Kate pulled out her phone and showed Louie her video of Red. Then she showed him the handwritten notes, which matched.
“I can’t believe it,” Louie said. “But it sure seems like Red is doing something wrong. Let’s go tell security.”
A short time later, Mike and Kate were in the ballpark’s security office. They showed the chief of security all their evidence. When they were done, the security woman radioed for someone to bring Red up. She asked Mike, Kate, and Louie to wait in the hallway.
A few minutes later, Red showed up with a security guard. After half an hour, the chief of security came out with Red. She stopped in front of Louie, Mike, and Kate. Red kept his head down. He had taken off his bow tie.
The chief of security held up Red’s bag. “Louie, you’ll never guess what we found in here,” she said. The chief reached in and pulled out a bag filled with clear star-filled bouncy balls.
Mike pulled the bouncy ball Louie had given him out of his pocket and held it up next to the bag. “They’re the same,” he said. “Red must have corked the bat and switched them when you practiced!”
The chief of security held up a clear bottle. “And these are the stink bombs that Red used,” she said. “He was hoping they’d clear out the clubhouse and upset the Cubs. He tried to blame it on the made-up criminal, but your video fixed that!”
“How could you?” Louie asked.
Red stared at the floor. “I’m sorry, Louie,” he said. “I like you, but the White Sox are the only team that matters in Chicago. If they can’t win the World Series, the Cubs shouldn’t!”
Louie took a deep breath and pulled back his shoulders. There was fire in his eyes.
“Well, Red, I’m afraid it won’t work,” he said. “The World Series isn’t over! And even if I can’t play, I can still sit on the bench and cheer my team on. The Cubbies aren’t done yet!”
While they waited for the World Series to start, Kate leaned forward and scanned the Cubs’ bench for Louie.
“Well, I still want Big D and the Red Sox to win,” she said. “But it’s such a shame that Louie can’t play.”
Mike nodded. “The Cubs could really use Louie tonight,” he said. “This is it. One of these teams is going to win the World Series!”
Kate’s mom leaned over. She had written her story early that night, so she was able to watch the game with Kate and Mike. “But at least you two stopped Red,” she said. “Now each team will have a fair chance to win.”
Kate twirled her long hair around the tip of her finger. “I guess,” she said. “But it would be even fairer if Louie were playing. He didn’t have anything to do with that corked bat.”
The Wrigley Field loudspeakers boomed to life. Both teams stood in front of their dugouts for the national anthem. When it was done, the Red Sox ran off the field to get ready to bat. The Cubs were just about to take the field when the loudspeakers crackled.
“Hold on, everyone,” the announcer said.
Mike and Kate looked at each other.
“The umpires have reviewed new information from yesterday’s corked-bat incident,” the announcer said. “There’s going to be a change in the lineup.”
A figure ran out from the dugout to the middle of the infield with his head down. It was a Cubs player. When he reached the pitcher’s mound, the announcer’s voice boomed throughout the ballpark.
“It’s LOOOUIE LOPEZ!”
The Chicago fans screamed and yelled. Louie lifted both arms in victory and looked around the stadium at all the happy fans.
“Louie’s suspension has been removed,” the announcer said. “The umpires decided that Louie didn’t have anything to do with the corked bat.”
Almost everyone in Wrigley stood and clapped. Slowly, a chant spread across the stadium from the bleachers.
“Lou-IE! Lou-IE! Lou-IE!”
It grew louder and louder until Louie took off his hat and bowed to the crowd. Then he motioned for the rest of his team to take the field. The Cubs ran out to their positions.
The Chicago Cubs got off to a great start.
In the second inning, Louie hit a double for the Cubs. The next batter struck out, but the following Cubs batter hit a single. Louie ran like a tornado and slid into home just as the throw landed in the catcher’s glove.
“Safe!” called the umpire.
The Cubs were up 1–0!
Big D came out swinging in the next inning. He was close to hitting a home run, but the Cubs outfielder jumped high into the air and caught Big D’s ball. It turned the hit into an out.
