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San Diego Padres (Baseball Today Series)

Bob Hinz

Cover of San Diego Padres (Baseball Today Series)

San Diego Padres (Baseball Today Series)

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

A Collection of the Greatest Padres Stories Ever Told

by Bob Hinz

Reading Level 6 11C Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.

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About This Book

The San Diego Padres aren't just any baseball team — they're a thrilling mix of epic wins and tough losses that keep fans on the edge of their seats. From their first game in 1968 to unforgettable moments in the dugout, this book reveals why every pitch and play matters to the heart of baseball. Discover how a team can turn the game into a saga of passion and perseverance!

Themes

SportsBiographyFriendshipUnited States

Quick Assessment

This book offers an engaging look at the history of the San Diego Padres, perfect for middle-grade readers interested in sports and biographies. Written in accessible language, it highlights the team's memorable moments and challenges since 1968, making it suitable for ages 9 to 12. Parents should note it focuses on sports history without intense content, providing an inspiring sports narrative.

Why we rated San Diego Padres (Baseball Today Series) 11C

San Diego Padres (Baseball Today Series) is written at a Level 6 reading level across 209 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, San Diego Padres (Baseball Today Series) works for readers up to grade 8.0.

We rate San Diego Padres (Baseball Today Series) as 11C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.

Thematically, San Diego Padres (Baseball Today Series) explores sports, biography, friendship, and united states — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

  • Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
  • Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
  • Kids drawn to stories about sports, biography, friendship.
  • Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.

Maybe not for

  • ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
  • ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.

For Parents

Content Intensity

11C — Clear
Emotional
Clear
Physical
Clear
Social
Clear
Thematic
Clear

No conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.

Data confidence: standard

Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

2/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

1/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
5
Emotional Weight
2
Theme Richness
4
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

209 pages
ISBN
9780898122817
Pages
209
Publisher
Skyhorse Publishing Inc.
Published
October 1982
Type
Nonfiction

Genres

Subjects

United StatesBaseball PlayersSan Diego PadresBaseball