Honus and Me

“Until we win the lottery, I’d try to make a few dollars here and there doing odd jobs. Yard work. Raking leaves and stuff. The winter before, Kentucky got a lot more snow than usual, and I made a bunch of money shoveling people’s sidewalks and driveways. I gave some of the money to my mom. The rest of it I spent on baseball cards.”

This passage characterizes Joe as a responsible and caring boy. Despite his youth, he contributes to his family’s financial struggles by working odd jobs. At the same time, he remains a typical 12-year-old, using his remaining money to buy baseball cards. His love for baseball cards is not just a hobby; it becomes the key to his adventure.

“Inside, the house was like one of those historical houses some famous guy lived in and has been preserved just the way he left it when he died. It was filled with antiques, though I don’t know if stuff is still called antique if somebody never stopped using it. The walls were covered with hats and dried flowers and old guns.”

Miss Young’s house is a mysterious setting. The house is a portal to the past, filled with antiques. Hats, dried flowers, and old guns gives the house an eerie quality. The description of the house as “historical” hints to the idea of time travel and the novel’s exploration of history through baseball.

“The baseball card wasn’t mine to take, really. It was Miss Young’s card. If anybody deserved to get rich from it, it was her. She had been nice enough to pay me double for cleaning out her attic, and I had stolen her fortune.

Almost as quickly, my brain came up with reasons I shouldn’t feel badly. Miss Young herself said that money wouldn’t do her any good, so why shouldn’t I keep the card? After all, she told me to throw the stuff away.”

The above passage introduces Joe’s moral conflict, which becomes a central focus of the novel. While Joe acknowledges that taking the card is wrong, he rationalizes his actions, choosing to prioritize personal gain over ethical considerations. The question at the heart of the novel—should Joe return the card?—is encapsulated here. It also contains a deeper question: will Joe choose material gain and selfishness over integrity?

“He could field like an octopus. Shortstop is the toughest position to play, so managers usually put their best fielder there. Every baseball book said that Wagner was undisputably the greatest shortstop ever.”

Honus Wagner is established as a legendary figure in the world of baseball. The above passage uses a simile, where something is compared to something else using “like” or “as.” In this case, Honus’s fielding ability is compared to that of an octopus. This evokes an almost mythical image of Wagner, an athlete with unmatched skills. This larger-than-life depiction is fitting for a character who transcends time and becomes a mentor to Joe.

“Alongside the short article there was a picture of the baseball card Wayne Gretzky had purchased. It was identical to the card in my backpack. I was sitting on almost a half a million dollars.”

This quote highlights the immense monetary value of the Honus Wagner card. The staggering sum represents a potential solution to Joe’s family’s financial struggles, tempting him to keep the card for personal benefit. This moment is a turning point, amplifying the stakes of Joe’s moral conflict.

“Without any money problems, Mom and Dad would probably fall back in love and we’d be a family again. We’d hire some servants to do the shopping and cooking and cleaning and all the other stuff Mom hates to do.”

This quote reveals Joe’s childlike optimism and naivety toward the novel’s beginning: he assumes that financial stability will magically repair his parents’ relationship. His assumption highlights his longing for stability and unity. It adds emotional depth to his character, showing that beneath his dreams of wealth, his true desire is for his family to be whole again.

“I looked the guy over. He was a big man. Not tall, but solid. About 200 pounds. He must have been in his mid-thirties, sort of weird-looking, with big ears and a big nose. There were bags under his brown eyes, and a tinge of sadness in his face. He somehow reminded me of Abraham Lincoln.

As he sat back down in the chair, I could see his legs were bowed like mine, but even worse. His chest seemed to be as big as a barrel. There was plenty of room on it for the letters PITTSBURG. There was no H at the end.”

This description emphasizes Honus Wagner’s unconventional appearance. It creates a connection between Wagner and Joe, as Joe has similar physical traits. Joe’s observation that Wagner reminds him of Abraham Lincoln suggests that Joe sees not only Wagner’s flaws but a dignified heroism. The “tinge of sadness” in Wagner’s face humanizes him, hinting at the personal challenges he has faced.

“If a baseball card could be a time machine, the possibilities were unlimited. I could get a Ty Cobb baseball card and bring back The Georgia Peach. Or Jackie Robinson. Or ‘Shoeless’ Joe Jackson.”

