The ABCs of Baseball

Golenbock defines several baseball terms and phrases for each letter of the alphabet, the entries and their definitions appearing in trim sidebars that let Andreasen’s artwork take center stage. Figures like Babe Ruth and Alexander Cartwright (“The man who invented baseball”) are mentioned alongside terms like “bases loaded,” “fielder’s choice,” “line drive” and “southpaw,” which all receive brief definitions. Andreasen offers muted images of players batting, sliding into base, and pitching, as well as scenes of families enjoying games together and nostalgic still-lifes of well-worn uniforms, pennants, and other memorabilia. While there are a few weak entries (such as “questions” and “quotations” for Q), this is a soft-tempo and fairly comprehensive guide for fans looking to hone their baseball vocabulary. Additional baseball facts including stats, awards, teams, and trivia appear in appended pages. Ages 6–8. (Feb.)