Fear Strikes Out Page #3

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You can't?

Please.

All right.

You just stay there.

I'll tell you what.

You stay there, and I'll bring you

some breakfast in bed, all right?

How would that be?

Marvelous.

On a tray?

Yes.

What would you like to have most?

What are you doing?

What... Jimmy!

The ice! No!

Stop. God!

Is it cold?

Freezing!

Let go of the arm.

I'm going to need that

in a couple of months.

Tell me what team

you're going to be with,

and I might mail it to you.

If it isn't Boston, don't bother.

Really!

You know, we need traffic lights already.

I'd like to know

what we'll do when the baby comes.

Find a bigger house.

I think it's kind of cozy like this,

don't you?

You warming up?

No.

All right. OK.

Dirty trick.

Ready?

Yes.

Good morning.

Your son put an entire

windowsill filled with snow

down my back.

Jimmy!

Yes, he did.

I'll take him over my knee.

We missed the boat, Jim.

We didn't make it.

"No trip to the majors for Jim Piersall."

"The Boston Red Sox

"have decided the outfield flash

"isn't ready for the big leagues yet.

"He'll be sent down

to Louisville next spring

for further training."

Well, what do they want, Dad?

I was the best fielder in the league.

I stole bases.

I scored runs.

What do they want?

What you didn't give them... hitting.

That's what they want.

"What do they

want from me?"

A man can rot in the minors.

Jimmy. Jimmy.

It's not the end of the world.

It's another year.

Jim.

Come on. Sit down. Feeding time.

Sit down.

Come on.

Fine little girl, Jim.

6 pounds, 8 ounces.

Well, how's Mary?

OK. She's OK.

Why can't I go in?

You'll be in soon.

Your mom's with her now.

Well, you know how I

feel, don't you, Jim?

Thanks, Dad.

How did you make out after the fifth?

I got my hit in the seventh.

Great.

That's fine.

Great. Great.

That makes 15 straight days in a row.

We're going to double it.

Come on in.

Hello, Daddy.

Are you OK?

Yes.

Look.

She's beautiful.

Isn't she, Dad?

You're a lucky boy, Jim.

And you've got to give her the best.

Jimmy.

You really think she's beautiful?

Yeah.

She's pretty small.

You'd be surprised

how those small ones can fill up a room

once they start crawling around.

What we need is a new house...

A place she can really grow up in,

with rooms for everybody.

What do you think, Mary?

I think it would be wonderful,

but we can't afford it.

Sure, we can.

Look at how I'm hitting.

I've got the whole league on the run.

I'm going to make the majors.

Why shouldn't we have a nice place?

We're going to have one.

Jim's right. It's time

we got out of that dump.

Sorry, folks. My girl

needs her beauty sleep.

See you in the morning, dear.

Bye.

I'll see you in the car.

Jimmy?

Are you really serious

about getting a house?

Sure, I am.

I've never been more serious in my life.

You just hurry up and

get out of the hospital

and get back up to Waterbury

and find one, OK?

OK.

And I'll keep on hitting, OK?

Jim!

Hi, Dad.

Jimbo!

Great season!

Hey, you look wonderful.

Where's Mary?

She has a meeting with the contractor.

Wait till you see the new house.

Real high class. We're

moving in tomorrow.

Tomorrow?

Have you heard from Boston?

You will.

Reporters.

Come on.

I'll introduce you.

Ed Slade from the Sentinel.

Hello, Jim.

Hank Evans from the Danbury Globe.

OK, fellas, start pitching.

What's the story about Boston, Jim?

You going up there next season?

I guess you'll have

to ask Mr. Cronin.

Buying a house, aren't you?

Does that mean you're

set with the Red Sox?

Papers there say the Sox want you

if you can hit big league pitching.

It'll be lots tougher.

We can outhit anybody in the league.

Lots of stars in that Sox outfield.

We can outplay anybody in the business.

The boy's had a long trip, Slade.

You've got your story.

Right, Jim?

Thanks, Jim, very much.

Good-bye,

Mr. Piersall.

Thanks for coming.

Thanks for calling us.

We're on our way, Jim.

Come on.

You want to drive?

No, you drive.

I'll take you to the new house.

You'll like that.

No, Dad... let's go home.

I want to see Mary.

I want you to see Eileen.

Mary?

Yeah. Yes.

Listen.

Finally, finally.

Listen, I've got to finish packing.

Jimmy.

I bought a new highchair

today for Eileen.

When we move, I'll put it in the room...

Mary.

What?

We're not moving in.

What?

We're not taking the house.

What happened?

I don't understand.

What happened?

It's too expensive.

I thought it was a bargain.

Yes.

But it's too much.

Jimmy.

What's the matter?

Nothing.

Jimmy, please.

Jimmy...

I know something's wrong.

Now, please tell me.

Jimmy.

Jimmy...

I'm sorry.

I can't.

It's his nerves.

That's what it is, nerves.

He'll be all right when

he hears from Boston.

Good morning, gentlemen.

Honey, can I get

a spring training roster?

I'll write you from Florida.

Send Piersall in.

Mr. Cronin

will see you now.

Hello, Jim.

How's the boy?

Fine, Mr. Cronin.

Good. Sit down.

Have a good winter?

Yes, sir.

Keep in shape?

Yeah. Yes, sir.

Jim, we want you to start the season

with the Sox.

Mr. Cronin.

Ever since I was a kid,

I've wanted to play

in the Red Sox outfield.

Ever think about the infield?

No.

We got a big hole at shortstop, Jim.

With your speed and your arm,

you could fill it.

And as an infielder,

you wouldn't be expected to hit so hard.

What do you say?

I don't know.

I do.

You can do it.

I... I've been trained

for the outfield.

I've never played shortstop,

and I don't know anything about it.

We'll have you in the Red

Sox lineup opening day.

Now, Monday you leave for Florida.

Arrange transportation

for Piersall to Sarasota.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Cronin.

Do you mind if I call my father first?

Sure, Jim.

Here you go.

Waterbury, Connecticut, 2095-J.

Glad the spot opened up for you, Jim,

'cause we want you with us.

We're loaded with outfielders.

You'll do OK at short.

Pick it up in no time.

Be out in a minute, boy.

Hello, Dad?

Jim?

It looks like I'm going

to make the Red Sox.

We finally made it.

We made it, Jim.

Great.

That's great...

Great, Jim. Great.

Now, listen, Dad.

They want to put me at shortstop.

Shortstop?

Jim.

Mr. Cronin says they've got

an opening for me there.

We made it, Jim.

We made it.

Short, outfield, what's the difference?

Needs a little work, that's all.

Just a little hard work.

Come home fast.

The next train.

OK.

Jimmy.

Jimmy, where have you been?

We've been worried sick.

What took so long?

Where's Dad?

At the bus station.

We were waiting all afternoon.

He went down there to see

if he could find you.

What happened?

Listen, listen.

I went to Boston.

Yes? Yes?

They don't want me there.

Who doesn't?

No, they don't want me there.

Cronin and the Red Sox.

Mary, they want to get rid of me.

Jimmy.

They tried to put me at shortstop,

and I can't play it.

No, no, no, no.

I can't play that.

I don't want to go to spring training.

I don't want to go there.

You don't have to go.

I don't have to go.

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