Cal Ripken Jr. co-authors a second children's book
Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Cal Ripken Jr. released a second children鈥檚 book today with Baltimore Sun reporter Kevin Cowherd.
The book, 鈥淪uper-Sized Slugger,鈥� is a sequel to Ripken and Cowherd鈥檚 first book 鈥淗othead鈥� and continues to follow the baseball players in the Dulaney Babe Ruth League in Baltimore, Maryland. 鈥淪uper-Sized鈥� addresses the issue of bullying among children through the main character of Cody Parker, an overweight baseball player who struggles with being teased. Cody goes up against one of his bullies for the position of third baseman when he tries out for the team.
鈥淧arents think it's just a phase, or life, or part of toughening up,鈥� Ripken told about the issue of bullying among children. 鈥淏ut I want kids to know, 'You have options and the options are caring adults.鈥欌��
Ripken shared with ESPN that he himself had been bullied after joining the varsity baseball team in high school as a freshman. He remembered at one point being held upside down by his feet on a flight of stairs inside school.
鈥淚 don't believe you can build a team with that attitude,鈥� Ripken told .
Ripken said he and Cowherd will be writing a third installment in the series about the kids in the Dulaney Babe Ruth League, though a release date has not yet been set.
Molly Driscoll is a Monitor contributor.
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