his aim and hitting. He followed his friend’s advises on how to take care of his handmade bat - Black Betsy. The book is written by Phil Bildner, a writer and a New York City public school teacher. It is beautifully complemented with page-size mixed media illustrations by C. F. Payne, an artist from Cincinnati, Ohio.
This biographical story of Shoeless Joe is well suited for grades 3-5. From this easy to read book readers learn the untold secret behind the sport accomplishments of a famous baseball player. I really enjoyed reading and learning about Shoeless Joe. The story is well supported with author’s afterword and Major League statistics. I would recommend this picture book to students in grades 3-5 or to ELL students who want to learn a piece of history of a beloved American sport.
This biographical story of Shoeless Joe is well suited for grades 3-5. From this easy to read book readers learn the untold secret behind the sport accomplishments of a famous baseball player. I really enjoyed reading and learning about Shoeless Joe. The story is well supported with author’s afterword and Major League statistics. I would recommend this picture book to students in grades 3-5 or to ELL students who want to learn a piece of history of a beloved American sport.
October 17, 2016
Shoeless Joe & Black Betsy (Texas Bluebonnet Award Winner, 2004) is a home run for your baseball lovers. Joe Jackson, who is a baseball great, struggles over and over before “making it” solely with the help of his bat, Black Betsy (and his bat smith). This story keeps it’s focus on Joe Jackson’s baseball career rather than his personal life, so it offers a moral of “never give up” and to continue working on something that's broken for it’s readers.
The best part about this children’s book is that it includes a summary and his statistics at the back about the real Shoeless Joe and reveals that very little of the book is made up. This book is probably best for grades 3-5, because it is a little longer (40 pages). This book could be used in differentiation with ELL students because a good chunk of the story is repeating and rhythmic. This is also what makes this children’s book good for a read aloud. The illustrations are realistic and help keep the reader engaged in imagining.
The best part about this children’s book is that it includes a summary and his statistics at the back about the real Shoeless Joe and reveals that very little of the book is made up. This book is probably best for grades 3-5, because it is a little longer (40 pages). This book could be used in differentiation with ELL students because a good chunk of the story is repeating and rhythmic. This is also what makes this children’s book good for a read aloud. The illustrations are realistic and help keep the reader engaged in imagining.
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June 29, 20165 star
This was a very interesting child's book to read and introduce children (or adult's) to the famous ball player Shoeless Joe. As I was reading it I was thinking that they put in things to make it interesting for children to keep their attention. BUT after the story is over in the back is three pages written about the 'true' Shoeless Joe and the children's story is just a small summary about the true man. Very little of it was made up. So that makes it that much more great. The text is interesting and some of it is repeatative so you could read it with your merging beginning reader they could learn to read part of it on their own. Illustrations are just as good as the text. You won't be disappointed in this book
This was a very interesting child's book to read and introduce children (or adult's) to the famous ball player Shoeless Joe. As I was reading it I was thinking that they put in things to make it interesting for children to keep their attention. BUT after the story is over in the back is three pages written about the 'true' Shoeless Joe and the children's story is just a small summary about the true man. Very little of it was made up. So that makes it that much more great. The text is interesting and some of it is repeatative so you could read it with your merging beginning reader they could learn to read part of it on their own. Illustrations are just as good as the text. You won't be disappointed in this book
December 1, 2011
Shoeless Joe was a baseball player back in the early 1900s who was nicknamed Shoeless Joe for playing shoeless in a game after his feet were sore from wearing a new pair of cleets. He was extremely particular about the bats he used and would switch his bat every time he went into a slump. In this book, he goes to a man named Ol' Charlie who makes him different bats in order to get him out of his slumps. This book was a great read for me because I really enjoy watching baseball so I enjoyed learning about Shoeless Joe, even though the story had some parts that were fictional. I would use this book to get my boys in my class to read.
August 17, 2014
This story is part biography and part fiction. It’s an okay story, but I found the colloquial dialect of South Carolina to be stilted and distracting. The dialect, coupled with a few odd stories (did Jackson really sleep with his bat?), cause the reader to walk away with the impression that Shoeless Joe was somewhat of an idiot. He was, in real life, uneducated and illiterate – but that doesn’t make him an idiot. The Afterword of the book provides an accurate biography of Shoeless Joe, and the final page is dedicated to his statistics.
September 22, 2011
This book was about "Shoeless" Joe Jackson and how his baseball career came to be, After a rollercoaster ride between the majors and minors, Shoeless Joe finally gets his bat just right and hits better than ever. This book was very well written and the illustrations were very different but good. The story is a true one, which can help inspire students to follow their dreams and to invest in things emotionally too.
March 7, 2015
Shoeless Joe, an amezing player. This book teachers young reader about overcoming predujice and superstitions. Joe finally understood he was a good player and that the bat was only an instrument to play. Often time, kids need to now they are great players, students and they need to find someone to remind them.
June 13, 2012
A non-fiction based story of Shoeless Joe and his peculiar relationships with his bats, particularly one special bat nicknamed,"Black Betsy."
The repetition of the advise given to Shoeless Joe by the bat maker invites a rhythmic, predictable progression that invites read-aloud.
Guy readers will love that Bildner includes stats in the back of the book!
The repetition of the advise given to Shoeless Joe by the bat maker invites a rhythmic, predictable progression that invites read-aloud.
Guy readers will love that Bildner includes stats in the back of the book!
May 19, 2013
3.5 stars
Another baseball story I found interesting to learn about. Black Betsy was his favorite bat, and he was very picky about his bats! More about "Shoeless Joe" in the back matter--a great player who was involved in the famous Black Sox scandal, though little evidence of his involvement was ever proved.
Another baseball story I found interesting to learn about. Black Betsy was his favorite bat, and he was very picky about his bats! More about "Shoeless Joe" in the back matter--a great player who was involved in the famous Black Sox scandal, though little evidence of his involvement was ever proved.
December 14, 2013
This picture book is entitles Shoeless Joe and Black Betsy and is by Phil Bildner. It is a historical fiction which seems to be geared toward older children and can be used in different ways with grades 3-6. It takes the reader on a journey with "Shoeless" Joe Jackson as he goes on the hunt to find the right bat. This book could be used for a writing activity and to teach new vocabulary.
April 2, 2015
This is a good biography to read to children. The story is about a guy becoming a baseball player and how important his bat is too him. I think most of the boys in a classroom would like this book, but maybe even some girls. It would be a good book for children into baseball to read. I would definitely read this to my students.
October 25, 2011
A fictionalized story of Shoeless Joe Jackson's superstitions over his black baseball bat. The story wasn't great, but the images were well-done and makes for a great addition for a collection of books about baseball.
June 8, 2011
I enjoyed this book, especially after reading Shoeless Joe and Me by Dan Gutman.
March 27, 2012
I kept waiting for more to happen, but it didn't.
December 16, 2023
Shoeless Joe and Black Betsy (Hardcover)
by Phil Bildner
beautiful pictures, a teacher read book that teaches kids about trying again and again to accomplish a goal.
by Phil Bildner
beautiful pictures, a teacher read book that teaches kids about trying again and again to accomplish a goal.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews