The Art of Fielding

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death, illness, and mental illness.

Harbach reveals how the relentless pursuit of excellence can lead to personal turmoil and self-destruction. While ambition can inspire great achievements, an obsession with flawlessness often leads to profound disappointment.

Henry embodies the dangers of perfectionism. As an exceptionally talented shortstop, Henry’s game requires precision and consistency. His devotion to The Art of Fielding, a manual by his idol Aparicio Rodriguez, reflects his rigid adherence to a standard of perfection. However, after he makes several uncharacteristic throwing errors, his confidence unravels, triggering a debilitating psychological crisis. Henry’s sudden inability to perform a task that once seemed effortless illustrates how perfectionism, when disrupted, can breed paralyzing self-doubt and anxiety. His descent into self-imposed isolation demonstrates the destructive consequences of equating personal worth with flawless execution.

Schwartz, Henry’s mentor, holds himself to masochistic standards in his expectations of perfection. Henry’s ability entrances Schwartz the first time he sees him play: “All his life Schwartz had yearned to possess some single transcendent talent, some unique brilliance that the world would […] call genius. Now that he’d seen that kind of talent up close, he couldn’t let it walk away” (6). As a natural leader and the driving force behind Henry’s acceptance at Westish, Schwartz pushes himself relentlessly, often to the detriment of his own well-being.