Introduction[]
In George’s imagination, the Grebelings are playing a team of grown-ups in the Elwood City Stadium. Wally is a sports reporter for WGBH.
Wally: And now, stepping up to the plate with bases loaded is rookie, George Lundgren. Lundgren is making his big league debut, facing the most damaging arm in pitching history. Walter "Big Train" Johnson. Johnson pitches. The train has left the station! George hits the ball out of the stadium and into space. Deep, deep, deep into left-field. Back, way back, we're talking feet, we're talking time zones. And a massive grand slam in his first career at-bat, around the bases and around the world with George "Lucky Lundy" Lundgren.
George rounds the bases while Johnson angrily throws his cap to the ground. George gives the victory sign, while the audience cheers.
The fantasy ends. George sits at his desk with Wally. The room is full of baseball items.
Wally: So, Lucky Lundy, how are you feeling about your first day of Little League practice?
George: Well, Wally, last year I missed the age cut-off by two weeks, so I’ve been waiting for this day a long time. I'm bringing my A game, but I'll be taking my cues from the coach and the rest of the team.
Wally: Modest words from a sports legend. Now back to the drawer for the sock report.
George puts Wally in a sock drawer and leaves.
Title Card: George gets a strike[]
On the baseball field, George talks to Coach Frensky who is just writing down the names.
George: And do you know which World Series was lost because of a single strike? 1994. There was no World Series because the players were on strike.
Mr. Frensky: (laughs) Trick question.
Arthur: Wow, George, I didn't know you knew so much about baseball.
George: It's always been a hobby of mine.
Mr. Frensky: Francine, can you hit a few out to George and Arthur?
Francine is batting. Binky is the pitcher, Brain the catcher.
Francine: Actually, I'm having a little trouble with my swing.
Binky pitches. Francine hits a ground ball which rolls up the pitcher’s mound and down again.
George: Looks like your stance is a little stiff. Have you tried shifting your weight?
Francine: W-what do you mean?
George: Shift from your back foot to your front while you swing.
Mr. Frensky: Good advice. Where'd you pick that up?
George: A website about all-time power hitters. Ruth, Mantle, Williams – they compare old-style weight shift versus new style.
Francine hits a high ball.
Francine: That's Frensky style!
Arthur: Hey, George, any advice for a non-power hitter like me?
Binky: How can I hit the strike zone every time?
Brain: I'm interested in your thoughts on the physics of the knuckleball.
Mr. Frensky We've got a few weeks before our first game. Let's give George some time to get his own practice in. George, welcome to the team.
He throws George a ball, which George fumbles. George shrugs.
***
The kids have another training session.
Wally (narrator): Practice. Day Two. The Grebelings' spring training shows a promising season ahead. Fern passes to George who fumbles again. On the other hand, it's a good thing for Lundgren there are three more weeks of practice.
***
During another session, George is the catcher.
Wally (narrator): With opening day a week away, it looks like Lundgren might have discovered his position.
Binky pitches. The ball flies past Francine, who is batting, and hits George’s mitt. George is knocked backwards and drops the ball.
George: Oh-Oof.
Wally (narrator): Horizontal!
***
During another session, George is up to bat.
Wally (narrator): But sometimes it takes until the last day of spring training for a player to find his strengths.
George: Oof!
He swings and misses the ball, but the bat flies out of the infield.
Wally (narrator): And sometimes even longer to find his bat.
***
After the last practice session, George sits on his bed with Wally. Arthur and Buster sit on the floor with a book.
Wally (narrator): So, after a disastrous pre-season performance, what are you thinking about, heading into tomorrow's opening game?
George: I'm thinking I've been holding this ball for five minutes and I only dropped it once.
Buster: See, you are getting better.
George: No, I'm not. If anything, I think I have gotten worse.
Arthur: Most of us weren't any good even after a lot of practices.
Buster: Most of us still aren't any good, we're just a little less not-good.
George: (sighs) I hope you're right.
Buster: Can I borrow this book about the craziest plays in baseball history?
George: Sure, take anything you want. I don't want to look at them anymore.
Mr. Lundgren passes outside the door.
***
In the Lundgrens’ garage, Mr. Lundgren hands George a bat labelled “Lundgren Slugger”.
