McGee and Me! (1989–1992): Season 1, Episode 8 - Take Me Out of the Ball Game - full transcript
(intense music)
(upbeat music)
(turning pages)
- [Nicholas] "Don't
look to men for Help."
"Their greatest leaders fail,
but happy is the man whose
hope is in the Lord, his God."
"How puny is the
strength of man?"
(relaxing wacky music)
- [Voiceover] Are you tired
of being a 90-pound little
noodle, or nothing, tired
of bullies kicking sand in
your face.
Well now you can be that
hulking he-man you've always
dreamed of.
Yes, now for only a dollar 98,
you can own the famous
Jack Lamebrain Pop Tart
Beach Body Workout.
(crash)
That's right, for just 29.95,
you can be the muscle-bound
marvel that everyone admires.
Just think, only 89.95 buys
you all this happiness.
Yes, your 299.95 gets
you started today.
First, you'll get the
mighty bicep builder.
now twist the strings together,
and feel those biceps grow,
and it makes beautiful
Julienne french fries
in just seconds.
And that's not all, you'll
also get the tummy tuner.
(ring bell)
And look at the
revolutionary new advanced
dynamic tenderizer.
With this simple
resistance exercise,
you'll see results instantly.
It also has an extra feature
for advanced students.
(tah-dah)
So send your 3398 dollars now,
and start being the beach
party funk buddy today!
(crash)
(wacky trombone music)
(relaxing music)
- [Nicholas] In Eastfield,
you can find lots of
things to do in the summer.
See a movie, miniature golf,
but most of all it's the
home of the Braves, the
Eastfield Braves that is,
we're the hometown hopefuls,
and leading cause of
my dad's heartburn.
(disappointed crowd)
- You gotta keep your
eye on the ball, Roger.
- [Announcer] Bottom
of the ninth, two A,
and the next batter from Braves
is pitcher Thurman Miller.
(cheering)
(serious music)
- Alright, Thurman,
bring em home!
The trophy's ours!
(cheering)
- It's in the bag.
- A walk in the park.
- Hit em home, and
we've got the trophy.
(cheering)
Yes, yes, yes!
Go, go, go!
(triumphial music)
- [Nicholas] We'd seen
Thurman's home run trot
a lot this season.
This one took us from being
hopefuls to being heroes.
- Yes, woo hoo!
Hey, I wonder if this means
a bonus for the bat boy.
(upbeat music)
(cheering)
- Alright, listen up everybody.
Hey guys, great game.
We are the Eastfield Champs.
(cheering)
- Regional Finals, here we come.
- Alright, Thurman's
gonna take us to the
Little League World Series.
(cheering)
- I knew we had another
Hank Aaron on our hands, huh.
- You were great.
A wonderful team.
- Yeah!
- Hey think I should
do some pics for
the Eastfield Daily News?
- Nah, let's give Sports
Illustrated first crack.
(cheering)
- Alright, let's celebrate.
Come on.
- Hey Nick let's see
the old knuckleball,
come on let's see the old
slider, the old fastball,
the old curveball, the old...
(bomb dropping)
(thunk)
Screwball.
- [Nicholas] We didn't get a
big locker room celebration,
but we got the next best thing.
- If you knock the ball right,
it takes that thing so far out.
- I know it's great.
- Way out.
- I can't believe you
tred to throw me a curve.
- Look, I'll trade you Guerrero,
Robin Yount, and Goulding,
for Will Clark's rookie card.
- Nah, that's a
decent offer Louis,
but I'm not willing to
part with Will Clark,
not at any price, no
reason, no how, no way.
- Hey, what you guys got there?
- Alright!
A Will Clark rookie for me?
Thanks.
- Sure, it's yours big guy.
- Now with that last pitch, huh?
No way I'm gonna let bozo
get a fastball by me,
I made him pay, huh?
- You said it, no
way, right Louis?
- No way.
- Oh, I forgot the walnuts.
- Well look at the All-Stars.
- Hey Martin, what's
with the outfit?
Is your girl scout troupe
on a field trip, or what?
- Lay off Cryder, we
happen to be celebrating,
we're the All-City champs.
- You mean chumps, right?
Is your hat full of
mush, like your head?
- Knock it off, give that back.
Give me back my hat.
Come on Derrick, give it back.
- You and what army?
- Hey I bet it hurt real
bad if you were to lose
this earring, know what I mean?
Now beat it!
Hey of you guys want
to get me a napkin?
- Yeah, I got it.
- No, I got it.
