Chapter 1 Summary

Author Bernard Malamud introduces his book with a chapter entitled Pre Game. Young Roy Hobbs, a nineteen-year-old baseball phenomenon, is on a train for Chicago, joined by his friend and professional scout, Sam Simpson. Hobbs plans to try out for a pitching spot on the Chicago Cubs professional baseball team. Along the ride, Roy is captivated with a woman named Harriet Bird, who carries a black hatbox that never leaves her sight. Nearby, nationally recognized sports writer Max Mercy reads the headlines of the day's newspaper, which announce double murders of star athletes by an unknown woman armed with silver bullets. Sam notices Max and introduces himself and Roy Hobbs to the writer and the baseball star he is traveling with, Walter (The Whammer) Wambold. Both men condescend to speak with Sam and Roy. Max alludes to Sam's alcoholism and Whammer is disinterested...