Filled with biographical anecdotes, batting stats and historical comparisons, here is the one book young fans can use to become instant experts in baseball's great debate. Who is it: Babe Ruth? Ted Williams? Ty Cobb? Mark McGwire? or . . .? Here is your one-stop resource for answering the question all baseball fans ask: Who is the best batter ever? You'll find thirty-two of baseball's greatest hitters, with each player's batting statistics, special achievements and records, along with interesting anecdotes and photographs. With all this great information,Who Is Baseball's Greatest Hitter?is more than just a book of stats. Experienced sports writer Jeff Kisseloff gives young readers the tools to analyze, compare and contrast each player's career batting records. Unlike other baseball books, this one challenges the reader to make his own choices and add his own favorite batters to the debate. Can you match the question on the left with the player on the right? 1) Who hit 755 home Runs? A) Mark McGwire 2) Who hit .367 lifetime? B) Hank Aaron 3) Who has the best home run/at bat ratio? C) Ty Cobb And the big question, which statistic matters most? Who Is Baseball's Greatest Hitter? Answers: 1-B, 2-C, 3-A Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Gr 5 Up-Kisseloff opens up an age-old debate. He gives a historical perspective on the game and profiles 32 stars from various decades, giving reasons why each slugger should or should not be in the running. Allowing readers to draw their own conclusions, he provides the statistics and considerations to weigh ("Is a .366 lifetime average more important or less important than 755 lifetime homers?") in order to make informed choices. Black-and-white photos of each player are included, but they are disappointingly small and undistinguished. Some of the big bats not included are Sammy Sosa and Pete Rose, yet the author challenges fans to make a case for their inclusion. A surefire way to spark many interesting discussions.-Harolyn Legg, Liberty-Benton High School, Findlay, OH Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Gr. 5^-8. Kisseloff makes the case for 32 different major league players to claim the title of "Baseball's Greatest Hitter." And amazingly, he makes a good case for each one, reminding readers how complex the calculation becomes when one must factor in not just statistics but also how lively the ball was in various eras, how far the mound was from home plate, and how many games were played in a season. The introduction alone makes good reading as a short history of the game, while the two-to five-page discussions of each batting champ offer vivid profiles of the men, their achievements, and their individual quirks. Quotes from opposing pitchers add a unique perspective, such as Warren Spahn's tribute to Stan Musial, "He's the only batter I ever intentionally walked with the bases loaded." A book that makes reading about baseball almost as much fun as playing the game. --Carolyn Phelan From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.