Story and Main Idea

Shoeless Joe of North Carolina got his nickname when he played an entire game shoeless. Before shoeless Joe made it into the minor league, he had a terrible hitting slump. He tried everything to get out of it, but finally he had to get a custom made bat from his old friend. His new bat, Betsy, tried to get him into the minors, but it was no use. Joe went back for more improvements, but the still the same results, it was no good. After improvement to the bat, his slump just followed him everywhere. He went back for more improvement and it did the trick. Joe picked up his bat, now called Black Betsy from the shop for the final time. He made it into the minor leagues and was quickly wanted by the major league team Philadelphia. Another hitting slump followed as soon as he arrived. He was sent back to the minors so he went to his old friend for advice. Then he got back into the majors. Once again he was kicked out and went for advice two more times, but by then he had learned how to respect and treat Black Betsy, returned to the majors, now on the Cleveland team, and became the man with the best record as a rookie, known by the name of Shoeless Joe and Black Betsy.

Setting, Time and Place

The setting was in mainly North Carolina but also at the minors in South Carolina and the majors in Philadelphia and Cleveland.

The time was year round, playing baseball in the summer, and then the author mentioned winter came, and then he started playing again in the summer.

It never mentioned a home, so mainly the place was the baseball stadiums and the old friend's house.

Images or Symbols

-Joe- Hope

-Charlie (The old friend)- wisdom

-Black Betsy- Strength, toughness

-Major league- Joe's goal

Key Words

Major league

Minor league

Shoeless

Black Betsy

Bat

Slump

Dejected

Likes/ Dislikes

There was nothing I didn't like about this book. It was a very good true story, not just plain old boring facts like you find in social studies books. I thought the illustrations were really good.

Illustrations

I think C. F. Payne did a very good job. The pictures were very realistic and detailed and matched what was happening in the page.