Right now there are only 19 chapters available but everything about them made me want more.
The story centers around a stereotypical Japanese salaryman who likes going to the ballpark after a long days work. At the stadium he meets a nice gyaru beer vender named Ruriko who enjoys keeping him company and polite conversations. The two eventually develop a rapport and hang out together, cheering on the local baseball team while the salaryman buys beers and bento boxes from her. There are also side stories that center around the other venders, manager, security guards, regular ballpark patrons, and ever the team mascot!
I really enjoyed the panels for this manga. The characters are drawn perfect to fit the sports-based storyline. Ruriko and the salaryman are perfectly depicted as the stereotypical average Japanese workers. There's nothing too plain or exaggerated about them. The sports action is very well drawn, to the point where sometimes it felt like you could hear the crack of the bat, fans cheering, and general noise of stadium life.
I'm not sure that it would be fair to talk too much about the characters since there are only 19 chapters available at the moment, so not much character development has happened just yet. I can only guess how the comradery between Ruriko and the salaryman will progress, but exactly what kind of friendship they will develop is to be known. I'll surely be sticking around to find out.
All together, Catcher in the Ballpark! was an wonderful read. You get the sense of being in a ballpark stadium along with a the story of two relatable average everyday people just trying to enjoy life. I'm keen to find out what happens in this manga.