The Cubs stayed ahead by one run until the eighth inning. The Cubs pitcher struck out the first two Red Sox batters. Then the third batter hit a blooper that fell in for a base hit. On the next two pitches, the Boston runner stole second base, and then third. He was close to home. Kate and other Boston fans at Wrigley were going wild! It was one of the best chances all night for Boston to tie it up.
And that’s exactly what they did. When the next Boston batter hit a long line drive for a double, the runner on third ran for home. The outfielder threw the ball in, but it wasn’t even close.
Boston scored a run! The final World Series game was tied, 1–1.
The Cubs fans grew silent. The cool fall air seemed to grow chillier. A few Boston fans cheered, but all eyes were focused on the Cubs pitcher. He needed one more out to keep Boston from scoring the go-ahead run.
The pitcher ground the ball into his hip. The bat buzzed back and forth with practice swings. The Cubs pitcher waited for the right sign from his catcher and let the ball fly.
POW!
The bat connected with the ball and sent it sailing high into the dark sky.
Cubs outfielders ran to get under the ball. The Red Sox runner raced toward home. And the batter ran for first base.
The ball arced up and then down. The runners rushed around the bases.
But before the first runner crossed home plate, the ball dropped neatly into the glove of the Cubs left fielder.
It was an out!
The Red Sox players took the field for the bottom of the eighth as the Cubs got ready to bat. But Chicago’s luck didn’t change. Instead of getting on base, the first two Cubs batters struck out. The crowd clapped loudly for the third batter. But he hit a high pop fly that the Red Sox catcher caught.
The eighth inning was over. The game was still tied, heading to the ninth!
The Red Sox needed to score to win the game. Their fans cheered when the first Red Sox batter hit a single. But hope turned to despair when the second batter hit into a double play to give the Red Sox two outs. Even Big D couldn’t save the day. He watched two strikes go by and then hit a line drive to first base for the third out.
As the Cubs ran off the field, their fans clapped and yelled. Now was their chance! If the Cubs scored a run, they’d win the game and the World Series!
But it wasn’t going to be easy. As the Red Sox took the field, the pitcher warming up threw one strike after the other.
SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!
The balls popped into the catcher’s glove like explosions from a cannon. The game wasn’t over yet.
It looked like the first Cubs batter might win the game when he hit a long drive into right field. The fans cheered as he ran. But the right fielder grabbed it on a bounce and hurled it to second base.
It was close, but the Cubs player was out!
Louie was up next. The stadium filled with what sounded like choruses of fans shouting “Boo!” But they were actually calling “Lou!” as Louie walked to the plate.
Louie was focused only on the pitcher. When the ball came hurtling toward him, he swung and hit it with all his might.
The ball sailed down the third-base line. It slipped past the third baseman and into left field. Louie rounded first and headed to second.
He hit a double! The Cubs had a runner on base and only one out.
As the crowd cheered, Louie’s teammate Dexter Russell walked up to the plate. He watched as th
e Red Sox pitcher threw two balls. Dexter was waiting for the right pitch. The pitcher tightened up. He stared at Dexter and threw a high fastball.
Dexter liked it. He swung. The bat chopped down and hit the ball at just the right angle.
POP!
The ball launched off the bat and down the right field line. Louie raced around the bases. The Red Sox right fielder tried to grab the ball but booted it with his foot and sent the ball flying! Louie rounded third. The fans screamed themselves hoarse.
The right fielder found the ball and rifled it home.
Louie and the ball were both racing toward the catcher. Louie dove for home plate. His hands stretched out in front of him while he angled his body away from the catcher.
The throw from the outfield snapped into the catcher’s glove. The catcher swung the glove down to meet Louie.
Dust flew. The umpire motioned with his arms. The play was over!
The crowd couldn’t believe the call.
SAFE!
Louie had scored! The Cubs had won the World Series!
Mike, Mrs. Hopkins, and even Kate jumped up and cheered. The Cubs players mobbed Louie at home plate.
