The Batboy and the Unbreakable Record
By Robert J. Skead
Synopsis
A young boy lands a dream job for the Cincinnati Reds where he becomes witness to a baseball record that is unbreakable.
12-year-old Richie Goodwin doesn’t think life can get any worse. His highly competitive nature always makes it difficult for him to make friends and now he must get a job to help his struggling family. When Richie lands a dream job as batboy for the Cincinnati Reds, his troubles continue to brew when he must answer to a bossy Senior Batboy, obey strict rules, and convince the guys at school that he really did land the job. After carelessly disobeying a clubhouse rule, Richie gets fired and now his friends will think he is a liar and phony.
Given a second chance Richie must learn to follow the rules as he gets to witness Johnny Vander Meer set a baseball record that might be unbreakable.
Discover more: www.johnnyvandermeer.com
The story helps children learn what to do about bullying.
*According to statistics by the National Bullying Prevention Center, one out of every five children has been bullied.
Extras in Book/Classroom Aids:
- Discussion Questions
- Tips to Handle Bullying
- Fun Facts About Johnny Vander Meer
- Facts vs. Fiction in the story
- QR Codes to Vander Meer videos
- The story behind the story
What You Can Do About Bullying
Treat Everyone with Respect
- Stop and think before you say or do something that could hurt someone.
- If you feel like being mean to someone, find something else to do. Play a game, watch TV, or talk to a friend.
- Talk to an adult you trust. They can help you find ways to be nicer to others.
- Keep in mind that everyone is different. Not better or worse. Just different.
- If you think you have bullied someone in the past, apologize. Everyone feels better.
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What to Do If You’re Bullied
- Look at the kid bullying you and tell him or her to stop in a calm, clear voice. You can also try to laugh it off. This works best if joking is easy for you. It could catch the kid bullying you off guard.
- If speaking up seems too hard or not safe, walk away and stay away. Don’t fight back. Find an adult to stop the bullying on the spot.
- Talk to an adult you trust. Don’t keep your feelings inside. Telling someone can help you feel less alone. They can help you make a plan to stop the bullying.
- Stay near adults and other kids. Most bullying happens when adults aren’t around.
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Stand Up for Others
- When you see bullying, there are safe things you can do to make it stop.
- Talk to a parent, teacher, or another adult you trust. Adults need to know when bad things happen so they can help.
- Be kind to the kid being bullied. Show them that you care by trying to include them. Sit with them at lunch or on the bus, talk to them at school, or invite them to do something. Just hanging out with them will help them know they aren’t alone.
- Not saying anything could make it worse for everyone. The kid who is bullying will think it is okay to keep treating others that way.
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Tips above are from stopbullying.gov
A Conversation with Robert J. Skead
Q: What inspired you to write The Batboy and the Unbreakable Record?
A: Before he died at age 96, I promised Johnny Vander Meer’s boyhood best friend, Dick Jeffer, that I’d do whatever I could to help keep the memory of his friend and the record alive. For almost his entire life, Mr. Jeffer trumpeted Vandy’s accomplishment and he passed the torch to me. Writing a book about the event from a Reds batboys experience seemed like inspiration from above and I know it would be Mr. Jeffer’s favorite book.
Q: What do you hope is the biggest takeaway from the book?
A: I’m confident baseball fans of all ages will laugh and be entertained by the story as they learn about “the greatest feat in the game’s history” as the Cincinnati Post’s headline declared the accomplishment. I also want readers to be inspired to pursue their own big dreams. Vandy once said, “Kids are always chasing after rainbows and baseball is a world where you can catch them.” Vander Meer certainly caught his rainbow with this feat and I hope readers will be excited to dream big, work hard and go after the desires in their heart after reading the story.
Q: Why is there elements of bullying in the storyline?
A: The main character in the story experiences forms of bullying from a classmate and another senior batboy. These scenes drive conflict and help the main character deal with his emotions and the reader discover the proper things to do and say when faced with a bully, as best practices from experts. Since bullying is something so many youth encounter, I wanted this story to resonate and reinforce that life and relationships can get better when we diffuse situations correctly and speak up, stand up and be kind.
Q: What’s your favorite thing about Johnny Vander Meer?
A: He never forgot his roots. He grew up in Midland Park, NJ, a town I also lived in for nine years. He donated money to the local baseball program for scholarships in his name. He’d sign baseballs left for him when he got his haircut at the town barber shop. He donated funds from his autograph signings to help former major leaguers who needed help with health care needs. He had a kind heart, was a good man, and a role model. It’s been an honor to help keep his memory alive.
Q: What’s special about the night he pitched his second no hitter?
A: That night reads like it was created in a Hollywood screenplay. Handsome, 23-year-old rookie pitcher from small town America achieves miraculous accomplishment at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York. Mom and Dad and 500 fans from Midland Park watch every pitch nervously. It was the first official major league game ever played at night in New York City or anywhere outside Cincinnati, for that matter. The 615 floodlights tinted the grass a surrealistic green. Official paid attendance was 38,748—one of the largest crowds ever to attend a game at Ebbets Field. Even the opposing Brooklyn Dodger fans start to cheer Vander Meer on in the seventh inning realizing they are witnessing baseball history. And just before the end, Vander Meer loses control in the ninth and walks the bases loaded—but he manages to get out of the jam and the Vander Meer-acle is etched into baseball immortality!
Before the game, a retired Babe Ruth, sporting a Reds cap, greeted Vandy in the dugout. After the game, the Babe said, “Nice going, kid.” Upon meeting Babe Ruth in the dugout before and after the second No Hitter, Vandy said, “And the Babe was always my idol, believe me, that was the biggest kick of all.”
Q: Do you think the record will ever be broken?
A: No. That’s what makes the record so special. There are few records in sports that will most likely never be broken—this is one of them.
Q: What is one thing readers would be surprised to learn about you?
A: I hated reading as a child but showed a gift for creative writing.
Q: Tell us about the art on the cover and in the book?
A: The cover illustration was done by Dirk Rovich. The interior art by Stephen Colyer. Both artists are Cincinnati Reds fans and live in Ohio, which makes them the perfect illustrators to bring the elements of the story to life visually.