- [Nicholas] Who knows,
if I gave Thurman my
Willie Mays card, maybe
he'd keep Derrick off my
case for life.
Thurman will probably be
signed right out of high school
with a major league contract.
- Okay enough about
Thurman Munster already.
- That's Miller, I just
call em like I see em.
- Alright, you two.
The kid is amazing though
no one can deny that.
- Yeah.
- Nick's probably
right about the pros,
Thurman is definitely
major-league material.
- Oh yes just think
the next step is real
greatness, and they name
a candy bar after him.
(telephone ringing)
- Hello.
Oh sure, hold on.
It's for you coach.
- Hello.
Oh hi Harvey.
- Who's that mom.
- Well it ain't Elvis.
- [Dad] What,
you're kidding.
Oh sure, I can hardly wait.
Oh, be just like old times.
Yeah.
Right.
See you next week.
So long you big bag of wind.
- David!
- Of all the rotten luck...
Harvey Stover the biggest
blowhard in the league,
he's managing the team we're
playing in the regionals.
- So?
- So, he's the guy who
managed the team that beat us
last year.
- Oh yeah.
I promise you one thing,
not this year, no siree buddy,
this year I get even,
this year it's payback time
this year Harvey...
I've got Thurman Miller.
- Tell me again what's
the point of all this?
- Strength.
If you're strong,
you can't lose,
just look at Thurman, he
hit that home run today,
because of the power
from his forearms.
- [McGee] Forearms?
No wonder I can't
lift this thing,
I've only got two.
- See training really helps,
you've already improved your
reach.
- Ho, ho.
(door knocks)
- Oh, hi dad.
- Hi.
Well how's the weight training.
- Fine.
- Put another couple
of books in this thing.
- Sure.
- You know, Nick, this game
is really important to me,
well, to all of us, and,
no go ahead stack em up,
anyway in a game like this,
everybody's really got to pull
their own weight,
and they really--
I'll help you with
the weights later.
What I'm saying is you
and the other guys really
have to turn it up a notch,
Thurman's really gotta
have more support on the
mound and at bat.
I mean that's why I really
want you to give it all
you got this week and
the other guys too.
- Alright, Dad.
- Alright, that's the spirit.
Nick I really want
to win this one.
(upbeat music)
- [Nicholas] Practice is
the most important part of
our team, it's how we
learn exactly what to do,
which of course is
whatever Thurman does.
- [Dad] Okay, guys everybody in.
Thurman take some
batting practice.
Alright Anthony, you
know what to work on.
TJ, remember both
hands on the flies,
alright going out there
work on your fundamentals.
Nick, Louis, the outfield
work on some flies.
- Hey Dave, how's the second
best manager in the league?
- Fine, fine, good
to see you Harvey.
- You know Dave, considering
the last couple of years,
nobody would really blame you
if you just forfeited the game
on Saturday, I mean you'll
save us all a lot of trouble.
- Hey, that's nice hitting,
who's your assistant?
- Oh, that's Thurman
Miller, he's my pitcher.
- Your what?
- Hey, you look a
little pale, Harv,
I hope you're not coming
down with something like
chicken pox.
- Hey what are you trying
to pull here, Martin?
That guy played triple-a
for the Cards last season,
and I'm sure of it.
- He's 13 years old,
he meets all the
League requirements,
anything else you want
to know, Sherlock?
- Hey you want to get ugly,
I can get ugly.
- I'll bet.
- I got a few
surprises too Martin,
and we'll see who
gets the last laugh,
just like last year.
- Hey, last year's history pal ,
just like your winning streak.
- See that cloud, it's
the shape of the trophy
we're gonna win.
- Man I wish I
could hit like that.
- Yeah.
(cheering)
- [Announcer] What an incredible
afternoon for baseball
ladies and gentlemen and now,
stepping up to the plate,
it's Slam-the-man Martin, one
of the great home run hitters,
and on the mound it
is none other than
Orel "the Bulldog" Hershiser,
what an incredible matchup.
Boy, look at that
face would you.
Two future Hall-of-Famers
about to battle it out
here in the bottom of the ninth
of this championship game.
Slam looks determined
and confident.
Orel seems just a little bit
tense, who can blame him, huh?
Two men on, no outs.
Orel looks in for the sign.
Here's the pitch.
Oh, a fastball out on the plate.
Wow line drive to short,
he makes the catch.
Then makes the tag,
over to first.
A triple play, I can't
believe that Slam-the-man
has hit into a triple
play, unbelievable
ladies and gentlemen.
