Comments on: Please help me identify a short story

Question: Please help me identify a short story

reenum — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 07:58:49 -0800

I remember a friend of mine telling me about a short story/novel/novella about a baseball pitcher whose pitched balls disappeared after leaving his hand, only to reappear in a totally different place and kill someone. There's

I think he mentioned that the story was by Stephen King, but I'm not sure if King is the one who wrote it. It sounds a bit like his horror stuff.

I've tried everything to find this story, short of sitting down for a month or two and wading through King's entire oeuvre.

Is there anyone out there who might be able to point me in the right direction? Thanks in advance.

By: esilenna

esilenna — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 08:46:01 -0800

I know it doesn't involve a baseball pitcher, but could it have been The Billiard Ball by Isaac Asimov? (review of the story here)

By: ORthey

ORthey — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 08:48:15 -0800

It's definitely King. He wrote it when he was 17, but I can't figure out what it's called. It's rare. Check the first link that appears here:

My Google search!

By: ORthey

ORthey — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 08:49:18 -0800

Actually, no: try the last link here:

My second google search!

It' weird because in the preview it describes your story, but I can't find it on the page.

By: ORthey

ORthey — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 08:50:02 -0800

Holy hell, maybe not. I've confused myself beyond repair. Ignore everything I've posted, ever.

By: LobsterMitten

LobsterMitten — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 10:54:54 -0800

I'm afraid I don't have time to check out this hunch for you, but I offer it as something to follow up on if nobody else can figure this out. W.P. Kinsella has a number of collections of short stories that are about baseball, with fantastical elements like this.

By: mach

mach — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 12:27:14 -0800

Summerland by Michael Chabon has a pitcher whose pitches disappear and reappear closer to the plate. They don't kill anybody however.

By: vito90

vito90 — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 16:11:24 -0800

May I digress? Is Summerland worth reading? I love Chabon and baseball but am hesitant to read what ostensibly is a children's book. Would you recommend it?

By: beautifulstuff

beautifulstuff — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 07:54:51 -0800

I love Chabon and dislike baseball, and I thoroughly enjoyed Summerland. If you aren't put off by the fantasy elements, I'd recommend it to you whole-heartedly.

By: lain

lain — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 20:46:03 -0800

It really sounds interesting! If you do find out what the story is called, give us (me) an update!!