The Art of Fielding

Aparicio Rodriguez’s titular book The Art of Fielding provides Henry’s guiding philosophy in baseball, shaping his identity and his work ethic on the field. The text becomes almost sacred to him as it instructs him in his pursuit of perfection, showing him how to apply structure and discipline to his training. After an errant throw completely derails his confidence and compromises his sense of self, his reliance on the book evolves from inspiration to obsession. Knocked off-kilter, Henry struggles to regain his identity. Aparicio’s perfection has made him an almost mythical figure to Henry, and realizing that he won’t reach the same idealized standards set by his hero is devastating. Thus, Henry learns to perceive failure as weak instead of an opportunity to grow.

Henry’s dependence on the book starkly contrasts with his attitude toward anything academic. An average student, Henry too often lets the accomplishments of his peers, professors, or subject matter intimidate him to truly apply himself. He finds intellectual pursuits daunting and wishes that “college required you to use your body more” (30). The Art of Fielding is the one book that Henry approaches with scholarly reverence, but instead of approaching it critically, he views it as a text that can’t be wrong, seeking to mold himself to what it describes so that he can be worthy of it.