Meet the Cast
Henry Skrimshander
From Zero to HeroHenry Skrimshander doesn't whittle things for sailors, but maybe he would if he were born in a different century. Instead, he's living in a post-Doubleday world, and everything he...
Mike Schwartz
Magic MikeMike Schwartz is the catcher for the Harpooners. He's good at coaching and catching, but not much else.When we first meet Mike, he's unnecessarily cruel to Henry, a shortstop he's never m...
Pella Affenlight
Natural DisasterPella was an ancient Greek city destroyed by an earthquake. When we meet Pella Affenlight, she has ditched her disaster of a marriage and is attempting to rebuild the ruins of her l...
Guert Affenlight
Affenlight Casts Four ShadowsGuert Affenlight, Pella's father, is the Westish College president who engages in a relationship with a male student almost forty years his junior—and then dies.We're...
Owen Dunne
The Big ODon't get it twisted, Shmoopers, Owen Dunne is not one of those tortured gay athletes hiding in his gym locker. He introduces himself to Henry by saying, "I'll be your gay mulatto roommate...
The Harpooners
Second StringNone of the other Harpooners have much of a personality, if they even get any lines or mentions beyond one or two plays in a game. Adam Starblind seems to be a big-talking womanizer. H...
Others
Westish Students and Staff There are a few other recurring characters, like Chef Spirodocus, who gives both Henry and Pella jobs and later teaches Pella to cook; Bruce Gibbs, the chair of trustees...
Family
Henry's family is briefly met in two chapters. His dad "talk[s] just like Mike Schwartz" (2.53) and his mom cooks—and is homophobic. His sister goes out drinking and has to be carried to Henry's...