Mighty Jackie: The Strike-Out Queen by Marissa Moss and C.F. Payne

Perseverance. Righteousness. Motivation. 

Practice Makes Perfect. Striking.

Mighty Jackie: The Strike-Out Queen
Written by Marissa Moss. Illustrated by C.F. Payne.

Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2004.

"Jackie was known for her mighty curve ball and is still remembered as 'The Girl Who Struck Out Babe Ruth." -Marissa Moss

"'Go out there and pitch just like you pitch to anybody else.'" -Marissa Moss

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3--When Jackie Mitchell was a pitcher for the Chattanooga Lookouts, she made baseball history on April 2, 1931, by striking out both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Moss begins this brief chronicle of the young woman's moment in the sun by setting the scene at the stadium that day, quoting the skepticism expressed by sports reporters. She then moves back to Mitchell's childhood and describes her early interest in the game and the support and encouragement offered by her father. When the scene returns to the big day, the author indulges in some minor fictionalizing as she imagines the teen's thoughts and feelings when she faced the baseball giants. The narrative captures the tension and excitement, and has the air of an experience remembered. Payne's mixed-media illustrations with their judicious use of sepia increase the nostalgic feel. Pair this title with Shana Corey's Players in Pigtails (Scholastic, 2003) or Doreen Rappaport and Lyndall Callan's Dirt on Their Skirts (Dial, 2000) for a close look at a previously neglected piece of history.--Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ 

Nominated for the Virginia Reader's Choice Awards, 2007.

Nominated for the South Carolina SCASL Book Award, 2007.

Nominated for the Garden State Children's Book Awards, 2007.

Nominated for the Washington Children's Choice Picture Book, 2006.

Nominated for the Black-Eyed Susan Book, 2006.
Selected for the International Reading Association Teachers' Choice, 2005-2006.
Nominated for the Bill Marin, Jr. Picture Book Award, 2005.

Won the American Library Association Notable Books for Children, 2005.
Top Ten Youth Sports Books of the Year - Booklist, 2004

A prominent, children's book author, Marissa Moss depicts a beautifully illustrated picture book of a young girl dreaming to become one of the first women pitcher in the Major Leagues. The story of Jackie Mitchell's determination and courageousness presents to students to never give up on their dreams or aspirations because of one's gender. Set during the Chattanooga vs. Yankees game in April 2, 1931, seventeen-year-old Jackie Mitchell realizes that she will be pitching against the legendary team, Yankees. Bleachers are full with people watching her, hoping she will make a mistake. They say that women can not throw a ball or that baseball is too strenuous for women. However, Jackie believes differently. Ever since she was a young girl, her father told her that she could anything she want as long as she put hard work. For seventeen years, she worked hard; she worked so hard at baseball that she is pitching to a real baseball team. As she stands on the mound, she puts all her determination and inspiration, striking out the two most prominent baseball players. Standing on the mound as the crowd goes wild, Jackie "shown the world how a girl could throw - as hard and as fast and as far as she wanted" (Moss).

Extras: With C.F. Payne's wonderfully illustrative images and Marissa Moss's writing style, readers are able to visualize history in the making. Readers will feel that they are in the crowd, watching Jackie making female and baseball history. Inside the jacket cover, there is brief summary written by the author. The back cover of the jacket displays a Jackie Mitchell baseball card revealing her baseball status and other interesting facts that will engage students. There is also an Author's Note illuminating what happened to Jackie Mitchell after she strike-out the two most famous male baseball players in a Chattanooga vs. Yankees baseball game.

Literary Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction, Sports & Health, Women's Rights

Reading Level: Lexile Framework 770L, Grade 3/4

Suggested Delivery: Read-Aloud

ISBN-13: 978-0689863295

****************************************************************************

Teachers... Here are some resources to help 

you teach Mighty Jackie: The Strike-Out Queen

Jackie Mitchell pitching.

Electronic Resources:

Author's Site: Marissa Moss - This link is an interactive website for students and teachers. Included in this source, one will be able to learn more about Marissa Moss and why she became the author who she is today, email her, view teacher tips, see her planned events, look through her list of books that she wrote and the fun activities provided. Great for teachers to view before reading to the students; have an idea of who the author is.

Meet the Illustrator: C.F. Payne - Visit the illustrator's website. The source includes a brief biography of who he is, his portfolio, how to contact him, and the ability to buy his art/prints.

Short Video Documentary on Jackie Mitchell - Made by a film class at the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga, students are able to watch a short documentary on Jackie Mitchell making baseball history in the Chattanooga vs. Yankee baseball game in April 2, 1931. Great for students to watch during or after reading, to learn more about Jackie Mitchell.

