Cy Young: An American Baseball Hero

Gr 6-8–Denton True “Cy” Young (1867–1955) is the only pitcher in Major League Baseball history to notch more than 500 wins in his career. In 1903, the first-ever World Series took place. Young pitched in four games, and his Boston Americans (now the Red Sox) defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 1904, he pitched a “perfect game”—no hits, no runs, no players on base. That same year, he pitched 45 consecutive scoreless innings. In his personal life, Young was widely known as a loyal friend as well as kind, generous, honest, and sober. In the off-season, he returned to Gilmore, OH, to work on his farm. He rose early to attend to chores, jogged in the forests around his home, and chopped wood to keep in shape. Photos feature Young, his wife, and many fellow players and acquaintances at various stages of his long career. The book’s design and layout are mostly straightforward, with some side texts, making this title more appealing to stronger readers. In an early sidebar, Longert provides a description of the fundamentals of baseball, though later information about game play and playoff series dynamics seems to assume an appreciation for and knowledge of the sport. Numerous source notes, divided by chapter, as well as a substantial bibliography, a time line, and a glossary, are included.