Author Description

Cal Ripken, Jr.'s autobiography The Only Way I Know was published in 1997 to rave reviews by critics and fans alike. Publishers Weekly called it "an unusually good sports autobiography that captures the candor and generous spirit of [the] man," while Booklist called it "superior....Excellent baseball fare." Now this number one best-seller has been adapted for children sure to score a hit with young readers. For readers aged 8-12, this adaptation by popular children's sports writer Dan Gutman traces Cal Ripken's life from his childhood in a baseball family to his rise through the minors to his career with the Baltimore Orioles, where he hasn't missed a game since 1982. Ripken's reflections on the fame that came when he broke Lou Gehrig's record of 2,130 consecutively played games will be of special interest to young readers, as will his thoughts on the ame—breaking a slump, the importance of knowing the basics, and more. Cal Ripken, Jr.: My Story contains the complete 16-page photo insert from The Only Way I Know.