The Stratton Story Page #7

I couldn't pass through

without seeing my kids.

Prettiest sight in Texas.

Oh, you've been looking

at too many ballplayers.

Oh, no. I don't believe it.

Junior, come to your Uncle Barney.

- How is Monty?

- Oh, he's just fine.

What in the heck is that?

Better get used to it

if you're figuring on staying awhile.

Oh, Ma. Don't you worry,

I'm not planning to stay all winter.

Oh, go on.

Say...

Come on, Happy. Lots of pepper.

That's a boy. Nice boy.

Say, what's going on here?

Come on. That's the way to go, Hap.

Now you're working in there, boy.

Hey, let's see that big one, Country.

Why, Barney, you old son of a gun!

How are you?

What are you doing out here?

Well, I came down to scout

that All-Stars game in Houston.

Oh, I see.

Say, you look in pretty good shape.

No use in my asking you

how things are going.

No, no complaints, Barn.

- Hey, bag-snatcher!

- Oh, you gotta keep your eye on her.

You're gonna stay awhile,

aren't you, Barney?

- If I'm cornered, I might stay all night.

- You're cornered.

- Afternoon mail.

- Thanks, Earnie.

- Howdy, Mr. Wile.

- How are you, Earnie? You're looking well.

Fancy suit. Yes, sirree, that's real fancy.

Great conversationalist, that fellow.

- What is it, Monty?

- This is from Josh Higgins.

He manages one of the All-Star teams

Barney's gonna scout.

He wants me to come down to the game.

How about it, honey?

Well, if you want to, Monty.

Well, why not?

As long as Barney's going down...

Well, sure, it's a great idea.

We'll all go together.

- Sure.

- Like old times.

I'll tell Ma. Maybe she'd like to go, too.

Might as well do this up right.

You've done wonders with him, Ethel.

- He did it himself.

- No, he couldn't come this far alone.

Barney, I don't know whether

he ought to go to the game or not.

It might bring back memories.

Well, sooner or later,

he's gotta find out

that he's not a player anymore,

just a spectator.

It can't do him any harm

just to watch a game.

No, I guess not.

- I'm glad we're all going.

- Yeah.

- It'll be fun.

- Yeah.

230, that's us.

Say, I think I'll go back

and say hello to some of the boys.

- That's a good idea. I'll go with you.

- Don't you think you better...

No, no, you go on,

but don't gab back there

and hold up the game.

Ma, you'd have made a great umpire.

Yeah, he's got the good knuckleball.

Good pitcher.

- Left-handed.

- Hello, Matt.

How are you, boy?

- Hello, Monty.

- Hello, boy.

Wally, you old walrus,

give me five.

What are you doing down here?

Chuck, how are you?

You better be good today.

I just talked to the umpire

and the Western manager.

Now, if you get a hit,

you got to get to first base on your own.

Then we can put a runner in for you, okay?

Right.

Those Western guys want

to win their share of this game.

They're not gonna give you any breaks.

That's the way I want it.

Let's just play a ballgame.

Good luck.

Monty.

But this is big baseball.

They're playing for important money.

- They're gonna be tough.

- I know.

That's the reason I wrote Josh

and asked him to let me pitch this game.

The tougher they are,

the better I'll know just what's what.

Your arm is probably all right,

but, you know,

you don't just pitch with your arm.

I know what you're thinking.

I don't even have a knee.

But I got to pitch a game, Barney.

I just got to find out.

I understand, son.

Suppose they start bunting?

- How you going to get around? It's all...

- I know, I know.

I'll just have to figure that out

when I get to it.

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

Here are the batteries for today's game.

For the Western All-Stars,

Gene Bearden pitching,

Partee catching.

For the Southern All-Stars,

Milliken catching.

And in his first comeback appearance,

Monty Stratton pitching.

- Ethel.

- Barney, please don't stop me.

- Why didn't you tell me about it, Monty?

- I wanted to surprise you.

I got so I was throwing the ball

pretty good

and I was all steamed up and I...

But now I'm afraid.

Afraid? Afraid of what?

- You've been beaten before.

- No, this is different.

I keep saying to myself

that I'm just the same as everybody else,

but I wanted to prove it.

I wanted to show you.

You don't have to prove anything

to me, darling.

Well, maybe I don't have to,

but I wanted to.

But I can't go through with it.

Monty, I came down to stop you.

I was just as afraid as you are.

But you can't turn back now.

That won't solve anything.

You're a ballplayer.

I used to be.

You still are, or you wouldn't have

come this far yourself.

Us saying I'm still a ballplayer

doesn't make me one.

Well, then let's find out.

Maybe I won't like what I find out.

Would you rather stop trying?

Good luck, darling.

Do I look all right?

You look just fine.

Monty! Monty!

Yeah. Ma, you see

how the fans feel about our boy?

- Is this your idea?

- No, I...

He wanted to surprise us.

Well, Stratton's on the mound,

taking his warm-up throws.

This is a big moment for Monty.

Remember,

before his unfortunate accident,

he was the leading right-handed pitcher

in the American League.

This comeback attempt must mean

an awful lot to the big fellow.

Play ball!

All right, Monty, go.

Hang right in there now, Monty. Come on.

In you go, Monty.

Quick-fire at him now, Monty.

Come on, boy.

Get in there and pitch.

Fire, Monty.

Come back. Come back.

Come on, boy.

Play ball.

Get on that pitch, Monty.

Start him off right.

Attaboy. Never mind him now, Monty.

Come on.

Hurry.

Get back here. Come on.

Well, Stratton's off to a bad start.

Two clean hits in a row.

Zarilla on first. Beringhele on second.

Steve Messner up.

Hurry up there! Come on.

Both runners advance to scoring position

after the catch.

Runners on second and third.

They're hitting everything he throws.

Have Fred warm up.

Fred, warm up.

There goes Dobernic

out of the bullpen to warm up.

- Safe!

- Safe!

Safe all around. Ed Stewart's

chop infield hit drives in the first run.

Well, Stratton's really in trouble now.

One run in, one out, men on first and third.

He'll settle down in a minute.

Get back there. Come on, run.

Safe!

Another sensational catch by Maddern

for the second out.

His quick peg holds the runner on third.

Just a second.

There goes Higgins out to the mound.

That may be all for Stratton.

Will he take him out, Barney?

How do you feel, Monty?

I can't seem to get anything on the ball.

Boy, these fielders are gonna be

all worn out if this keeps up.

Don't let that worry you, fella.

They're all with you.

Loosen up, Monty.

This is just another ballgame.

Make them play it your way.

Bockman's the next batter

stepping up to the plate.

- Men on first and third. Two outs.

- Batter up!

Strike!

Strike two!

Come on, Monty. You can do it, boy.

Strike three!

Nice going, Monty. Attaboy.

- Nice pitching.

- Okay?

- Come on, Jerry, get ahold of one.

- All right.

Play ball!

Come on, Monty.

Strike!

Come on, boy. Hit one, boy.

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