To all appearances Ginger had attached himself to a losing cause when he had thrown in his lot with the Holman’s team. Since early April the Light Green had won ten and lost seven; not a very good performance for the nine whose two straight over Munson Academy last spring had completed a record of fourteen victories out of eighteen contests. Holman’s though, had lost seriously by graduation and only Dave, Babe, Captain Hal Norwin, Joe Kenton and “Mac” Torrey remained of those who had played against Munson. It was a good fielding team, but batting was a lost art to it and the pitching staff was a weak support. For one of Holman’s four twirlers to go nine innings was exceptional; usually it took three to land a victory. Dave, a left-hander, was having tragic6 lapses7 from his last year’s cunning. Bellows8, slow-ball artist, had yet to survive a seventh inning. Jones, last year’s freshman9 southpaw, was streaky[189] and explosive. Meadows, more nerve than experience, was as yet but a promising11 cub12. Coach Cousins, though, wasn’t discouraged, and still hoped to capture the Munson series; and if the Light Green triumphed over the Blue-and-Gold all that had gone before was as nothing. To such a situation, then, did Ginger Burke attach himself.
Two days after Ginger’s advent13 Holman’s was beaten once more, this time by Milton. Then, the following Wednesday, she faced the Benson Athletics15, a hard-hitting aggregation16 of mill employees. Tom Meadows lasted an inning and a half, after which Dave Cochran carried the game through to a 4 to 2 victory. That victory seemed to turn the tide for the Light Green. Holman’s entered on a winning streak10 as startling as it was gratifying. Bordentown, State Agricultural, Ogden and Louisburg were defeated; after which Holman’s journeyed to Wayne City and won a hard contest from Deacon College. Three days later another pilgrimage resulted less satisfactorily, for the Light Green fell before the superior batting prowess of Jamesville and her winning streak was broken. But the next Wednesday found her on the long end of a 9 to 3 score against St. John’s, which, since St. John’s had beaten her badly earlier in the season, was a gratifying and encouraging event. The next game also went Holman’s way, although eleven[190] innings were required to convince Townsend that she was beaten.
It was during the Ogden game that Joe Kenton, second baseman, awaiting his turn at bat, watched Wentworth’s two-bagger go screeching17 over second and observed to the bench at large: “There goes their old ball game!” Then, when Charlie Prince and Ted4 Purves had sped across the rubber, Joe winked18 at Babe and addressed Ginger, squatting19 at Babe’s feet.
Ginger looked back over his shoulder gravely and, after an infinitesimal pause, replied convincedly: “You guys was sure needing a mascot when I come!”
That was as close as any one ever got to making Ginger claim the credit for the team’s success, but they all had the conviction that modesty21 alone held him back, and since baseball players, even school amateurs, are all leavened23 with harmless superstition24 there were plenty among them who would listen to no argument against the mascot theory. Babe said loudly and often that it was a great day for the old school when Ginger came on the scene! By this time the red-haired bat boy was a school institution, in a manner of speaking. He was as much a part of the team as—well, almost as much a[191] part as Captain Hal Norwin himself. He had even attained25 literary celebrity26 in the columns of the school monthly. Holman’s had taken him for her own and was proud of him; and rendered him the respect due one who, even if you said it only in jest, had put the school back on the baseball map. Ginger now appeared appropriately attired27 at the games. A discarded shirt of Babe’s, bearing a green H on one breast, had been cut down to fit him, and from Captain Hal had come the breeches. The latter, so long as Ginger didn’t bend too far forward, were quite presentable. Ginger also had a cap and a pair of green stockings, and thus attired, feet widely spread, arms akimbo, eyes attentively28 on the game, he presented a notable appearance. And when, thrusting back his cap—an action induced by excitement—he revealed that unbelievably red thatch29 of his the picture was almost epic30!
June came on the scene with a fine run of blue skies and hot sunshine, and the Holman’s team went on winning ball games. Of course she lost now and then. When you came to investigate matters closely you wondered why she didn’t lose a lot more. The pitchers31 were doing better, but not so much better, the batting showed improvement but was still well under last year’s percentage. Perhaps Fortune was rooting for the Light Green, or perhaps the team had found faith in itself. Certain it is that[192] the breaks of the game went often to Holman’s those days, and any one knows that it’s better to be lucky than rich.
