The Big Field

Mike Lupica, the author of The Big Field (2008), is a sports journalist and the author of many books for adults and young readers. Though he writes about a variety of sports, Lupica concedes that baseball is his favorite. The Big Field focuses on two teen baseball players—Hutch and Darryl—as they try to lead their team to a finals victory in Florida. This novel for young readers addresses the themes of The Hopes and Pressures of Young Athletes, The Necessity of Teamwork, and Son Versus Father.

This guide is based on the 2008 Philomel edition.

Plot Summary

Keith “Hutch” Hutchinson is a 14-year-old living in Florida who plays for the Boynton Beach Post 226 Cardinals. If the Cardinals beat the Braves, they will advance to the South Florida regionals and get one step closer to playing in the finals at Roger Dean Stadium, where the St. Louis Cardinals and the Florida Marlins (in 2012, they became the Miami Marlins) play their spring training games. The ball goes to the shortstop, and Hutch thinks about what the shortstop should do, but he isn’t the shortstop. He moved to second, so Darryl Williams––arguably the best player to come out of Florida since the star shortstop/third baseman Alex Rodriguez––could play short. Darryl makes the play, so the Cardinals win.

Cody Hester, Hutch’s humorous best friend, plays right field. He doesn’t like Darryl, who is aloof and always seems to have fancy, new baseball gear. People buy him stuff because they think he’ll remember them when he makes the Major Leagues. Darryl is late for practice. His mom’s friend was supposed to give him a ride, but she didn’t show, so Darryl had to take the bus. Ken Cullen, the Cardinals manager who made it to the minor leagues, lets Darryl take batting practice third, and Cody wonders if Cullen would let him go third if he showed up late for practice.

Neither Cody, Darryl, nor Hutch has an affluent family. Cody’s mom is a nurse, Darryl’s mom is “on her feet” all day (222), Hutch’s mom, Connie, works at a clothing store, and his dad, Carl, is a caddy, and he drives people to and from the airport. When Carl was Hutch’s age, people called him a “sure thing.” He was a talented shortstop, but he wasn’t “good enough” for the big leagues. His unrealized hopes taint his relationship with baseball and Hutch. When Hutch was little, Carl taught him about the game, but now, he thinks Hutch cares too much about baseball, and Carl doesn’t want baseball to crush Hutch the way it “broke” his heart. Hutch, however, wants to bond with his dad over baseball, and the lack of a connection agonizes him.

Every Cardinal but Darryl votes for Hutch to be their captain. After Hutch hits the game-winning home run against the Yankees, he gets coverage on Florida TV and in Florida newspapers, and his teammates tease him about the media attention. Darryl mockingly refers to Hutch as “captain.” During a fielding drill, he purposely holds the ball so the runner slams into Hutch. Cody thinks Hutch threatens Darryl, who is better than Hutch, but not by a lot.

The conflict between Hutch and Darryl manifests during the last play of their next game against the Dodgers. The Dodgers batter hits a flare, and Hutch and Darryl go after it, crashing into one another. The ball was Darryl’s: He is the shortstop. Hutch claims he didn’t hear Darryl call for the ball, but Cody admits he heard Darryl call for it.

At practice, Hutch and Cody watch Carl instruct Darryl. Carl’s passenger canceled. As he had to pick up Cody and Hutch from practice anyway, he figured he would watch it for a change. Deeply jealous, Hutch starts a fight with Darryl after the latter wonders if Carl likes him more than Hutch. Cullen suspends Hutch for the game against the Pirates—the game the Cardinals must win to make it to the final three-game series.

To lift his spirits, Hutch turns to Derek Jeter, the star shortstop who spent his entire 20-year career with the New York Yankees. During the first round of the 2001 playoffs, Jeter alertly flipped an overthrown ball to the catcher, preventing another run from scoring and turning the series around for his team. The play has become known as “the flip,” and Hutch watches it constantly.

In 2004, Alex Rodriguez joined the Yankees, moving to third base. Hutch wonders if Jeter would ever attack Rodriguez the way that he attacked Darryl. Hutch doesn’t think Jeter would do such a “silly” thing.

Though Hutch can’t play, he can be Cullen’s bench coach, and Hutch makes a series of adjustments and observations that help secure a win and put the Cardinals in the finals. In game one of the finals against the Orlando Astros, the Cardinals face a hard thrower, Rod Brown. With the score tied 2–2 in the bottom of the ninth, Hutch commits an error, and the Cardinals lose game one. Cody keeps the mood light, and Darryl tells Hutch they’ll still win the series.

In game two of the finals, the Cardinals lead 7–6 in the ninth. The Astros have a runner on first, and the Astros batter hits a ball in front of Cody. Cody misses the cutoff man, but Hutch, replicating Jeter, is in the right place. He catches the throw and, in midair, snaps it to the catcher, who tags out the runner. The Cardinals hang on to game two and tie the series.

Game three is as suspenseful as the first two games, with the score tied in the bottom of the ninth. With Cody on second, Hutch hears his dad’s voice and sees him in the stands, signaling to bunt. Hutch follows his dad’s advice and bunts for a hit. The next batter is Darryl, and he hits the series-winning home run. After the celebration, Hutch goes into the stands and hugs his father.