Character guide

Unknown Narrator

major

Also known as I, mine, myself, your

This narrator moves through the book as its constant consciousness, addressing a class of nineteen-one, a young stranger, and his own children with the same wry, confiding tone. His distinctive tension is between sentiment and self-mockery: he wants to honor graduations, babies, and ballplayers, yet keeps tripping over his own absurdity. He matters because every early poem is filtered through his shifting moods, making him less a fixed character than the sensibility that holds the collection together.

Young Stranger

supporting

Also known as a young stranger

The young stranger is the narrator's live-in audience and occasional antagonist, the child whose face must be washed, whose playthings must be gathered, and whose endless questions exhaust the speaker's goodwill. The tension is affectionate exasperation: the narrator cheerfully performs most duties but openly begs for relief from the interrogation. This relationship anchors the book's middle stretch, where the grand public themes of class poems and baseball give way to the intimate, funny labor of raising a small child.

Harry B. Wallace

minor

Also known as Harry B. Wallace Diamond, Harry B. Wallace Diamond Importer

A diamond importer and acquaintance of the narrator.

Brother Jim

supporting

Also known as Jim, healthy Jim

Brother Jim is the household's celebrated prodigy, a boy whose single utterance of 'Daddy' prompts triumphal music and makes the warring nations seem like trifles. Yet his darker comic side emerges in his mysterious antipathy toward baby number three, whom he longs to slap despite the infant's total innocence. He matters because he embodies the collection's blend of paternal pride and domestic absurdity, turning a baby's first word and a toddler's grudge into subjects worthy of mock-heroic verse.

Daddy

minor

Also known as daddy

The narrator's father, referenced in personal anecdotes.

Charley Deneen

minor

Also known as Ex- Gov. Chas . S. Deneen Lawyer, Charley

Former governor and lawyer, a political figure in the narrative.

Brother John

minor

Also known as John

Another brother of the narrator, appearing in family scenes.

Lurid Lew

supporting

Also known as David R. Lewis Banker, Dave, David, Davey

Lurid Lew belongs to the narrator's wider circle of acquaintances, a banker whose nickname suggests a past or persona at odds with respectable finance. The tension lies in that gap between his staid professional title and the lurid handle attached to him, a discrepancy the poems never fully resolve. He matters as a supporting presence in the collection's social landscape, one of the many named figures whose nicknames and quirks give the narrator's world its dense, gossipy texture.

Cousin Paull

minor

Also known as Paull

A cousin of the narrator, mentioned in family gatherings.

John Z. Vogelslang

minor

Also known as John Z., Man

A restaurant owner known to the narrator.

Kid Gleason

supporting

Also known as William Gleason, William, White Sox, the Sox, Kid, William A. ( Kid ) Gleason Manager White Sox

Kid Gleason, also called William A. Gleason, runs the White Sox from the bench, a manager whose authority is tested by bad calls and bellowing players. His distinctive trait is silence: while the Cub Brigade charges and teammates holler like calves at the umpire staff, Gleason stands mute, jaws locked, earning his half of the big hundred through sheer restraint. He matters because his poised defiance gives the baseball poems their moral center, a manager whose dignity measures the chaos around him.

Dick Carle

minor

Also known as Dick

An actor or acquaintance in the narrator's circle.

William Veeck

minor

Also known as William

A baseball executive associated with the Cubs.

Sylvia

minor

Also known as herself

A woman referenced by the narrator, possibly a relative or friend.

John B. De Voney

minor

Also known as De Voney

A real estate agent mentioned in passing.

Fred C. Schwab

minor

Also known as Will, Al, Freddie

A tire dealer and friend of the narrator.

Robert J. Dunham

minor

Also known as Robert J.

An acquaintance, possibly in business.

John J. Meagher

minor

A stock broker known to the narrator.

George K. Schmidt

minor

A banker appearing in the book.

Dollar Bill

minor

Also known as Bill Dollar Bill, The Author Goodbye Bill Dollar Bill

A character addressed in a farewell poem.

Maclay

minor

A person referenced in the narrative.

Son Lou

minor

Also known as Son

A son or younger relative of the narrator.

Jonesey

minor

A minor character, possibly a friend.

Heine

supporting

Also known as the Great Heine

Heine is the batter at the plate when William's pitch is called strike three, a decision he knows was outside and high. Rather than argue, he makes no reply and asks no query, his locked jaws earning him the other half of the big hundred alongside Zim. He matters because his wordless composure, set against the bellowing players on every side, crystallizes the collection's recurring fascination with quiet endurance under unfair judgment.

