Baseball Pals

by Matt Christopher

Grades 3-5; Genre - Fiction; GRL M; AR pts: 1.0

Jimmie learns an important lesson about the misuse of power when he is elected captain of his baseball team and makes decisions that are not in the team's best interests.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

1. Describe the setting of this story. On the ballfield; the characters of the story were gathered talking about which position everyone would play; autumn time p.3
2. Who convinced everyone he was to be the pitcher and how did he do it? Jimmie; he was the new team captain, he said he’d been practicing all summer, and he found other positions for the team members to play p.3
3. Why did Ervie make Jimmie feel unsettled? Jimmie didn’t know if Ervie was happy or not; Ervie looked at Paul in a certain way p.8

Chapter 2

1. Why wasn’t Tiny playing with Jimmie’s team this year? The Red Rockets had already asked him to be on their team and gave him a jersey p.9
2. Describe Jimmie’s experience while he was pitching in this chapter. He struggled getting it over the plate and walked two guys. Then he slowed down his pitches and the batters hit them p.15
3. Why was Jimmie pleased with himself at the end of the chapter? He hit a ball way out in the field and made it to third base p.18

Chapter 3

1. Who’s the team’s new manager? Mr. Nichols p.19
2. After the game why did Ervie want to go home? He was hungry and it was getting late p.22
3. How does Jimmie feel about Ervie? He wishes he didn’t have to bring him with him to the field; he’s impatient with him p.22

Chapter 4

1. Why did Jimmie lie to his mom about coming home on time? He didn’t want to come home on time and wanted to stay at the field p.26
2. When Jimmie went to Paul’s after dinner, what did he find Paul doing? Practicing his pitching p.28
3. What was the news Tiny told Jimmie at the end of this chapter? Paul wasn’t playing the Planets, instead he was going to play with the Red Rockets p.31

Chapter 5

1. Summarize what happened in this chapter. Jimmie went home and to his room. He was upset about Paul joining the other team, and got angry to the point that he decided he didn’t care anymore, then he went to play with Ervie p.35

Chapter 6

1. How did Mr. Nichols react to Paul leaving the team? He said it was ok and that Jimmie could become a good pitcher too with practice p.38
2. Who went out to pitch after Jimmie continued to throw bad pitches during batting practice? Mr. Nichols p.41

Chapter 7

1. Why did Jimmie go to Mose’s house early Saturday morning? To practice pitching since Mose was going to be the catcher p.43
2. How did Jimmie do while he was practicing? Not very well; he never threw to the mitt p.44
3. Why did the umpire yell “Balk!” when Jimmie was winding up before a pitch? A pitcher can’t wind up if there are men on base, because after a pitcher winds up, he can’t stop and throw it to the base to get them out p.46

Chapter 8

1. Find a simile at the top of page 52. Jimmie ran like a deer p.52
2. Who won, the Mohawks or the Planets? The Mohawks p.53
3. Why didn’t Ervie think the Planets were going to win any games in the league? He said they didn’t have a good pitcher p.55

Chapter 9

1. Where did Jimmie go with his father? Fishing p.56
2. What important lesson did Mr. Todd teach Jimmie while they were fishing? To be patient and to keep at something if you want it p.61

Chapter 10

1. What was Jimmie’s plan so Paul would come and watch TV with him that evening? Have his mom invite over his parents and Paul would come over too p.63
2. What did Ervie say that made Jimmie mad and run out of the room when the Karoski’s came over? that Paul was mad at Jimmie because they both wanted to pitch for the Planets p.66

Chapter 11

1. Who did Jimmie see during their Sunday walk and how did he feel? Some boys playing baseball from his team and Paul was pitching; made him mad p.68
2. Why did the praise, Jimmie’s dad said about Paul, hurt Jimmie? His own dad said that Paul had really nice form and was going to be a great pitcher one day when Jimmie struggled at being a pitcher p.71

Chapter 12

1. What secret did Jimmie tell Wishy? That Jimmie doesn’t think he’ll be a pitcher and instead he should play infield p.75
2. What did Wishy help Jimmie practice? Catching grounders p.76

Chapter 13

1. Why was Jimmie feeling confident, like he could hit anything? He had decided not to be pitcher and felt good about his decision p.80
2. What position did Jimmie play for the last two innings? First basemen p.85
3. Whose name did Jimmie cry out when he was cheering for the pitcher? Paul’s name p.86

Chapter 14

1. When does the team list need to be turned in? Before Thursday p.87
2. Why was Mr. Nichols impressed with Jimmie as he practiced playing infield? He didn’t realize Jimmie was so good p.90

Chapter 15

1. Why did Jimmie take Ervie along to see Paul? He didn’t want to be alone to talk to Paul p.91
2. Why was Paul’s mom upset when Jimmie told her Paul left in a blue car? She was worried about him and sad that he didn’t tell her where he was going p.98

Chapter 16

1. Why was Paul gone for four hours? His cousin asked him to go for a ride, but only thought it would be a half hour, then as they got to the lake the car stopped, and they had to get a ride home from somebody p.101
2. How did Paul respond when Jimmie told him he could pitch for the Planets? He said he was already pitching for the Red Rockets p.103

Chapter 17

1. Who was in the alley waiting to talk to Jimmie? Paul with team members from the Planets p.106
2. How did Wishy convince Paul to come play for the Planets? He gathered other team members, took them over to Paul’s house, and they talked him into it p.108
3. Why did Jimmie want Mr. Nichols to call the Red Rockets manager about Paul switching teams? He was worried what the other manager would say p.110

Chapter 18

1. How did Jimmie feel as he played short stop? Confident; happy; had fun; enjoyed playing p.112
2. Who won the game? The Planets p.117
3. What was more important to Jimmie than winning the game? Having Paul on the team 117