If Steve Shilstone’s Chance (Breakaway Books : 1996) were written in the third person it could be termed a lighter, gentler The Natural (or perhaps it would be more comparable to the movie version of that novel). Chance is the story of phenom shortstop Chance Caine who breaks into the Majors at age 18 and plays 22 seasons with the fictional Lions of the National League. Along the way, he amasses 21 Gold Glove Awards, plays in several World Series, and hits .400. The story is told years later, after Caine’s retirement, by a self-proclaimed “old weird guy poet” who Caine has asked to write his story. During the course of the novel, we are introduced to various people who have been a part of Caine’s life, including teammates, coaches, wives, lovers, and radio announcers. And we are treated to the story of Caine's life through these characters, as well as through Caine's own words. Featured is Caine’s meteoric rise to stardom, his marriages, and his feats on the diamond.The comparison to The Natural is present, of course. Similar to Roy Hobbs’ encounter with Harriet Bird, Caine is seduced by a young girl (“I want you because you’re going to be in the Hall of Fame”); and Caine is also shot (but not by his lover, and not with a silver bullet) so he will go out “on top”. But Chance Caine is not Roy Hobbs. While Caine knows he’s good (“I am the best ever to play my position”), there is no arrogance or self-proclaimed destiny about his situation. He is a likeable, and loved, character, even if a little quirky. And there is no darkness to the story, no sudden downfall. Caine plays until he’s 40 and then walks away – on his own terms; his skills by that time already declining (errors mounting and batting average falling). Caine leaves the game on his own terms, marrying a supermodel who doesn’t know anything about baseball, but whom Caine has recognized as his ultimate soul mate (despite spending the previous 20 years married to someone else).
While the story is narrated in a light, humorous tone, it is not overdone. The novel is sprinkled with excerpts from Caine’s diary, which was recorded during his last season with the Lions. This mechanism allows Shilstone to further develop Caine's character. And added to the voices of Caine’s peers the “personal” feel of the story is enhanced, as well. Chance is less a lighter The Natural than it is a combination of Man on Spikes with a dash of Almost Famous and a measure of Mark Harris’ Henry Wiggen. While not on the caliber of Man on Spikes, or Harris’ novels, Chance is worth the read. It is a fun and entertaining read.
