Robert Dean Anderson

The Left-Handed Shortstop Robert Dean Anderson

It's 1960 and eleven year-old Lewis has the best job in Chicago, batboy for the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs are favored to win the pennant and the World Series for the first time since 1908. His dad works for the mayor of Chicago and keeps, what he says, is "Both Sets" of books for the mayor. The Cubs have a young star shortstop, Lewis goes to Arizona with his parents to watch Spring Training and the world seems perfect. But things start to happen. A new kid whose father is "Friends" with the mayor gets the batboy's job-which one will be the Cub batboy and which one the visitor's? Lewis' teacher won't excuse him for the home games, his friend Maggie-not his girl friend, come on-is infatuated with an older guy, his dad has to hide some of the mayor's books, the Cub owner is missing at sea, the owner's wife is kidnapped, the team is under the spell of a sorceress, the star shortstop starts playing left0handed and Lewis is responsible for spying on what takes place in the Cubs front office. What kind of 12th birthday is he going to have?