The Boy Who Saved Baseball

The novel’s protagonist, Tom is the 12-year-old only child of Helen and Jerry. Though he loves baseball, particularly the San Diego Padres, and plays on the local team each year, Tom is not a particularly good athlete. Rather, he is a daydreamer, a bookish boy who always carries a journal he calls his Dreamsketcher, in which he writes and draws whatever comes into his mind. He is particularly good with computers, devising templates for the family’s use and ultimately perfecting Cruz’s HitSim program, allowing hitters to learn how to hit any pitch. Tom also loves nature and is a great observer of the wild, as when—running down the mountain at Dante’s request—he watches for small animals and unusual undergrowth.

The chief characteristic Ritter emphasizes about Tom is that he is quiet, withdrawn, and unwilling to accept public attention. Put on the spot by Doc, a teammate, Dante, or a reporter, Tom freezes and cannot find the words to respond. However, when those he cares about are attacked, Tom responds immediately, as when Alabaster calls Dante a disgrace. The entire narrative could be characterized as Tom’s journey of finding his voice: discovering his ability and willingness to speak out.