The Off-the-Shelf All-Stars challenge is officially underway, and the first baseman of the Library’s literary baseball team has been chosen. Wielding a mammoth magician’s glove at 1B is Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts!
The legendary wizard of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books narrowly beat out a spry contender in J.R.R. Tolkien’s elfin archer Legolas – who really is more of a shooter than a catcher anyway, if you think about it - and will be providing a studied, stolid defensive presence at first sack.
Harry's sage mentor rose atop a field of Fantasy-lit first basepersons that included The Wicked Witch of the West from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey, and reader-submitted nomination Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings (thanks for that one, Nancy!).
The battle for the bag took off quickly when we posted the Facebook Question Sunday morning, asking you to vote for our suggestions or add your own using the fill-in form. We hope to see another close contest today as we announce the genre and nominations for …
You’ll never see him coming, you’ll never know he was there. That’s the mark of a good second baseman – and a good spy. Which of these famous spies can keep a runner from stealing his base?
James Bond, Casino Royale by Ian Fleming
George Smiley, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John Le Carré
Jason Bourne, The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum
The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy
To vote, go to our Facebook page, like us, and check the box beside your baseman of choice by 9 a.m. tomorrow (July 3). Or, if you can think of a better spy second bagger, fill in your own!
With Dumbledore installed at first, which Famous Spy will play second?
We’ll be filling out this field every day until the "real" Major League All-Star game lands at Kauffman Stadium on July 10. Be sure to like our Facebook page and use Twitter hashtag #otsas to follow the bookball action!
About the Author
Jason Harper is the web content developer and social media manager at the Kansas City Public Library.
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