sign in sign up
<<
Home , All Star Baseball, Bob Uecker, Field of Dreams, The Babe Ruth Story, The Stratton Story

Who’s on First?

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, with bat, in a poster immortalizing their famous “Who’s On First” comedy routine, at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. Photo © AP Images In this issue: BASEBALL IN Zoom in on America BASEBALL IN COMEDY The most famous comedy sketch by two famous Abbott: “That’s the man’s name. American comedians William “Bud” Abbott and Lou Costello: “That’s whose name?” Costello is about the most American sport ever - Abbott” “Yeah” baseball. In the sketch Abbott is the new manager of a baseball team. He is approached by Costello The humor of the sketch lies not only in the confu- who loves baseball and wants to learn the players’ sion which the nicknames “Who,” “What” and “I Don’t names. Abbott warns him that “strange as it may Know” produce. The speed of the conversation, into- seem, they give these ball players nowadays, very nation of the lines which may pass for questions as peculiar names...” Costello, who thinks his stage well as statements, the matter-of-fact, disengaged at- incarnation’s name “Sebastian” is insurmountable titude of Abbot and rising frustration of Costello, who - in this respect does not take the hint, and when he going through all stages of anger - finally reaches the hears Abbott’s presentation of his players on the first, point of “I don’t care who is who,” are all responsible the second and the third base: “Who’s on first, What’s for the great success of this signature routine which on second, and I Don’t Know is on third,” he takes it the two comedians performed from 1938 to 1957. for a question. He reproaches the manager for not Considering that other players of equally strange knowing his players’ names: “And you don’t know the names “Why, Tomorrow and Today” are introduced fellows’ names?” Abbott says humbly: “Well I should.” as the sketch goes on, confusion builds allowing the A long exchange, which is a play on words “who,” comedians to go on from just one to ten minutes de- “what” and “I don’t know” follows: pending on the time they had at their disposal. They would change the name of the team although the one Costello: “Well then who is on first?” that they chose most frequently was St. Louis. They Abbott: “Yes.” would produce the act live, or record it for the radio Costello: “I mean the fellow’s name.” or television. The first presentation was during The Abbott: “Who.” Kate Smith Hour radio program in March 1938. That Costello: “The guy on first.” the sketch is far from getting too old for modern audi- Abbott: “Who.” ences can be guessed from the number of You Tube Costello: “The first baseman.” viewers where it can be seen. The You Tube “Who’s Abbott: “Who!” on First? Typography” scrolls the script for part of the Costello: “The guy playing first base.” show with the audio version in the background. An Abbott: “Who’s on first.” excellent listening comprehension activity for all who Costello: I’m asking you who’s on first!” are learning English.

“Who’s on First”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sShMA85pv8M “Who’s on First? Typography”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejweI0EQpX8

. (left): White Sox pitcher Scott Linebrink delivers a pitch against the during the fifth inning of a baseball game, (right) starting pitcher David Price, of the Tampa Bay Rays, throws during an All-Star baseball game in Anaheim, California. Photos © AP Images page 2 BASEBALL IN movies

