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BASEBALL: EIGHTH INNING: A WHOLE NEW BALLGAME (TV)

Summary

Part eight 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 eighth inning, entitled "A Whole New Ballgame," is divided into thirteen subtitled segments and covers the years 1960 to 1970, a time of change for both the nation and its pastime. The first segment, "The World's Lousy," features former St. Louis Cardinals' outfielder Curt Flood explaining the often subtle nature of prejudice; and the death of Hall of Famer Ty Cobb. "A Tough Year for The Babe" chronicles New York Yankee Roger Maris' successful 1961 pursuit of Babe Ruth's single-season home run record; and Yankee hurler Whitey Ford eclipsing Ruth's World Series consecutive scoreless inning streak during the 1961 Series. "The Jewish Kid" profiles Dodger southpaw Sandy Koufax, who dominated the National League from 1961 to 1966 despite a badly-damaged pitching arm. "ÁYo La Tengo!" examines the 1962 entry into the National League of the hapless New York Mets, who were managed by septuagenarian Casey Stengel. "The Man" covers the career of the St. Louis Cardinals' Stan Musial, who retired in 1962; and the emergence of aggressive Cincinnati Reds' infielder Pete Rose, who would eventually supplant Cobb as the greatest hit collector in the game's history; and includes former Yankees' slugger Mickey Mantle recalling how Rose earned the nickname "Charlie Hustle." "In the Course of Time" chronicles Casey Stengel's retirement from the game; and contains footage of Jackie Robinson commenting on civil rights protests; footage of Branch Rickey talking about the need for people of all races to be afforded equal opportunity; and news of Rickey's death on December 9, 1965. "The Plantation" covers the emergence of veteran labor organizer Marvin Miller as the executive director of Major League Ballplayers' Association; Chub Feeney's assessment of Miller's impact on the players and the game; and the success Frank Robinson enjoyed with the Orioles following his release from Cincinnati. "The Question is Why" examines the retirement of Sandy Koufax at the age of thirty-one due to persistent arm problems. "Yaz" concentrates on Carl Yastrzemski's magnificent 1967 season, which propelled the Red Sox to the pennant; the Bosox' defeat in seven games at the hands of Bob Gibson and the St. Louis Cardinals; and the violence that consumed America in 1968. "Pondering Inaction" consists of a segment of a stand-up comedy routine by George Carlin contrasting baseball with football. "We Do This Every Day" examines the tenure of bombastic Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver, with footage of the pugnacious pilot arguing with umpires; includes a look at the domination of pitchers in 1968; and former pitcher Bill "Spaceman" Lee recalling his first trip to Fenway Park after being acquired by the Red Sox in the summer of 1969. "The Greatest Game of Them All" chronicles the improbable rise of the "Miracle" Mets, who shocked the nation with their defeat of the mighty Baltimore Orioles in the 1969 World Series. "I Am a Man" has St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Curt Flood commenting on his refusal to accept a 1969 trade to the Philadelphia Phillies; and foreshadows the climax of the century-old labor dispute between baseball owners and players. (This program is closed-captioned)

Acquisition and cataloging of this program was made possible by a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Details

  • NETWORK: PBS WNET New York, NY
  • DATE: September 27, 1994 Tuesday 8:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 1:55:40
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: T:34381
  • GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries; Sports
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Baseball; Blacks - Sports; Labor and laboring classes; Sports; Unions; 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
  • Dodsworth Saxhorn Band … Music Group
  • Jacqueline Schwab … Instrumentalist, Pianist
  • George 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 Maybery … Music (Misc. Credits), Dodsworth Saxhorn Band arranged by
  • John Chancellor … Narrator
  • Ed Harris … Voice
  • Garrison Keillor … Voice
  • Curt Flood … Guest
  • Mickey Mantle … Guest
  • Lee, Bill "Spaceman" … Guest
  • Marvin Miller … Guest
  • Feeney, Charles S. "Chub" … Guest
  • George Carlin
  • Cobb, Ty (Tyrus Raymond Cobb)
  • Ford, Whitey (Edward Charles Ford)
  • Bob Gibson
  • Koufax, Sandy (Sanford Koufax)
  • Roger Maris
  • Stan Musial
  • Branch Rickey
  • Frank Robinson
  • Jackie Robinson
  • Pete Rose
  • Ruth, Babe (George Herman Ruth)
  • Stengel, Casey (Charles Dillon Stegel)
  • Earl Weaver
  • Carl Yastrzemski