First published 1973
Roy Hobbs steps off the train carrying Wonderboy, his handmade bat, ready to join the New York Knights. But his journey to baseball stardom takes a dark turn when a woman in black shoots him in a hotel room. Years later, Roy emerges as a middle-aged rookie with the struggling Knights. His extraordinary hitting transforms the team from losers into contenders. Roy becomes obsessed with breaking records and claiming the fame that was stolen from him. He faces temptation from Memo Paris, the team owner's niece, while Iris Lemon represents a different path. As the season reaches its climax, Roy must choose between personal glory and doing what is right. His supernatural gifts come with a price, and the corruption surrounding professional baseball threatens to destroy him. The story explores whether talent alone can overcome the moral compromises that success demands.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, sports, baseball
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: redemption, second-chance
Setting: New York, New York Knights
Period: 20th-century
217 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Pocket Books
Content warnings: violence