Even though the Athletics did move from Philadelphia, the fact that they play on in Oakland does keep their history alive. The story of the rooftop bleachers is generally known among diehard baseball fans, especially those who went to Shibe Park (Connie Mack Stadium) as children, or who heard stories from their parents or grandparents. There are even bleachers in right field of Citizens Bank Park, where the Phillies play, that pay tribute to the right field rooftop bleacher seats on 20th Street at Shibe Park.
Q. Goodbye, Mr. Spalding is set in the 1930s. How did writing a book that took place during the Great Depression affect the story? Could this story have taken place today?
A. Themes of friendship, neighborhood bullies, and overcoming hardship can really be found in any era. What makes each story unique are the details. If this story were set in a different time period, it would have changed a great deal.
The level of economic hardship for families was eye-opening. Depression-era stories are often told from a broad perspective, or generalized about soup lines. Seeing it with a daily lens, where every dime quite literally made a difference, was remarkable.
It was not just the economic details that made the era an important part of the book. The 1930s also allowed me to write about a level of freedom that kids had in the neighborhood, one that is not really seen as much today. This freedom helped the story unfold in a way that may not have been possible in a more modern era. In terms of the ballpark, they had access to the field and to the players, which is hard to believe by today’s standards.
That access went beyond the kids. Shibe Park was such a big part of the neighborhood, and there really was a sense of community, loyalty, and pride. Building the Spite Fence created such a high level of friction and animosity among the homeowners. Once the wall was built, the relationship between with the Athletics and the neighborhood never fully recovered. Again, this helped my story along—but these details are specific to that era.
Q. Okay, but what if it were set today?
A. How Jimmy and Lola fought to save their view would have been a big difference. Online social media campaigns and national exposure could have fueled the opposition to the Spite Fence construction. Jimmy would not have been able to sneak into the clubhouse, but he might have been able to connect with players through online platforms, and develop a following with a common interest. They would have been able to mobilize on a larger scale.
There is such a strong and powerful movement for kids and teens today, and we see how effective and smart they can be while using the resources around them. I see Jimmy and Lola jumping into this kind of campaign and embracing this cultural wave, and being on the forefront to make change.
Q. What do you hope readers take away from your book?
A. I hope young readers come to the book for one reason, and leave learning, appreciating, or understanding another. Maybe they are drawn to baseball, and leave with an awareness for overcoming adversity, appreciating their friends, or handling bullies. Or maybe they have bullied someone themselves, and leave with a better grasp of how their behavior affects their peers. I also love the idea that a young reader might put down this book and go to the library to check out a book on baseball history, or want to learn more about Jimmie Foxx, Bing Miller, or the 1934 trip to Japan.
There is also an important lesson about disappointing outcomes. This does not diminish the importance for fighting for what you believe (although maybe not in the way Jimmy did!). Here, even when they fought the proper way—like the homeowners did by going through the court system—the wall still went up. That is an historical fact. Reading about how Jimmy overcame his grief, owned his mistakes, and eventually looked forward instead of back, is an important message.
Baseball and bullies aside, in the end it was all about friendship. I hope readers finish this book rooting for Jimmy and Lola and appreciating the friends around them just a little bit more.
Q. What do you think becomes of Jimmy and Lola?
A. I love Jimmy and Lola so much, and I know exactly what happens to them when they grow up. I am eager to share their story!
JENNIFER ROBIN BARR has lived in the Philadelphia area her entire life, and she grew up hearing stories about Shibe Park and Connie Mack Stadium. Her first baseball memory is watching the final out of the 1980 World Series on TV when she was eight years old. Goodbye, Mr. Spalding is her debut middle-grade novel. When she isn’t writing, Jennifer advises students at a small liberal arts college. She lives outside of Philadelphia with her husband and two daughters. Visit jenniferrobinbarr.com.
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