Shoeless Joe

As Ray and Salinger travel towards Minnesota, where Moonlight Graham died in 1965, Salinger tells Ray that he also received a message saying, "fulfill the dream" (98). Graham had played only one inning of baseball for the New York Giants, in the year 1905. Both of them pay a visit to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. They read a newspaper obituary that reveals that Graham had worked as Chisholm, Minnesota’s doctor for many years and was much loved by the members of his community. At night, Ray dreams of Eddie Scissons, the “oldest living Chicago Cub” (110) and is surprised that Eddie has invaded his dreams. Years ago, Ray had bought Eddie’s farm.

Later at night, Ray goes walking, and meets Doc Graham, depicted as a seventy-five-year-old man. Graham and Ray walk together to Graham's office at the school, where Graham explains to Ray how he got the nickname “Moonlight Graham.” Graham confesses to Ray that his one wish was to hold a bat in a major-league game, something that he never did in his career. He asks Ray if he can fulfill his wish to have,“the chance to run the bases, stretch a double to a triple, and flop face-first into third base, wrapping my arm around the bag” (125).