Thirteen stories of outrageous heists starring one smooth thief The dictator of the island of Jabali wants a baseball team, and he doesnt care how he gets it. He has assembled nine of the finest players on the island, and is about to hire Nick Velvet to steal him some competition. Ordinary thieves might not be up to pinching a whole ball club, but Velvet specializes in lifting seemingly worthless items, and in this years National League, there is nothing more worthless than the hapless Beavers. He steals them easilybut will the islands ruler be satisfied with a last-place team? In these charming stories starring one of Edward D. Hochs most popular characters, everything is up for grabs. Velvet steals sea serpents, garbage, cats, and toy miceall with his trademark low-key style. In Nick Velvets underworld, there is nothing he wont steal, so long as its priceless, worthless, or just plain crazy.