The Rival Pitchers: A Story of College Baseball

"The Rival Pitchers: A Story of College Baseball" by Lester Chadwick is an early 20th-century story set in a college where freshmen and sophomores engage in playful yet competitive actions, mostly through baseball. The book follows characters like Fred Langridge, a rich and somewhat boastful student, and Tom Parsons, a new kid hoping to join the college baseball team. The story starts with a group of freshmen adjusting to college life, including the customs and hazing by older students. As conflict builds, Langridge becomes a prominent figure among the freshmen, while Tom Parsons quickly gains attention for his pitching skills. An early conflict between the classes arises when the freshmen try to steal the clapper from the college bell as a traditional act. Through energetic conversations and character interactions, the initial chapters form a sense of both friendship and rivalry, preparing for the upcoming baseball competitions and disputes.