This passage explores the possibilities of time travel while hinting at moral and ethical considerations. Joe fantasizes about meeting historical baseball legends like Ty Cobb and Jackie Robinson, raising questions about using time travel for personal gain. This moment raises questions about` the responsibility that comes with extraordinary abilities.

“I thought about what Honus had told me. The way to be a great player is to pretend you already are one. I closed my eyes and tried to imagine I had hit a home run in my last at-bat, and I was the league’s Most Valuable Player. Nobody could throw a pitch by me.”

Honus’s advice inspires Joe to believe in himself. This moment is a turning point in Joe’s journey, as he begins to develop self-confidence. Honus is a mentor for Joe, teaching him not only about baseball but about confidence and self-belief. He helps Joe develop his self-esteem and improves his performance.

“‘You have to give the card back to Miss Young, Joe,’ she said seriously. ‘It’s not yours to keep. And this house is not a dump.’

‘Are you crazy?!’ I couldn’t help but shout. ‘Mom, this is the solution to all our problems! And you want me to give it back? Miss Young doesn’t even know I have the card! She doesn’t even know it’s missing! She probably didn’t even know she ever had it in the first place!’

‘Joe, it’s the right thing to do, and you know it.’”

Joe’s mom acts as the moral compass of the story. She emphasizes the importance of doing the right thing, even when it is difficult. This moment is a lesson for Joe, as it forces him to confront his sense of ethics versus his personal desires.

“When you’re a grown-up, you can make important decisions yourself. But for now, we do that for you. And I’ve decided that card belongs to Miss Young.”

Joe wants to be treated like an adult. For Joe, this moment is particularly frustrating because he feels capable of making important decisions, while his mother reminds him that he is still a child. The moment captures a universal experience of growing up—balancing the desire for independence with the reality of needing guidance.

“There was a full-length mirror on the door. I walked over to it and was rocked back on my heels when I saw the image. The person in the mirror wasn’t a twelve-year-old boy. It was a man. A man who was a bit under six feet tall, with large ears and bowed legs. The face looked pretty much like mine, but the body was that of a grown-up.

I was hairy in places where my skin used to be smooth. My breath tasted bad in my mouth. I smelled.

Suddenly I realized what had happened—I went to sleep with the baseball card wishing I could be a grown-up…and then I became one!”

This moment is a literal and symbolic transformation for Joe as he sees himself as an adult for the first time. The sight of his grown-up reflection is jarring and disorienting. His transformation provides him with the opportunity to explore what it means to be grown-up, but it also serves as a reminder that adulthood is more complex than just physical appearance.

“I scoped out the place. Bennett Park was much smaller than the ballparks I’d visited. The outfield fence was plastered with billboards—LA AZORA: THE CIGAR OF CIGARS. 50 TO EVERY PLAYER SCORING A HOME RUN. Everything from soda pop to clothing to dandruff treatments were being advertised.

People were hanging all over the fence, and there were seats in front of the fence. The only thing keeping fans away from the playing field was a rope. There was no warning track. I wondered how they handled home runs. Did outfielders just chase deep fly balls into the crowd?”

This description of Bennett Park in 1909 captures the atmosphere of baseball in the early 20th century, underscoring The Value of History and Tradition. Readers are transported to a time when baseball games were simpler and more intimate, with fewer barriers between players and fans. The quote implies vast differences between past and present.

“Cobb turned his attention to Honus at short. ‘Hey Krauthead!’ he shouted loud enough so everyone in the ballpark could hear, ‘You better look out, ‘cause I’m coming down on the next pitch!’

From his shortstop position, Honus got the message. He looked straight at Cobb, nodding his head. I could see him mouth the words, ‘I’ll be waiting.’”

This passage highlights the historical rivalry between Ty Cobb and Honus Wagner, which is rooted in real-life baseball history. Cobb taunts Wagner with his notorious aggressiveness, while Wagner responds with calm and confidence. Wagner’s even-keeled assertiveness is meant to be an example of model behavior. The exchange encapsulates the drama of early baseball, bringing the game’s history to life for Joe.

“‘It’s a simple game,’ he said, helping me on with the uniform shirt. ‘You catch the ball and throw it where it’s supposed to go. You hit the ball and run like hell. There ain’t much to bein’ a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer. And you’re a ballplayer. Now it’s time for you to prove it to yourself.’”

This quote underscores The Role of Sports in Shaping Personal and Societal Identity. Honus’s words simplify baseball into its core essence, encouraging Joe to trust in his natural abilities. The phrase “you’re a ballplayer” affirms Joe’s place within the world of baseball. This moment is a turning point for Joe, as he starts to believe in himself and gain confidence.

