catchers (baseball)

"Josh Gibson, sometimes known as the black Babe Ruth for his skill at bat, was a power hitter and catcher in the Negro Leagues. He played on the Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawfords between 1930 and 1946. Gibson died tragically from a brain tumor in 1947, just months before Jackie Robinson broke the baseball color barrier. Though he was never able to join an MLB team due to discrimination, Gibson is often considered to have been one of the best catchers and sluggers in baseball's history. This book chronicles the life of the sports hero while introducing readers to the difficulties of living in a time of segregation and political upheaval"--Amazon.

Eddie Jackson loves playing catcher. But when he's batting and in the spotlight, he's a wreck. After an embarrassing strike out last summer, he thought he'd be done with baseball for good. Now he's back in the game as a backup catcher. When an injury forces him to step up to the plate, will Eddie be able to overcome his nerves, or is it going to be another swing and a miss? Fully translated Spanish text.

Introduces the skills needed to play the position of catcher, discussing throwing and coordination, communicating with the pitcher, and preventing stolen bases.

"Catchers have a very special job on a baseball diamond. They work directly with pitchers to make sure they throw the right pitches, and play a huge role in a teams defense. Readers will go behind the catchers mask to learn just what catchers do and how they impact a teams play on the field. From calling pitches to trying to catch runners stealing, readers will learn all about the important job catchers do on the diamond"--Amazon.com.

A biography about Moe Berg, a Jewish major league baseball player who became a spy for the United States government during World War II.

After his embarrassing strike out last season Eddie Jackson decided to quit baseball and stick to band practice, but Coach persuades him to join the team as the backup catcher--then the starter is injured and Eddie finds himself back in the lineup, facing his fear of failing the team.

Profiles the careers of fourteen of the greatest professional baseball catchers to have played in the MLB.

"Covers everything that happens both in plain sight and behind the scenes, from the players' pre-game routines and the pitcher's warm-up tosses, to the hidden signs the catcher and pitcher use to communicate to outwit hitters; from infielders' often amusing conversations with men at first and third bases, to the specific positions outfielders often take based on the pitch they anticipate will next be thrown, with first-person anecdotes and insights into professional baseball, how it's played, and the "why" behind everything happening on and off the field"--Provided by publisher.

Profiles of such pitchers and catchers as Cy Young, Christy Mathewson, and Howard Ehmke and their unusual careers in professional baseball.

Brief biographies of three well-known catchers emphasizing their development of the skills that made them valuable ball players.