William Martsen IV

In the bustling city of Madison, on a cold and wintry night, there lived a baseball general manager named William Martsten IV. William was known far and wide as a shrewd and miserly man, whose heart was as cold as the winter wind that swept through the streets. He owned the Madison Malts, a yearly also ran team that had fallen on hard times, the only team in PEBA to have never made the playoffs. The team’s fans were disheartened, and the players had lost their spirit.

One preseason eve, as Martsten sat alone in his dimly lit office, counting his stacks of money, he heard a faint and ghostly voice. ” William Martsten,” the voice whispered, “I am the Ghost of Baseball Past. Come with me, and I will show you the game you once loved.”

Startled, William found himself transported to a time when he was a young boy. He stood in a field, watching a group of children play baseball, their laughter echoing in the warm summer air. Among them was a young Ishmael, a smile on his face as he played the game with joy and enthusiasm. He remembered the thrill of each pitch, the crack of the bat, and the camaraderie of his teammates.

The Ghost of Baseball Past then showed Martsten the early days of his career as a general manager, a time when he made decisions for the love of the game and the betterment of his team. He saw the joy he had once brought to his team and their fans.

Tears welled up in Martsten eyes as he realized how he had let his passion for baseball wither away in favor of profits at any cost. The ghost’s voice grew faint, and Martsten was transported back to his office.

Next, the Ghost of Baseball Present appeared before Martsten, a jolly and robust figure in a Malts uniform. The ghost took Martsten to the bustling streets of Madison, where people were excitedly talking about the upcoming season. They spoke of the young and talented players on the team, the hope for a brighter future, and the magic of the game itself.

Martsten was taken to the Malthouse, where he saw the fans, young and old, cheering for their team with passion and pride. He realized that the joy of the game was not in the wins and losses alone, but in the shared experience of being part of something greater than oneself.

As the evening wore on, the ghost introduced Marsten to Clement Bunglethorpe, a loyal and hardworking remote employee in the Malts front office. Despite the meager wages he earned, Clement’s love for the game was unwavering. William was moved by Clement’s dedication and his dream of watching a game at the Malthouse with his family.

Finally, the Ghost of Baseball Yet to Come appeared, a shadowy figure draped in a Malts banner. Without a word, the ghost showed William a future where the team had ceased to exist. The Malthouse lay abandoned and overgrown with weeds, and the city had lost its baseball spirit. The fans were despondent, and the once-hopeful legacy of the Malts had faded into obscurity.

Overwhelmed with sorrow and regret, Marsten begged the ghost for another chance. He promised to embrace the joy of the game and attempt to raise the Malts to a playoff birth, not for the sake of profit, but for the love of baseball itself.

With that, Marsten awoke in his office, the room filled with the warm glow of morning light. He rushed out into the streets of Madison, his heart filled with newfound purpose. He greeted his employees with a smile, gave Clement a raise, and resolved to build a team that played with heart and passion.

And from that day forward, William Marsten IV was known not as a miserly general manager but as a man who loved the game of baseball, and in doing so, he brought back the magic to The Malthouse, the city of Madison, and the hearts of its people, ensuring that the spirit of baseball would live on for generations to come in his now charitable financial heart.