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Informationen zum Autor Derek Jeter is a fourteen-time All-Star and five-time World Series winner who played for one team--the storied New York Yankees--for all twenty seasons of his major league career. His grace and class on and off the field have made him an icon and role model far beyond the world of baseball. Paul Mantell is the author of more than 100 books for young readers, including books in the Hardy Boys and Matt Christopher series. Klappentext Derek is sure this will be the best season yet! He has it all planned; his dad will have him start at shortstop, and the team will cruise to a championship. But sometimes life doesn't go according to plan.Change Up Chapter One CURVEBALL I can’t believe it. My dream is finally coming true! Derek Jeter sat in the back of his family’s old station wagon, thinking those words, not saying them out loud, as he watched his dad get behind the wheel and fish out his car keys. Instead Derek said, “Thanks for doing this, Dad. I know how busy you are, but I’m reeeeally happy you’re coaching our team.” Finally, he wanted to add, but stopped himself. “I’m as excited as you are, Derek,” Charles Jeter said, smiling as he glanced at his son in the rearview mirror. “It’s the first time I’ve ever coached a team.” “Really?” Derek was shocked, although he probably shouldn’t have been. Mr. Jeter had been a college player until he’d injured his knee, but since then had been working, studying for advanced degrees, and raising a family. Still, Mr. Jeter had been Derek’s unofficial coach practically since Derek was in diapers. It seemed weird that his dad had never coached a baseball team until now. “Wow! We get to be your first team,” Derek said proudly. “I just hope you’ll be as happy about it when the season’s over as you are right now. You might not be, if we wind up in last place.” Was he joking? Derek wondered. Probably. His dad always kept a straight face, so it was sometimes hard to tell what was a joke and what wasn’t. But would Derek still be happy if their team wound up in last place? That was not going to happen, he reassured himself. Never in a million years. His dad was the best coach in the world! Or at least the best Derek could ever imagine. Who else could have taught him so well, and cared so much, and believed in him so totally? His dad knew everything there was to know about baseball, Derek was sure of that. Suddenly he remembered something. “Hey, Dad, don’t forget to pick up Vijay at his house!” Vijay had been Derek’s best friend since the Patel family had arrived in Kalamazoo and moved into Mount Royal Townhouses, just a stone’s throw from the Jeter family’s townhouse in the same development. The Patels were from India, and they were the first Indian-American family Derek or any of the other local kids had known. Derek had been Vijay’s first friend in town, and they’d been best friends ever since. And now they were on the same team—for the third year in a row! Derek’s other best friend, Dave Hennum, was on the team too. In fact, the entire universe seemed to be aligning to produce the one thing Derek had never experienced in his baseball life—a championship team. Vijay was already out in front of his house, waving both hands. His mitt was on his left hand, but that didn’t stop Vijay. He was the king of excitement, as always. “I can’t believe it!” he said breathlessly as he plunked himself down in the seat beside Derek. “Slap me five. We’re going all the way this time!” Derek gave him five, but he wished Vijay wouldn’t always make big predictions like that, at least not out loud. Derek thought it was bad luck to act like you’d already won something when you hadn’t even stepped ...
