Step into the thrilling world of Baseball Great, where the crack of the bat meets the pulse of mystery! Tim Green’s young adult sports series follows Josh LeBlanc, a talented middle-school baseball player navigating the highs of competitive sports and the lows of tough moral choices. With heart-pounding action and relatable coming-of-age drama, this series is a home run for fans of sports fiction.
Blending Green’s insider knowledge as a former NFL player with his knack for storytelling, Baseball Great delivers more than just games—it’s about friendship, integrity, and standing up for what’s right. Ready to swing into Josh’s world? Let’s dive into the series’ origins, stories, and lasting appeal.
How Baseball Great Began
Tim Green, a Syracuse University co-valedictorian and Atlanta Falcons star, turned his love for sports and storytelling into a prolific writing career. After penning adult thrillers and the bestselling memoir The Dark Side of the Game, Green shifted to young adult fiction, inspired by his experiences coaching Little League and raising his five children. The Baseball Great series, launched in 2009, draws on Green’s athletic background to craft authentic, suspense-filled stories that resonate with young readers.
Green’s goal was to create novels that blended the excitement of sports with real-world issues like peer pressure and ethical dilemmas. Set in Syracuse, New York, the series reflects Green’s hometown, grounding Josh’s journey in a relatable, small-town vibe. The result? A gripping saga that’s as much about personal growth as it is about stealing bases.
The Heart of Baseball Great
The Baseball Great series spans four books, each packed with sports action and mystery. The first, Baseball Great (2009), introduces Josh, a 12-year-old phenom whose dad, a former minor-league player, pushes him onto an intense travel team, the Titans. When Josh uncovers the team’s use of steroids, he and his friend Jaden, a sharp school reporter, risk everything to expose the truth. Rivals (2010) follows Josh to a national tournament in Cooperstown, where dirty plays and shady deals test his resolve.
Best of the Best (2011) sees Josh chasing a Little League World Series dream amid his parents’ looming divorce, while Home Run (2016) wraps up the series with Josh balancing family struggles and his team’s shot at glory. Themes of loyalty, courage, and resisting temptation shine through, with Green’s crisp dialogue and fast-paced chapters keeping readers hooked. The Syracuse setting adds authenticity, while the mix of sports and detective-style intrigue sets the series apart from typical baseball tales.
Green’s style is accessible yet thought-provoking, tackling heavy topics like performance-enhancing drugs and parental pressure with a light touch. Josh’s journey reflects the challenges of adolescence—fitting in, standing out, and making tough calls—making the series a hit with middle-grade and teen readers.
Why Baseball Great Resonates
Baseball Great strikes a chord with young readers and sports fans by blending high-stakes athletics with universal coming-of-age struggles. Green’s authentic portrayal of team dynamics and the pressures of youth sports has earned praise from outlets like Kirkus Reviews, which called the series “a cut above the usual baseball novel.” Its focus on moral integrity—especially resisting shortcuts like steroids—offers timeless lessons for athletes and non-athletes alike.
The series’ niche appeal lies in its ability to captivate reluctant readers, particularly young sports enthusiasts, with its relatable hero and suspenseful plots. Parents and educators also value its positive messages, making it a staple in school libraries. Though not as globally iconic as some YA series, Baseball Great’s dedicated fanbase and Green’s storytelling prowess ensure its lasting impact in sports fiction.
- Publication Years: 2009–2016
- Number of Books: 4
- Target Audience: Middle-grade and young adult readers
- Setting: Syracuse, New York
Grab Baseball Great and dive into Josh LeBlanc’s action-packed world! Whether you’re a sports fan or just love a good mystery, Tim Green’s series will keep you cheering from the dugout to the final out.