Mr. Lundgren: I made it just for you. It's called the Lundgren Slugger.
George: Wow, it's beautiful. “Stepping up to the plate, George Lundgren, the 'Sultan of Swat!' Here's the wind-up, the pitch...”
***
The Grebelings are playing Mighty Mountain. Carl gets a hit. Binky slides successfully. Muffy reaches a base, because the baseman fumbles the ball. Carl reaches another base.
Francine walks up to George.
Francine: Hey, rookie, ready for your first at-bat?
George: Er... no.
Francine: Just remember to shift your weight. It works for me every time.
George walks to the plate.
Arthur: Come on, George, you can do it.
Grebelings: George! George! George! George!
George stands at the plate. He is sweating profusely.
George: "Stepping up to the plate, George Lundgren, the 'Sultan of Sweat.'"
George hits the ball. It flies up vertically and drops into the catcher’s glove.
Audience: Aw...
Umpire: You're out.
George looks at the Lundgren Slugger.
George: Sorry.
***
The Grebelings are playing the Fleabags. The Grebelings need one out to win. George runs after a high ball. He falls and his mitt flies off.
Francine: (gasps) She dives and gets her hand into the mitt just as the ball falls into it. (laughs)
Grebelings: Woo-hoo!
George: (half-hearted:) Hooray.
***
The Grebelings are playing the Grubworms. In the ninth, George is batting and has two strikes. He misses.
Umpire: Yo-ou're out!
George walks off the plate and hands Francine his bat. Offscreen, she gets a hit.
Francine: Urgh!
Grebelings: (cheer)
The ball hits the scoreboard and drops down on the other side. The team carries Francine on their shoulders past George.
***
Mr. Frensky addresses the team in the ice-cream shop. George sits down at a table in the back.
Mr. Frensky: I want to congratulate you all on an amazing season so far. And, if we win tomorrow's game, we are in the play-offs. Now, before we get to the ice cream, my friend, Harry Mills, from Elwood City Times has something to ask you.
Harry Mills comes in.
Harry Mills: If it's okay with you, I'd like to come to the game tomorrow and do a story about the Grebelings.
Binky: Wow! In the paper!
Buster: We’re gonna be in the paper!
Arthur: Cool!
Arthur notices George sitting alone.
Arthur: Isn't that amazing? They're doing a story just on us!
George: Yup.
Buster: Harry, you have to meet George. He knows more about baseball than anyone.
Harry Mills: Then, maybe he would like to join us for the Grebes' game tonight. I happen to have three extra tickets.
Arthur: All right!
Buster: Go Grebes!
They high-five.
George: Um... Thanks, Mr. Mills, but I... I'm busy. Maybe another time.
He leaves the shop.
Harry Mills: You know, for a kid who's a big fan, he doesn't seem that enthusiastic.
***
That night, George lies in bed. In his dream, he is playing in Elwood City Stadium again. This time, “Big Train” Johnson is a muscular giant holding a bowling ball and has steam coming out of his ears.
Wally (narrator): 'Big Train' looks like he's working up a lot of steam.
George is up to bat with a bat that is bigger than he is.
George: It's too heavy. Johnson rolls the ball. Ooooooh!
George, the catcher and the umpire fly into the air like bowling pins.
Wally (narrator): Strike!
The dream ends.
George: (gasps)
***
George rings the Frenskys’ doorbell. Mr. Frensky answers.
Mr. Frensky: Hey, George, what are you doing here?
George: I came to give this to Francine.
He hands Mr. Frensky the Lundgren Slugger.
Mr. Frensky: Aren't you coming to the game today?
George: I’ve decided to quit the team.
Mr. Frensky: Why?
George: Because I'm no good. And I really used to like baseball. Now it just makes me feel rotten.
Mr. Frensky: I know it's frustrating, but think it over. Maybe you can come to the game today and just sit it out, no pressure.
George: Okay, but I still think Francine should use the Lundgren Slugger.
Mr. Frensky: I'm afraid she won't be using it today.
Francine: A...a...choo!
George: (gasps)
They walk to the living room where Francine is lying on the couch.
George: You're sick?!
Mr. Frensky: I'll get you some soup, sweetie.
Francine: Can you call me and tell me what's happening?
George: But I don't have a cell phone.