Exploratorium's Science of Baseball: Jackie Mitchell - This link provides information about Jackie Mitchell's baseball career. Great for students to view while reading or after.

Mighty Jackie Activities - This link provides teacher's additional suggestions or lesson ideas to use to teach Mighty Jackie. Great for teachers to view for before, during, or after reading.

Additional Resources: Mighty Jackie - This link provides additional links that teachers could use and teaching suggestions within the different content areas to educate this story to students.

All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Players Association Homepage - This link is an excellent source for students who want to learn more about women's involvement in baseball. Students are able to view articles, photographs, interviews, and statistics about the first women to play professional baseball from 1943 to 1954. One is also able to look up women baseball players and learn more about the film, "A League On Their Own" featuring these women.

Key Vocabulary: exhibition, sneered, callused, gaped, flinched, umpire, jeering, snickering, stunned, glared, heft, fluke

Teaching Suggestions: 

1. Use this text in Social Studies to research in-depth when women started to become more involved in sports in the United States.
2. Use this text in History to have students make text-to-self by asking if they ever known someone who could not do something based on their gender and text-to-world connections by having students compare and contrast women in other countries to see if they were allowed to participate in sports such as Jackie Mitchell. What may have let women be involved or not in these sports?
3. Use this text to compare and contrast the difference between baseball and softball. Why is baseball only for men and softball for women? Is this statement true?
4. Use this text to explore the culture or origin of baseball in the United States. Why is it such a highly-viewed sport?



Mighty Jackie practicing her pitching.

5. Use this text to incorporate Physical Education by teaching students the positions/structure of baseball. Have students research how to properly hold a bat, the motion to pitch a ball, and the amount of exercise needed to become a great baseball player.

Comprehension Strategies:

• Before Reading: 
• Have students complete a KWL chart. Have students brainstorm what they already know about baseball, women involvement in baseball, and Jackie Mitchell. Students will also fill out the "W" part, which is what they WANT to learn about the topic. After, have students gather in whole group discussion to discuss their KWL charts. Write down their ideas on the board so that students can relate and look back to their ideas when listening to the read aloud.
• During Reading: 
• Pause during the read-aloud and have students make text-to-self connections by asking literal and inferential questions. Some examples could be:

1. When and where was this baseball game?
2. Who were the baseball teams?
3. Why did everyone come to see this specific baseball game?
4. Why was everyone surprised that a women would be pitching?
5. How was Jackie as a pitcher? Was she good or bad?
6. Why do you think people believe that girls cannot throw?
7. Who taught Jackie that anyone could do anything if they put in hard work?
8. Why does Jackie like baseball?
9. What was Jackie's dream goal?
10. How did Jackie felt when she saw Babe Ruth ready to bat?
11. Do you think Babe Ruth or Lou Gehrig were nice to Jackie?
12. Why did people not respect Jackie until she strike-out Babe Ruth and Lou Gerhig?
13. Why did Jackie say, "'It is my game'"?
14. Why do you think Babe Ruth does not want to bat against a woman pitcher ever again?
15. How does Jackie feel after she strike out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig?
16. Do you think that Babe Ruth or Lou Gehrig will talk or shake hands with Jackie after the game? Why do you think so? or Why not?
17. If you were Jackie, how would you react if someone told you that you could not do something?
18. What is the overall message or central theme that you received from the story?

• After Reading: Have students independently read the story. Then, students will complete the "L" in the KWL. Moreover, read to the students the Author's Note and have a class discussion on why women were banned from playing baseball and how it affected women during that time period. Ask students if there were any alternative sport, similar to baseball, that allowed women to play? Encourage students to use Internet sources or academic books for the discussion. Also, prompt students to make text-to-self connections by asking if they never gave up an aspiration or goal, like Jackie. How did it make them feel? How did it make Jackie feel when she stuck with her determination to pitch?

Jackie Mitchell (left) with Babe Ruth (middle) and Lou Gehrig (right).

Student Writing Activity: 

• Students will write a letter to Jackie Mitchell asking her how she became one of the famous women to play baseball and how she felt striking out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Then, students will give their letter to their partner, in which the partner will respond back pretending to be Mitchell.
• Students will also be able to make their own baseball cards of themselves like the back cover of Mighty Jackie. Have students bring in a picture of themselves and create a list of skills that they are good at with a small drawing included. Encourage students to make their card original and very creative as they will be put up on a bulletin board for display. 

Shaking hands with Babe Ruth.

Moss, M., & Payne, C. F. (2004). Mighty Jackie: the strike out queen. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.