The Shortstop


Read by Rowdy Delaney

(4.7 stars; 215 reviews)

Zane Grey (Pearl Zane Gray) born in 1872 in Zanesville, Ohio was best known for his western stories, most notably Riders Of The Purple Sage which has been filmed four times, the last in 1996 starring Ed Harris and Amy Madigan. Among his other interests was baseball. He attended the University of Pennsylvania on a baseball scholarship where he earned a degree in dentistry. Grey later played minor league baseball with a team in Wheeling, West Virginia. According to the Internet Movie Data Base he is credited with 110 films made from his stories and books. Grey died from a heart attack in 1939 in Altadena, California.
In The Shortstop (1909) drawing on his baseball experience Grey follows the adventures of seventeen year-old Chase Alloway on his quest to make his fortune as a baseball player and lift his family out of poverty. Along the way young Chase encounters hardship and set-back. But with perseverance he discovers not only himself but friendship and love. (summary by Rowdy Delaney) (5 hr 16 min)

Chapters

Persuading Mother 8:41 Read by Rowdy Delaney
Riding Away 7:28 Read by Rowdy Delaney
Fame 20:19 Read by Rowdy Delaney
Vicissitude 11:31 Read by Rowdy Delaney
The Crack Team Of Ohio 15:55 Read by Rowdy Delaney
First Innings 26:39 Read by Rowdy Delaney
Mittie-Maru 23:55 Read by Rowdy Delaney
Along The River 15:47 Read by Rowdy Delaney
On The Road 27:42 Read by Rowdy Delaney
Marjory And Pond-Lilies 13:54 Read by Rowdy Delaney
Inside Ball 18:57 Read by Rowdy Delaney
Popularity 25:57 Read by Rowdy Delaney
Sunday Ball 28:05 Read by Rowdy Delaney
Waiting It Out 23:06 Read by Rowdy Delaney
The Great Game 26:13 Read by Rowdy Delaney
Last Innings 22:32 Read by Rowdy Delaney

Reviews

Not my favorite Zane grey book


(4 stars)

I much prefer his westerns, but very well read by Rowdy Delaney. If you like books about early baseball I want to recommend one of my favorite Librivox books, a comedy by Ring Lardner, featuring real life major leaguers of the day, and a terrific reader! Funny book! it became a big hit in its time too:. *You know me Al*.

Great Tale


(5 stars)

Thoroughly enjoyed this story of overcoming challenges. You could tell Zane Gray had intimate knowledge of the baseball world of his time. The Shortstop gave the listeners a real feel for small-town life and peoples' ways in this glimpse into a baseball team from a foregone era, the rough equivalent of a modern day minor league baseball team. The reader did an excellent job, always being easy to understand and clearly enunciating. Though being a bit mechanical, this didn't take away from the story. Like others, I was sorry when the book was finished!

FAIRLY GOOD EARLY NOVEL


(4.5 stars)

I presume that it is one of his early ones since it does not contain the usual amount of description. (Not complaining, just saying.) It a pleasre to read about the great American pastime when it was a simple and pleasureable competition, and before the brutal football came to the fore and before the nonsensical basketball became a cult sport. Also enjoyed the reader.


(4 stars)

Very interesting story. Fun to hear the old baseball terms and all the ones still used. America's past time. Rowdy's reading seem to fit the era of the writing but it would help to have a little more feeling and if possible a change in tone for different characters, especially females. Over all enjoyable and very listenable.


(5 stars)

Great classic by Zane Grey. The reader did an outstanding job. Just a simple story, the kind Zane Grey was known for, but it had a good storyline and was well written. Most people would remember Zane Grey for his larger than life cowboy stories, but this story shows that he didn’t love only cowboys.

The Shortstop


(4 stars)

The Shortstop is a good example of the "popular novel", providing a fun look at the early days of baseball. Writen in 1909 the dialog can be suprizing at times. Well read by a single reader.

Great story


(5 stars)

Great baseball story!. But I wish there was some way to review recordings before putting them on-line. There are always mis-pronounced words in every book I've listened to. Should be some proof "listening".


(5 stars)

The reader’s excellent diction, strong clear voice and his interpretation of each character in this story, helped make Zane Grey’s baseball tale come to life. Thanks to Librivox and to Rowdy!!