Paul Tracey
Paul Tracey is the protagonist of this novel. After witnessing a terrible accident at the age of 11, he is haunted by his memories for many years. He is a huge fan of baseball and wants to resolve the tension between his father and Joe Castle, after the accident in 1973.
Warren Tracey
Warren Tracey is Paul's father. He is depicted as having a very troubled relationship with his family, due to his difficult personality. This is something Paul struggles with throughout the novel, especially after finding out Warren has been diagnosed with cancer.
Paul's mother
At the beginning of the novel, Paul introduces his mother. He describes her as being a kind and strong person, who put up with a lot from his father when they were married.
Joe Castle
Joe Castle was a promising young baseball player, who impressed fans with an incredible performance in his first season. However, after a terrible accident Castle's career comes to a tragic end.