High school senior Ken Ward is on top of the world--he's popular, a somebody. But as a freshman at Wayne University, Ken quickly discovers he's a nobody who's treated like dirt by upperclassmen. When Ken can't stand the harassment anymore, he bursts out of his gloom by slugging a sophomore bully--who turns out to be captain of the varsity baseball team. It looks as if Ken's dream of making that team has gone down the drain... until in a moment of wild excitement...
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High school senior Ken Ward is on top of the world--he's popular, a somebody. But as a freshman at Wayne University, Ken quickly discovers he's a nobody who's treated like dirt by upperclassmen. When Ken can't stand the harassment anymore, he bursts out of his gloom by slugging a sophomore bully--who turns out to be captain of the varsity baseball team. It looks as if Ken's dream of making that team has gone down the drain... until in a moment of wild excitement...
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Add this copy of The Young Pitcher to cart. $7.95, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2015 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.
Add this copy of The Young Pitcher to cart. $26.89, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2015 by CreateSpace Independent Publis.
The Young Pitcher is the first of the Ken Ward books Zane Grey wrote. He modeled Ken after himself, as Zane Grey was an exceptional baseball player, and the frantic episodes which actually occurred during the league play of the 1880s in Ohio when nearly every town of any size had its own team. Rivalry knew no borders and no bounds; it was "to the victor goes the spoils" no matter how you won, by hook or crook it didn't matter as long as your team won. Fans were really fanatics back then when it came to baseball and the home town. What actually prevented Zane Grey from becoming an even more successful pitcher was the change in distance from the mound to home-plate. After the change from 55 feet to 60 feet 6 inches Zane could never re-master his curve ball which was his stock and trade, so he was forced to go to the outfield and play; and he did quite well out in the field. His brother, Reddy, was a pro-player for a couple of years. This book relates many of his experiences as a player in the early year of baseball as told through the character Ken Ward. Any little leaguer would love this book. Perhaps if Zane Grey's "books for boys" as these were called would be made available in school libraries today, our country and our world would be a better place to live. These books instill values still needed today.
