The Stratton Story

Attaboy! Come on, Monty.

Strike one.

Strike two.

Fire away, Monty.

Strike three. You're out!

- Pretty mean ball, Monty. - Thanks, Mr. Higgins.

Well, that's it for this year. See you next season?

Sure, I'll be here. So long.

- Nice game you pitched today, son. - Thank you, mister.

You ever think of pitching regular professional baseball?

I guess that's just about all I ever do think about.

Well, what are you wasting your time around here for?

Wasting my time? I get $3 every time I pitch a game.

Yeah. Look, son, I think you and I ought to have a little talk.

Well, I'd like to talk to you, mister, but I gotta get going.

- Where are you heading? - Home.

- Okay if I trot along? - Sure, sure, if you like.

Say, boy, where is your home anyway?

It's about four miles up this road.

Yeah, well, can't we hitch a ride or something?

No. It might be an hour before a car comes along here.

Well, I can wait.

Happy.

Hi, Ma, how's my girl?

- You've been playing ball again? - Sure have. Only gave them four hits.

Fine way for the man of the family to be spending his time.

I had time to kill today. Did all the chores before I left.

I still got time to pick a little cotton.

Hey, you got a nice profit in a day.

How do you do, madam?

- I guess you must be Monty's ma. - Yeah.

- I'm Barney Wile. Monty around? - He's out picking cotton.

You mean after sprinting 10 miles and pitching nine innings

- he's picking cotton? - Yeah.

He must want to play baseball awful bad.

All he thinks about is throwing a ball.

Well, I don't wonder, madam.

He can transform a baseball into a streak of gray lightning

and curve it in like it was weaving through traffic.

I'd say he's got a great future in baseball.

- You a baseball man? - Yes, ma'am.

Then I'd say he's got a better future on the farm.

Hey, hey, come here!

Oh, hi. What, did you get a lift?

Yeah. Part way.

That's quite a jaunt. I'm all fagged out.

Guess you're not in very good shape, huh?

Well, I haven't been in training for a marathon.

You walk up there and back every time you pitch?

Yeah.

See, the walk up sort of gets my muscles nice and loose,

and the walk back keeps them from tightening up.

- Works out pretty good. - Yeah, I never thought of that.

But about your pitching, like I was saying,

you've got a nice easy motion.

I guess you didn't walk all the way out here

just to tell me you like the way I throw.

Of course, you're a little ragged yet. You need some smoothing out.

But I don't think that'll give us much trouble.

Ever play any ball?

- I've had my innings. - Where?

Oh, Chicago, Cleveland, Boston. I've been around.

- What, the big leagues? - Yeah.

- What'd you play? - Behind the bat.

- You were catcher, huh? - Oh, I caught all the big fellows.

- Well, well... - Oh, I know, I...

I was a fool.

A grand slam, double-barreled fool.

Breaking training and hitting the bottle,

you don't stay up there very long.

And by the time I learned my lesson, I was out,

and it isn't so easy to get back in.

But when I saw you, I was seeing a dream come true,

my dream of finding a hot prospect and coming back into baseball.

Well, I sure would like to work with you.

It's still light. Do you wanna catch a few?

Maybe you haven't had enough exercise for one day, but I have.

But we might be able to work out tomorrow.

What, are you staying around here?

Well, not exactly.

- Oh, just passing through? - Yeah, something like that.

I'm on my way to California.

Course, it doesn't have to be California.

I could... I might...

I could... I could help...

You ever do any farm work?

Oh, I've, I...

You look kind of flabby.

Oh, son, I've got muscles I haven't even used yet.

- You meet my mother? - Yeah.

- I struck out. - That figured.

Well,

I guess this is what us baseball men would call a squeeze play.

Yeah.

May I offer my compliments, Mrs. Stratton.

This was a meal fit for kings.

And this pie. Nothing like the pie Mother used to make.

Is that so?

- My mother couldn't boil water. - You don't say.

Mr. Wile here, he's sort of looking around for something to do.

