A Mile In His Shoes

"Mile in His Shoes" is the story of Mickey Tussler, a young man with Asperger's Syndrome--a type of autism--who is recruited by a passionate manager to pitch for his minor league team. The story centers on Arthur Murphy, who coaches a semi-pro baseball team out of a small country town in Ohio. The team he is coaching is starting another losing season, and Murphy is getting pressure from the owner for the team to improve or suffer the consequences. So Murphy is sent on a scouting trip to bring talent to the team. By chance, on his way to scout, his car breaks down and Murphy meets a young autistic country boy named Mickey Tussler. Mickey is autistic so he is a little bit off, but still very nice and friendly. Murphy sees Mickey throwing some apples, and spies Mickey’s arm as talent. So, Murphy persuades Mickey’s uptight parents to let Mickey come to Clayton, Ohio and have a tryout. Once in Clayton, Mickey proves his talent, and becomes well liked. However, Lefty, another pitcher on the team dislikes him; jealous. Lefty hires some men to take Mickey out and beat him up, hurting his right throwing hand. Mickey is then out for a few weeks, where Lefty (another pitcher) begins to shine in his absence. Then, somehow the law finds out about what Lefty did and he is kicked off the Rats (the baseball team). Then, after some time, Lefty joins their rivals the Bullets. Meanwhile, Mickey is having trouble focusing since his injury so Murphy takes him home to get his head on straight. Murphy ends up getting into a fight with Clarence, Mickey’s father, and Mickey stays behind. In the end there is a final showdown between the two rivals, and beforehand Murphy persuades Clarence to let his son play again. Mickey shines, and the Rats win.