Character Relationship Map: Warming Up

Characters

• Bert Tulliver (played by Richard Dix) — protagonist

  Bert is the star pitcher of the small-town Eureka Bearcats who arrives at the Green Sox training camp and earns a chance to join the team. He courts Mary, whom he mistakenly believes is a governess, w...

• Mary Post (played by Jean Arthur) — supporting

  Mary is the daughter of the Green Sox owner, though Bert initially knows her as “Miss Zilch” and does not realize her identity. She becomes the object of Bert's affection, while McRae is also interest...

• Mr. Post (played by Claude King) — supporting

  Mr. Post owns the Green Sox and is Mary's father. After Bert impresses him while working as a demonstrator at a boardwalk concession, Mr. Post invites him to report to the team's practice. He later ho...

• McRae (played by Philo McCullough) — supporting

  McRae is the Green Sox's arrogant home-run king, acquired from the rival Pawnees through a shady deal. He repeatedly sabotages Bert and persuades him that he is a jinx; when his contract is ruled inva...

• Edsel (played by Billy Kent Schaefer) — supporting

  Edsel is Mary's mischievous nephew. His antics spark Bert and Mary's first meeting on the boardwalk, beginning the courtship that becomes central to Bert's personal story. The plot summary gives no fu...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Mr. Post → McRae (Power Team Owner And Player) — Their connection reflects the owner's authority over the team and its players.

  Mr. Post is identified as the owner of the Green Sox, while McRae is described as a Green Sox player during training.

• Mr. Post → Bert Tulliver (Professional Prospective Employer) — Mr. Post provides Bert with his opportunity to enter professional baseball.

  Bert's work as a boardwalk demonstrator impresses Mr. Post, who invites him to report to Green Sox practice.

• Mary Post → Edsel (Family Aunt And Nephew) — Their family connection directly helps initiate the romance.

  Edsel is explicitly described as Mary's mischievous nephew, and his antics spark Bert and Mary's first meeting.

• Mary Post → McRae (Romantic Unwanted Suitor) — McRae's interest in Mary intensifies Bert's jealousy and misunderstanding.

  The plot states that McRae is interested in Mary and later shows him calling on her at the Post home.

• Bert Tulliver → Mary Post (Romantic Interest) — Their romance develops through mistaken identity, emotional distance, and eventual mutual recognition.

  Bert courts Mary while believing she is the governess called "Miss Zilch." Mary's grandstand signal of love restores his confidence during the final g...

• Mr. Post → Mary Post (Family Father) — Mr. Post is Mary's father and the owner of the team Bert hopes to join.

  Mary is identified as the daughter of Mr. Post, the owner of the Green Sox.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Bert Tulliver → McRae (Conflict Baseball Rival) — Their rivalry drives both Bert's professional crisis and the championship climax.

  McRae earns Bert's enmity at the Green Sox camp, sabotages him during training, and faces him again in the deciding game.

• Bert Tulliver → Edsel (Social Acquaintance) — Edsel's behavior creates the immediate social link between Bert and Mary.

  Bert meets Mary through the antics of her mischievous nephew Edsel.

Story Analysis

A struggling pitcher overcomes sabotage and romantic misunderstanding to win the championship with Mary's support.

Plot Progression

1. The Outsider Meets Miss Zilch — Bert arrives at Green Sox camp and clashes with McRae before being thrown out. On the boardwalk, Edsel's antics bring him together with Mary, whom he mistakes for a governess.
2. A Chance At The Green Sox — Bert proves himself as a boardwalk demonstrator and earns Mr. Post's invitation to Green Sox practice. He continues courting Mary in the Post kitchen without knowing her family connection to the team.
3. The Jinx And The Rival — McRae sabotages Bert during training and persuades him that he is a jinx. When McRae's contract is invalidated, he returns to the Pawnees in time for the World Series.
4. Jealousy Before The Decider — Bert walks McRae and is benched after allowing his fear to control him. Seeing McRae call on Mary, Bert misreads the situation and rejects Mary's attempts to reconnect.
5. Love Wins The Championship — Bert returns as the Green Sox's last pitching option when the series is tied. Mary's signal of love revives him, allowing him to strike out McRae and later resolve the identity misunderstanding at the...