# Mike Costigan's Discovery explained — Our Baseball Club and How It Won the Championship

> Chapter companion for Our Baseball Club and How It Won the Championship by Noah Brooks.

## What happens

On the day of the second game against the Calumets, the town of Catalpa is buzzing with excitement. Mike Costigan, a telegraph messenger, discovers a torn telegram that reveals Ben Burton's plan to throw the game. He brings it to Tom Selby, who warns Captain Hiram Porter, but the warning may have arrived too late.

## Themes in this chapter

### Integrity and Betrayal

Ben Burton's plan to throw the game represents a betrayal of the team and community trust, while Mike and Tom's efforts to expose it uphold integrity.

### Community and Civic Pride

The entire town of Catalpa is invested in the baseball championship, with the telegraph office and newspaper serving as focal points for collective excitement and concern.

## Character check-ins

### Mike Costigan

Telegraph messenger who discovers Ben Burton's treachery by finding a torn telegram.

### Hank Jackson

Ex-champion of the Dean County Nine, seen reading the incriminating telegram and later offering bets against the Catalpas.

### Tom Selby

Son of Dr. Selby, who helps decipher the telegram and sends a warning to Captain Hiram Porter.

### Dr. Selby

Father of Tom Selby, who advises sending a warning message and later realizes it may have been too late.

### Ben Burton

Revealed through the telegram to be planning to sell the game.

### Hiram Porter

Captain of the Catalpas, sent a warning message about Ben Burton's treachery.

## Key lines

> Mike Costigan, the telegraph messenger, and Hank Jackson, the ex-champion of the Dean County Nine, were the greatest trials which the long-suffering lady at the telegraph desk had to endure.

The telegraph operator found Mike Costigan and Hank Jackson to be her most persistent nuisances.

_Highlights the characters' intense interest in the game._

> Gosh all hemlock! if Ben Burton hasn't gone and sold the game!

Mike exclaims in shock that Ben Burton has apparently thrown the game.

_Key moment of discovery revealing the betrayal._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/our_baseball_club_and_how_it_won_the_championshi_se/chapters/xv-mike-costigan-s-discovery
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/our_baseball_club_and_how_it_won_the_championshi_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/our_baseball_club_and_how_it_won_the_championshi_se/chapters