In the matter of batting, Holman’s was a weak crowd. Outside Captain Hal Norwin and Ted Purves and Joe Kenton, there wasn’t a dependable hitter on the team. Sometimes Bud Thomas came across with a needed wallop, and occasionally little Charlie Prince, demon33 third baseman, laid down a nice bunt. But for the rest—why, as Ginger phrased it to himself, “junk!” They tried hard enough, both at practice and in games, and they almost wore out a brand-new batting net, but all to very little purpose. If they had the eye they didn’t have the swing, and vice34 versa. There was Babe, for instance. Babe was a corking35 catcher, big enough to block off a runner at the plate, quick enough to cover the whole back-lot on fouls36, an unerring shot to second and steady under almost any provocation37 to be otherwise. But at the bat he was Samson shorn. Babe was a slugger, which is to say that he took a long swing and a hard one and, having connected with the ball, was likely to smash it out into the cinder38 piles that intervened between the ball field and Conyer’s Creek39. The cinder piles meant three bases always, usually four. But, like many other sluggers, Babe was an infrequent hitter. If pitchers would put the old pill between waist[193] and shoulder, Babe could show them something, but pitchers had a deplorable way of sending them over knee-high or working deceptive40 drops on the big fellow, and, all in all, as a hitter in the pinches Babe was about as much use as salt in a ham sandwich: which, again, is Ginger’s phrase and not mine.
This troubled Ginger as much, if not more, than it did Babe. Ginger was a hero worshiper, and Babe was his object of idolatry, and Ginger wanted him 100 per cent perfect. As it was, 75 was a lot nearer the mark. And Ginger, or so he was fully41 persuaded, knew wherein lay Babe’s weakness. Babe’s bat was too heavy. Other aspiring42 batsmen might use one bat to-day and another to-morrow, experimenting in the effort to find the weapon best suited to them. But not so Babe. Babe was big and long of arm and powerful, and he craved43 a bat to match. The one he used, his own private weapon, was a veritable club of Hercules, long and stout44 and appallingly45 heavy, of the “wagon-tongue” model, of a dingy46 gray-black tinge47 and with the handle wrapped far down with elastic48 tape. Babe was somewhat obsessed49 on the subject of that bat. He was convinced that it was the only weapon possible in his case, and convinced that just as soon as Fortune gave him an even break he would make it talk to the extent of .300 or over. Ginger thought contrariwise,[194] and the matter was the basis of frequent arguments between the two. Or, perhaps, arguments is the wrong word, for Babe never would argue about it. Babe was as stubborn as a mule50 on the subject of that bat.
“Honest, Babe,” Ginger would urge earnestly, “that bat’s too heavy. It ain’t balanced, either. It makes you swing late. That’s the trouble with you, Babe. I’ve been watching and I know. You’re late for the ball most always. Now if you had a lighter51 bat—”
“Son, I’ve tried them, I tell you, and—”
“Two, three years ago!” scoffed52 Ginger. “Try ’em again, won’t you, please, sir? Honest I ain’t kiddin’, Babe; I wish you would!”
“Oh, I’ve got to have something I can feel, Ginger. Gosh, I don’t know there’s anything in my hands when I pick up one of those toothpicks.”
“But I ain’t asking you to use one of them real light ones, Babe! Just try one that’s a little lighter first—”
Babe laughed good-naturedly and ruffled53 Ginger’s flaming hair. “Quit your kidding, son, quit your kidding. Watch the way the old bat soaks them to-morrow.”
And to-morrow Ginger, watching Babe’s humiliation54, almost wept!
Ginger never gave up the fight, though, and any[195] one but the good-natured Babe would have wearied of the importunities and become violent. Ginger even besought55 the aid of Gus Cousins, but the coach only sighed and shrugged56.
“I know, kid. I’ve begged him to try something different fifty times, but he’s so confounded stubborn you might just as well talk to that water bucket. He’s too good a catcher to be a good batter57, anyway. I guess even if he swung a lighter bat he’d still miss most of ’em.”
