# Jack Keefe — Jack Keefe Stories character guide > Jack Keefe in Jack Keefe Stories by Ring Lardner. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Jack, Keefe, Corp. Jack Keefe, Private Jack Keefe, Private Keefe, old Jack Keefe, Jack Keefe Stories A Busher, The Busher, dear Jack, Corporal Keefe, Mr. Keefe **First appearance:** 0001-jack-keefe-stories ## Snapshot A Terre Haute busher sold to the White Sox, Jack narrates his own rise in boastful, misspelled letters that reveal far more than he intends. ## Who they are Jack arrives in the big leagues convinced of his arm, his judgment, and his way with people, and writes it all down to his pal Al in prose that keeps tripping over its own vanity. His appetites—salary, respect, the last word—collide with managers, teammates, and eventually the Army, and he never quite sees the pattern. The gap between what Jack reports and what his letters betray is the engine of the whole book. ## Relationships ### [Freddie Smith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/characters/freddie_smith) _friendship_ Freddie is Jack's loyal friend and confidant, often involved in Jack's personal and professional affairs. ### [Al Blanchard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/characters/al_blanchard) _friendship_ Al and Jack share a strong camaraderie, frequently interacting as part of their shared social and baseball world. ### [Simple Simon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/characters/simple_simon) _friendship_ Jack and Simple Simon are companions, with Simon often serving as a sidekick or friend to Jack. ### [Hazel Carney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/characters/hazel_carney) _romantic_ Hazel and Jack have a romantic relationship, with Hazel being a love interest and source of personal drama for Jack. ### [Bertha](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/characters/bertha) _social_ Bertha and Jack are acquaintances, interacting through their shared connections with Al Blanchard and Freddie Smith. ### [Eddie Cicotte](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/characters/eddie_cicotte) _professional_ Eddie and Jack are baseball colleagues, teammates who interact regularly in the context of their sport. ### [Al Blanchard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/characters/al_blanchard) _friendship_ Al and Jack share a strong camaraderie, frequently interacting as part of their shared social and baseball world. ### [Simple Simon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/characters/simple_simon) _friendship_ Jack and Simple Simon are companions, with Simon often serving as a sidekick or friend to Jack. ### [Freddie Smith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/characters/freddie_smith) _friendship_ Freddie is Jack's loyal friend and confidant, often involved in Jack's personal and professional affairs. ### [Eddie Cicotte](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/characters/eddie_cicotte) _professional_ Eddie and Jack are baseball colleagues, teammates who interact regularly in the context of their sport. ### [Freddie Smith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/characters/freddie_smith) _friendship_ Freddie is Jack's loyal friend and confidant, often involved in Jack's personal and professional affairs. ### [Eddie Cicotte](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/characters/eddie_cicotte) _professional_ Eddie and Jack are baseball colleagues, teammates who interact regularly in the context of their sport. ## In the story ### [Jack Keefe Stories](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/jack-keefe-stories) The protagonist and narrator, a baseball player whose exploits are chronicled. ### [A Busher's Letters Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/a-busher-s-letters-home) The narrator and protagonist, a rookie pitcher sold to the White Sox, writing letters to his friend Al about his experiences. ### [The Busher Comes Back](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/the-busher-comes-back) Narrator and protagonist; reports to San Francisco, pitches well, is recalled by the White Sox, and beats the Athletics and Walter Johnson. ### [The Busher's Honeymoon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/the-busher-s-honeymoon) Narrator and protagonist; writes about his marriage, finances, and interactions with Comiskey and Allen. ### [A New Busher Breaks In](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/a-new-busher-breaks-in) Narrator and protagonist; writes letters about his baseball struggles, fines, and personal life. ### [The Busher's Kid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/the-busher-s-kid) Proud father of little Al, reflecting on his son's smile and his own baseball achievements. ### [The Busher Beats It Hence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/the-busher-beats-it-hence) Narrator and protagonist; writes letters about his arm trouble and decision to join the world tour. ### [The Busher Abroad](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/the-busher-abroad) The narrator and protagonist, a naive and boastful baseball player on a world tour. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/i) Narrator and protagonist; writes letters to Al from the ship, pitches in Tokyo, worries about his family. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/ii) Narrator and pitcher, complains about conditions and makes excuses for his performance. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/iii) Narrator and protagonist; receives letter from Florrie, sends money, pitches and wins against the White Sox. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/iv) Narrator and protagonist; writes letters from Cairo, pitches in a joke game, and interacts with teammates and locals. ### [The Busher's Welcome Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/the-busher-s-welcome-home) Narrator and protagonist; returns to Chicago, learns Florrie is in California, considers federal league offer, pitches poorly in London. ### [Call for Mr. Keefe!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/call-for-mr-keefe) Narrator and protagonist; discusses his pitching, draft registration, and family life. ### [Jack the Kaiser Killer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/jack-the-kaiser-killer) Narrator and protagonist; has enlisted in the U.S. Army and is writing from Camp Grant. ### [Corporal Punishment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/corporal-punishment) Jack is a corporal at Camp Grant, anxious about being sent to France as a non-commissioned officer. He considers giving up his rank to stay with his family, attends French lessons, leads trench training with enthusiasm, and deals with insubordination from Shorty Lahey and a fresh recruit. ### [Purls Before Swine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/purls-before-swine) Narrator and protagonist; describes his leave, his correspondence with Lucy Chase, and his military activities. ### [And Many a Stormy Wind Shall Blow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/and-many-a-stormy-wind-shall-blow) Narrates his experiences on the ship, including his new nickname and the German language incident. ### [Private Valentine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/private-valentine) Narrator and protagonist, writing letters from France about his army life. ### [Strategy and Tragedy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/stragety-and-tragedy) Jack writes letters to Al, preparing for Gen. Pershing's visit and outlining his baseball-inspired war strategies. ### [Decorated](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/decorated) Narrator and protagonist; writes letters from France, gets into a fight with Shaffer over a prank. ### [Sammy Boy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/sammy-boy) Narrator and letter writer, serving in the U.S. Army in France. ### [Simple Simon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/simple-simon) Narrator and protagonist; returns home to Chicago, reunites with Florrie and meets his newborn daughter; also recounts the disappearance of Simple Simon in the trenches. ### [The Busher Reenlists](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/the-busher-reenlists) The narrator and protagonist, deciding between baseball and business after the war. ### [The Battle of Texas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/the-battle-of-texas) Narrator and protagonist; writes letters from the train and from Mineral Wells, describes his pitching success and interactions with teammates. ### [Along Came Ruth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/along-came-ruth) Narrator and protagonist; struggles with home life and baseball, returns to family after Gleason's intervention, then pitches a winning game against Philadelphia. ### [The Courtship of T. Dorgan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/the-courtship-of-t-dorgan) Narrator and protagonist; receives a new contract, arranges a date for Tom Dorgan, and later feels relieved that Miss Mulvihill is engaged to Tom. ### [The Busher Pulls a Mays](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/the-busher-pulls-a-mays) Narrator and protagonist; considers pulling a Mays by walking out on the White Sox due to frustration with Gleason. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/characters/jack_keefe - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/characters