I thought maybe he could sort of hole up here for the winter

and help out around the place.

You know as well as I do, Monty, we can't afford no hired hand.

Oh, well, he wouldn't expect any pay. Just room and keep.

I didn't realize you were so overworked you needed help.

Oh, no, it's not that, Ma.

It's just that a lot of things need doing Mr. Wile could be mighty handy with.

There's fixing that fence down at the pig pen,

and fixing the roof on the chicken coop,

pulling those stumps down by the creek.

Ma, we'd get this place in real fine shape.

When your papa died, he left this place to you, Monty.

You're the man of the house.

If you want Mr. Wile around, I ain't gonna raise a fuss.

You ought to be old enough to know what you're doing.

Well,

say, you know, somehow I feel sort of tired.

I can't imagine why.

What do you say we turn in, Barney?

- Good night, Mother. - Good night.

Good night, ma'am, and thank you.

This farm's all Monty's got, Mr. Wile, but it's worth something.

The land always is, if you look after it.

But you and Monty, you go ahead and talk baseball,

and maybe someday he'll do as good as you did.

Now, wait a minute, son. Wait a minute.

When you swing back,

you pivot around like this.

But don't try to strike out every batter.

Use your control and let your fielders help you.

And as you come forward, use your body.

Follow through.

I guess in a spot like that the best pitch would be...

Nice and easy. Now follow through, nice and easy.

Oh, that's it, boy. That's beautiful.

There.

And always cover first base when the ball's hit deep.

Nice pitch, boy, nice pitch.

Now let me look at the curve ball.

Oh, good hook. Good hook!

Now let me see the big one.

Well, that's it for the day.

Get your coat on, son. Keep that arm warm.

Well, you're ready.

- You're joking. - No, I've taught you all I know.

The rest you gotta find out for yourself.

Now we gotta get you some action.

Yeah, well, not very much action around here.

No, but there is in California.

Jimmy Dykes and the White Sox

are starting their spring training there next week.

- Chicago White Sox? - Yeah.

Jimmy Dykes is an old friend of mine. I've known him for 20 years.

All I have to do is say the word and he'll give you a tryout.

- He will? - Sure.

- But out in California? - Yeah.

Looks like we've got another squeeze play coming up.

Yeah.

Barney and I are sort of thinking about taking a little trip out to California.

Is that so?

- What baseball team's over there? - It's the White Sox. They...

How'd you know that?

I didn't reckon you'd be going over there for anything important.

- But this is important, ma'am. - Worth giving up the farm for?

Oh, if they take him on, the least he'll get is $300 a month.

That's a powerful lot of money for just throwing a ball.

And Monty won't have to give up the farm while he's trying out.

I talked to Cousin Earnie.

He said he'd be glad to take care of it for me.

That $300 a month, that'll buy a lot of stuff we need.

What makes you so sure they'll give you a tryout?

They try just anybody?

Well, they sure don't.

Why, Barney and Jimmy Dykes are old friends.

- Who? - Jimmy Dykes.

He's the manager of the ball team.

That way, I'll get a chance for sure.

The land's the only place where you're sure.

Well, lots of people don't live on farms, ma'am.

Lots of people don't eat regular, too.

You...

You made up your mind, ain't you, son?

I've just gotta give it a try, Mother.

How you fellas figuring on getting along?

Oh, don't worry. We'll make out all right, won't we, Barney?

Well, of course, they don't pay you while you're trying out.

But that won't be any problem or anything.

I don't think you ought to discourage contributions, son.

- Contributions? We're lucky to be going. - Well...

Here's the...

Here's $5 I saved from selling that calf.

- It's all you get. - Thank you, Mother.

And don't you worry, Mrs. Stratton, I'll take good care of him.

Let him take care of himself.

Good night, Son.

You've got one big leaguer in the family already.

Get in there with the pitchers and warm up your arm.

Shouldn't we be meeting Mr. Dykes?

Oh, you let me worry about that, will you? Go ahead. Go ahead.

- Is it okay? - Sure. Go ahead.