The week before the first game of the series with Munson, Holman’s had a slump58 and lost two contests running. The infield, which had played clean, snappy ball all spring, went bad and booted half its chances. Medfield walked off with Saturday’s game, 14 to 2, without making a hit that wasn’t clearly scratch. Errors did the rest, errors and a finally disgruntled pitcher32. Monday and Tuesday witnessed hard and unremitting practice, and on Wednesday Holman’s journeyed down state to Munson and crossed bats with the Blue-and-Gold before a maniacal59 assemblage of students and alumni, to say nothing of a brass60 band, and lost deservedly. Bellows was knocked from the box in the second inning, by which time Munson had accumulated four runs, and Lou Jones took his place. Lou wavered along to the sixth and then began to issue passes. When he had handed out[196] his fourth in that inning, and Munson’s score was 5 runs, Dave Cochran replaced him. Dave held the enemy safe for the rest of the way, but the damage was already done. Holman’s had made a lone22 tally61 in the fourth, and in the first of the ninth she started a rally when, with one out, Tom Wentworth hit safely for two bases. Joe Kenton laid down a bunt and was safe on a close decision. Torrey hit to shortstop and was safe on a fielder’s choice, Tom going out at third. Bud Thomas hit an easy fly to left that was misjudged and muffed, and, with bases full, a hit good for two tallies62 and a home-run tying the score, Babe advanced determinedly63, swinging his big black-handled club.
Ginger looked on strainedly, and I think he uttered a little earnest prayer for Babe. But why prolong the suspense64? It was over after five pitched balls. Babe watched one strike go past him and swung at two more. You could hear his “Ugh!” on the Holman’s bench as the force of his swing carried him half around, but you couldn’t hear any soul-stirring crash of bat against ball. Ginger groaned65 and pulled his cap far over his eyes. Gus Cousins shrugged. The Munson band blared and the Class Day crowd took possession of the field.
Holman’s trailed back to Baldwin, a rather silent crowd. Babe stared at his hands most of the way,[197] unseeing of the sorrowing yet sympathetic and forgiving regard of Ginger.
The next morning there was an hour’s batting practice and a long fielding work-out, and at two o’clock the rivals faced each other again. To-day was Holman’s Class Day and her day for sound and fury, but Holman’s had fewer rooters than the larger school and could produce no band. To-day Holman’s, cheered by her cohorts and on her own field, got away to a good start. In the second inning Ted Purves hit safely, stole second and reached third on Tom Wentworth’s out. Joe Kenton was passed. Mac Torrey drove a hot liner to second, second baseman booted it and Ted scored. Bud Thomas bunted toward the pitcher’s box and Cross, Munson’s ace14, after holding the runners, threw the ball two yards wide of first. When the dust had settled two more runs had crossed. Babe fouled66 out to third baseman. Bellows drew a pass. Hal Norwin, head of the list, tried two bunts and failed and then hit the ball over third. Mac and Bud romped67 home. Prince was thrown out at first and Ted Purves fouled out to catcher. Five tallies graced the score board.
Those five would have been sufficient, for George Bellows held Munson scoreless to the fifth, when two hits and a sacrifice fly netted one run, and afterwards[198] to the end, but in the seventh Holman’s added two more tallies for good measure when, with Torrey on second and two down, Babe made the old bat speak at last. Cross had given way to Boyd, and Boyd perhaps forgot Babe’s predilection68 for high ones. That as may have been, Babe connected with a shoulder-high delivery just over the edge of the plate and sent it screaming to the very edge of Conyer’s Creek, and romped around the bases unchallenged. When he turned, grinning, toward the bench, there was the dignified69 Ginger standing70 on his head, his brilliant locks mingling71 with the dust of the trampled72 field.
Later, said Babe: “Well, how about the old cudgel now, son?”
Ginger shook his head and spoke73 sadly. “Babe, that guy didn’t ought to have pitched you a high one. That was a James H. Dandy of a hit, all right, all right, but it don’t prove nothing, Babe, nothing at all.”
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收听单词发音
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1
ginger
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| n.姜，精力，淡赤黄色；adj.淡赤黄色的；vt.使活泼，使有生气 | |
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sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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tenement
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| n.公寓；房屋 | |
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ted
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| vt.翻晒，撒，撒开 | |
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toiling
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的现在分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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lapses
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| n.失误，过失( lapse的名词复数 )；小毛病；行为失检；偏离正道v.退步( lapse的第三人称单数 )；陷入；倒退；丧失 | |
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8
bellows
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| n.风箱；发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的名词复数 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的第三人称单数 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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9
freshman
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| n.大学一年级学生(可兼指男女) | |
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10
streak
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| n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动 | |
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promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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cub
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| n.幼兽，年轻无经验的人 | |
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advent
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| n.(重要事件等的)到来，来临 | |
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ace
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| n.A牌；发球得分；佼佼者；adj.杰出的 | |
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athletics
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| n.运动，体育，田径运动 | |
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aggregation
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| n.聚合，组合；凝聚 | |
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17
screeching
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| v.发出尖叫声( screech的现在分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
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18
winked
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| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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19
squatting
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的现在分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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mascot
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| n.福神，吉祥的东西 | |
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modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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23
leavened
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| adj.加酵母的v.使（面团）发酵( leaven的过去式和过去分词 )；在…中掺入改变的因素 | |
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24
superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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25
attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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26
celebrity
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| n.名人，名流；著名，名声，名望 | |
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attired
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| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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thatch
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| vt.用茅草覆盖…的顶部；n.茅草(屋) | |
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30
epic
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| n.史诗，叙事诗；adj.史诗般的，壮丽的 | |
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pitchers
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| 大水罐( pitcher的名词复数 ) | |
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pitcher
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| n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手 | |
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demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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corking
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| adj.很好的adv.非常地v.用瓶塞塞住( cork的现在分词 ) | |
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36
fouls
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| n.煤层尖灭；恶劣的( foul的名词复数 )；邪恶的；难闻的；下流的v.使污秽( foul的第三人称单数 )；弄脏；击球出界；（通常用废物）弄脏 | |
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37
provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
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38
cinder
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| n.余烬，矿渣 | |
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39
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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40
deceptive
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| adj.骗人的，造成假象的，靠不住的 | |
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41
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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aspiring
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| adj.有志气的；有抱负的；高耸的v.渴望；追求 | |
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43
craved
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| 渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求 | |
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45
appallingly
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| 毛骨悚然地 | |
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dingy
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| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
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47
tinge
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| vt.(较淡)着色于，染色；使带有…气息；n.淡淡色彩，些微的气息 | |
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48
elastic
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| n.橡皮圈，松紧带；adj.有弹性的；灵活的 | |
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49
obsessed
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| adj.心神不宁的,鬼迷心窍的,沉迷的 | |
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50
mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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51
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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52
scoffed
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| 嘲笑，嘲弄( scoff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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54
humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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55
besought
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| v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
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56
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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57
batter
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| v.接连重击；磨损；n.牛奶面糊；击球员 | |
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58
slump
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| n.暴跌，意气消沉，（土地）下沉；vi.猛然掉落，坍塌，大幅度下跌 | |
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59
maniacal
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| adj.发疯的 | |
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60
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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61
tally
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| n.计数器，记分，一致，测量；vt.计算，记录，使一致；vi.计算，记分，一致 | |
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62
tallies
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| n.账( tally的名词复数 )；符合；（计数的）签；标签v.计算，清点( tally的第三人称单数 )；加标签（或标记）于；（使）符合；（使）吻合 | |
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63
determinedly
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| adv.决意地；坚决地，坚定地 | |
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64
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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65
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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66
fouled
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| v.使污秽( foul的过去式和过去分词 )；弄脏；击球出界；（通常用废物）弄脏 | |
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67
romped
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| v.嬉笑玩闹( romp的过去式和过去分词 )；（尤指在赛跑或竞选等中）轻易获胜 | |
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68
predilection
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| n.偏好 | |
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69
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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70
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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71
mingling
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| adj.混合的 | |
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72
trampled
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| 踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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73
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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74
rumpled
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| v.弄皱，使凌乱( rumple的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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