Short Fiction · Chapter
VI explained
The narrator recounts the team's trip to Boston, where Elliott's reckless behavior on the field and in the hotel elevator causes chaos.
What happens
The narrator recounts the team's trip to Boston, where Elliott's reckless behavior on the field and in the hotel elevator causes chaos. After a disastrous play that costs the team a game, Elliott's antics continue, culminating in a wild elevator ride that frightens guests and nearly gets the team thrown out of the hotel.
Themes in this chapter
Satire of Media and Business
The hotel staff and management are depicted as more concerned with appearances and avoiding scandal than with the safety of guests, satirizing business priorities.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Elliott
Elliott's reckless play and elevator stunt cause chaos and nearly get the team expelled from the hotel.
- John Knowles
John is furious with Elliott's on-field mistake but is too stunned to react physically.
- Tom Richards
The narrator, who tries to manage Elliott's behavior and later deals with the aftermath of the elevator incident.
Key passages
“He kisses the first thing they hands him for three bases; and we says, on the bench: “Now we’ll get ’em!””
He hits the first pitch for a triple, and we thought we had a chance to come back.
Elliott's hit gives the team hope, but his subsequent mistake ruins it.
““Stay right on that bag!” John hollers to Elliott. Mebbe if John hadn’t said nothin’ to him everythin’ would of been all right; but when Perdue starts to pitch the first ball to Tommy, Elliott starts to steal home.”
John tells Elliott to stay on base, but Elliott ignores him and tries to steal home, getting thrown out.
Elliott's impulsive decision costs the team a scoring opportunity.
““I thought you might of killed yourself,” I says. “What for?” he says. “For that swell play you made,” says I. “What was the matter with the play?” ast Elliott, surprised. “It was all right when I done it in St. Louis.””
I told him he could have gotten himself killed with that play, but he didn't see anything wrong with it, saying it worked in St. Louis.
Elliott's lack of awareness of the situation highlights his foolishness.