The Red Sox players slumped off the field. This wasn’t their year. Big D tipped his hat as he walked by the clump of celebrating Cubs players.
One of the batboys ran out and sprayed seltzer on the team. The jumbo TV screen in left field showed big close-ups of Louie and the other Cubs players having fun.
The fans went crazy when the commissioner of Major League Baseball presented the World Series trophy to the Cubs. After that, nobody seemed to want to leave. It took forever for the Cubs players to clear the field. And the fans stayed even longer. Mike and Kate continued to clap and yell for the Cubs.
More than an hour after the game was finished, fans finally started leaving. The infield was mostly empty, although a few reporters were still recording stories. Mike and Kate were getting ready to go when a Wrigley Field usher came up to them.
“Louie is waiting for you over there,” the usher said, pointing to the far side of the Cubs’ dugout. “He’d like to talk to you.”
Kate and Mike high-fived. “Hang on, Mom,” Kate said. “We can’t leave yet! Mike and I will be back in a minute!”
She and Mike ran through the seats until they came to the edge of the Cubs’ dugout. The only other fans left were streaming out of the exits.
“Mike and Kate!” called a voice. “Just who I wanted to see.”
Louie stepped out of the shadow of the dugout. He gave Mike and Kate a fist bump. Big smiles spread across their faces.
“Thanks, Louie,” Kate said.
“And they’re just who I wanted to see!” said another voice. A player in a Boston Red Sox uniform stepped out from behind Louie.
It was Big D!
Big D reached over and gave Mike and Kate two big hugs.
“Even though we lost the game, you two were great again!” Big D said. “I told Louie that you’d figure out where his bad luck was coming from.”
Mike gave Big D a funny look. “But aren’t you sorry you lost the game?” he asked. “I would be.”
Big D tilted his head back and let out a big belly laugh.
“I’m so happy just to be in the game, Mike,” Big D said. “Plus, no one deserves to win more than Louie and the Chicago Cubs! It’s been a long, long time!”
Louie gave Big D a high five.
“Thanks, brother,” he said. “Tell you what. Let’s meet back here next October for a rematch. I’d be happy to give you and the Red Sox another chance!”
“You got it!” Big D said. “I guess we’re done for this year. Maybe it’s time to get ready for Halloween.”
Mike’s eyes grew wide. “My Halloween costume! I haven’t thought of one yet,” he said.
“Don’t worry, we will,” Kate said. She looked at Big D and Louie. “Mike and I are having a big Halloween party on Saturday. Now that you’re done with the World Series, how’d you two like to come?”
Louie looked at Big D and shrugged. “I don’t know, maybe,” he said. “Sounds like a lot more fun than this series!”
Big D smiled. “I love parties,” he said. “But we’ll have to think about it. I haven’t had time to figure out my costume for this year. But maybe I could go as an umpire. They’re plenty scary!”
The kids laughed. Big D clapped Louie on the back, and they turned to go.
“Thanks for inviting us,” Louie said. “And thanks even more for saving the World Series!”
Ding-dong!
Kate’s doorbell in Cooperstown, New York, was ringing. It was Saturday night, and she and Mike were hosting a Halloween party at her house near the National Baseball Hall of Fame. They had invited all their friends from school. Mike and Kate had picked a special theme. It was a World Series Halloween party! Everyone could come as anything they wanted to, like a ghost, a zombie, a ballerina, a dog, or a TV star, as long as they had something baseball-related on them!
Kate opened the door. A rush of chilly fall air swirled inside. Outside was a surprising sight: a long, tall hot dog in a bun, with mustard, ketchup, bright green relish, and a Chicago Cubs World Series baseball hat!
“Trick or treat!” said a voice. “The Halloween hot dog is here!”
Kate giggled. “Mike, that’s GREAT!” she said. “I knew you’d come up with something for your costume!”
Kate stepped aside and let Mike in. Mike’s hot dog costume went from above his head down to his feet. He wore white sneakers and big white cartoon gloves.
