Strike Him Out

by Harold M. Sherman

We are again fortunate in being able to present to America youth another fine story by Harold M. Sherman. This popular author of boys’ books needs no introduction to the vast majority of young readers. His splendid tales of sport and school life abound in all the things that appeal most to every red blooded boy. Every one of them sparkles with the clean fun and excitement that are integral part of American school life. The gridiron, the baseball diamond, the track, Harold M. Sherman knows them all. Above all he knows boys; what they like and do not like. His heroes are the finest examples of sturdy American youth, lovers of sport and sportsmanship without being, in any sense of the word, “sissies”. Tp those of our young readers who have read that stirring tale of college and football field, “Over The Line” we need say no more. To those of you who are meeting our author for the first time in “Strike Him Out” will come the genuine pleasure of meeting real boys and real sport. To boys who like, as every red blooded boy must, this kind of thing, we dedicate this books, that they may receive entertainment and inspiration from this story.

244 pages, Paperback

First published July 25, 2007

About the author

Harold Morrow Sherman (1898-1987) was world renowned in the field of psychic research, and conducted experiments with such prominent persons as well-known Arctic explorer Sir Hubert Wilkins, ESP pioneer Dr. J.B. Rhine of Duke University, astronaut Edgar Mitchell, and many others. Apart from his research into mental telepathy and the mysteries of the mind, Sherman's lifelong writing career encompassed best-selling books on a variety of subjects ranging from sports stories for boys to books on self-help and the afterlife. He also wrote plays, several of which were produced on Broadway, and co-wrote the screenplay for several Hollywood films. For decades Sherman was a popular New Thought lecturer, and in later years hosted annual ESP workshops that drew such guests as Uri Geller, Arthur Ford, Gloria Swanson and many other big names. Not among the least of his accomplishments were his activities for the betterment of Stone County in Arkansas, his adopted state.

Reviews

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in 1931, this book of adolescent sports fiction reflects a different time, one before television, when baseball was almost exclusively local. While people followed their favorite teams in the newspapers and on radio, if you wanted to see live baseball you were restricted to the local teams.
The premise here is the oldest one in sports, that of a personal rivalry between opposing players. Speed Durgan is a pitcher for North High and Bimbo Bailey is a superb power hitter for South High. The rivalry is intense and extends beyond the baseball diamond, there are serious consequences if people from the north side go to the south side and vice versa.
While Speed is a superb pitcher, Bimbo is his nemesis, able to get the key hit that wins the game several times. It becomes a head game, even extending to their betting dates with the girl that both of them are attracted to. The rivalry extends into their college days and leads to a final confrontation between the two men with the game and much of their season on the line.
Although the premise is about baseball, the main theme is about facing the challenges of life, most of which are not about baseball. Speed is a very successful man, on and off the diamond, but he has one serious failing, his dealings with Bimbo. Facing and overcoming that fear is a universal theme independent of baseball. In that way, this book is timeless, even if many of the other aspects are dated.