- Hey, don't feel so bad Slam.
Remember there's more
to life than winning,
besides no single
player can expect to
do it all, it takes a
whole team to win a game.
- [Dad] Wake up, up there,
it takes a whole team
to win a game, Nick,
everybody heads up ball.
(soft guitar music)
- Brother, who's
that supposed to be?
- Are you kidding, the guy on
that card is headed for the
Hall of Fame.
- Right the geek Hall of Fame.
- Look I got Oxo Numbkins,
Slats Felldo, hey
I tell you what,
In trade for your Ryan Sandberg,
you could be the proud
owner of a Otho Mounds,
a legend in his own grime.
- McGee, get a brain.
- Boy, Otho had a great swing.
(crack)
(riccochet)
- Lookout!
(conk, birds tweet)
- Take me out of the ballgame.
- I hope you have baseball
out of your system now,
pine tar breath.
- Are you kidding, and give
up all that fame and fortune?
Big leagues mean big bucks
just in commercials alone.
- [Announcer] And
here's the pitch.
Oh that's gonna be
out of here folks.
He goes back, and
he makes the catch.
- That was me back in 1962,
when I was known
as Say-what-kid.
These days I call the big plays
behind the mic, and
in the press box,
and after a hard day,
(phew)
I like to freshen up with a
little splash of Old Lice.
♪ So splash on some
Old Lice today ♪
You know, these days
when I work up a big
thirst I like to quench it
with a nice cold Canine Cola.
(slurp)
Woof.
- Hey, say little fella,
you got any threes?
Go fish.
- [Baseball Player] Oh phooey.
♪ Drink Canine Cola today
- Woof.
- You know when I played
ball it was a tough game,
but not as tough as the
payments on my new Shimmy truck.
(tires screeching)
And you talk about tough.
(grinding gears)
You ought to see the
way this baby handles.
(ahhhhhh)
I can't hold it!
(crash... Aheeee)
♪ So, drive a Shimmy today.
(crash)
- [Nicholas] As the
big game approached,
Thurman and I started
watching our diet,
in other words he
ate and I watched.
- More ice. (mouth filled)
- Hi.
- Hi.
- Sarah.
- Right.
Some more pound cake?
- Yeah sure.
Hey, cleaned my
cleats like I asked?
- Yeah.
You could eat off these cleats.
- But don't try you
might chip a tooth.
- Uh-huh, yeah right,
well I gotta go.
See you later Nick and
see you later, Karen.
- That was unbelievable.
- Yeah, that guy sure can eat,
huh?
- I'll say,
he practically--
no I don't mean what he ate.
Nick, it's the way
you fawn all over him,
it just doesn't seem right.
- Thurman is a star, okay,
should even be proud
you came by for a bite.
- A bite, Godzilla
did less damage.
Nick isn't it possible that
you're so caught up with
Thurman as a baseball player
that you can't see what
he's like as a person.
I mean it's okay to
admire someone, but you,
you worship him like
he's some kind of Idol,
if he were nice.
- What's being nice
got to do with it?
You're just jealous, because
we're about to become regional
champs.
- I'm not jealous Nick,
that's not the point.
God is supposed to be the
center of our attention.
The one we trust, remember?
- Sure.
But you just wait
after tomorrow, you're
gonna be telling
all your friends that Thurman
Miller actually spoke to you,
Karen.
("Take Me Out To The
Ballgame" on guitar)
- [Announcer] What a
great day for baseball.
Good afternoon, ladies and
gentlemen, and welcome to the
Allstate Regional Championship.
(cheering)
- Play ball!
(upbeat music)
- [Announcer] Today's game
features the Freeland Dodgers,
and the Eastfield Braves.
The winner is on the road to
the Little League World Series.
- [Dad] Okay guys, stay
loose, stay focused,
make them play your game.
- We beat them last year,
and we're gonna do it again
this year.
(cheering)
- You can beat these guys.
Let's get em.
(cheering)
- One, two, three!
Dodgers!
Let's go!
- [Announcer] And the
Braves takes the field.
(cheering)
- [Umpire] Strike!
- [Announcer] Bottom of the
third, and still no score.
(cheering)
- Out... no he's safe! Safe.
- Come on, you guys, lets go!
I can't do this myself.
- [Announcer] Top of the fifth,
Dodgers lead two to nothing.
- You can hit em,
you can hit em!
- [Umpire] You're out!
(crack)
(cheering)
- [Announcer] How about that?
Two home runs for
pitcher, Thurman Miller,
Braves tying the score.
