news-2-you Volume XV, Advanced Edition 9 n2y.com October 22, 2012 WORLD SERIES St. Louis Cardinals won the 2011 World Series. Every sport has a champion. Each year, every sport has a championship game. October is baseball s month. Baseball s champion will be decided this month in the World Series. The first World Series was played in 1903. The first team to win was from Boston. The 2011 winner was from St. Louis. Some teams have won many times. Some teams have never won a World Series. October 22, 2012 www.mlb.com 1997-2012 n2y, Inc. page 1
news page The San Francisco Giants won the 2010 World Series. Thirty teams play Major League Baseball. Teams play all season to earn a place in the October playoffs. Eight teams went to this year s playoffs. The National League teams were Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, Washington Nationals, and San Francisco Giants. The American League teams were New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, Baltimore Orioles and Oakland Athletics. One team will win the National League championship. One team will win the American League championship. Those two teams will play the first game of the 2012 World Series, on October 24. The first team to win four games will be the World Series champion. October 22, 2012 1997-2012 n2y, Inc. page 2
news page Baseball is an American game. Cincinnati, Ohio had the fi rst professional team in 1869. Children learn to play the game as they grow up. All they need is a bat, a ball and a baseball glove. Any backyard or city park can become a baseball diamond. Teams take turns at bat. The game lasts as long as it takes to This young boy in Hawaii started playing baseball at the age of fi ve. play nine innings. The team with the most scores, or runs, wins Older kids play baseball for their schools. the game. A good baseball player can hit the ball, catch the ball and run the bases. The best players in America play Major League Baseball. October 22, 2012 1997-2012 n2y, Inc. page 3
news page But Americans are not the only players in the World Series. Many come from Canada, Japan and South Korea. Others come from Latin American countries like Venezuela and the Dominican Republic. In October, the best of these players will meet in the World Series. Last year, the St. Louis Albert Pujols was born in the Dominican Republic. He plays for the Los Angeles Angels. Cardinals surprised everyone when they won. Will the World Series give us another surprise this year? No one knows. Any team in the playoffs can win. No matter who wins, fans will enjoy October, baseball s most important month. Omar Vizquel was born in Venezuela. He plays for the Toronto Blue Jays. October 22, 2012 1997-2012 n2y, Inc. page 4
review page 1. WHAT is the main idea of this story? Last year, the winner of the World Series was from St. Louis. Teams play all season to earn a place in the October playoffs. Baseball s World Series will soon know it s 2012 champion. 2. CIRCLE True or False about the following statements: Eight teams went to this year s playoffs. The game lasts as long as it takes to play nine quarters. Only Americans can play in the World Series. True True True False False False 3. ANSWER these questions about the story: How many teams play Major League Baseball? When is the first game of the 2012 World Series? What do children need to play baseball? 4. NUMBER these events in the order they happened: The first World Series was in 1903. The St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series in 2011. Cincinnati, Ohio had the first professional team in 1869. 5. CIRCLE Fact or Opinion about the following statements: Any backyard or city park can become a baseball diamond. Fact Opinion The team with the most scores, or runs, wins the game. Fact Opinion The Cardinals surprised everyone when they won in 2011. Fact Opinion October 22, 2012 1997-2012 n2y, Inc. page 5
think page 1. WHAT do players need to play baseball? 2. WHAT are other games children play as they grow up? 3. WHERE would you like to play baseball? Why? 4. WHAT team would you like to win the 2012 World Series? Why? October 22, 2012 1997-2012 n2y, Inc. page 6
Index for Photographs Page 1-http://mlblogsnofavoriteteam.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/obqi655_1028se_g_20111028233403.jpg Page 2-http://www.sugarslam.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/san-francisco-giants-world-series.jpg Page 3-Picture by Beth Atuatasi, Hawaii Page 3-Picture by Patti Coleman, Ohio Page 4-http://www.wrapupp.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/albert-pujols-6049-1920x1200-1.png Page 4-http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7181/6971602014_2082bfc5d0.jpg October 22, 2012 1997-2012 n2y, Inc. page 7