Honus and Me

The novel opens with a brief note from the protagonist, Joe Stoshack. Joe recalls the first time he touched a baseball card, describing a strange tingling sensation, like static electricity. He was around five years old and noticed that he only got this sensation from baseball cards, not football or basketball ones. Joe always believed there was something magical about them, and later, something happened that confirmed this feeling.

Joe is struggling during a baseball game. He is mocked by a player on the other team for his “elephant ears.” The remark hurts him and distracts him. Joe hasn’t managed to hit the ball out of the infield all season, despite being physically strong. He has a broad chest and muscular arms, stronger than any other seventh-grader he’s seen. However, he’s short for a 12-year-old, and his stocky build makes him self-conscious. Joe admits: “I’m actually a pretty good ballplayer. But those insults really get to me” (11). Last time, someone said his legs looked like a pair of parentheses.

Joe swings with determination, but he strikes out for the third time that game. Overwhelmed by embarrassment, he wants to disappear as the opposing team cheers and his own teammates snicker.