Discover informational articles and sports coverage adapted for young readers
This article is part of the 'Ballpark Foods' series that explores how popular sporting event foods are made. It describes popcorn as a light, crunchy snack with a buttery, salty flavor that's popular at stadiums. The article explains that popcorn starts with a special type of corn called 'Zea mays everta' that has kernels with hard outer shells containing moisture. The popping process involves heating the kernels in oil until the water inside turns to steam, creating pressure that eventually causes the kernel to burst open and puff up. At ballparks, popcorn is typically made in large kettles, then seasoned with salt and butter before being served to fans in containers.
May 15, 2025
This article ranks and profiles MLB players #70-66 on the 2025 Top 100 list. Fernando Tatis Jr. (#70) is highlighted as a dynamic five-tool player who transitioned from shortstop to win a Gold Glove in right field with the Padres. Bryan Reynolds (#69) is praised as a consistent switch-hitting outfielder who signed the largest contract in Pirates history. Josh Hader (#68) is described as an elite reliever who joined the Astros on a $95M deal and recently recorded his 200th career save. Tanner Scott (#67) emerged as a dominant lefty reliever who signed a $72M contract with the Dodgers after splitting 2024 between Miami and San Diego. Gerrit Cole (#66) rounds out the group as the Yankees ace who won the 2023 AL Cy Young Award unanimously but will miss 2025 recovering from Tommy John surgery.
This article explores the concept of Superhero Baseball, focusing specifically on what would happen if a first baseman had shapeshifting abilities. The article begins by introducing the concept of baseball with superpowers, where players follow rules to keep everyone safe. It then explains shapeshifting abilities and the typical responsibilities of a first baseman. The main section details how shapeshifting would benefit a first baseman through extended reach, creating a perfect glove, forming defensive walls, covering the entire base, and catching high throws. The article concludes by discussing how opposing players might counter these advantages using powers like super speed, teleportation, phasing, illusion creation, and gravity control. Throughout, the article emphasizes how these superpowers would create an exciting but balanced version of baseball where extraordinary defensive abilities are met with equally impressive offensive counters.
May 14, 2025
This article covers the history of the Baltimore Orioles baseball team from their beginnings in 1954 when they moved from St. Louis to Baltimore. It describes their early struggles followed by their glory years in the 1960s and 1970s when they won three World Series championships. The article highlights famous players like Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, and Cal Ripken Jr. (the "Iron Man" who played 2,632 consecutive games). It explains the importance of Camden Yards, their ballpark built in 1992 that revolutionized stadium design. The piece also touches on their recent history, including playoff appearances in the 2010s, and mentions team traditions like their bird mascot and the seventh-inning stretch song. Written at a 6th-grade reading level, the article presents a family-friendly overview of the team's legacy in Baltimore.
May 13, 2025
This article explains how baseball gloves are made as part of a series on baseball equipment manufacturing. It describes the purpose of baseball gloves for catching balls safely and then details their production process. The manufacturing starts with basic materials like cowhide leather, thread, padding, webbing, and lacing. The process includes cutting leather pieces, shaping and molding them, sewing them together, creating the web pocket, adding padding, lacing the parts together, and finishing with oil and quality inspection. The article is written at a 6th grade reading level and includes information about different types of gloves for various positions, without mentioning specific brands or teams.
This article explains what a curveball is in baseball and how it works. A curveball is a pitch that appears to suddenly drop as it approaches the batter, making it difficult to hit. The movement comes from the spin a pitcher puts on the ball when throwing it, creating different air pressures that make the ball curve (the Magnus Effect). The article describes the proper grip technique for throwing a curveball and mentions famous pitchers known for their curveballs like Clayton Kershaw and Sandy Koufax. It includes a hypothetical example of a youth baseball player experiencing a curveball and offers tips for batters learning to hit this challenging pitch. The article is part of a series called "Baseball Basics" that explains different aspects of the sport for beginners and enthusiasts.
In a historic night for the New York Yankees, rookie outfielder Jasson Dominguez made history by becoming the youngest player to hit three home runs in a single game. At just 22 years and 91 days old, he surpassed a long-standing record set by Yankees icon Joe DiMaggio in 1937. With this remarkable achievement, Dominguez not only doubled his home run total for the season but also showcased his potential as one of the team's brightest stars.
May 12, 2025
This article explains why baseballs travel farther in warm weather compared to cold weather. It's part of a series on the science of baseball and fitness. The article describes two main factors: air density and ball elasticity. In warm weather, air is less dense, creating less resistance for the baseball as it travels. Additionally, warmer baseballs are more elastic and bounce better off the bat. The combination of these factors means a baseball can travel 20-25 feet farther on a hot day compared to a cold day. The article includes simple examples and explanations of scientific concepts like air density and coefficient of restitution, written at a 6th-grade reading level.
This article ranks and profiles MLB players #75-71 for the 2025 season. Steven Kwan (#75) is highlighted for his elite defense with three straight Gold Gloves and his exceptional contact ability. Luis Arraez (#74) is celebrated for his historic achievement of winning batting titles with three different teams in consecutive years and his remarkable ability to avoid strikeouts. Brandon Nimmo (#73) is recognized for reaching 100 career home runs with the Mets and his versatility in the outfield. Michael King (#72) is featured for his successful transition from reliever to starter with the Padres, including his first career complete game shutout. Yoshinobu Yamamoto (#71) is profiled as the Dodgers' prized international signing who has already won a World Series, Olympic gold medal, and World Baseball Classic championship.
This article explains MLB revenue sharing as part of a series on baseball business topics. Revenue sharing is a system where MLB teams share portions of their income to help create competitive balance. The article uses examples like the Yankees sharing with smaller-market teams like the Royals, and explains how this system helps smaller-market teams afford good players. It compares revenue sharing to two lemonade stands sharing profits, making the concept accessible to young readers. The article discusses how revenue sharing promotes fairness, helps baseball grow in more cities, and creates better competition. While the system isn't perfect, it helps create a more balanced league where teams from various market sizes can compete.
May 11, 2025
