The Batboy

Written by Mike Lupica in 2008, The Batboy tells the story of 14-year-old Brian, who becomes a batboy for the Detroit Tigers and tries to bond with his hero, Hank Bishop.

Lupica is a well-known author of sports novels for younger readers and a member of the Sports Media Hall of Fame. He writes for The New York Daily News and regularly appeared on the ESPN show The Sports Reporters (1988-2017). He has also published numerous fiction and nonfiction books about sports for adults and young readers. Though he covers a wide range of sports, Lupica admits that baseball is his favorite.

This guide refers to the 2010 Philomel e-book edition.

Content Warning: The source text and this guide discuss drug use in sports. This guide also discusses racism.

Plot Summary

Brian Dudley is 14 years old and lives in a Detroit suburb. His father, Cole, played baseball for 14 seasons as a left-handed specialist. Managers would bring Cole in to face the few left-handed batters that came to the plate. Now, Cole is a baseball coach in Japan. Brian’s mother, Liz, is a respected producer and writer for an all-news radio station in Detroit. Cole and Liz are divorced, and although Liz is wary of the outsized role that baseball plays in Brian’s life, she maintains her sense of humor and doesn’t interfere with Brian’s feverish appreciation for the sport.

Brian has a deep knowledge of baseball statistics and history. When he was 12, he tried to become a batboy for the Detroit Tigers—one of the teams his father pitched for. The Tigers thought that Brian was too young, as the average age of a batboy is 16. At age 14, Brian applied again, and because the Tigers were impressed by his letter, they gave him the job.

When Brian isn’t working as a batboy for the Tigers, he watches baseball or plays outfield on a Little League team with his best friend, Kenny Griffin, who is a talented pitcher. His work as a batboy for the Tigers keeps him very busy, as the role requires far more than simply collecting bats and chasing down foul balls. Brian must shine shoes, ensure a constant supply of pine tar rags and rosin bags, sweep the dugout, and make coffee.

Another batboy named Finn Simpkins helps Brian with his duties. Sometimes, when there is a day game immediately following a night game, Brian and Finn sleep at Comerica Park. During one sleepover, Brian goes to the seating labeled section 135, where he used to sit with his dad and watch the game. Visiting the seats makes Brian feel less “alone,” but when Cole comes back to visit, his dismissive attitude makes Brian realize that his father will never be the communicative, affectionate person that Brian needs in his life.

Hank Bishop, Brian’s favorite player on the Tigers, started his career as an MVP (most valuable player). He engaged in conflicts with the team and made the poor decision to take steroids, thereby diminishing his star power and leaving an ill-tempered Hank with much to prove. Now, Hank is trying to reach 500 home runs, and Brian wants to form a relationship with him. When Brian tries to talk to Hank, the baseball player is cold and unkind. To make matters worse, Brian brings him the wrong bat, and when Hank makes a game-ending out, he blames Brian. Brian is devastated, and his friends Kenny and Finn suggest that he stop trying to get to know Hank. However, Brian persists.

Willie Vazquez, the Tigers’ shortstop, is friendly and humorous. Sick of the healthy fruits and vegetables served in the Tigers’ clubhouse, Willie enlists Brian to bring him some “real food” from McDonald’s. Willie has a serious discussion with Brian about the pitfalls of the steroid era of baseball. He explains that the widespread use of steroids made fans suspicious of every player’s success, even if there was no credible reason to accuse them of using performance-enhancing drugs. Brian thinks that steroid use made a “fine mess” of the record books by inflating players’ statistics, especially their home-run totals.

In Little League, Brian experiences a hitting slump, and when Hank sees Brian in the Tigers’ batting cage, he helps Brian with his swing. Due to Hank’s advice, Brian almost hits for the cycle. Hank remains volatile and surly in his interactions with Brian, but when Hank meets Liz, she invites him to share a “home-cooked meal” with her and Brian, and this shifts the dynamic considerably. After dinner, Brian shows Hank a video of his prior swings, motivating Hank to hold a batting practice with Brian and Kenny. Hank gets his swing back and hits his 500th home run. Brian’s Little League team makes the playoffs and reaches the final game, at which point Brian hits the game-winning home run. Hank lifts him into the air in celebration.