- Second base, Nick!
- I don't believe this.
- [Announcer] So
with three runs with four hits,
the Dodgers take commanding
six to two lead.
- It looked extremely rocky
for the Eastfield nine
that day, the score stood
five to seven with an inning
left to play.
So in Eddie died at second,
and Peter did the same,
a pallor reached the features
of the patrons of the game.
Then Nick let drive a single
to the wonderment of all,
and the understated Louis
tore the cover off the ball,
and when the dust had lifted
and they saw what had occurred,
there was Louis safe in second,
and Nick a huggin third.
There was ease in
Thurman's manner,
as he stepped up to his place.
There was pride and
Thurman's bearing,
and a smile up on his face; and
when responding to the cheers,
he lightly tipped his hat,
no stranger in the crowd
could doubt.
- It's Thurman at bat.
- [McGee] Then from the
pitchers twisted arm the
fiery baseball sped.
- That ain't my styles.
- [McGee] said Thurman...
- Strike one!
- [McGee] The umpire said.
From the benches
full of people there
went up a muffled roar.
Like the beating of the
storm waves on the stern
and distant shore...
- Kill em, kill the umpire.
- - [McGee] Shouted
someone on the stands,
and it's likely
they'd have killed him,
had not Thurman
raised his hand.
With a smile of noble charity,
great Thurman's visage
shown, he stilled
the rising tumult.
He made the game go on, he
signaled to the pitcher,
and once more the spheroid flew,
but Thurman still ignored
it, and the umpire said...
- Strike two!
- [McGee] The snare is
gone from Thurman's lips,
his teeth are clenched in hate,
he pounds with cruel vengeance
his bat upon the plate,
and now the pitcher
holds the ball,
and now he lets it go, and
now the air is shattered
by the force of Thurman's blow.
(a church bell tolls)
Oh, somewhere in
this favored land,
the sun is shining bright,
the band is playing somewhere,
and somewhere hearts are light,
and somewhere men are happy,
and somewhere children shout,
but there is no
joy in Eastfield,
mighty Thurman has struck out.
(melancholic music)
- How're we doing?
- Still losing.
- I guess I didn't
show it but...
I'm real proud of the way
you and the other guys
played today.
I've been thinking about
how bad I wanted this game.
You know beat, Harvey Stover...
manage a championship team...
conquer the world
It seemed like we had
all the ingredients.
- Especially Thurman.
- Yeah.
- Well pal, I guess
we both learn that...
When you dream without the Lord,
You better dream again.
- Someone tried to tell me that,
but...
- Hey, you guys okay?
- Yeah
- Come on.
(Dad sighs)
- We got a little worried
when you didn't show at home.
- Oh...
How're you doing coach?
- Oh feeling better
by the minute.
- You okay?
- Yeah.
Look...
I'm sorry about
the other day I--
- no problem
- We'll get em next year.
- Next year?
- Yeah,
and I'm gonna play
softball next year,
so maybe you could...
- Uh no, wait a minute,
let's talk this over.
Think I may take another job.
- it's like I always say,
it's not over till
the bat boy sings.
♪ Cause it's one
♪ Two
♪ Three strikes , you're
out of the old ball game ♪
(screeching): GAME!
♪ Game begins...
♪ and you want to win
♪ It's a lifelong dream
♪ Don't lose sight,
cause there's more to life ♪
♪ than victory
♪ It doesn't matter if you
want to be a superstar ♪
♪ He doesn't care who the
winners and the losers are ♪
♪ You gotta hold on
♪ To what you're dreaming of
♪ Set your sights on heaven
♪ And reach for the skies
♪ You gotta hold on
♪ Why do it on your own
♪ Put your trust in Him
♪ Cause he's on your
side, so hold on ♪
(rock rendition of "Take
Me Out To The Ball Game")
♪ You can't rely on
♪ And the strength of men
♪ To pull you through
♪ He'll put you up and
he'll let you down
♪ and in the end you'll loose
♪ Put your faith in the
one who is in control ♪
♪ He'll help you make it
to your highest goal ♪
♪ So hold on
♪ To what you're dreaming of
♪ Set your sights on heaven
♪ and reach for the sky
♪ You gotta hold on
♪ Why do it on your own
♪ Put your trust in him,
♪ Cause he's on your side
♪ You gotta hold on
♪ To what you're dreaming of.
