The Longest Season

The Baltimore Orioles' 1988 season began with a run of losses that became part of baseball history. In The Longest Season, Cal Ripken Jr. revisits that difficult year from the perspective of someone who experienced it from inside the team. The Orioles lost their first twenty-one games, and the struggle tested the players, coaches and supporters who had to keep showing up while results refused to turn.

Ripken's account offers young readers a way to look beyond the scoreline and consider what happens when a team faces repeated disappointment. The book explores the emotions that accompany losing, the responsibility of continuing to work together and the importance of perseverance when progress is not immediate. The presence of Ripken's father, who managed the team, and other familiar figures from the season gives the story a personal dimension as well as a sporting one.

Illustrated by Ron Mazellan, the book makes a memorable baseball season accessible to younger readers. It can be enjoyed by children who follow the sport, but its themes extend beyond baseball: effort, teamwork, patience and resilience matter in many parts of life. The Longest Season is a picture-book story for families, classrooms and young sports fans who want to understand how a team responds when a season begins in the hardest possible way.

Product Details

Author: Cal Ripken Jr.
Illustrator: Ron Mazellan
Publisher: Philomel Books
Format: Hardcover
Approx. Dimensions: 30 × 26.4 × 0.8 cm
Approx. Weight: 544 g
Language: English
ISBN: 9780399244926
Delivery Time: 5–7 Business Days