Zoom in on America BASEBALL in COMEDY the Most Famous Comedy Sketch by Two Famous Abbott: “That’S the Man’S Name
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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 Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. Photo © AP Images In this issue: BASEBALL IN THE MOVIES 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): Chicago White Sox pitcher Scott Linebrink delivers a pitch against the Chicago Cubs during the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game, (right) American League 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)“Field of Dreams” DVD, (top right) Ghost Players emerge from the cornfield at the “Field of Dreams” movie site in Dyersville, Iowa, (bottom) a bull is shown atop the left outfield wall at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, N.C., where the 1988 Kevin Costner comedy “Bull Durham” 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 catcher Crash Davies whose “Pride of Yankees” followed the life of famous New task is to teach talented but inexperienced Durham York Yankee first baseman Lou Gehrig 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. “The Babe 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 “The Stratton Story” recorded in 1949 was based and student. Annie is a spiritual type who has tried all on the life of Chicago White Sox pitcher Monty Strat- religions, and now believes in the “Church of Base- ton. “The Jackie Robinson 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 Dizzy Dean, 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 Shoeless Joe Jackson, a dead Milwaukee Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, Phil- baseball player who was controversially banned adelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves 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 Hollywood stars. 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 Major League baseball 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! Fenway Park, built in Baseball’s second oldest Yankee Stadium 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 Boston 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. Babe Ruth, 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 New York Yankees, 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 Boston Red Sox. 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 World Series 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.