(top left)“” DVD, (top right) Ghost Players emerge from the cornfield at the “Field of Dreams” movie site in Dyersville, , (bottom) a bull is shown atop the left outfield wall at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, N.C., where the 1988 comedy “” was shot. Photo © AP Images The most conspicu- mous movies about baseball: “Bull Durham” (1988) ous feature of baseball movies is that they are based and “Field of Dreams” (1989). In the first, he plays on life stories of individual players. The 1942 film a veteran minor league Crash Davies whose “Pride of Yankees” followed the life of famous New task is to teach talented but inexperienced Durham York Yankee first baseman from his child- Bulls pitcher “Nuke” LaLoosh. “Nuke” is loosely hood to his famous “Luckiest Man Alive” speech in based on Steven Louis “Dalko” Dalkowski, some- 1939, which was a moving farewell by the ailing ath- times called the fastest pitcher in the history of base- lete. “ Ruth Story” from 1948 focused on ball, whose fastball earned him the nickname “White another baseball legend, immortalized by the Yan- Lightning”. Annie Savoy (Susan Sarandon), a Bulls kee stadium nickname “The House That Ruth Built.” fan, chooses one Bulls player each year as her lover “” recorded in 1949 was based and student. Annie is a spiritual type who has tried all on the life of pitcher Monty Strat- religions, and now believes in the “Church of Base- ton. “The Story” (1950), with ball.” This year she chooses “Nuke.” When he moves Jackie Robinson starring as himself, is the story of from the minors to the majors, he leaves the door his struggle against prejudice and his triumph over open for Crash. Though Crash is no longer needed the color barrier. “The Pride of St. Louis” (1952) by the Bulls, there is someone else - Annie - who was based on the life of , a talented St. needs him. But will she be able to give up her routine Louis Cardinals pitcher who had to give up play- of annual affairs? ing due to an injury, but became one of America’s best-loved sportscasters. Not only professional ac- “Field of Dreams” is yet another baseball movie with tors played baseball players. Sometimes athletes a spiritual tinge. A novice farmer Ray Kinsella (Kevin themselves starred in movies and some of them like Costner) hears a voice while walking in his cornfield: Chuck Connors (1921-1992), who prior to starring in “If you build it, he will come.” As he follows the voice “The Rifleman” and dozens of other movies played and starts building a baseball diamond within his for the Chicago Cubs or Bob Uecker who played for cornfield, the story of Jackson, a dead Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, Phil- baseball player who was controversially banned adelphia Phillies and from the major leagues and who was Ray’s father’s in the 1960s and later appeared in idol, is revealed. Threatened by the talk and TV shows and movies, possibility of financial ruin Ray nev- became . ertheless continues his strange task, especially once his daugh- On the other hand, some ter, Karin, has a vision of a man professional actors have on the ballfield. Ray continues to “specialized” in the role of hear voices and this leads him to baseball players. Kevin a writer who helps him interpret Costner starred in two fa- the message about the field. page 3 Activity Page Win a Prize! George Herman Ruth, Jr. (in the photo), best known as “Babe” September 2011 CONTEST Ruth was an American player from Which stadium was nicknamed 1914–1935. Find out about his “The House That Ruth Built” ? life from the Internet or from the April 2009 issue of Zoom. Tell the other students what you Send the answer learnt. (with your home address) to: Baseball stadiums have been [email protected] an integral part of U.S. life since the beginning of the 20th centu- ry. Read the story of 6 stadiums (from America.gov website) and Deadline: October 5 Photo © AP Images put in the missing articles. Win a Prize! , built in Baseball’s second oldest II replaced 1912, is ... (1) oldest stadium, Wrigley Field, was Yankee Stadium as the The answer to the August con- Major League Baseball built in 1914 at ... (2) cost Yankees’ ballpark in 2009. test was: stadium still in use. It of $250,000. Although it has At a cost of $1.3 billion, it is is home to the been renovated and expand- ... (5) most expensive sta- The Liberty Bell in Philadelphia Red Sox baseball team. ed since then, the Chicago dium in the United States. , known for Cubs, who play there, have The stadium’s exterior de- Thank you for participating his power hitting for the resisted building ... (3) new sign is similar to the original , be- ballpark. Some attribute this Yankee Stadium before its The winners are: gan his Major League resistance to the importance 1972 renovation and fea- Baseball career in 1914 of tradition for the Chicago tures a high definition video Marta from Skopanie, Paweł pitching in Fenway Park Cubs, who opposed the in- scoreboard that is six times from Jasliska, Gosia from for the . stallation of lights in the sta- larger than ... (6) previous Kraków Fenway Park has hosted dium until the late 1980s be- one. In the place of the three all-star games and cause many fans felt ... (4) original stadium a public CONGRATULATIONS nine and sense of pride supporting the park featuring a baseball The prizes will be sent to you by holds the current Major last team to not have night and softball field and nearly mail. League Baseball record games. Wrigley is one of the 12,000 trees were built. of more than five years smaller Major League Base- of continuous sold-out ball parks, seating about games. 41,000. In 1999, Safeco Field be- The Hubert H. Humphrey Commonly known as Cam- came the new ballpark of Metrodome, named in honor den Yards, this ballpark was Zoom is online at the Seattle Mariners. It of Hubert Humphrey, ... (9) completed in 1992 and re- www.usinfo.pl/zoom/ replaced ... (7) outdated a former U.S. senator and placed the aging Memorial Kingdome, which had vice president under Lyndon Stadium as the home of the Free subscription housed both the Mari- Johnson and former mayor . Camden Write to: [email protected] ners baseball team and of Minneapolis, has a dis- Yards began a new era in the Seahawks football tinctive feature: a dome that ballpark construction, and Contact us at team. Instead of a cov- enables baseball and foot- many new ballparks are [email protected] ered dome, the Mariners ball teams to play indoors, designed in a similar style opted for a retractable protecting them from the to Camden Yards. Camden American Information roof, which is necessary cold Minnesota weather. The Yards’ construction style is Resource Center because of Seattle’s fre- stadium was built in 1982 to reminiscent of ballparks of Krakow quent rainy weather. It house both the Minnesota the early 1900s. Steel, not Konsulat Generalny USA is built in the Camden football (Vikings) and base- concrete, was used to sup- ul. Stolarska 9, Yards (Baltimore’s base- ball (Twins) teams. In 2006, port the ballpark and it has 31-043 Krakow ball park) tradition, with the state of Minnesota ap- a brick facade. The stadium [email protected] ... (8) brick facade, natu- proved the construction of a is in Baltimore’s downtown, ral grass and improved new ballpark for the Minne- and has helped generate Become a fan of Zoom in on amenities for the fans. sota Twins, which is sched- more business and devel- America on Facebook uled to open in 2010. opment there. page 4