Casey at the Bat: A Ballad of the Republic Sung in the Year 1888

Thayer, E. L., & Bing, C. H. (2000). Ernest L. Thayer's Casey at the bat: a ballad of the Republic sung in the year 1888. Brooklyn, NY: Handprint Books.

Casey at the bat is a well-known story that has been updated and re-illustrated.  This 2001 Caldecott Honor Book, is the story of an arrogant ball player who lets his team down. It also appeared on the 2001 Notable Children's Book List.  (listed as one of my Caldecott books)

Exposition:

The exposition sets up the story for what is to come later on.  At the beginning of the story, the Mudville nine, a baseball team, is introduced. 

Conflict:

The conflict of the story is that the team is losing the baseball game 4-2, with only one inning left in the game.  The spectators are afraid that Casey won't make it up to bat, and they feel that he is their only hope of winning.

Rising Action:

In the last inning, two players got out on 1st base, and there were still two batters to go before Casey got his turn.  When both players made it on base, the crowd was excited that Casey would get to bat.  When Casey goes up to bat, he does not even swing at the first two pitches, so he has two strikes against him.

Climax:

Casey prepares to hit the third pitch after letting the first two pitches go by.

Falling Action:

The story gives a description of things that are going on elsewhere in the land.  For instance, "the sun is shining bright; the band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light;" (Thayer). 

Resolution:

Casey strikes out and loses the game.

Illustrations:

Although very little color is used to illustrate this book, the pictures are drawn in spectacular detail.  They are drawn to create the effect that it is all part of a scrapbook of newspaper clippings and other souveneirs.  It is easy to see why the front of the book says that it is "copiously and faithfully illustrated by Christopher Bing."  The illustrations add a great deal to the story.