♪ Set your sights on heaven
♪ and reach for the sky
♪ You gotta hold on
♪ Why do it on your own
♪ Put your trust in him
♪ Cause he's on your side
♪ So hold on
(upbeat music)
(turning pages)
- [Nicholas] "Don't
look to men for Help."
"Their greatest leaders fail,
but happy is the man whose
hope is in the Lord, his God."
"How puny is the
strength of man?"
(relaxing wacky music)
- [Voiceover] Are you tired
of being a 90-pound little
noodle, or nothing, tired
of bullies kicking sand in
your face.
Well now you can be that
hulking he-man you've always
dreamed of.
Yes, now for only a dollar 98,
you can own the famous
Jack Lamebrain Pop Tart
Beach Body Workout.
(crash)
That's right, for just 29.95,
you can be the muscle-bound
marvel that everyone admires.
Just think, only 89.95 buys
you all this happiness.
Yes, your 299.95 gets
you started today.
First, you'll get the
mighty bicep builder.
now twist the strings together,
and feel those biceps grow,
and it makes beautiful
Julienne french fries
in just seconds.
And that's not all, you'll
also get the tummy tuner.
(ring bell)
And look at the
revolutionary new advanced
dynamic tenderizer.
With this simple
resistance exercise,
you'll see results instantly.
It also has an extra feature
for advanced students.
(tah-dah)
So send your 3398 dollars now,
and start being the beach
party funk buddy today!
(crash)
(wacky trombone music)
(relaxing music)
- [Nicholas] In Eastfield,
you can find lots of
things to do in the summer.
See a movie, miniature golf,
but most of all it's the
home of the Braves, the
Eastfield Braves that is,
we're the hometown hopefuls,
and leading cause of
my dad's heartburn.
(disappointed crowd)
- You gotta keep your
eye on the ball, Roger.
- [Announcer] Bottom
of the ninth, two A,
and the next batter from Braves
is pitcher Thurman Miller.
(cheering)
(serious music)
- Alright, Thurman,
bring em home!
The trophy's ours!
(cheering)
- It's in the bag.
- A walk in the park.
- Hit em home, and
we've got the trophy.
(cheering)
Yes, yes, yes!
Go, go, go!
(triumphial music)
- [Nicholas] We'd seen
Thurman's home run trot
a lot this season.
This one took us from being
hopefuls to being heroes.
- Yes, woo hoo!
Hey, I wonder if this means
a bonus for the bat boy.
(upbeat music)
(cheering)
- Alright, listen up everybody.
Hey guys, great game.
We are the Eastfield Champs.
(cheering)
- Regional Finals, here we come.
- Alright, Thurman's
gonna take us to the
Little League World Series.
(cheering)
- I knew we had another
Hank Aaron on our hands, huh.
- You were great.
A wonderful team.
- Yeah!
- Hey think I should
do some pics for
the Eastfield Daily News?
- Nah, let's give Sports
Illustrated first crack.
(cheering)
- Alright, let's celebrate.
Come on.
- Hey Nick let's see
the old knuckleball,
come on let's see the old
slider, the old fastball,
the old curveball, the old...
(bomb dropping)
(thunk)
Screwball.
- [Nicholas] We didn't get a
big locker room celebration,
but we got the next best thing.
- If you knock the ball right,
it takes that thing so far out.
- I know it's great.
- Way out.
- I can't believe you
tred to throw me a curve.
- Look, I'll trade you Guerrero,
Robin Yount, and Goulding,
for Will Clark's rookie card.
- Nah, that's a
decent offer Louis,
but I'm not willing to
part with Will Clark,
not at any price, no
reason, no how, no way.
- Hey, what you guys got there?
- Alright!
A Will Clark rookie for me?
Thanks.
- Sure, it's yours big guy.
- Now with that last pitch, huh?
No way I'm gonna let bozo
get a fastball by me,
I made him pay, huh?
- You said it, no
way, right Louis?
- No way.
- Oh, I forgot the walnuts.
- Well look at the All-Stars.
- Hey Martin, what's
with the outfit?
Is your girl scout troupe
on a field trip, or what?
- Lay off Cryder, we
happen to be celebrating,
we're the All-City champs.
- You mean chumps, right?
Is your hat full of
mush, like your head?
- Knock it off, give that back.
Give me back my hat.
Come on Derrick, give it back.
- You and what army?
- Hey I bet it hurt real
bad if you were to lose
this earring, know what I mean?
Now beat it!
Hey of you guys want
to get me a napkin?
- Yeah, I got it.
- No, I got it.
- [Nicholas] Who knows,
if I gave Thurman my
Willie Mays card, maybe
he'd keep Derrick off my
case for life.
