“Flashing Spikes” by Frank O’Rourke

 

“I caught that one,” I said.

“Good hit,” he said evenly. “How'd you guess it?”

“He wiggled his glove,” I said. “I watched him three innings. He does that when he throws that slow hook.”

“Good eyes,” he said, moving back to position.

I felt pretty cocky and took my lead and the pitcher turned, off the rubber, and grinned at me; and then the big man moved with deceptive speed, cutting in behind me, took the underhand flip from the second baseman and tagged me out by five feet.

“Watch the ball,” he said tonelessly. “Don't start no jaw-act when you're feeling so good.”

This is the titular story from O’Rourke’s 1948 collection of sports stories. I offer this baseball story so we can have a look at a master of the Western genre operating in another area of expertise, the sports story.

All the skill and inside knowledge is there.

This tale of redemption has the earmarks of the young gunfighter receiving hard-won wisdom from the Old Hand.

It is told in O’Rourke’s trademark terse laconic informed style.

I am, admittedly, not a baseball guy, yet still enjoyed O’Rourke’s take.

It seems no matter the genre, his mature humanity is ever-present.