Kurtis Scaletta - A Topps League Story: Book One: Jinxed!

Its Chads first spring as batboy, and the Pine City Porcupines need a wintoo bad theyre up against the league-leading Heron Lake Humdingers. Now Chads got a whole lineup of problems: his favorite player, shortstop Mike Stammer, thinks hes jinxed; Dylan, the other batboy, doesnt even like baseball; and theres a goofy new porcupine mascot on the field. To make matters worse, Chad has to pinch-hit as batboy for the Humdingers. Good thing theres something in the cardshis baseball cards, that isthat can help Chad sort it all out.

For Byron, who proves Im lucky.

Special thanks to Sean, T.J., and
Dylan of the Saint Paul Saints.
K.S.

To Ethan & Abbie.
E.W.

PUBLISHERS NOTE: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Cataloging-in-Publication data has been applied for and may be obtained from the Library of Congress.

ISBN: 978-1-4197-0286-0 (hardcover)
ISBN: 978-1-4197-0261-7 (paperback)

Copyright 2012 The Topps Company, Inc.
All Rights Reserved. Topps and Topps League are trademarks of The Topps Company, Inc.

Book design by Chad W. Beckerman

Published in 2012 by Amulet Books, an imprint of ABRAMS. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. Amulet Books and Amulet Paperbacks are registered trademarks of Harry N. Abrams, Inc.

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was just a kid, but I already had my dream job. I was the batboy for the Pine City Porcupines. The Pines were the baseball team in my hometown. They played in the Prairie League.

I wrote them a letter in the off-season, asking if I could be a batboy. I told them that I would love to do it, that I knew a lot about baseball, and that I would work really, really hard.

Dad said I should also send them a rsum.

Whats a rez-u-may? I asked him. Thats how he said it: rez-u-may.

Its a list of all your past jobs and your accomplishments, he said.

Ive never had a job.

Good point, my dad said. But you do have a lot of accomplishments.

So I got on the computer and typed up my accomplishments. It took me all day.

Ive never seen I have my own rsum on a persons rsum before, Dad said when I was done.

But I worked really hard on it.

Good point. It looks great. Lets mail it tomorrow.

I waited two weeks, but nobody called.

It can take a long time, said Dad. Be patient.

I waited two more weeks, and still nobody called. I was beginning to give up hope.

The season hasnt even started yet, said Dad. He was right.

Then I got the call! The Porcupines wanted me to come in for a job interview.

I put on my best pants, my good shoes, a shirt with a collar, and a snap-on tie.

You look great, said Dad. Remember to speak clearly and make good eye contact.

OK.

Do you want a ride?

No. Ill feel more grown-up if I ride my bike. We lived really close to the ballpark.

I talked to the clubhouse manager, whose name was Wally. He had a big white droopy mustache that covered his mouth. At least I could make good eye contact.

You have an impressive rsum, Manager Wally said.

Thanks. I wrote it all by myself.

Why do you want to be a batboy? he asked.

I love baseball, I told him. You should see my room. I have posters and pennants on all the walls. I also have over five thousand baseball cards in binders. They fill a whole shelf.

I love bacon, but I dont want to work on a pig farm, replied Wally.

Yeah, but being a batboy is fun, I said.

Sometimes it is, sometimes it isnt, said Wally. Its always hard work. Have you ever done hard work?

I thought about the hardest work Id done. Id pulled weeds in the garden. I always did my homework on time. I walked our spaniel mix, Penny, and cleaned up after her.

All the time, I said.

Final question, said Wally. Explain the infield fly rule.

I knew all about the infield fly rule. My uncle Rick told me about it. Uncle Rick has told me almost everything I know about baseball. I explained to Wally that the infield fly rule kept the infielder from cheating and turning an easy out into two easy outs.

Ive always wanted somebody to explain that to me so I could understand it, he said. When can you start?

When school gets out, I told him. Dad had been very clear about that.

Great, said Wally. But no more ties. Dont you know that there are no ties in baseball?

No ties, I repeated. I could totally keep that promise.

hy dont we talk about our plans for the summer? said our teacher, Ms. Singer, on the last day of school.

Here was my chance to tell everyone about my job. I hadnt told anyone yet. I was scared the Porcupines would change their mind. I thought Wally might call and say, Sorry, kid, we couldnt wait for school to get out. Were bringing in a kid whos dropped out.

But now I knew my batboy job was for real. I would be starting the next day. There was no game, but Wally said I should show up and help unload the team bus.