School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-7-These books capitalize on fans' love of debating the merits of their favorite players and teams. Each introduces 14 players or teams in chronological order, along with brief listings of some honorable mentions. Each player's career highlights are briefly recounted in two pages of text, supplemented by quotes, photos, and key stats. Players and teams from baseball's past are featured, along with more recent favorites. (Outfielders, for example, includes Joe DiMaggio, Willie Mays, and Ichiro Suzuki.) The comparison helps young fans place their favorites in context, and there are helpful stats and information boxes. Most players profiled are obvious choices: Hitters includes All-Stars Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Ted Williams, Stan Musial, among others. This series doesn't break new ground, and many of its subjects have been featured elsewhere, but the attractive design and ever-popular appeal of this topic will make these titles a hit with fans. (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
Not all thwacks are created equal..." (Hitters). In entertaining prose, these four titles give brief descriptions of pivotal moments or plays, a bit of biography, and some statistical information for the stars they highlight. Each player is shown in two exciting photographs. Some, but not all, of the doping controversies surrounding the players are mentioned. Reading list. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Major League Baseball's Best Ever titles: The Best MLB Hitters of All Time, The Best MLB Infielders of All Time, The Best MLB Catchers of All Time, and The Best MLB Outfielders of All Time.] (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
This entry in the Major League Baseball's Best Ever series certainly lives up to its title. Each four-page chapter devoted to one catcher includes an exciting narrative describing a key moment from a game, a brief retelling of the subject's baseball career, a highlighted fact or record, two photos, and a series of basic facts. The narrative is packed with suspenseful language for example, First place was on the line and darkness falling fast which draws in the reader. The black-and-white and color photos, including a mix of portraits and action shots, keep the momentum going. Real fans will appreciate the statistics-rich summaries of each player's career and the list of his hometown, height and weight, birth date, and, well, lots and lots more. A fun and informative read for both serious baseball diehards and general readers.--Aronin, Miriam Copyright 2014 Booklist