“What do you think?” Mike asked.
“You look like the best hot dog ever, Mike!” Kate said. “Especially if you’re a Chicago Cubs fan! How’s my costume?”
Kate was dressed as the Green Monster. She had taken a big cardboard box and cut out a hole for her head on the top, and holes for her arms out the sides. But the front and back of it were painted dark green to match Fenway Park’s giant left field wall. And she had painted her face green and wore a funny green wig.
“Second-best costume ever!” Mike said. “Sorry it’s not as hot as mine! Get it? I’m a hot dog!”
Kate groaned. “Okay, okay,” she said. “Quick, let’s finish setting up!”
Mike and Kate had spent the past few days getting ready for the party. They cut out and colored huge figures and taped them to the walls of Kate’s house. There were vampire umpires, zombie baseball players, and even ghost pitchers!
Mike and Kate helped Kate’s mom put out snacks and set up some spooky games. Mike put on some haunted-house music.
“AHHHHHHHH!”
A scream filled Kate’s house. Kate’s mom dropped a bowl of potato chips and it flew all over the floor!
“Ha-ha! Got you!” Mike said.
Kate’s mom shook her head. “No fair, Mike,” she said. “You didn’t tell me you were going to turn on the haunted-house music.”
“Haunted-house music?” Kate asked. “I thought that was Red Remy’s scream when he learned that he was going to have to give up his TV show and go to jail for messing up the Chicago Cubs.”
Mike scratched his head and looked at the speaker. “It did sound a little like him, didn’t it?” he asked.
Kate’s mom bent over and started to sweep the potato chips into a pile. “Well, if it was him, I wish he’d help pick up all these chips,” she said.
Mike and Kate laughed and walked over to help. Mike’s music continued in the background with groans, creaking doors, and howls of wind. Another scream split the night just as they finished picking up the mess.
“Now that sounds like the Red Sox fans!” Mike said. He elbowed Kate. “Too bad the Cubs won it this year!”
Kate smiled. “I’m not worried,” she said. “There’s always next year!”
Before long, the house was crowded with all types of baseball ghosts, goblins, and scary creatures. The evening started off with a doughnut-eating contest. But instead of just eating doughnuts, the kids had to try t
o eat doughnuts hanging on strings from the ceiling without using their hands! Next up, they tried bobbing for apples in a big bucket of water and playing pin the broom on the witch. And Mike walked around with a covered bowl filled with peeled grapes and asked everyone to feel the eyeballs he had collected!
About halfway through the party, there was a loud knock on the door. Mike and Kate raced to open it.
The night was pitch-black, without a moon. Some leaves rustled along the side of Kate’s house.
“I don’t see anyone,” Mike said. “Maybe it was a ghost!”
Kate peered into the darkness. “That’s weird,” she said.
Mike stepped back inside. Kate had started to shut the door when two figures bounded out of the bushes on either side of the front door!
“BOO!” they yelled.
Mike and Kate both jumped straight up!
Two large figures stood in front of them. One was dressed as a New York Yankee. The other was dressed as a St. Louis Cardinal. Both had big black umpire masks on.
“Who’s that?” Kate asked.
The players howled with laughter and took their masks off.
It was Big D and Louie Lopez!
“We couldn’t resist your Halloween party,” Big D said.
“But what’s with the crazy costumes?” Mike asked. “Did you switch teams?”
“No! The scariest things we could think of were our biggest rivals,” Big D said. “But then we decided to add the umpire masks to make our costumes even scarier!”
Mike and Kate laughed. Then Big D threw his arm around Louie’s shoulders and pointed to Mike and Kate.
“You two saved the World Series,” Big D said. “Even if the Red Sox didn’t win this year, at least the Cubs won fair and square.”
Louie gave them a big smile. “Winning the World Series was great,” he said. “But spending time with friends like Mike and Kate is even better!”
Big D nodded. “That’s a World Series win for me any day!” he said.
The World Series Curse Page 4
