From Publishers Weekly
In this latest Baseball Card Adventure, Shoeless Joe & Me by Dan Gutman, Joe "Stosh" Stoshack travels back to 1919 but will he be in time to prevent Shoeless Joe Jackson from being implicated in a conspiracy to throw the World Series? Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 4-7-"Life isn't always fair," the team's sponsor tells 13-year-old Joe "Stosh" Stoshack after an umpire errs in calling him out during the Louisville Little League Championship. To reinforce his message, Flip tells the boy about the 1919 Black Sox Scandal, when gamblers allegedly paid Shoeless Joe Jackson and seven other members of the Chicago White Sox to throw the World Series. They were expelled from baseball for life, but Flip contends that the illiterate Jackson was innocent. What Flip doesn't know is that Stosh can time travel into the past via old baseball cards. He goes back to 1919 to try to save Shoeless Joe and meets him shortly before the fateful payoff is about to be made. The criminals are out to make sure that nothing interferes with their profits and are willing to kill the boy if necessary. Antique photographs, baseball cards, and news clippings add to the authentic representation of the time. Action is intense and exciting, both on and off the baseball field, and there are touches of humor when Stosh mixes up his own era with 1919. The story evokes strong sympathy for Jackson, and an endnote suggests that readers write to the Baseball Hall of Fame in support of his induction. The fourth in a series, this novel is an intriguing melding of sports history and science fiction that should be a hit with middle-school readers.Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 4-7. Gutman's well-received Baseball Card Adventure series features Joe Stoshack, the 13-year-old narrator who can travel back in time by holding a baseball card. When an umpire's bad call results in a loss for Joe's team, he is furious. But when the team's sponsor tells him that "life isn't always fair," and illustrates the story of Shoeless Joe Jackson, the boy decides to head back to 1919 and make things right. Young Stoshack's experiences are certainly varied: he spends the night with Jackson and his wife, unexpectedly walking in on her naked not once but twice. He overhears crooks plotting to fix the World Series before he's imprisoned and nearly shot by them; he meets long-dead relatives and tries to cure one of influenza. The story ends with Joe back home. Although he was unable to fulfill his initial purpose, his trip has changed history in other ways. The book ends with Gutman's impassioned plea for readers to join a campaign to clear Shoeless Joe's reputation. A not-quite-believable, but still highly enjoyable time-travel adventure. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Book Description

When Joe Stoshack hears about Shoeless Joe Jackson -- and the gambling scandal that destroyed the star player's career -- he knows what he has to do. If he travels back in time with a 1919 baseball card in his hand, he just might be able to prevent the infamous Black Sox Scandal from ever taking place. And if he could do that, Shoeless Joe Jackson would finally take his rightful place in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

But can Stosh prevent that tempting envelope full of money from making its way to Shoeless Joe's hotel room before the big game?

Card catalog description
Joe Stoshack travels back to 1919, where he meets Shoeless Joe Jackson and tries to prevent the fixing of the World Series in which Jackson was wrongly implicated.

About the Author
Dan Gutman is the author of many books for young readers, including the four previous Baseball Card Adventures: Honus & Me, Jackie & Me, Babe & Me, and Shoeless Joe & Me. When he is not writing books, Dan is very often visiting a school. He lives in Haddonfield, New Jersey, with his wife, Nina, and their children, Sam and Emma.

FROM OUR EDITORS

Avid baseball buffs know at least two things about "Shoeless Joe" Jackson. 1. He was perhaps the greatest natural hitter who ever lived. 2. His career came crashing down because of his participation in the 1919 Chicago "Black Sox" scandal. In this adroit and touching story, young Joe Stoshack, baseball card in hand, travels back in time to prevent the World Series fixing scandal and to enable the mighty Shoeless Joe to take his place in baseball's Hall of Fame.

ANNOTATION

Joe Stoshack travels back to 1919, where he meets Shoeless Joe Jackson and tries to prevent the fixing of the World Series in which Jackson was wrongly implicated.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Since Joe Stoshack first traveled back in time through a baseball card to meet Honus Wagner, he knew he had a special gift. So when sports card shop owner Flip tells Stosh all about his hero, Shoeless Joe Jackson — about the scandal that destroyed the star player's career — Stosh gets an idea. If he travels back in time with a 1919 baseball card in his hand, he just might be able to prevent the infamous Black Sox Scandal from ever taking place. And if he could do that, Shoeless Joe Jackson-one of the greatest players in the history of the game — would finally take his place in the Baseball Hall of Fame, where he truly belongs.