Thurman will probably be
signed right out of high school
with a major league contract.
- Okay enough about
Thurman Munster already.
- That's Miller, I just
call em like I see em.
- Alright, you two.
The kid is amazing though
no one can deny that.
- Yeah.
- Nick's probably
right about the pros,
Thurman is definitely
major-league material.
- Oh yes just think
the next step is real
greatness, and they name
a candy bar after him.
(telephone ringing)
- Hello.
Oh sure, hold on.
It's for you coach.
- Hello.
Oh hi Harvey.
- Who's that mom.
- Well it ain't Elvis.
- [Dad] What,
you're kidding.
Oh sure, I can hardly wait.
Oh, be just like old times.
Yeah.
Right.
See you next week.
So long you big bag of wind.
- David!
- Of all the rotten luck...
Harvey Stover the biggest
blowhard in the league,
he's managing the team we're
playing in the regionals.
- So?
- So, he's the guy who
managed the team that beat us
last year.
- Oh yeah.
I promise you one thing,
not this year, no siree buddy,
this year I get even,
this year it's payback time
this year Harvey...
I've got Thurman Miller.
- Tell me again what's
the point of all this?
- Strength.
If you're strong,
you can't lose,
just look at Thurman, he
hit that home run today,
because of the power
from his forearms.
- [McGee] Forearms?
No wonder I can't
lift this thing,
I've only got two.
- See training really helps,
you've already improved your
reach.
- Ho, ho.
(door knocks)
- Oh, hi dad.
- Hi.
Well how's the weight training.
- Fine.
- Put another couple
of books in this thing.
- Sure.
- You know, Nick, this game
is really important to me,
well, to all of us, and,
no go ahead stack em up,
anyway in a game like this,
everybody's really got to pull
their own weight,
and they really--
I'll help you with
the weights later.
What I'm saying is you
and the other guys really
have to turn it up a notch,
Thurman's really gotta
have more support on the
mound and at bat.
I mean that's why I really
want you to give it all
you got this week and
the other guys too.
- Alright, Dad.
- Alright, that's the spirit.
Nick I really want
to win this one.
(upbeat music)
- [Nicholas] Practice is
the most important part of
our team, it's how we
learn exactly what to do,
which of course is
whatever Thurman does.
- [Dad] Okay, guys everybody in.
Thurman take some
batting practice.
Alright Anthony, you
know what to work on.
TJ, remember both
hands on the flies,
alright going out there
work on your fundamentals.
Nick, Louis, the outfield
work on some flies.
- Hey Dave, how's the second
best manager in the league?
- Fine, fine, good
to see you Harvey.
- You know Dave, considering
the last couple of years,
nobody would really blame you
if you just forfeited the game
on Saturday, I mean you'll
save us all a lot of trouble.
- Hey, that's nice hitting,
who's your assistant?
- Oh, that's Thurman
Miller, he's my pitcher.
- Your what?
- Hey, you look a
little pale, Harv,
I hope you're not coming
down with something like
chicken pox.
- Hey what are you trying
to pull here, Martin?
That guy played triple-a
for the Cards last season,
and I'm sure of it.
- He's 13 years old,
he meets all the
League requirements,
anything else you want
to know, Sherlock?
- Hey you want to get ugly,
I can get ugly.
- I'll bet.
- I got a few
surprises too Martin,
and we'll see who
gets the last laugh,
just like last year.
- Hey, last year's history pal ,
just like your winning streak.
- See that cloud, it's
the shape of the trophy
we're gonna win.
- Man I wish I
could hit like that.
- Yeah.
(cheering)
- [Announcer] What an incredible
afternoon for baseball
ladies and gentlemen and now,
stepping up to the plate,
it's Slam-the-man Martin, one
of the great home run hitters,
and on the mound it
is none other than
Orel "the Bulldog" Hershiser,
what an incredible matchup.
Boy, look at that
face would you.
Two future Hall-of-Famers
about to battle it out
here in the bottom of the ninth
of this championship game.
Slam looks determined
and confident.
Orel seems just a little bit
tense, who can blame him, huh?
Two men on, no outs.
Orel looks in for the sign.
Here's the pitch.
Oh, a fastball out on the plate.
Wow line drive to short,
he makes the catch.
Then makes the tag,
over to first.
A triple play, I can't
believe that Slam-the-man
has hit into a triple
play, unbelievable
ladies and gentlemen.
- Hey, don't feel so bad Slam.