Heckus Family

minor

Also known as Mrs. H., Baby Heckus, Tom, Bill, the Heckus dad

A family unit appearing in a poem or sketch.

Col. Chas. H. Ebbets

minor

Also known as Charley

President of a baseball club, likely the Dodgers.

Jess Willard

minor

Also known as Willard, Jessica

A heavyweight boxer, referenced in the narrative.

Samuel A. Ettelson

minor

Also known as Samuel, Sam

Corporation counsel, a legal figure.

John J. Mitchell

minor

Also known as John

A banker mentioned in the narrative.

Modie J. Spiegel

minor

Also known as Modie

A president, likely of a company.

James F. Stepina

minor

Also known as Jim, James

A banker mentioned in the narrative.

Lawrence R. Adams

minor

Also known as Lawrence, Larry

A president of a company.

Doc Harpster

minor

Also known as Doc

A doctor or nickname for a character.

Barbara

minor

Also known as Babette

A woman, possibly a relative.

The Gophers

minor

A group or team referenced.

Hark

minor

A character with a distinctive name.

George F. Harding

minor

Also known as George

A person of note.

Henry Veeder

minor

A lawyer.

Charles A. White

minor

A banker.

W. G. Nicholson

minor

A banker.

Madge

minor

Also known as Exit Madge Madge

A woman who exits the narrative early, possibly a romantic interest.

Lena

minor

Also known as Belle, Lynn Fontanne

An actress or performer, possibly a composite character.

John Fletcher

minor

A banker appearing in the narrative.

L. Maguire

minor

Also known as Maguire

A president of some organization, briefly mentioned.

Amos C. Miller

minor

A lawyer mentioned in the narrative.

John Borden

minor

Also known as John

A capitalist and acquaintance.

Bion J. Arnold

minor

Also known as Col . Bion J. Arnold Engineer, Bion

An engineer and colonel, mentioned in the text.

Adolph Linick

minor

Also known as Linick

A theater owner mentioned in the narrative.

John E. Owens

minor

A lawyer appearing in the book.

Alexander H. Revell

minor

A merchant mentioned in passing.

Phil R. Toll

minor

Also known as Philip

A lumberman and acquaintance.

Chick Evans

minor

Also known as Evans Writer, Chick ) Evans Writer

A writer and golfer, mentioned in the narrative.

John M. Glenn

minor

Also known as John

A secretary or official mentioned.

George Golde

minor

A merchant appearing in the text.

Bennett Griffin

minor

An insurance man mentioned.

Oscar F. Mayer

minor

Also known as Oscar

A meat packer, founder of the company.

F. H. Rawson

minor

A banker appearing in the book.

Frank H. Reilly

minor

Also known as Frank Reilly

A real estate agent.

Peter Reinberg

minor

Also known as Peter

A president of some entity.

Alfred Lunt

minor

An actor, part of the theatrical world.

Gott. Ralph Bradley

minor

Also known as Gott

A person with a military or religious title.

Edward J. Brundage

minor

Also known as Ed Brundage, Edward J.

A lawyer or official.

F. A. Crandall

minor

Also known as Crandall

A banker mentioned.

Jacob Miller

minor

Also known as Jake

An editor.

Waller Morton

minor

Also known as Waller

A stock broker.

Col. Lowden

minor

A colonel mentioned.

Philip R. Clarke

minor

A president of a company.

Frank R. Coates

minor

A president mentioned.

David Copland

minor

Also known as David

A vice president.

Victor Elting

minor

Also known as Victor

A lawyer.

Dan Hayes

minor

A character mentioned.

James O. Heyworth

minor

An engineer.

Peter M. Hoffman

minor

Also known as Pete Hoffman, Peter, Peter M. Hoffman Coroner

A coroner.

George Cohan

minor

A famous entertainer.

Peter J. Schaefer

minor

Also known as Pete Schaefer, Pete, Peter J. Schaefer

A theatre owner.

Walden W. Shaw

minor

President of Yellow Cab Co.

Mort H. Singer

minor

Also known as Mort, Mort Singer

A theatrical man.

Max Thorek

minor

A physician.

S. Jay Kaufman

minor

Also known as Jay Kaufman

A writer or journalist.