“As Honus rummaged through his bats and gloves and clothes, I looked at the pictures on the door of his locker. There was a photo of an older couple sitting in a formal living room, probably his parents. Below that was a fuzzy photo of a young woman, pretty, with long hair.

She was standing in a garden. There was a jagged rip on the left side of the photo, and the girl’s hand was extended out to the side with the rip, as if she had been holding hands with somebody.

Suddenly it hit me. This was the other half of the picture Miss Young had given me when I cleaned out her attic!”

The discovery that Miss Young is Honus Wagner’s ex-girlfriend is a plot twist. It ties Miss Young’s seemingly unrelated backstory to the central narrative and drives the plot forward, providing clarity to Miss Young’s importance and adding new layers to her character. The torn photo symbolizes a fractured relationship, damaged by misunderstanding and the passage of time.

“‘What are you going to do with the money?’ I asked.

‘There’s a home for boys in Pittsburgh,’ he said. ‘When I have some extra cash, I usually give it to them.’”

This quote reveals Honus Wagner’s generosity and selflessness. Instead of being driven by personal gain, he uses his resources to help others. This paints Wagner as not just a baseball legend but a man of strong character and moral conviction. His actions contrast with the greed exhibited by characters like Birdie, and underscore The Importance of Honesty and Integrity.

“If I sold the card like Dad wanted me to, I’d have a ton of money and all the things I could buy with that money. But I’d feel kinda guilty. If I gave the card back to Miss Young, I’d have the satisfaction of knowing I did the right thing, but no cash. And if I simply kept the card and didn’t sell it, I would feel guilty and have no money, but I’d be able to go back in time and visit Honus again.”

Joe finds himself struggling with an ethical dilemma about what to do with the Honus Wagner card. Each option has consequences that force Joe to weigh his personal desires against doing the right thing. This struggle forces Joe to confront The Importance of Honesty and Integrity. Joe begins to realize that true maturity is not just about independence but about making choices that reflect his values.

“Don’t make your decision by simply adding up the totals of those two columns. It would be wonderful if real life was as simple as mathematics, Joe, but unfortunately it isn’t.”

This advice from Joe’s teacher underscores The Importance of Honesty and Integrity. The teacher emphasizes that decisions should not be based solely on logic or numbers, but on ethical considerations. The advice challenges Joe to think deeply about his actions and to ultimately make the ethical decision to return the card to Miss Young.

“‘Wait!’ Birdie and I yelled together.

Miss Young ripped the card in two. Birdie dropped to his knees, as if he’d been shot. He let out a horrifying cry. Miss Young ripped the pieces again so the card was in four pieces.

‘Silly nonsense,’ she said. ‘If I tell you to throw something in the trash, then throw it in the trash.’”

The conflict over the Honus Wagner card reaches its climax when Miss Young tears it in half, destroying the object of so much desire and tension. Birdie’s dramatic reaction, dropping to his knees and crying out, underscores the card’s value and significance to him. In contrast, Miss Young’s dismissal of the card as “silly nonsense” reflects her practical attitude.

“She looked at me with wonder in her eyes. I was her link to the past.

Suddenly, I had a brainstorm. If I could use a baseball card to bring Honus to the future, maybe I could send Amanda back to the past.”

The baseball card evolves from a magical object for Joe’s personal gain to a powerful link between eras. Joe’s realization that he can send Amanda back to the past with the card completes a full circle in the story. The card becomes a symbol of connection, not just for Joe, but for Miss Young and Honus.

“They were hollering some really rude remarks, but I felt completely calm as I settled in the batter’s box.”

This moment highlights Joe’s growth: he no longer lets insults affect him. His ability to stay calm reflects The Role of Sports in Shaping Personal and Societal Identity. Through baseball and Honus’s mentorship, Joe has learned resilience and confidence, which translates both on and off the field.

“I felt bad that Miss Young ripped up the Honus Wagner card, and I stopped collecting cards for a few months. But I got over it. Soon I was haunting the baseball-card stores again.”

Even though Joe is disappointed at losing such a rare and meaningful card, his love for collecting ultimately triumphs. His passion for baseball cards remains an integral part of who he is. The above quote suggests an almost obsessive devotion, indicating that collecting is more than just a pastime for Joe—it is a core part of his identity. Joe learns to cherish the experience of collecting rather than just the objects themselves.