Remember there's more
to life than winning,
besides no single
player can expect to
do it all, it takes a
whole team to win a game.
- [Dad] Wake up, up there,
it takes a whole team
to win a game, Nick,
everybody heads up ball.
(soft guitar music)
- Brother, who's
that supposed to be?
- Are you kidding, the guy on
that card is headed for the
Hall of Fame.
- Right the geek Hall of Fame.
- Look I got Oxo Numbkins,
Slats Felldo, hey
I tell you what,
In trade for your Ryan Sandberg,
you could be the proud
owner of a Otho Mounds,
a legend in his own grime.
- McGee, get a brain.
- Boy, Otho had a great swing.
(crack)
(riccochet)
- Lookout!
(conk, birds tweet)
- Take me out of the ballgame.
- I hope you have baseball
out of your system now,
pine tar breath.
- Are you kidding, and give
up all that fame and fortune?
Big leagues mean big bucks
just in commercials alone.
- [Announcer] And
here's the pitch.
Oh that's gonna be
out of here folks.
He goes back, and
he makes the catch.
- That was me back in 1962,
when I was known
as Say-what-kid.
These days I call the big plays
behind the mic, and
in the press box,
and after a hard day,
(phew)
I like to freshen up with a
little splash of Old Lice.
♪ So splash on some
Old Lice today ♪
You know, these days
when I work up a big
thirst I like to quench it
with a nice cold Canine Cola.
(slurp)
Woof.
- Hey, say little fella,
you got any threes?
Go fish.
- [Baseball Player] Oh phooey.
♪ Drink Canine Cola today
- Woof.
- You know when I played
ball it was a tough game,
but not as tough as the
payments on my new Shimmy truck.
(tires screeching)
And you talk about tough.
(grinding gears)
You ought to see the
way this baby handles.
(ahhhhhh)
I can't hold it!
(crash... Aheeee)
♪ So, drive a Shimmy today.
(crash)
- [Nicholas] As the
big game approached,
Thurman and I started
watching our diet,
in other words he
ate and I watched.
- More ice. (mouth filled)
- Hi.
- Hi.
- Sarah.
- Right.
Some more pound cake?
- Yeah sure.
Hey, cleaned my
cleats like I asked?
- Yeah.
You could eat off these cleats.
- But don't try you
might chip a tooth.
- Uh-huh, yeah right,
well I gotta go.
See you later Nick and
see you later, Karen.
- That was unbelievable.
- Yeah, that guy sure can eat,
huh?
- I'll say,
he practically--
no I don't mean what he ate.
Nick, it's the way
you fawn all over him,
it just doesn't seem right.
- Thurman is a star, okay,
should even be proud
you came by for a bite.
- A bite, Godzilla
did less damage.
Nick isn't it possible that
you're so caught up with
Thurman as a baseball player
that you can't see what
he's like as a person.
I mean it's okay to
admire someone, but you,
you worship him like
he's some kind of Idol,
if he were nice.
- What's being nice
got to do with it?
You're just jealous, because
we're about to become regional
champs.
- I'm not jealous Nick,
that's not the point.
God is supposed to be the
center of our attention.
The one we trust, remember?
- Sure.
But you just wait
after tomorrow, you're
gonna be telling
all your friends that Thurman
Miller actually spoke to you,
Karen.
("Take Me Out To The
Ballgame" on guitar)
- [Announcer] What a
great day for baseball.
Good afternoon, ladies and
gentlemen, and welcome to the
Allstate Regional Championship.
(cheering)
- Play ball!
(upbeat music)
- [Announcer] Today's game
features the Freeland Dodgers,
and the Eastfield Braves.
The winner is on the road to
the Little League World Series.
- [Dad] Okay guys, stay
loose, stay focused,
make them play your game.
- We beat them last year,
and we're gonna do it again
this year.
(cheering)
- You can beat these guys.
Let's get em.
(cheering)
- One, two, three!
Dodgers!
Let's go!
- [Announcer] And the
Braves takes the field.
(cheering)
- [Umpire] Strike!
- [Announcer] Bottom of the
third, and still no score.
(cheering)
- Out... no he's safe! Safe.
- Come on, you guys, lets go!
I can't do this myself.
- [Announcer] Top of the fifth,
Dodgers lead two to nothing.
- You can hit em,
you can hit em!
- [Umpire] You're out!
(crack)
(cheering)
- [Announcer] How about that?
Two home runs for
pitcher, Thurman Miller,
Braves tying the score.
- Second base, Nick!
