BASEBALL: SEVENTH INNING: THE CAPITAL OF BASEBALL (TV)
Summary
Part seven of this nine-part documentary series by filmmaker Ken Burns about the history of baseball in America, narrated by John Chancellor. Each part or "inning" represents an era of the sport's history. The story is told through archival photos and film footage, as well as the words of those who contributed to the game as read by various actors and writers. A select group of writers, historians, players, baseball personnel, and fans offer opinions on specific events and the significance of the game in America's history. The seventh inning, entitled "The Capital of Baseball," covers the years 1950 to 1960. The first half of the seventh inning is divided into nine subtitled segments. "The Capital of Baseball" examines the rivalry among the three New York baseball teams -- the New York Yankees, the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers -- during the 1950s. "Ol' Perfesser" offers a profile of loquacious Yankees manager Casey Stengel; includes writer Robert Creamer recalling stories about the purveyor of doubletalk known as "Stengelese"; and covers Branch Rickey's decision to free Jackie Robinson from his pledge not to retaliate against race-baiters. "My Man" has former manager Birdie Tebbetts and Robert Creamer expounding on Stengel's devotion to Yogi Berra; and includes a brief clip from the Abbott and Costello routine "Who's on First?" "Fiction is Dead" chronicles the 1951 pennant race between the Giants and the Dodgers, with footage of Bobby Thompson's dramatic home run off Ralph Branca on the final day of the season, accompanied by Russ Hodges' ecstatic "The Giants win the pennant!" call; and recollections of that memorable moment by writer George Plimpton, historian Doris Kearns Goodwin and paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould. "Mr. Mantle" profiles Yankees slugger Mickey Mantle, with comments on his style and ability from broadcaster Bob Costas, Kansas City Monarch Buck O'Neil, and Mantle himself. "Child of God" focuses on the decline of the Negro Leagues following Jackie Robinson's breaking of the color barrier, with comments by Buck O'Neil and former Monarch Sammy Haynes; and St. Louis Cardinal Curt Flood telling a story indicative of the indignity suffered by the first wave of black ballplayers who played in the major leagues.
"Low and Away" recalls the advent of coast-to-coast television broadcasts of baseball games and St. Louis Browns owner Bill Veeck's employing of midget Eddie Gaedel as a pinch hitter. "The Catch" profiles the New York Giants' prodigiously talented outfielder Willie Mays and recalls his famous over-the-shoulder catch in the 1954 World Series against the Cleveland Indians. The "7th Inning Stretch" celebrates baseball's famous seventh frame respite sing-a-long "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," as a host of the documentary's participants warble the oft-heard tune.
The rest of the seventh inning is divided into four subtitled segments. The first, "The Absolutely Unthinkable," chronicles the Brooklyn Dodgers' 1955 World Series triumph over the New York Yankees, with broadcaster Vin Scully recalling the moment of triumph; and footage of comedy duo Abbott and Costello doing part of their "Who's on First?" routine. "Perfect" recalls the 1956 World Series perfect game hurled by Yankees pitcher Don Larsen. "A Death in the Family" remembers when two New York baseball clubs -- the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers -- moved to California, abandoning their devastated fans; and covers the retirement of Jackie Robinson. "80/20" profiles the final at-bat of the "Splendid Splinter" Ted Williams; and the abbreviated baseball career of New York Governor Mario Cuomo.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS WNET New York, NY
- DATE: September 26, 1994 Monday 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 2:13:09
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:34326
- GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries; Sports
- SUBJECT HEADING: Baseball; Blacks - Sports; Sports; African-American Collection - News/Talk; African-American Collection - Sports
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1994
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Ken Burns … Executive Producer, Director, Writer
- Bruce Alfred … Coordinating Producer
- Mike Hill … Coordinating Producer
- Lynn Novick … Producer
- David Schaye … Associate Producer
- Susanna Steisel … Associate Producer
- Stephen Ives … Consulting Producer
- Geoffrey C. Ward … Writer
- Dodworth Saxhorn Band … Music Group
- Jaqueline Schwab … Instrumentalist, Pianist
- George Rabbai … Instrumentalist, Trumpet player
- Marilyn Rabbai … Instrumentalist, Trumpet player
- Jay Ungar … Instrumentalist
- Matt Glaser … Instrumentalist
- Molly Mason … Instrumentalist
- Jesse Carr … Instrumentalist
- Bobby Horton … Instrumentalist, Music (Misc. Credits), Studio Arrangements
- Paul Mayberry … Music (Misc. Credits), Dodworth Saxhorn Band arranged by
- John Chancellor … Narrator
- Ossie Davis … Voice
- Al Lewis … Voice
- Charley McDowell … Voice
- Latanya Richardson … Voice
- Paul Roebling … Voice
- Jerry Stiller … Voice
- John Turturro … Voice
- Vin Scully … Guest
- Ted Williams … Guest
- Mickey Mantle … Guest
- Bob Costas … Guest
- Buck O'Neil … Guest
- Sammy Haynes … Guest
- Mario M. Cuomo … Guest
- Doris Kearns Goodwin … Guest
- Stephen Jay Gould … Guest
- George Plimpton … Guest
- Robert Creamer … Guest
- Birdie Tebbetts … Guest
- Bud Abbott
- Yogi Berra
- Ralph Branca
- Lou Costello
- Eddie Gaedel
- Russ Hodges
- Don Larsen
- Willie Mays
- Branch Rickey
- Jackie Robinson
- Casey Stengel
- Bobby Thomson
- Bill Veeck