Clutch Hitter

Chip Hilton #4

by Clair Bee, Cynthia Bee Farley, Randall K. Farley

While playing baseball for the steel company where he works during the summer, high school star athlete Chip Hilton comes up against professionals participating illegally in amateur sport.

Genres: Sports, Fiction, Young Adult, Childrens, Baseball

195 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1949

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting baseball story in the Chip Hilton series. It's set during the summer after Chip's first-three-volume high school year, and Chip is working at a steel mill and playing for the mill's company team, The Mansfield Steelers. He doesn't have all of his familiar Valley Falls pals and supporters, and is somewhat adrift as a boy doing a man's job and dealing with co-workers and teammates who are far older and more experienced. He has quite a few problems at first, but Bee demonstrates how he eventually succeeds through perseverance, patience, and good moral character. There's no religious content in this initial 1949 edition. It's a nice and uplifting (if outdated) story, and also something of a coming-of-age tale.

[Rebekah Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

2023 Reread
This one was different as it doesn't take place in Valley Falls with Speed, Soapy, Red, Biggie, and the others, but it is still good. This time I read the republished version and I don't think there were any euphemisms in it.

Another delightful story about Chip Hilton. One thing I like about these books is that you aren’t guaranteed that Hilton’s team will win everything. There are struggles and hardships, but I like how firm Chip stands for right even in the face of ridicule and snubbing.

There are a few euphemisms in this story and it is not Christian, but it is clean and moral.

I would recommend this to any reader who likes sports.

[James Hogan · Rating 4 out of 5]

And so another Chip Hilton book - this one may be my favourite one I've read because I really enjoy the situation Chip is put in and how he handles himself. He's working all summer in a steel plant and (of course) also playing baseball on the plant team. Drama abounds, but I really enjoy and resonate with Chip's attitude towards hard work (he throws himself into it - work is good!) and it's great to see his integrity and steadfastness in the face of adversity. And as always, the baseball part of the book is great fun to read...some classic games and Chip really shines (as both a pitcher and hitter!). Again, how should we face hardships and trials? Without shrinking back, without giving in, and without abandonment of our morals. May I remember that in my own life.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows the Chip Hilton formula as developed by Clair Bee. In this one, Chip Hilton is on his summer break at the end of his junior year at Valley Falls High School. When he is given the opportunity to work a summer job at hard labor and play on the company baseball team in an industrial league, Chip jumps at the chance.
He is literally a boy among men, hard men with muscles and experience using them. Chip must prove that he is willing to hold up his side of the work and merge with the team. He must also navigate some inappropriate behavior that casts him in a bad light. Of course, Chip manages to prove himself and get the clutch hit to win the big game at the end.
The formula for the Chip Hilton stories is a set of difficult situations that he must face in order to emerge as a hero in some form at the end. This story follows that formula, but it is told well enough so that even if you have read several books in the series, it keeps your interest.