"Baseball Joe Around the World; or, Pitching on a Grand Tour" by Lester Chadwick is a novel written in the early 20th century. This story is part of the "Baseball Joe" series and follows the main character, Joe Matson, also known as "Baseball Joe," who is a talented pitcher. The narrative revolves around his adventures as he embarks on a significant baseball tour to different parts of the world, facing challenges, rivalries, and unexpected circumstances along the way. The beginning of the narrative introduces Joe at his home in Riverside, immediately after his celebrated victory in the World Series. He is excited about news of a proposed new major league that threatens to disrupt the existing leagues, which worries him. During this time, Joe encounters a surprise visitor, Mr. Westland, who tries to recruit him for the new league, offering a substantial amount of money. However, Joe refuses to break his contract with the Giants, demonstrating his integrity and loyalty to his team. The opening chapters set the stage for Joe's character as both a skilled athlete and a principled individual, foreshadowing his future adventures in the upcoming global tour. (This is an automatically generated summary.)