Mr. Frensky: You can use mine. And you might as well bring the Lundgren Slugger along, in case we need an extra bat.
***
The Grebelings are playing Mighty Mountain. Buster misses a ball.
Umpire: You're out!
George sits in the dugout with a cell phone and a headset beside him. Harry Mills walks up to him.
Harry Mills: Is this seat taken? I'm not gonna talk baseball.
George: Oh, it's okay. I just...
Harry Mills: You don't have to explain. I had a miserable first year of Little League, too. Anyway, I'll let you make your call.
George: It's Francine, she's home sick, and...
Harry Mills: Yeah, tough break for the team.
George puts on the headset and dials.
George: Hi, Francine, we just finished the first inning. It started off with Binky throwing some wild pitches, but then the Mountaineers got swing happy and Binky struck out three in a row. Bottom first, Arthur singled through the hole, Muffy hit into a double play, and Buster struck out. I'll call you back when the... Harry nudges him as the second inning begins. George jumps up. Whoa! One of the Mountaineers just hit a missile way out to center. Carl is waving Arthur off. Looks like he's under it. Oh no, lost it in the sun. Mountaineer rounding first, Arthur scoops it up on one bounce, he sets, throws to second...
Francine is listening on the Frensky phone’s loudspeaker.
George (on phone): ...it's high, reaches, grabs it, makes the tag, Mountaineer out at second.
Francine: Yes!
George goes on reporting while Harry takes notes.
George: I'm here with Harry Mills. Harry, do you think the Grebelings might be feeling a little momentum?
Harry Mills: Well, George, they're relieved, but it is a little early to get too confident.
George: Harry, I have to agree.
***
It is the sixth inning. The score is 2:2.
George: With the leading run on third, and the Mountaineers pitching, the wind-up, the pitch, a sinker. Brain gets under it and bam, it's a hard drive past first! Brain is heading home!
Francine is kneeling beside the phone.
George (on phone): Right fielder scoops it, fires to first, Read is... out, on a single!
Francine: Yeah!
Brain returns to the dugout.
Grebelings: (cheer)
George: And the Grebelings take the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Oh, no, the phone battery's going. Francine, I'll call you right back. Quick, who's got a phone?
Harry hands him his.
***
It is the ninth inning. The score is still 2:2.
George: And, with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Barnes on first. It comes down to... Buster Baxter, it's do or die.
George has a stack of empty cell phones beside him.
Francine listens at home.
George (on phone): The wind-up...
Buster is batting.
George: ...the pitch...
Buster: (grunts)
George: He hit it! Hard to left field.
Grebelings: Run, Buster, run!
Buster hesitates for a moment before he runs.
George: Baxter's first hit of the season, a bomb over the head of the left fielder. Binky is hustling to second, as Baxter reaches first. The center-field grass seems to have eaten the ball.
Buster: Binky!
George: And we seem to have a bit of a traffic jam.
Buster is catching up with Binky as both are rounding the bases.
Buster: Move, move!
George: The center-fielder has recovered the ball, he launches it in, Binky passing third, the park is erupting, the pitcher cuts it off, throws home. It bounces in front of the catcher, he can't get his hands on the ball. Catcher has control, set to tag...
Binky: Get... out... of... my... way!
The catcher drops the ball and curls up. Binky and Buster make it home.
George: The catcher has rolled himself into a ball. Harry, in all your years...?
Harry Mills: Never seen anything like that.
George: And the Grebelings literally stampede their way to the play-offs. They have pulled it out with their ace hitter, Frensky, on the DL. Francine, we did it, the Grebelings win! The Grebelings win!!
Harry Mills: Looks like your friend might have a career in baseball after all.
***
A few days later, Mr. Lundgren and George build a wooden booth in the ballpark.
***
Later, the booth is finished and complete with a microphone and loudspeakers. George writes “Go Grebelings" on a banner.
***
Even later, George sit in the booth for the next Grebelings practice. Francine stands in front of the booth.
George: We have perfect weather for the first game of the play-offs. George Lundgren here with the Grebelings' star powerhouse, Francine Frensky, fresh off the DL. Francine, how does it feel to be back?
Francine: Great, I'm feeling better and looking forward to playing ball. I think I'll head out there right now. You don't know how much I've missed it.
George: Me, too. A hit is heard. And that one is out of there!