10 best Baseball Short Stories

Baseball forms the heart and soul of the American dream with its need for absolute skill, speed, stamina and intelligence. So it is to no one’s surprise that there have been many Baseball short stories written about the sport or written by those who love baseball!

These baseball short stories discuss endless hours of about what happens in the field, the endless hours of rigorous training or players talking about the finer aspects of baseball. Many short stories on baseball talk about the growth and the meteoric rise of players or teams which dominated the landscape, stories about teams which changed the nature of baseball itself, baseball highlights, stories about teams who won against all odds.

In this blog, we will be going through a collection of baseball short stories which describe with greater detail on those events and players who changed the nature of baseball and made it what it is today!

Similarly if you want to read about some of the best football stories, you can look at this blog here.

Short Stories about Baseball

Ok, without much further ado, I’d like to start off with my absolute five favorite short stories about baseball and these will explain to the reader why it is such a beautiful game!

The best baseball story ever – “How I Won the World Series”

“How I Won the World Series” is a children’s baseball based short story written by Dan Gutman. It tells the story of a young boy named Stosh who has a special ability to time travel by holding onto baseball cards. In this book, Stosh travels back in time to meet the legendary baseball player, Babe Ruth, and to witness one of the most iconic moments in baseball history – Babe Ruth’s called shot during the 1932 World Series.

As Stosh navigates his way through time, he also learns valuable lessons about perseverance, sportsmanship, and the importance of chasing your dreams. With Babe Ruth as his guide, Stosh gains the confidence to pursue his own dreams of becoming a great baseball player.

“How I Won the World Series” is a fun and engaging book for children who love baseball and enjoy stories about time travel and adventure. It is part of a series of books by Dan Gutman that feature Stosh and his baseball card time-traveling adventures. The book is a great way to introduce children to baseball history and to encourage them to pursue their own passions and dreams.

Baseball favourite – Batting Against Castro

“Batting Against Castro” is a fantastic short story about baseball written by Jim Shepard. The story takes place in Cuba during the height of the Cold War, where a group of young baseball players are determined to play against Fidel Castro’s team.

The protagonist of the story is a young boy named Victor who dreams of playing professional baseball in the United States. Victor and his teammates are passionate about the game and are willing to do whatever it takes to play against Castro’s team, even if it means breaking the law and risking their lives.

As Victor and his team prepare for the game, they face numerous obstacles, including run-ins with the police and rival teams. The story explores themes of ambition, courage, and the power of sports to transcend politics and bring people together.

“Batting Against Castro” is a well-crafted and poignant story that captures the spirit of baseball and the determination of young athletes to pursue their dreams, even in the face of adversity. It is a testament to the power of sports to unite people across cultural and political divides and to inspire hope and resilience in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.

A funny baseball story – Three New Twins Join Club in Spring

“Three New Twins Join Club in Spring” is a humorous short story written by Garrison Keillor. The story is set in a small town in Minnesota and revolves around the arrival of three sets of twins in the community.

The story is told through the perspective of the town’s radio host, who provides humorous commentary on the lives of the families with new twins. The radio host is particularly fascinated by the unique names that the families give their children, including “Maude and Claude”, “Abigail and Nathaniel”, and “Brittany and Whitney”.

As the story unfolds, the radio host becomes more and more absorbed in the lives of the families and their new twins, and he provides comical updates on their daily activities and antics.

“Three New Twins Join Club in Spring” is a lighthearted and entertaining story that captures the quirky charm and humor of small-town life. It celebrates the joys and challenges of parenthood and the unique bond that exists between twins. Keillor’s witty writing style and playful use of language make the story a joy to read and a testament to the power of humor to bring people together.

High voltage story – One Throw

“One Throw” is a short story written by W. C. Heinz. The story is a fictionalized account of a baseball game played between the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1950s.

The story revolves around a single pitch thrown by a pitcher named Frank, who is on the brink of retirement. Frank has been struggling with his pitching in recent years and is eager to prove to himself and his teammates that he still has what it takes to be a great pitcher.

As the game progresses, tensions rise, and the stakes become higher. The story builds to a dramatic climax as Frank prepares to throw what could be the most important pitch of his career.

“One Throw” is a masterful example of sports writing that captures the intensity and drama of a high-stakes baseball game. Heinz’s vivid descriptions and attention to detail make the story come alive, and readers can feel the tension and excitement of the game as it unfolds.

Funny Baseball story – You Could Look it Up

“You Could Look It Up” is a humorous and satirical short story written by James Thurber, first published in The New Yorker magazine in 1941. The story is set in the world of baseball and follows the exploits of a player named Walter Mitty.

Mitty is a mediocre baseball player who is largely forgotten by the sports world. However, in his daydreams, he becomes a legendary player who performs impossible feats on the baseball diamond. As the story progresses, the line between reality and fantasy becomes increasingly blurred, and Mitty’s imagined exploits become more and more absurd.

Through Mitty’s daydreams, Thurber satirizes the hero worship and exaggerated language often found in sports writing. He also comments on the nature of fame and the arbitrary factors that can make one athlete a household name while another is forgotten.

Despite its humorous tone, “You Could Look It Up” also contains a deeper message about the power of imagination and the human need for heroism and greatness. Mitty’s daydreams provide a brief escape from the mundanity of his everyday life and allow him to briefly live out his fantasies of glory and success.

Baseball Nostalgia – The Thrill of the Grass

“The Thrill of the Grass” is a poignant and nostalgic short story written by W. P. Kinsella. The story revolves around a baseball fan named Phil, who is struggling to come to terms with the changes in the game he loves.

As Phil watches a game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Seattle Mariners, he reflects on the past and the glory days of baseball. He longs for the simpler times when players played for the love of the game, and not just for the money and fame.

Through Phil’s musings, Kinsella explores themes of nostalgia, loss, and the passing of time. He comments on the changing nature of baseball and the modernization of sports in general, highlighting the importance of tradition and the human connection to the past.

Despite its melancholy tone, “The Thrill of the Grass” is ultimately a celebration of the enduring power of baseball and the human spirit. Kinsella’s writing is evocative and poetic, capturing the essence of the game and the emotions it can inspire.

My personal favorite – The Slump

“The Slump” is a compelling and insightful short story written by John Updike. The story follows the struggles of a minor league baseball player named Joey Robinson, who is experiencing a prolonged slump.

As Joey’s hitting woes continue, he begins to question his ability and his future in the game. He becomes increasingly frustrated and anxious, leading him to take drastic measures to break out of his slump.

Through Joey’s struggles, Updike explores the themes of identity, self-doubt, and the pressure to succeed. He captures the inner turmoil of an athlete who has lost his confidence and his sense of purpose, and the toll it can take on one’s mental health and well-being.

Despite its focus on baseball, “The Slump” is ultimately a universal story about the challenges of life and the human experience. Updike’s writing is poignant and insightful, capturing the nuances of human emotion and behavior with precision and depth.

Other baseball short stories

We’ve gone through so many stories but I’d be remiss if I did not mention these below.

1. No Win Phuong authored by Alden R. Carter
2. A Moment in the Sun Field authored by William Brohaugh
3. Death of a Right Fielder authored by Stuart Dybeck