In Major-League baseball, there is a batter, pitcher, first base, second base, shortstop base, and third. Furthermore, in the outfield are three catchers. The rest of the stadium is composed of the team, couches, refs, and most importantly, the fans. Major-league baseball symbolizes each character and reference in Wilson's play, Fences. The batter in the field is fifty-three year old man Troy. Troy, in short, was part of a Negro baseball league, but his opportunity was cut short supposedly by his advancement in age, however; it was implied the color of his skin didn't allow Troy to play ball for the major league. Instead, he plays ball in reality. For example, in the opening of the story, Troy and his friend Bono are having a conversation about a work complaint Troy filed in regards of "the white mans driving and the colored lifting" (1703). Bono, a follower of Troy's views, agrees Troy had taken the right action of racial discrimination in the work force.Way before the weight of civil rights integrated in almost every aspect in the country, racial discrimination in the work force was very common. In Fences, the impression of the work force in this time setting tells the colored man has to do the heavy lifting and receive less pay then their white co-workers. Troy plays ball with the issue, and later in the play, he receives a promotion as a truck driver. But the intensity of his decisions and actions go father. His friend Bono suspects his friend Troy has been having an affair with a women named Alberta, which I will go into more depth later.

A ball player does know the history of other ball players. One of them Troy possess the knowledge of baseball player Josh Gibson. Josh Gibson was a famous catcher in the baseball Negros league, playing for the Homestead Grays, and later the Pittsburgh Crawfords. Josh Gibson had a great experience playing baseball until he died from cancer at a young age. Troy couldn't experience what Josh had due to his advancement in age and racial boundaries when Blacks were beginning to play in the Major league. This forebodes racial discrimination ending when Troy was an old man.

 Since Troy is the batter, who is the pitcher throughout the Play?  Death is referred as " a fastball on the outside corner" (1706). A fastball is a technique used by pitchers to prevent the ball form being hit by the batter. Death is the pitcher and Death throw at Troy, and what fastballs troy hits and misses? First, let's focus on the throws. One of the metaphorical throws Pitched by Death is....temptation? Returning to Bono's suspicions of Troy having an affair with Alberta, a gal from Tallahassee, is actually true when Bono visits Troy and tells him "Rose wants to hold on to you. She loves you" (1727). In other words, Bono is giving Troy advice that don't do anything that won't hurt Rose. Inevitably, he does and informs Rose of his infidelity and producing a love child. Rose bursts into a rage, informing Troy that "you should have stayed in my bed" (1730). Furthermore, Troy says in response "I stood on first base for eighteen years and I thought...well, goddamn it...go on for it" (1731). This line represents Troy's desires of his wants and compares his hungers that of a baseball player taking second base, which can be viewed as delusional. Troy is tempted to take second base, and he does, however, the extent of his action results in serious damage. Troy is a woman-less man. All alone on second base when his wife stood of first base with him for eighteen years.

Now, what the fastballs Troy's misses? Encouragement. Wilson illustrates in the play the strain between him and his son, Cory, who can be represented as the teammate .The teammate has certain qualities when it comes to the ball game, and that is determination. Most teammates with respond that player's determination with encouragement.  Wilson illustrates that Troy has no encouragement for Cory's desire to play football at a University. On act 1,scene 3, Troy makes his thoughts on Cory's recruitment very clear "I thought we have an understanding about this football stuff ? You suppose to keep up with your chores and hold that job down at the A&P". Troy intends his son to learn a trade than playing football since his experience was not well. This leads to the question if Troy had liked Cory. Troy says "what law is there to say I got to like you" (1717). Because of Cory's desires that can match Troy's, Troy see it as stupidity and holds back Cory, however; Wilson display's hypocrisy in Cory's character by Troy from not holding back from Alberta.

Wilson has a great way illustrating Major-League baseball by integrating the situations and character in Fences. How people play and game and shall they win or lose. In Troy's circumstances, he lost the significant aspect of Major-League baseball: Playing as a team.