1. Can You Win the Pennant?
Author: Mitch Gelman
Illustrator: Al Fiorentino
First Published: April, 1983
ISBN: 0-671-46022-6
Length: 118 pages
Number of Endings: 25 (11 victories, 11 defeats and 3 surprises)
Plot Summary: You're the manager of the Bombers, nicknamed the
"Clawing Cats," and you must make decisions during a baseball game
which, if won, will give you the pennant.
My Thoughts: This book isn't terribly well written, but it does look
like it might be a fun game for baseball fans. If you're not very
knowledgeable about baseball, however, it's rather dull and confusing.
2. Pro Football Showdown
Author: Mitch Gelman
Illustrator: Al Fiorentino
First Published: September, 1983
ISBN: 0-671-46023-4
Length: 118 pages
Number of Endings: 25 (12 victories, 12 defeats and 1 surprise)
Plot Summary: You must guide the Warriors into victory as they challenge
the Gorillas for a chance at the Super Bowl.
My Thoughts: I know even less about football than I do about
baseball, so this book mostly went over my head. From what I could tell, it
should be interesting to readers who understand football, since the book's
discussions of strategy are fairly in-depth, and the choices look like they
really require some thought. As in the previous book, though, the writing
isn't great, and this may put some people off; the characters are colorful,
but in a rather tacky way, and the "surprise ending" is far too
random to be satisfying or even particularly interesting.
3. World Series Pressure
Author: Mitch Gelman
Illustrator: Al Fiorentino
First Published: April, 1984
ISBN: 0-671-47577-0
Length: 118 pages
Number of Endings: 26 (12 victories, 12 defeats and 2 surprises)
Plot Summary: Having won the pennant (in book one), you must now bring the
Bombers to victory in the World Series.
My Thoughts: This book picks up right where the Can You Win the
Pennant? left off. It's very similar to that book in both quality of
writing and gameplay.
4. Super Bowl Sunday
Author: Mitch Gelman
Illustrator: Al Fiorentino
First Published: October, 1984
ISBN: 0-671-47578-9
Length: 118 pages
Number of Endings: 25 (12 victories, 12 defeats and 1 surprises)
Plot Summary: In this direct sequel to Pro Football Showdown,
the Warriors face the Sharks in the Super Bowl.
My Thoughts: This book is almost identical to the previous football
title in the series; it has the same characters, the same writing style and
even the same sort of pointless surprise ending (which, strangely enough, I
came across upon my first read-through of the book). Perhaps there's
something here for the sports fan to enjoy, but as an ignorant layman, I was
pretty bored most of the time.
5. Opening Day
Author: Mitch Gelman
Illustrator: Al Fiorentino
First Published: April, 1985
ISBN: 0-671-53159-X
Length: 118 pages
Number of Endings: 25 (12 victories, 12 defeats and 1 surprises)
Plot Summary: Having won the World Series, you now need to get a new
season off to a good start.
My Thoughts: Of the three baseball books in the series, I found this
to be the most interesting, mainly because it features choices about things
other than plays (like contract negotiations and player conduct). Baseball
fans might also find it interesting for the strategy tips woven throughout
the narrative. Still, despite these things, it's not a very good book,
mainly due to Gelman's less-than-thrilling (and somehow condescending) style.
6. Defending Champions
Author: Mitch Gelman
Illustrator: David Carlson
First Published: October, 1985
ISBN: 0-671-53160-3
Length: 118 pages
Number of Endings: 20 (9 victories, 9 defeats, 1 tie and 1 surprises)
Plot Summary: It's time to start a new season after leading your
team to victory in the Super Bowl.
My Thoughts: This is pretty much the football equivalent of the last
book. There are some slightly interesting non-game-related choices, but
after that it's all pretty much Greek to me. It's probably the only book
where you have the option of asking one of your players to squeak like a
mouse while playing in an effort to intimidate a member of the other team,
though!