How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"Now that he'd seen that kind of talent up close, he couldn't let it walk away." (1.12)
Mike Schwartz is nasty to Henry until he sees a talent in him that he's never seen before. Once he sees that, Mike can't let it go, making him both a good coach and kind of a parasite.
Quote #2
"So you're the guy Schwartz keeps talking about. […] The baseball messiah." (4.21)
Mike also seems to have a gift for hyperbole. If he's going to admire someone or something, he's going to make sure it's absolutely the best and worthy of his attention.
Quote #3
Putting Henry at shortstop—it was like taking a painting that had been shoved in a closet and hanging it in the ideal spot. You instantly forgot what the room had looked like before. (5.87)
Henry isn't just a good baseball player; it seems that watching Henry is like viewing a classic work of art. Maybe that "baseball messiah" jazz wasn't hyperbole after all.
Quote #4
Izzy feared and respected Schwartz, but he worshipped Henry. (5.94)
This recalls "baseball messiah" yet again, casting Henry as a figure of worship. We're just told that Izzy worships Henry, but we're not sure how. How do you think he does it? Literally bowing down to him? Maybe building an idol in his dorm room?
Quote #5
"[Henry] understands the game like a veteran major leaguer. And defensively there's no competition. Today he ties Aparicio Rodriguez's NCAA record for consecutive errorless games by a shortstop. Fifty-one and counting." (8.31)
Scouts take notice of Henry and admire his skill. There's something in Henry that just exudes the pure art of baseball, which attracts scouts from across the country.
Quote #6
"Let's stay focused. Henry, I keep my ear to the ground, and lately your name is all I hear. Skrimshander, Skrimshander, Skrimshander. Like a tongue twister, only better. More mellifluous." (11.28)
Henry starts to get nervous as other people—complete strangers, scouts from across the country—know his name. With admiration comes fame.
Quote #7
Henry's ears began to ring. Aparicio, his hero, winner of fourteen Gold Gloves, two World Series. The greatest shortstop who ever lived. (16.30)
Admiration is a double-edged sword here. Henry is inspired by Aparicio and works hard to match his record, but the pressure of impressing his idol causes him to choke in the big game.
Quote #8
"Now I just need to meet the famous Henry," [Genevieve] declared. "And my trip will be complete." (27.71)
We never see Genevieve, Owen's mother, and Henry interact, but we're told they talk on the phone all the time. What could they talk about that puts Henry in such high regard with her? She doesn't seem like a baseball fan…
Quote #9
Starblind scribbled a note on a piece of paper, laid it on Henry's desk: !?! This could only mean one thing, coming from Starblind. Henry scanned the room for the girl in question: a female newcomer seated beside Professor Eglantine. (29.7)
Admiration isn't limited to sports skills in this book. Sometimes a guy just has to admire the hot new girl in class.
Quote #10
"So what's it like to be the best?" (29.50)
This is Pella's question to Henry, but she phrases it as though he's the best person ever in the history of the world: past, present, and future. (Kanye would not approve of his self-proclaimed title being taken.) Perhaps Henry wouldn't feel as pressured if the admiration were contained to his shortstop skills instead of him being some sort of flawless person.