Creighton, Don. Little League Giant. 1965. Personal library.

Back in Dover Falls everybody was accustomed to Chris Sorensen's size. Five-feet-eleven was rather an unusual height for a boy not quite thirteen; but his friends considered that his size belonged to him, like his bright blue eyes and his flashing smile. As far as they were concerned, that was the way Chris was meant to be.

Chris Sorensen, now a new student in Millbrook, was trying out for a place in the starting lineup of Little League.

"Yes, sir! A real bonanza for the Bears," remarked the manager.

This was what Chris had overheard at the tryouts. A bonanza—he had heard that word before. As soon as he got home, he looked the word up. "A rich vein ore. Hence, a source of great profit."

"Pretty nice, being called some sort of treasure," his father remarked.

However, Chris tried out at various places, first as pitcher and then as catcher as was finally sent to the right field.

Right field! That was where a manager put his worst player, thought Chris. Then echoing in his ear as he joined the other boys was the manager's final comment: "Oh, what a boy! Instead of a bonanza maybe we've got a white elephant."

Chris Sorensen was now very unsure about his being a treasure. In fact, he was unsure about most things that happened to him.

Then one day when the game was not going well, Manager Snedecker took Chris off the bench and sent him to play first base. Chris looked frightened for a moment.

"Yes, sir! First is where you belong. Let's get to work." And it was amazing how true Mr. Snedecker's words turned out to be.

Although the victories for the Bears were impressive, Chris never seemed willing to acknowledge that he was partly responsible for these victories. His loneliness never gave way to happiness. He trusted no one completely—and made no friends.

Then one day the Bears met the Wildcats. If anything could have made Chris feel more conspicuous than usual, it was the Wildcats' tiny catcher—Hobie Timmons. Although Hobie played a sneaky trick on Chris during the first inning, after the game he gave Chris his first real welcome.

Having a friend made all the difference—especially when the friend was a great kid like Hobie. To be so small, and yet play baseball the way Hobie did, made a kid something special. However, Chris learned that a small boy had his problems, too.

Little League Giant is the exciting story of how Chris Sorensen overcame his problems of loneliness and frustrations and emerged a star player for the Bears.

The inevitable victory of the championship game played by the Bears against the invincible Bridgeton State Champions will thrill all readers.

Don Creighton wrote four Little League books in the Steck-Vaughn Sports Series, starting with this one in 1965. Chris Sorenson is new to Millbrook, and at 5'11" and only 12 years old, he struggles to get comfortable with himself and his size.