But can Stosh prevent that tempting envelope full of gambling money from making its way to Shoeless Joe's hotel room before the big game?

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

In this latest Baseball Card Adventure, Shoeless Joe & Me by Dan Gutman, Joe "Stosh" Stoshack travels back to 1919 but will he be in time to prevent Shoeless Joe Jackson from being implicated in a conspiracy to throw the World Series? ( Mar.) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Children's Literature

Frequently described as the greatest scandal in baseball, the Black Sox Scandal of 1919 made famous the name Shoeless Joe Jackson. Many books and movies have been made detailing this moment in sports history. In spite of the debate about what should have been done with the players and whether Joe Jackson was treated fairly, the result of the scandal and its effect on baseball will always be the same. Or will it? What would you do if you could warn Shoeless Joe Jackson and the others? What if you could help change what happened to such great baseball players? What if just by holding a baseball card you could go back in time and see such great players as Satchel Page or Babe Ruth? Some might decide that with such a power they would go back and warn Joe Jackson and the others of what was going to happen. That is exactly what Joe Stoshack, a thirteen-year-old baseball player, is going to do. In the same style as his other books with Joe Stoshack, Dan Gutman uses a detailed knowledge of baseball and history to create a wonderful story. Just picking up the book, the reader is intrigued to find out how this young man is going to change the course of history and what that could mean for baseball. Recommended for any collection of historical fiction. 2002, HarperCollins Children's Books, Orsborn

VOYA

This new Baseball Card Adventure again features Joe Stoshack, a thirteen-year-old boy who can travel through time via old baseball trading cards. When Joe slides safely into base but is called out, he complains to Flip, team sponsor. Flip compares Joe's situation with ballplayer Shoeless Joe Jackson's in the fixed 1919 World Series. Although innocent, Shoeless Joe was ousted from baseball. Joe decides to alter Shoeless Joe's fate and travels through time after promising to photograph his relatives Gladys and Wilbur, children in that era. Once in 1919, readers witness exciting pregame events and meet Shoeless Joe, who comes to life through little-known facts, newspaper clippings, and photographs. The game proceeds, and after Joe photographs his relatives, he gives antibiotics to Wilbur, ailing from then-deadly influenza. Middle school history and/or baseball buffs will devour this novel despite improbabilities, particularly Joe outwitting World Series gamblers or giving Shoeless Joe's priceless autographs to Flip. Joe also fails to recognize longtime family member Wilbur, a puzzling presentation when Joe's travel clearly saved Wilbur rather than Shoeless Joe. The ending finds Joe receiving another mistaken call, but this time one that allows for his team's victory. Considering his concern over Shoeless Joe's story, Joe's gleeful acceptance of the mistaken call in a championship game seems disheartening. Nevertheless Shoeless Joe is compelling, and Joe's adventures are exciting. An appendix relays the fate of players in the 1919 Series and additional information about Shoeless Joe Jackson. Previous entries in the series are Honus and Me (Avon, 1997), Jackie and Me (Avon/Camelot, 1999), andBabe and Me (Avon/Camelot, 2000/VOYA April 2000), $15.89. Photos. Appendix. VOYA CODES: 3Q 4P M (Readable without serious defects; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8). 2002, HarperCollins, 165p, $15.95. Ages 11 to 14. Reviewer: Lisa M. Hazlett SOURCE: VOYA, February 2002 (Vol. 24, No.6)

School Library Journal

Gr 4-7-"Life isn't always fair," the team's sponsor tells 13-year-old Joe "Stosh" Stoshack after an umpire errs in calling him out during the Louisville Little League Championship. To reinforce his message, Flip tells the boy about the 1919 Black Sox Scandal, when gamblers allegedly paid Shoeless Joe Jackson and seven other members of the Chicago White Sox to throw the World Series. They were expelled from baseball for life, but Flip contends that the illiterate Jackson was innocent. What Flip doesn't know is that Stosh can time travel into the past via old baseball cards. He goes back to 1919 to try to save Shoeless Joe and meets him shortly before the fateful payoff is about to be made. The criminals are out to make sure that nothing interferes with their profits and are willing to kill the boy if necessary. Antique photographs, baseball cards, and news clippings add to the authentic representation of the time. Action is intense and exciting, both on and off the baseball field, and there are touches of humor when Stosh mixes up his own era with 1919. The story evokes strong sympathy for Jackson, and an endnote suggests that readers write to the Baseball Hall of Fame in support of his induction. The fourth in a series, this novel is an intriguing melding of sports history and science fiction that should be a hit with middle-school readers.-Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews