Switch Pitcher is a book within a book. The narrator of the book Hugo is a first time novelist. He is falling in love with his girl friend Stacy whom he has recently met. Hugo notices a curiosity shop near to where he lives in Manhattan. The shop is never open and Hugo is curious as to why. He gets Stacy to play detective with him and this leads them into philanthropy and world adventures. Meanwhile he is reading his novel to Stacy as he is writing it. The book is about a young baseball player named Darwin.There are a number of associations with the real Charles Darwin as Hugo is a fan of his works. Both Hugo and his character Darwin evolve as the dual stories proceed.