# Back to Baltimore explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Ring Lardner.

## What happens

The narrator, a baseball manager, recounts his firing from his managing job by the club's owner, Mrs. Hayes. He describes the hiring of a naive, college-educated player, William Baker Junior, who seems to be favored by Mrs. Hayes. After being dismissed, the narrator decides to jump to the Baltimore Feds, expressing his disdain for female ownership and his belief that Mrs. Hayes and Baker will run the team into the ground.

## Themes in this chapter

### Marriage and Gender Roles

The narrator's primary grievance is being managed by a woman, Mrs. Hayes, whom he believes gained control of the club through marriage. He expresses a strong opinion that a woman should not be in a position of power over a baseball team.

### Satire of Media and Business

The chapter satirizes the business side of baseball, including the influence of owners, the naivety of college-educated players, and the absurdity of contracts that include taxi rides.

## Character check-ins

### Kate Hayes

The owner of the baseball club who fires the narrator. She is described as a 'handsome devil' who married the previous owner for his money and is now in charge.

### Billy Bowen

The narrator and manager who is fired from his position. He decides to jump to the Baltimore Feds and expresses his frustration with the club's management.

### Connie Mack

Mentioned as a comparison to the new player, William Baker Junior, who shares a last name but is nothing like him.

## Key lines

> If they ever is a skirt elected President o’ the United States, I’ll move to Paris or Europe or somewheres, if I have to walk.

The narrator is so opposed to female leadership that he would leave the country if a woman were elected president.

_This quote highlights the narrator's extreme views on gender roles and his disdain for female authority._

> I’ll give ’em the best I got, and I’ll let Knabe do all the worryin’. I’m off’n that stuff, and if any boob ever offers me another managin’ job, I’ll bean him with a crowbar or somethin’.

The narrator is done with managing and will simply play for his new team, letting the manager handle the stress. He is so fed up that he would attack anyone who offered him another managing job.

_This quote shows the narrator's disillusionment with the responsibilities of managing a team._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/back-to-baltimore
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_62_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters