# Carey — Short Fiction character guide > Carey in Short Fiction by Ring Lardner. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Big Carey, Miss Mary Carey **First appearance:** 0010-horseshoes ## Snapshot A veteran ballplayer with a sharp eye for young talent, Carey takes it upon himself to keep Skull on the roster purely for the entertainment value. ## Who they are Carey is the clubhouse wit whose running commentary on teammates and opponents gives the baseball stories their comic texture. He's genuinely shrewd about pitching — he spots Skull's potential before anyone else and lobbies the manager to keep him — but his motives are half generosity and half a craving for amusement. His mischief, like tipping off the gang to hide so Skull takes a taxi to the wrong borough, drives the early comedy and shows how a veteran's boredom shapes a rookie's welcome. ## Relationships ### [Skull Scoville](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/skull_scoville) _rivalry_ Carey and Skull Scoville are antagonists, possibly competing in a high-stakes or violent context. ### [Alibi Ike](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/alibi_ike) _rivalry_ Alibi Ike and Carey are competitors, possibly in sports or business, with frequent clashes. ### [Hawley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/hawley) _professional_ Carey and Hawley work together, likely as colleagues or in a shared enterprise. ### [Skull Scoville](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/skull_scoville) _rivalry_ Carey and Skull Scoville are antagonists, possibly competing in a high-stakes or violent context. ### [Alibi Ike](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/alibi_ike) _rivalry_ Alibi Ike and Carey are competitors, possibly in sports or business, with frequent clashes. ### [Hawley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/hawley) _professional_ Carey and Hawley work together, likely as colleagues or in a shared enterprise. ### [Hawley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/hawley) _professional_ Carey and Hawley work together, likely as colleagues or in a shared enterprise. ### [Skull Scoville](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/skull_scoville) _rivalry_ Carey and Skull Scoville are antagonists, possibly competing in a high-stakes or violent context. ### [Alibi Ike](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/alibi_ike) _rivalry_ Alibi Ike and Carey are competitors, possibly in sports or business, with frequent clashes. ## In the story ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/i) The teammate who nicknames Farrell 'Alibi Ike' and enjoys teasing him about his constant excuses. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/ii) Organizes the game and sees through Ike's alibis, questioning his stories about his relatives. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/iii) Teammate who engages in banter with Ike about his excuses. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/iv) Joins the narrator in teasing Ike about his mysterious letters. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/v) Carey teases Ike about his engagement and is part of the conversation that leads to Dolly's departure. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/vi) One of the few players still speaking to the narrator; helps write the letter to Dolly and suggests the key phrase. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/i) Referenced as someone who can vouch for the narrator's claims and knows about Skull Scoville. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/ii) Returns from coaching a college team and immediately begins teasing Skull Scoville. ### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/iii) Tricks Skull into going to bed early to secure a lower berth, then joins the others in the diner. ### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/iv) Plans and executes the prank on Skull, sends him to Brooklyn in a taxi, and later convinces Skull he must pay the fare. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/v) Gives Skull misleading directions to the Polo Grounds and later sets him up to talk to McGraw, then tries to cover for the joke. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/vi) Rides Skull about his control issues and plays a prank on him regarding the James Boys watch. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/vii) Plays a prank on Skull, convincing him that the women are wealthy heiresses. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/i) Mentioned as someone who will eventually get sick of Hawley's arguing. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/ii) Tries to bait Hawley into an argument about the weather, using Dode's tip. Gets outmaneuvered by Hawley's logic and memory. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/iii) Hits a long ball in batting practice and engages in a debate about hitting conditions in different ballparks. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/iv) Participates in the discussion about declining attendance, offering sarcastic remarks. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/v) Engages in playful banter with Hawley about golf and bees, showing his witty and teasing nature. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/vi) In a batting slump, frustrated by Hawley's criticism, and makes a costly throwing error. He confides that he can't see clearly due to his anger and predicts Hawley will get himself in trouble. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/vii) Orchestrates a confrontation between Cap and Hawley to eliminate a rival for the batting title. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/carey - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters