Alright, so the
Yankees are out, but the World Series is still a perfect chance to share
a great American pastime with kids. Check out a a few of our favorite
books, movies and games for budding baseball fans! (Plus, feel like
getting out of the apartment to watch the Series? Check out this list of
kid-friendly places to watch the game!) Finally, check out this fun
list of World Series facts and records—it just might inspire a family
trivia tournament!
BOOKS
“Hey Batta Batta
Swing!: The Wild Old Days of Baseball” by Sally Cook and James Charlton.
This kid-friendly history of baseball includes fascinating trivia on
uniforms, nicknames, and the rules of the game, and introduces insider
lingo like “gappers” and “tweeners.” (Ages 6-10)
“Baseball Saved
Us” by Ken Mochizuki. This story explores the role baseball played in
the life of a boy living in a Japanese internment camp during World War
II. (Ages 4 and up)
“H is for Home
Run” by Brad Herzog. Teach your kids the alphabet and baseball at the
same time! Each letter introduces information about the classic pastime.
(Ages 4-8)
“Casey at the Bat:
A Ballad of the Republic Sung in the Year 1888” by Ernest Thayer;
illustrated by Christopher Bing. Bing’s illustrative interpretation of
Thayer’s immortal poem will captivate kids, who will watch and listen in
suspense as “mighty Casey” strikes out! (Ages 9-12)
“Mama Played
Baseball” by David Adler. Adler tells the story of a girl whose mother
becomes a professional baseball player while her father is overseas
during World War II. (Ages 4-8)
MOVIES
The Sandlot.
Everyone’s favorite band of small-town, baseball-obsessed kids takes the
field (or, rather, the sandlot) in this kid-pleasing coming-of-age
story.
Rookie Of The
Year. A minor injury becomes a major advantage for a 12-year-old boy,
who miraculously powerful pitching arm earns him a contract with the
Chicago Cubs.
Angels In The
Outfield. The California Angels get a little extra help in this
heartwarming flick featuring Danny Glover, Tony Danza, Christopher Lloyd
and a tweenage Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
Bad News Bears.
Take your pick: in both the original 1976 version and the 2005 remake,
unlucky ex-minor league player Morris Buttermaker tries to coach a band
of Little Leaguers to success.
A League of Their
Own. Featuring Geena Davis, Rosie O’Donnell, Madonna and Tom Hanks, this
film tells the story of two sisters who join America’s first female
professional baseball league
Field Of Dreams.
The banned Black Sox players from 1919 take up residence in Iowa when a
corn farmer builds them a baseball diamond. Starring Kevin Costner.
GAMES
My Major League Baseball Edition Monopoly. The
Parker Brothers classic gets a Major League spin. Fans can customize
their board with their favorite teams and players. With all 30 teams to
choose from, there is plenty of fun to be had.
Great Play!
Baseball. This simple to play game gets you as close to the real thing
as possible on a board game. With the ability to position fielders on
the board’s baseball diamond, this strategic game will test the decision
making skills of baseball fans.
APBA Pro Baseball
Basic Game. Think you could have managed the Yankees to another World
Series? Try your hand at this board game, which puts you in the manager’s
seat.
Backyard Sports:
Sandlot Sluggers. Everyone in the family can enjoy this baseball game
for Wii, with its action-packed, arcade-style instruction about the
sport and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. (All ages)
The Cages: Pro
Style Batting Practice. Practice your swing against 19 different
pitches at home with this video game for Wii. (All ages)