- I don't believe this.
- [Announcer] So
with three runs with four hits,
the Dodgers take commanding
six to two lead.
- It looked extremely rocky
for the Eastfield nine
that day, the score stood
five to seven with an inning
left to play.
So in Eddie died at second,
and Peter did the same,
a pallor reached the features
of the patrons of the game.
Then Nick let drive a single
to the wonderment of all,
and the understated Louis
tore the cover off the ball,
and when the dust had lifted
and they saw what had occurred,
there was Louis safe in second,
and Nick a huggin third.
There was ease in
Thurman's manner,
as he stepped up to his place.
There was pride and
Thurman's bearing,
and a smile up on his face; and
when responding to the cheers,
he lightly tipped his hat,
no stranger in the crowd
could doubt.
- It's Thurman at bat.
- [McGee] Then from the
pitchers twisted arm the
fiery baseball sped.
- That ain't my styles.
- [McGee] said Thurman...
- Strike one!
- [McGee] The umpire said.
From the benches
full of people there
went up a muffled roar.
Like the beating of the
storm waves on the stern
and distant shore...
- Kill em, kill the umpire.
- - [McGee] Shouted
someone on the stands,
and it's likely
they'd have killed him,
had not Thurman
raised his hand.
With a smile of noble charity,
great Thurman's visage
shown, he stilled
the rising tumult.
He made the game go on, he
signaled to the pitcher,
and once more the spheroid flew,
but Thurman still ignored
it, and the umpire said...
- Strike two!
- [McGee] The snare is
gone from Thurman's lips,
his teeth are clenched in hate,
he pounds with cruel vengeance
his bat upon the plate,
and now the pitcher
holds the ball,
and now he lets it go, and
now the air is shattered
by the force of Thurman's blow.
(a church bell tolls)
Oh, somewhere in
this favored land,
the sun is shining bright,
the band is playing somewhere,
and somewhere hearts are light,
and somewhere men are happy,
and somewhere children shout,
but there is no
joy in Eastfield,
mighty Thurman has struck out.
(melancholic music)
- How're we doing?
- Still losing.
- I guess I didn't
show it but...
I'm real proud of the way
you and the other guys
played today.
I've been thinking about
how bad I wanted this game.
You know beat, Harvey Stover...
manage a championship team...
conquer the world
It seemed like we had
all the ingredients.
- Especially Thurman.
- Yeah.
- Well pal, I guess
we both learn that...
When you dream without the Lord,
You better dream again.
- Someone tried to tell me that,
but...
- Hey, you guys okay?
- Yeah
- Come on.
(Dad sighs)
- We got a little worried
when you didn't show at home.
- Oh...
How're you doing coach?
- Oh feeling better
by the minute.
- You okay?
- Yeah.
Look...
I'm sorry about
the other day I--
- no problem
- We'll get em next year.
- Next year?
- Yeah,
and I'm gonna play
softball next year,
so maybe you could...
- Uh no, wait a minute,
let's talk this over.
Think I may take another job.
- it's like I always say,
it's not over till
the bat boy sings.
♪ Cause it's one
♪ Two
♪ Three strikes , you're
out of the old ball game ♪
(screeching): GAME!
♪ Game begins...
♪ and you want to win
♪ It's a lifelong dream
♪ Don't lose sight,
cause there's more to life ♪
♪ than victory
♪ It doesn't matter if you
want to be a superstar ♪
♪ He doesn't care who the
winners and the losers are ♪
♪ You gotta hold on
♪ To what you're dreaming of
♪ Set your sights on heaven
♪ And reach for the skies
♪ You gotta hold on
♪ Why do it on your own
♪ Put your trust in Him
♪ Cause he's on your
side, so hold on ♪
(rock rendition of "Take
Me Out To The Ball Game")
♪ You can't rely on
♪ And the strength of men
♪ To pull you through
♪ He'll put you up and
he'll let you down
♪ and in the end you'll loose
♪ Put your faith in the
one who is in control ♪
♪ He'll help you make it
to your highest goal ♪
♪ So hold on
♪ To what you're dreaming of
♪ Set your sights on heaven
♪ and reach for the sky
♪ You gotta hold on
♪ Why do it on your own
♪ Put your trust in him,
♪ Cause he's on your side
♪ You gotta hold on
♪ To what you're dreaming of.
♪ Set your sights on heaven
♪ and reach for the sky
♪ You gotta hold on
♪ Why do it on your own
♪ Put your trust in him
♪ Cause he's on your side
♪ So hold on