The Chums of Scranton High out for the Pennant: or, In the Three Town League

"The Chums of Scranton High Out for the Pennant" by Donald Ferguson is a novel likely written during the early 20th century. The book centers around a group of high school boys from Scranton High who are passionate about baseball and are determined to win the championship of the Three Town High School League. The main characters include Hugh Morgan, the team captain, and his close friend Thad Stevens, along with others such as Owen Dugdale and "Just" Smith, forming a dynamic crew that reflects the spirit of youthful camaraderie and competition. At the start of the story, the Scranton boys are eager to practice for an upcoming game, but rain disrupts their plans. We meet a lively group of friends as they leave school, sharing concerns about their competition from Belleville and Allandale. As they walk home, Hugh proposes a visit to the nearby Sadler Farm to fetch some fresh butter for his mother, which leads him and Thad to an unexpected meeting with a hobo named Wandering Lu. The boys approach the hobo with curiosity and engage in a conversation that reveals Lu's colorful backstory and current plight as he seeks to reconnect with his long-lost sister. The opening chapters set up both the boys’ enthusiasm for baseball and introduce themes of friendship and the complexities of human relationships, particularly those involving kindness and charity toward others.