Please help me identify a short story

November 22, 2006 7:58 AM

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.

posted by reenum to Media & Arts (9 answers total)

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)
posted by esilenna at 8:46 AM on November 22, 2006

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!
posted by ORthey at 8:48 AM on November 22, 2006

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.
posted by ORthey at 8:49 AM on November 22, 2006

Holy hell, maybe not. I've confused myself beyond repair. Ignore everything I've posted, ever.
posted by ORthey at 8:50 AM on November 22, 2006

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.
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:54 AM on November 22, 2006

Summerland by Michael Chabon has a pitcher whose pitches disappear and reappear closer to the plate. They don't kill anybody however.
posted by mach at 12:27 PM on November 22, 2006

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?
posted by vito90 at 4:11 PM on November 22, 2006

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.
posted by beautifulstuff at 7:54 AM on November 23, 2006

It really sounds interesting! If you do find out what the story is called, give us (me) an update!!
posted by lain at 8:46 PM on November 25, 2006