Student Question

How did Jeffrey Magee hit the first frogball for a four-bagger in Maniac Magee?

Quick answer:

Jeffrey Magee hit the first "frogball" for a four-bagger during a Little League game against John McNab, a formidable pitcher. After hitting four consecutive home runs off McNab's pitches, McNab threw a frog instead of a baseball in frustration. Jeffrey, unwilling to harm the frog, bunted it gently. As the frog hopped around unpredictably, Jeffrey rounded the bases for an "inside-the-park home run," thus achieving the unique feat (Chapter 7).

Expert Answers

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Jeffrey Magee appeared one day at the Little League field, just as John McNab, a giant of a pitcher, was showing off his stuff.  He had made the players standing around after the game take turns attempting to hit his famous fastball.  He had struck out thirty-five in a row, when Jeffrey stepped up to the plate.  Amazingly, and to McNab's chagrin, Jeffrey connected with his pitches, at one point hitting four home runs in a row.  Seething with frustration, McNab lobbed a frog up to the plate.  Not wanting to hurt the frog, Jeffrey executed a perfect bunt right in front of the plate.  As McNab lumbered foolishly after the frog, who was hopping playfully and erratically around the field, Jeffrey circled the bases for an "inside-the-park-home-run bunt" - he had just hit the "world's first frogball for a fourbagger" (Chapter 7).

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