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The Funniest Man in Baseball: The True Story of Max Patkin
A hilarious picture book biography about Max Patkin, a professional ballplayer turned legendary baseball clown, from the author of the acclaimed Brothers at Bat and other baseball nonfiction.
Max Patkin was pitching in the minor leagues when he was injured and had to leave his dreams behind. He joined the Navy and eventually was able to play again while in the military . . . and this time he got to pitch against superstar Joe DiMaggio. When Joe hit one of Max’s throws out of the park, Max threw down his glove, left the mound, and chased Joe around the bases, making faces and imitating his every move. The crowd loved it! And a baseball clown was born.
This inspiring and comical biography carries an important Life doesn’t always turn out exactly as you hope . . . but moving in a new direction can sometimes bring happy surprises.
Max Patkin was pitching in the minor leagues when he was injured and had to leave his dreams behind. He joined the Navy and eventually was able to play again while in the military . . . and this time he got to pitch against superstar Joe DiMaggio. When Joe hit one of Max’s throws out of the park, Max threw down his glove, left the mound, and chased Joe around the bases, making faces and imitating his every move. The crowd loved it! And a baseball clown was born.
This inspiring and comical biography carries an important Life doesn’t always turn out exactly as you hope . . . but moving in a new direction can sometimes bring happy surprises.
40 pages, Hardcover
Published April 3, 2018
About the author
Audrey Vernick
33 books147 followersAudrey Vernick is the author of books for young readers.
Forthcoming titles:
The World's Best Class Plant, written with Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Lynnor Bontigao
Homesick, written with Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Daniel Miyares
www.audreyvernick.com
Forthcoming titles:
The World's Best Class Plant, written with Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Lynnor Bontigao
Homesick, written with Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Daniel Miyares
www.audreyvernick.com
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 14, 2023
The story of Max Patkin is a good lesson on how to move forward after you have a life changing situation - art is wonderful and reminiscent of 50's advertising animation. Before I read this book I had never heard of him; yet another example of how you are never too old to learn from a well written book for children!
March 27, 2020
With The Funniest Man in Baseball: The True Story of Max Patkin, Audrey Vernick delivers another excellent nonfiction baseball picture book. After other terrific titles such as Brothers at Bat and The Kid from Diamond Street, Vernick continues to find fascinating baseball stories and deliver them in appealing books for young people. Her newest focuses on Max Patkin, The Clown Prince of Baseball.
Max Patkin, born in 1920, dreams of a career as a major league baseball player. During World War II, Patkin pitches to Joe DiMaggio in an exhibition game. DiMaggio hits a home run, and Patkin chases him around the bases to the delight of the fans. When injuries derail Patkin’s dreams of becoming a baseball player, he remembers how his clowning brought such enjoyment. For the next few decades, Max Patkin performs at more than 4,000 major and minor league games without missing a scheduled appearance until his retirement at age 75. (Older readers may remember Patkin’s cameo in the 1988 Bull Durham film.)
Audrey Vernick’s text explains the historical context of Patkin’s life but also conveys the hilarity of his antics in a rollicking narrative voice. Jennifer Bower’s bright comic illustrations effectively support Vernick’s descriptions of Patkin’s physical comedy. Baseball fans will revel in The Funniest Man in Baseball, and it will also entertain those who enjoy stories with generous doses of humor.
Max Patkin, born in 1920, dreams of a career as a major league baseball player. During World War II, Patkin pitches to Joe DiMaggio in an exhibition game. DiMaggio hits a home run, and Patkin chases him around the bases to the delight of the fans. When injuries derail Patkin’s dreams of becoming a baseball player, he remembers how his clowning brought such enjoyment. For the next few decades, Max Patkin performs at more than 4,000 major and minor league games without missing a scheduled appearance until his retirement at age 75. (Older readers may remember Patkin’s cameo in the 1988 Bull Durham film.)
Audrey Vernick’s text explains the historical context of Patkin’s life but also conveys the hilarity of his antics in a rollicking narrative voice. Jennifer Bower’s bright comic illustrations effectively support Vernick’s descriptions of Patkin’s physical comedy. Baseball fans will revel in The Funniest Man in Baseball, and it will also entertain those who enjoy stories with generous doses of humor.
April 10, 2018
A pb biography about a person I had not heard of, but definitely had an interesting life. Max Patkin had an important part in baseball, just not on the field - more off on the sidelines - providing comic relief during the game for the spectators!
June 18, 2018
@kidlitexchange #partner
Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of The Funniest Man in Baseball. All opinions are my own.
Comedy on the baseball diamond? Sure, why not? This biographical picture book tells the story of Max Patkin from his childhood dreams of playing in the big leagues, through his military service, and into his long career as a baseball clown. The funny man entertained crowds for many years, and this book details many of his famous acts and experiences with famous players such as Joe DiMaggio and Babe Ruth. The illustrations add tot he humor as Jennifer Bower has added so much expression and detail to the text. I enjoyed the quotes from Patkin himself sprinkled throughout the book and the author’s note at the end. This is a fun peek into the life of someone I knew nothing of before reading this book. Baseball fans and budding comedians will love this story!
Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of The Funniest Man in Baseball. All opinions are my own.
Comedy on the baseball diamond? Sure, why not? This biographical picture book tells the story of Max Patkin from his childhood dreams of playing in the big leagues, through his military service, and into his long career as a baseball clown. The funny man entertained crowds for many years, and this book details many of his famous acts and experiences with famous players such as Joe DiMaggio and Babe Ruth. The illustrations add tot he humor as Jennifer Bower has added so much expression and detail to the text. I enjoyed the quotes from Patkin himself sprinkled throughout the book and the author’s note at the end. This is a fun peek into the life of someone I knew nothing of before reading this book. Baseball fans and budding comedians will love this story!
September 15, 2018
I loved this story of Max Patkin and the ways he entertained on the ball field once he could not play on a team due to injuries. We need more sports stories like this for young readers. For any reader who loves baseball this would be an eye-opening read in the history of the sport and the man that entertained the crowd before the advent of team mascots. This story has heart showing this man and his love for baseball. He found a way to keep on playing in a different way.
June 8, 2018
At first I really thought the comic illustrations by debut picture book illustrator Jennifer Bower were going to bug me, but they suited this book well, and looking at the actual picture of Max in the back matter she kind of nailed it. A great untold story of baseball's greatest clown...no one does baseball picture books quite like Audrey Vernick.
November 14, 2018
Nicely done picture book biography of the Clown Prince of Baseball. Wonderful illustrations which really capture Patkin and his goofy essence.
I got to see Patkin once at a Cubs game and he's been one of my baseball heroes. In my opinion we need a little Max Patkin in baseball and a lot of other things these days!
I got to see Patkin once at a Cubs game and he's been one of my baseball heroes. In my opinion we need a little Max Patkin in baseball and a lot of other things these days!
June 10, 2018
Kids voted to give this book 5 stars and have already re-read it twice.
This is a non-fiction biography about a funny baseball guy. It is on the longer side, so it’s better for older kids who can sit through longer stories.
Great for baseball fans.
This is a non-fiction biography about a funny baseball guy. It is on the longer side, so it’s better for older kids who can sit through longer stories.
Great for baseball fans.
April 19, 2018
I was not familiar with Max Patkin, but it is an interesting story.
May 13, 2018
Thoroughly enjoyed learning about Max Patkin’s story! Fun picture book biography.
November 12, 2018
A picture book biography of Max Patkin, who started off as a pitcher in the major leagues but eventually ended up as sideline entertainment in the era before mascots were around to do that.
I have never heard of Patkin before. It is interesting to know that they employed slapstick comedians to entertain the crowds before the mascots arrived. I don't know how many kids will even recognize a single name of the famous baseball players mentioned here because they were from quite a while ago, but perhaps they can ask their grandparents (or great-grandparents) about those people. It is interesting to see how one man turned his love of baseball into a career, even if it wasn't in the way he expected. Could be an inspiring biography for those kids who love to make others laugh.
I have never heard of Patkin before. It is interesting to know that they employed slapstick comedians to entertain the crowds before the mascots arrived. I don't know how many kids will even recognize a single name of the famous baseball players mentioned here because they were from quite a while ago, but perhaps they can ask their grandparents (or great-grandparents) about those people. It is interesting to see how one man turned his love of baseball into a career, even if it wasn't in the way he expected. Could be an inspiring biography for those kids who love to make others laugh.
October 16, 2018
A picture book biography of baseball clown Max Patkin who drams of a career in baseball and ends up a baseball clown after an injury sidelines him. A funny and enjoyable biogrpahy of a committed and incredible man. Elementary and up
May 1, 2019
This is a good book for children who are reluctant to read a non fiction book. This book gives facts about a famous baseball player, but it has a very fiction style. Students may not even realize it is NF. It has great illustrations and is comedic, so many students will probably enjoy it.
December 30, 2020
The story of a man who was a pitcher, but had to quit due to injury.
At the time, baseball had clowns rather than mascots. He had done the clown bit once when he was pitching in an exhibition game in WWII (when he was a soldier). He started doing it as just a clown, not a player and kept on doing it for 5 decades, performing for teams with a lot of big name players.
At the time, baseball had clowns rather than mascots. He had done the clown bit once when he was pitching in an exhibition game in WWII (when he was a soldier). He started doing it as just a clown, not a player and kept on doing it for 5 decades, performing for teams with a lot of big name players.
April 29, 2018
Interesting character.
November 4, 2019
AN interesting true story about a colorful character. I think Mom and Dad enjoyed it more than the kid when we read this one.
January 3, 2021
About finding your place in something you love, even if it's not the place you initially would have chosen.
July 12, 2021
A good read for a child, but not an early-reader. Patkin's story is cool. I'll have to watch Bull Durham again.
November 16, 2018
While definitely not the most significant contribution to baseball, this story is an interesting one. Definitely a precursor to the silly antics of mascots these days, and a man who figured out how to make a baseball job for himself.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews