(BASEBALL PLAYERS' VOICES)
MAN: All right, Jack! Here we go, kid! Here we go!
Come on, boy!
No batter there. Go on, boy. Here we go! Here we go! Swing, batter!
(SPECTATORS STOMPING FEET)
(SPECTATORS WHISTLING)
(BAT HITTING BASEBALL)
(FANS STOMPING FEET)
(BAT HITTING BASEBALL)
FANS: (CHANTING) Left field, left field!
(CLAPS)
What's this place? Quiet.
Brother Paul. Mr. Roth.
Ruth.
How old?
He's... How old are you?
I'm seven.
Seven? He's the size of an ox. He must be 10 or 11.
I'm seven!
I can't control him, Brother.
Are you a priest? Quiet!
He's never in school, always at the docks. He's like an animal.
And I got a business to tend to.
And my wife, she's poorly.
How long do you think...
He'll be reviewed every six months.
If he continues to be incorrigible, he stays,
until the legal age, of course.
What's in-cor-rig-ible?
Now, you're goin' with Brother Paul.
You got no one to blame but yourself.
Goin' where, Dad?
Dad, help me! Dad, where're you goin'?
Hey, Da'! Da'! Da'! Hey, Da'!
Never mind, "Hey, Da'! Hey, Da'!" Inside!
I want my mother!
If you do well, your mother can come on holidays and visiting day.
Now, inside!
Stop! Stop right there! Agh!
Hey, Dad! Hey, Dad! Don't leave me here!
"Excuse me."
Excuse me.
"Brother Mathias."
Brother Mathias.
Get up!
Inside.
(LAUGHING)
Hey, fat chops! Look at fat chops.
He's doin' it all wrong.
How come your mother and father didn't come on visiting day?
'Cause you're too fat and ugly?
They own a saloon, lop ears. They gotta work.
They're takin' me home Christmas.
No, they ain't!
BABE: Satan finds work for idle hands.
Satan finds work for idle hands.
Strike three, batsman. Back in the line.
Next!
BOY 1: Your turn, fat chops!
BOY 2: Yeah, come on, fat chops. Let's see if you can even hit the ball.
I said, next!
Hurry up, large ass!
Hey, son, pick up the stick.
BOY 1: He hasn't held a bat in his life.
He doesn't need a bat. He can use his stomach.
Nice miss, large ass! Try it again!
BOY 2: He can't even foul the ball!
Are you tryin' to kill it?
You're tryin' to hit the long ball off the great Mathias, aren't you?
Strike one.
BOY 3: Hey, see if you can even hit the ball.
He probably can't even make it go one inch.
(WHISPERING) Son-of-a-bitch.
Sweet! Whoa!
Look at that!
Whoa! Holy smoke!
Did you see that?
(BOYS CHEERING)
(CHURCH BELLS CLANGING)
Sorry, Brother.
I'm not.
I've been waitin' 30 years for St. Francis of Xavier to show me a miracle.
I think it's just arrived.
(CHEERING)
(LAUGHING) Whee!
Lord Almighty! Three home runs in one game?
Have patience, Mr. Dunn. It's only the 7th inning.
He's the size of Mt. Vesuvius.
What's he doing here?
Good morning, Father.
Brother.
Who are you, Mr. Dunn?
What do you mean when you say you have an interest in one of our boys?
I'm the Baltimore Orioles.
My business, Father, is to turn around a team that's lost its first six games
and is goin' down the johnny flusher real quick.
Your man, Ruth, is a real slugger.
Yes, he is. He slugged me once.
He's listed in our register as incorrigible.
Do you know what that word means, Mr. Dunn?
It means, strictly speaking,
bad beyond reform.
Good day, Mr. Dunn.
What if I were to, I don't know...
If I were to adopt him, say.
What if I were to become his legal guardian?
What if the Baltimore professional baseball franchise were to adopt him,
take him in? Into where?
Orioles Park, Father! Brother!
He pitched nine perfect blanks yesterday.
And you should have seen the ball he hit.
326 feet... We measured it. (WHISTLES)
Landed past... You're not listening!
We're speaking about a lad who didn't have a smoke until he was six,
didn't touch a drink until he was seven.
MATHIAS: Didn't see his parents from the day
he was dumped off here 12 years ago!
He was abandoned, unwanted.
These words you won't find stamped there in your register.
His mother is deceased now.
His father wants no part of him.
And to be wanted is the greatest thing
that could ever happen to a boy like Jidge.
Mr. Dunn,
if we were to parole him, and you were to sign as his legal guardian...
On what grounds, Brother Mathias?
On the grounds that the Orioles have lost their first six games
and are headed right down...
What was it, Mr. Dunn, the johnny flusher?
Open them.
Brother, once again I'd like to thank you for everything.
We'll take good care of him.
Mr. Dunn.
It's okay, Jidge. Go on.
God bless.
PLAYER 1: All right, Jack! Here we go, kid! Here we go!
Smoke it by him, Jack! Come on, boy!
Hey, batter, batter, batter! Hey, batter, batter, batter, batter!
Where did he come from? The Orioles.
He was there a few weeks. Harry paid Dunnie $30,000 for him.
If you ask me, he fell out of a tree like some kind of baboon.
PLAYER 2: No hitter up there! (FANS BOOING)
Where'd you come from, rook?
We got a ruby out here!
Come on, Jack, Let's go! One down!
(CONTINUES SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY)
He don't look like no rookie to me. He looks like a veteran.
He looks like three or four veterans.
PLAYER 1: Play to first! Play to first! No batter up there!
Come on! Come on!
Strike two!
He's swinging from the heels like a greenhorn.
Warhop struck him out twice already. Send him back to Baltimore.
Give him time, Mr. Frazee.
I'll give him time. Time to pack his bags and get the hell outta here!
UMPIRE: Foul ball!
He's out, Jack.
Hey!
(FANS CHEERING)
(SCATTING)
♪ Here come the Bostons Here come the Bostons
♪ Here come the Bostons to win the game for sure
♪ Here come the Bostons Here come the Bostons
♪ Here come the Bostons to win the game for sure
♪ We've got a homer
♪ We've got a homer ♪
What'd I tell ya? Atta baby!
Atta baby!
Go on! Go on!
(SINGING CONTINUES)
Hey!
Hey! Hot dog!
Two.
♪ Hip-hip hooray ♪
There you go, sir. Keep the change.
Thank you!
Hey!
You boys want some red hots? ALL: Yeah!
Come on down here! Big Jidge Ruth is treatin'.
The dogs are on me.
Here, pass some out to all the fellas.
Sure thing. Thanks.
Hey! Thanks, mister.
(VOCALIZING)
BABE: You're a lucky Joe, dad,
bein' able to ride this all day.
(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)
(LAUGHING)
I'll tell you. This is some gadget, dad. How about one more time?
Hey, Jidge! Jidge, we got a press meetin'. You sure love to ride.
I'm goin' up once more.
You're just a babe in the woods, ain't you, kid?
Come on, get outta there.
You used my toothbrush last night, Ruth.
That's okay. You can use mine anytime you want to, Jim.
Joe... Jumpin' Joe.
If we're gonna be roommates, don't use my toothbrush, okay?
And you don't use my razor eith...
Jumpin' Joe?
So what do you do, jump a lot or something?
Yeah, contracts.
Wherever the money is, I jump.
Team to team like a rabbit.
So, that's my name.
That was a hell of a long ball you hit today.
You caught a lucky piece of wood.
I know. Tomorrow I'm gonna hit another, maybe two.
I'm feelin' hitterish.
What was that?
I like to hit home runs.
You like to hit home runs, huh?
You say that like I say, "I like to eat peanuts."
Better hold your tongue.
Home run's a rare commodity, kid. We play inside ball.
Hit 'em where they ain't, that's the rule.
They ain't over the fences, so that's where I hit 'em.
Don't talk like that, boy. Put your money away.
She's got more curves than a scenic railway.
Some dame, huh?
Jumpin' Joe, I want a new pair of shoes,
and I want me a motorcycle, and I want a dame.
BOY 1: Wow, look at that!
BOY 2: I want one of those.
Whoo!
Look out!
WAITRESS: One hot chocolate with lots of cream.
And one tea with lots of cream.
(BURPING)
Can I get you anything else?
Okay.
Pecan pie, maybe?
Yeah, pecan pie would be good.
Coffee? Yeah.
Hey. Bring me another bottle of beer too, will ya?
Looks like you've been doin' some shoppin'.
Yeah. Hey. Look at this.
I can't believe how much jack they're givin' me
just to play baseball.
Who's paying you to play baseball?
Boston Red Sox.
Hey, you got more curves than the train tracks.
You're some dame.
Wanna go for a fly on my motor scooter?
(PIANO PLAYING)
Hey, this is some castle. What is this place?
What's goin' on here? Social affair.
A lot of people from the theater, investors in my shows, friends.
Wow, some mob.
Harry, my dear. Babe, easy on the champagne.
Ah, Mrs. Ballister.
Allow me to introduce the grande dame to the grand slam.
Hiya, grand-dam.
Pleasure to meet you, young man.
Harry's so proud of you, for once he's speaking
more fervently of baseball than musicals.
Everyone wants to meet your discovery, Harry.
Don't I know it. Everyone's trying to steal him.
Babe, you're about to be introduced.
Brevity is the soul of wit.
Huh?
Something succinct,
like you're happy to play in Boston for Mr. Frazee.
MRS. BALLISTER: Ladies and gentlemen.
And make it light. Make a little joke.
A little joke? Okay.
Good evening, everyone.
As you know, it is being prophesied that our own Harry Frazee's
Red Sox of Boston
may very well win the pennant race this year.
Allow me to introduce to you the reason why.
The young man they call,
"The Baby Ruth."
Well, this is a nice place.
And I smell some real good eats.
Everybody looks real nice.
My owner there, he's a good fella.
He gave me some words to say, but...
He talked so fast, I can't remember what they were.
Oh! Okay, okay.
Here's one.
Okay, grand-dam.
When I count three, pull the finger.
One... Two...
"Pull it," did you say?
Yeah, give it a tug, sis. Three!
(LOUD FLATULENCE)
'Board!
(LAUGHING)
Oh, my God!
Gauche, absolutely gauche!
That was not becoming of a professional baseball athlete,
let alone a civilized human being.
Hell's bells, Dad, you told me to make a joke.
You go back to the hotel and sober up, young man!
You have a baseball game to perform for me tomorrow.
And don't you ever address me as "Dad" again.
Now, go!
Hey, I saw a fella in Paris
could flatulate to the tune of Molly, My Dear.
But I bet you he wouldn't have the tripes to do it
at one of Mrs. Ballister's social affairs.
Say, you're a good-lookin' dame.
And you're quite the slugger.
I saw you hit a home run last week off of Walter Johnson.
It went through the plate glass at
the Ukrainian diner. Did you know that?
I used to get arrested for that.
Now they give me a check.
I've never seen a lady smoke before.
Don't tell Mr. Frazee.
Oh, yeah, right, right, that guy.
I'm trying out for his next musical. I'm an actress.
He wants to tell me what to do all the time.
I don't like people tellin' me what to do.
Do you?
Where have you been all my life, Baby Ruth?
St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys.
BABE: Ready? CLAIRE: Set.
Go. Go.
Ready. Set.
Go. Go.
No, thank you.
Why do you have dinner rolls in your pocket?
That lady's got a ton of 'em down there on the table.
At the home, you gotta grab 'em when you can.
Why were you in there, in that home?
I was bad. Here.
Ready? Set.
Go!
What do Mom and Dad think about their bad boy now?
I don't know.
My mom passed when I was inside
and my dad, I ain't never heard from him.
Hey. You want to get out of this church and go raise some hell?
VENDOR: Programs! Read about the Babe.
Get your programs here! Read the whole story about Babe.
(CHEERING)
Did Ruth show yet? Not yet.
Son of a bitch. I got two down, Tris on third. I need the Baby!
Jumpin' Joe, check the clubhouse.
(BURPING)
Jidge!
Hey, Slick! Oh, my God.
Boy, I had a time last night!
We drank a case of champagne!
We were drinkin' the grape right out of the bottle.
Look at you!
Oh, you're shellacked.
Come on. Pull yourself together, for God sakes.
You can't let Carrigan see ya like this!
Now, come on, let's get outta here. Come on!
Oh, no! Leave me alone! Let me play baseball.
Jidge!
There we go. Here I come.
(CHEERING)
There he is, Babe Ruth!
Shore, sit down! Babe's here.
Is Ruth swacked?
Go get 'em, Babe!
Was that big ape out on a rampage last night?
(BURPING)
He's standin' up there like a drunken moocher. He's fined!
(CHEERING)
That damn thing went over the center field wall!
No one's ever done that at Fenway!
He likes to hit home runs.
What are you gonna do with a son of a bitch like that?
Get that bugger tighter every day.
Boston Red Sox.
(KNOCKING)
Hey, Jumpin' Joe, we gonna play some ball?
You played ball all day, Babe.
It's free time now. Besides, we got company.
Hon, this is the Babe I've been tellin' you about.
Babe, this is my wife, Ida.
Hi.
This is little Caroline. She's six months.
This little yannigan here is Joey, Little Jump.
They're here for the weekend.
Well, hey, sonny. Wanna go for a ride?
You want somethin' to eat? We got an icebox now.
IDA: Oh, no, thank you, we're late for dinner as it is.
Hey, Babe!
How many times do I have to ask ya not to hang your clothes in my closet, huh?
That ain't mine, Jumpin' Joe, that's yours.
No, they ain't.
Yeah, it is. I bought it for you at the shop.
What do you mean, you bought it for me? I bought it for ya!
When we was in Detroit, remember that singer with a jacket like that?
And a straw boater. And you said, "Say, there's a snappy fella."
I saw the hat in the store so I bought it for ya.
And the jacket's different, but it's still snappy, ain't it?
Oh, it's very snappy.
Gee, Babe.
Let's see how she looks, huh?
Yeah, this is somethin'.
Here we go.
Ah, this is very snappy.
You big gorilla! You shouldn't be spendin' your jack like that!
It'll be great for dinner, huh?
Hey, where we goin', the Bistro?
Uh... Babe, come here.
Come here.
Baby, I ain't seen the wife and kids for three weeks.
We are goin' to dinner, you know what I mean?
Family?
Family.
Yeah, you'll understand someday, huh?
You will. You'll have a family.
Hang on, fellas! I'll show you a shortcut!
Babe! Babe!
Hey, Babe!
Hey, kids! How're ya doin'?
Come on!
Yeah, this is it. Lander's Cafe.
Hop in, fellas!
Is that the bird? Yeah, that's her, honey.
That's the bird, and right on time.
(HONKING)
BYSTANDER: Hi there, Babe!
Hey, kid! How come you're so shy?
I ain't shy.
Well, come on for a ride!
We're havin' one heck of a wingding. These are my friends.
Hello.
I don't even know ya.
Ah, banana oil! I think you do know me.
I drive around this street, everybody calls my name.
Babe Ruth. See?
I know your name. Every fella that walks into the coffee shop
talks about ya, but that don't mean I know you.
Well, I know you, and let me tell you something. I like you!
Ah, banana oil.
BABE: Hey, fellas, go buy somethin', will you?
Babe, you're the best!
That's great, Babe!
(HONKING)
Here. Here.
This is for you.
(MUSICAL BOX TINKLING)
Wanna go for a ride to the park?
We can drive around inside the stadium and all over the field.
They let me do whatever I want.
It's late. I should get home.
Thank you.
What do you do for fun?
Wait tables?
No.
Well, then what? What do you like, kid?
I like animals.
Animals?
F-farm animals.
Cows and horses and ducks.
I even like mice, the white ones, that is.
I should get going.
Did you ever go to the ball game?
Come on out to Fenway and watch me throw some.
I'll hit you a home run, just for you.
Hey, wanna go catch some ducks?
(GRUNTING)
(LAUGHING) You're funny.
All right, I'll go to a game.
Mary, right?
Helen.
Helen Woodford.
Babe Ruth.
Yeah, I know.
(KIDS SHOUTING)
BABE: Hop in, fellas. Let's go to the park.
(CROWD CHEERING)
All right!
He's got an arm, but he's too good a slugger to be a pitcher!
We need his bat every day.
They gotta put him somewhere else, infield or outfield.
Oh, what a Babe! That's a good pitch.
MAN: Atta-boy! Whip it in there, Babe!
Strike three!
You damn bean eater!
(LAUGHING)
He struck out Ty Cobb twice!
He's gettin' better every time out.
Wangdoodle, I don't believe it!
This ain't no monkey comin' up here. Oh, no. He's good.
He's good, this guy. This Babe, he's got an arm. He's got an arm, yeah.
Strike!
Lookee here, hog-gut!
You better watch your mouth, or I'll pop you.
You couldn't pitch hay, lowdermilk! Come on!
You ol' whore-dog!
Ball! What?
Ball! You heard me, ball!
Better get your eyes checked, dad!
What'd you just say?
You better get your ears checked too!
Who the hell do you think you are, pusher?
This is a gentleman's game!
You speak to an official like that, I'll throw you out!
You can't tell me what to do, dad.
You're outta the game!
Excuse me, is that a home run?
No, that's a left cross.
HELEN: My father says you're the best ball player he's ever seen.
He says that if they let you back in,
you're gonna get us to the World Series.
You betcha, Ella.
Helen. My name is Helen, George.
You smell good, Helen.
Thank you.
You smell like bacon and eggs.
Bacon and eggs?
I do? No, it's nice. It suits ya.
BOY: Hey, Babe!
My father says that, um,
you're too good a hitter.
What say we have us a kiss under this tree here?
No, George! Not yet.
Okay.
When?
I'm savin' it, George, for the man I marry.
You like all kinds of funny animals, Ella.
How 'bout bugs? You like little bugs?
No, silly. Bugs ain't animals.
Well, don't move, kid,
'cause you got a great big, scary-lookin' kind of bug
hangin' right over your head, off of that tree there.
George, get it.
Please, just get it.
Okay, just sit still.
Big Babe'll get it for you. (SHUSHING)
(KISSING NOISES)
(SCREAMING)
(SHUSHING) Ella... Esther, don't. Come on. You're my girl.
I am not one of those girls who waits outside the locker room for you!
Well, Esther, don't get sore.
I am not one of those girls who... Who smoke!
Esther, come on!
Hey, come back, kid!
No, you big anchovy!
Big what?
Anchovy!
Esther!
Helen! Esther!
Esther! Whoa!
(GASPING)
Helen, I can't swim!
George.
George!
(LAUGHING)
(PIANO PLAYING)
HELEN: Gosh! Look at them!
Do you know what those are, George?
Cows. Jerseys.
What do you mean "Jerseys"?
Jerseys...
Oh, look!
What a beautiful place. That must be the owner.
Hey, maybe he'll let you ride a cow.
Hey, ducks! Tons of 'em.
Chickens! Chickens, George.
See if dad there will let you take one home.
Hi. Can I feed them?
FARMER: Yep.
Thank you.
George, they'll eat right out of your hand.
Come on over.
How big is this place, fella?
200 acres.
Greenest grass in Sudbury.
And apple orchards and a good Jersey herd.
You have a beautiful place here, sir.
Yep.
Oh, now, these first three keys
are for up to the main house.
And four and five are for up to the coops and the sugar house.
Don't give 'em to me, fella.
Give 'em to that pretty little girl right there.
It's her farm.
You said you liked animals.
I was maybe gonna buy you a white mouse,
but a girl like you, you need 200 acres
and a whole flock of New Jerseys.
Uh... You really gave it to Brooklyn, Babe.
You just keep killin' the Yankees and the Dodgers,
and I'll do the chores.
Yep. Kill the Yankees.
Make 'em suffer!
George...
Make 'em suffer!
You're joshin' me.
You're makin' one of your funny fibs.
What about it, hon?
Let's say you and me get married.
George... George.
What's the matter? What is it?
I feel giddy.
Sounds serious. Sit down, sit down. Right... Just sit right here.
Here, give me the duck. Get out of here.
All right, here. You okay?
Want some water, honey? Mmm-hmm.
Hey, pop!
(BELLS CHIMING)
(CHIMING)
Isn't that the prettiest thing you ever heard, George?
I'm gonna hang 'em out by the barn.
Do you think that's a good place for them, out by the barn?
What's that? The chimes.
Out by the barn, in that willow.
Yeah, yeah, that old willow.
Babe, what do you think about "Georgiana,"
if our baby's a girl?
Georgiana? Gee, I don't know.
I always liked "Dorothy."
Dorothy... Dorothy.
(BELLS CHIMING)
Honey, honey, honey, can you stop them bells for a minute?
I hear people talkin'.
Those are spring peepers. Frogs.
What? Frogs.
I gotta have the old man set some traps for 'em.
Jesus, a man could go crazy with the voices they make.
Traps? For frogs?
Yeah, traps for frogs. What's the matter? You never heard of that?
I bet they got traps for frogs. They got traps for mice, for Christ's sake!
Why don't you sit down and relax, hon?
You bought all this new furniture and you never even sit in it.
Wanna go upstairs?
We were just upstairs.
Yeah, but we need a baby.
I think three times in one day gives us a pretty fair chance.
Let's go outside. What for?
Catch fireflies. What?
Let's go outside and catch fireflies.
Those are the woods, Helen. There's things out there at night.
You don't go out there chasin' flies.
What's to eat?
Ace is bringin' groceries in the mornin'.
Can't keep anything in the icebox the way you eat.
Hon, me and you are goin' out on the town.
It's late. Where are we goin'?
Into the city for a nice steak, maybe a little dance.
It's too late. Too late?
People don't show up at Jimmy's 'til midnight.
I don't like those people, George.
You don't like 'em?
You shouldn't say that about people, Helen.
Well, they're not your kind of people anymore. You're married.
Let's sit down and go over names.
What do you think about "Lucille"?
I think I need a 20-ounce steak, is what I need.
I got a cravin', kid. Can you understand that?
George!
I got a cravin'. I'll be right back.
George!
Hey, Babe! Dance with me!
(LOUD MUSIC PLAYING)
Babe, we're next! Hey, twins!
Come on, girlies! Hotsie-totsie!
We love you, Babe.
WOMAN: Would you sign this?
Sure, kid, anytime!
I think you're the greatest.
I don't even like baseball, but I love to watch you sock 'em.
Hell yes, kid!
I swing big and I hit big, everything I got.
I hit big or I miss big!
Do you kiss big?
(HORN HONKING)
(HORSES WHINNYING)
Hiya, Helen.
Do you know what these are?
Yes, they're horses, George.
They're not just any horses, they're your horses.
'Cause you're my girl.
Helen!
I'm sorry.
MAN: This was your idea.
WOMAN: I apologize. I'm sorry.
It was the worst show. It was terrible.
Fine show, Harry.
Say, Mr. Frazee! Real wangdoodle.
Trash!
Ah.
Good evening, Harry.
30 walkouts in the first act. We're in Dutch, Harry.
Great show, Harry! Funny! You ask me, it's the best I've ever seen.
Me and the wife are gonna come back and see it tomorrow.
It won't be here tomorrow, Babe. No?
Then maybe we'll go to dinner then or somethin'.
Half of everything I own just went down the drink
with The Gladiators of Broadway.
The other half is in the pocket of the Sultan of Swat.
And he wants another raise,
and his own suite during road games now.
You guaranteed us, Harry. First of the month,
125,000 ducats.
You can't get blood from a stone, gentlemen.
Hmm.
We don't want blood from a stone, Harry.
We want $125,000.
MAN: Hideous.
(PIANO PLAYING)
(CHEERING)
Well, Prohibition has come to New York, but so has Babe Ruth!
Here's to you, fellas! Let's have a hell of a season! Yanks!
You're gonna love New York, Helen.
I don't know. It's so vast...
What say we put up a little money and have us a contest?
(CHEERING)
Come over here, sis. Come here.
This is gonna be good.
I want you to pull this here finger.
Pull it. Go on. Go ahead, give it a tug, sis.
(LOUD FLATULENCE)
All right. Who's next?
Anybody can hit a louder note, I'll give you $1,000!
Bambino, is your wife all right?
Oh, she's fine. She's just gonna have a piss. Best dame in the world.
Boston, New York! I don't care! The best!
ALL: The best!
(WATER SPLASHING) (COUPLE GIGGLING)
♪ Over there Over there
♪ Send the word Send the word over there
♪ That the Yanks are comin'
♪ The Yanks are comin'
♪ They're drum, drum drummin' everywhere
♪ Over there, say a prayer
♪ Send the word Send the word to beware
♪ We'll be over We're coming over ♪
George! George!
Hey, you want a grape?
There are people... There are people in our bathtub!
In the bathtub? So what? Yes.
So what?
This is New York, Helen. Come on. You wanna dance?
Don't humiliate me in front of strangers.
Strangers? This is family.
This is the best day of my life, yours too.
Come on, smile, kid.
You want me to smile?
Then get back up on that chair, and instead of passing wind,
pass the word that your wife
is not gonna share her bathtub or her home with all of New York City!
There have been people in this room for three days.
Helen. Helen, please.
I want to go back to Boston.
Well, I can't. I've been sold!
I wanna go back to the farm. I'm not gonna stay here another day.
Well, that's your pejorative!
Helen, Helen, Helen. Helen, come on!
Helen!
♪ We'll be over We're comin' over ♪
Great to be a Yank, huh, Bambino?
ANNOUNCER: In New York, the Babe bashes the Yankees into first place.
While in Boston,
Harry Frazee feels the wrath of the Beantown fans.
It's too late, Harry.
The Babe is New York, and New York is the Babe's.
Babe! Babe!
(SHOUTING)
Hey, kids! How ya doin', sonny?
Come here. How're ya doin'?
Hey, sonny. What's your name? Eddie.
Eddie, what size shoe you wear?
I don't know.
Let me see. Let me take a look at you here.
You're a pretty big boy. I'd say a size five.
Five, five, five...
Here you go, Eddie, brand spanking new.
They'll make ya run like Rabbit Maranville.
Hey, Babe! You've hit more home runs as one player than an entire team...
You need a new pair of shoes, dad? No thanks, Bab.
I'll answer your questions later. We're havin' a lot of fun right now.
Hey, try 'em on, Eddie. See what they look like.
ALL: Me! Me!
Me! Me! Oh!
Are you Santa Claus?
Well, no, kiddo. I'm Babe Ruth.
But you're a nice fat man like Santa Claus.
(LAUGHING)
(JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)
MAN 1: It's Babe Ruth! MAN 2: It's the Babe!
WOMAN: Hey, Babe!
Hey, Bambino's here! How's it goin', slugger?
Hey, it's the Babe!
Hey! What do you say, boys?
Babe!
MAN: Good to see you, Babe.
You don't want to go over there, Bam.
Yeah. Hang on to this, sonny.
Bambino, watch yourself. The guy in the white is Torrio.
I'm Ruth, so the hell with him.
Babe, don't go over there.
Hello, Babe.
I know you.
Boston, your first year.
Harry Frazee's party.
Oh, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, the actress!
What are ya doin' in New York?
You're not the only one New York paid a nice figure for, Mr. Ruth.
I'm a Ziegfeld Folly.
BABE: Oh, yeah? A Ziegfeld Folly?
CLAIRE: Uh-huh. And you're married now.
Yeah, you? Was... One kid.
Any little Bambinos yet? Tryin'. We're tryin'.
Hey, Claire, what about us?
Do we get to meet the toast of New York or what?
Babe, these are some friends of mine.
Jim Colosimmo.
Johnny Torrio.
Alphonse Capone.
Bambino, nice to know you.
Welcome to New York, Bambino. Hey, how about I buy you a cocktail?
Hey, save your money, kid.
I just made the deal of the century with Colonel Rupert.
Yeah, what's this I hear? You're makin' more money than the President, huh?
Why not, sis? I had a better year than him.
(STEAM HORN BLOWING)
Listen.
Hard to sleep knowin' that city's out there like that.
Sometimes I look at it like it's one giant playground.
Always somethin' to do.
How's it feel?
To reach it, you know, your dream?
Huh?
All these generals and senators
wanting to have their picture taken with you.
That's somethin', but that ain't my dream.
My dream's more of a... How the hell do you put it?
A bird of a different color, feather?
What is it?
What is your dream?
It's a secret.
Oh, come on.
No.
Tell me. No.
Yes, yes, yes. No, no, no!
Cut it out. Cut it out, Claire.
(BOTH LAUGHING HYSTERICALLY)
(POUNDING ON DOOR)
Ruth, are you in there? Yeah, Huggins! I'm in here!
Let a man sleep, will you?
You're ruinin' my health!
Who are you talkin' to in there?
I'm talkin' in my sleep, you little flea! Go to bed!
You go to bed, Ruth! I'm not gonna tell you again!
That's my dream.
What, to kill the manager?
No, to be the manager.
Someday I want to be the one in charge.
I want to be the one who knocks on doors
and makes sure people are sleepin'.
I want to take care of the fellas.
You'd make a handsome manager.
That's my dream.
Do you still love Helen?
Helen doesn't like bein' around people.
I love bein' around people.
I play for the Yankees. She hates New York.
Of course I love the kid. She's my wife.
But you're in the big city and the big life,
and she's up in the woods alone.
What kind of marriage is that?
We took the vow, sis.
The religion says you can't break them vows.
Don't you think you oughta go up to the farm
and mend some fences?
I got some old fella takes care of that crap.
I'm a gentleman's farmer.
Babe.
Look at ya. Ya look like some kinda real horse rider.
I got something for ya.
What do you have for me, George?
A dog? Herd of cows maybe?
Drive up, throw me a cage full of turkeys
and everything's nice as sweet cream and pumpkin pie.
Nah, I didn't bring no turkey.
BABE: "Hi, Mommy."
You wanted a baby, I got ya a baby.
I got the contracts. Nobody knows.
I made an adoption.
The baby's mines and yours.
Every kid needs a family.
(BABY COOING)
Congratulations, Mrs. Ruth.
But, what is it?
It's a baby.
I mean, what...
It's a girl, honey.
Girl?
Oh, my! Oh, my God.
It is, isn't it?
Look at her.
Whose is it really?
It belongs to George Herman Ruth
and his wife, Helen Woodford Ruth.
Take a whiff of him, Helen.
He smells just like a new puppy.
She!
Yankee!
Hey, dad!
Ooh. Ooh.
(SPECTATORS CHEERING)
PLAYER: No batter, batter. No batter, batter.
Come on, guy!
UMPIRE: Strike.
BABE: Come on, lop ears, I'll knock ya back to the swamp, you dirty son of a bitch.
UMPIRE: No swearing, Ruth.
I called him a son of a bitch, Tommy.
That ain't swearin'. That's a fact.
You couldn't hit a bull in the ass with a shovel, you big balloon.
Come on, Babe!
This way, Mrs. Ruth. Thank you.
Mrs. Ruth, can I ask you a question?
How come nobody knows you had a baby? What's the big surprise?
I'd like to ask Dorothy a question.
Where did you come from, little girl?
Let me ask you a question, Mack.
When are you gonna get a real job
and stop preying on women and small children?
Hey, that's Claire Hodgson, the Ziegfeld girl. Get her picture.
Hey, look this way. Right here. Mrs. Hodgson,
I'm surprised to see you here.
UMPIRE: Strike two!
REPORTER: What a surprise to see you at the ball game.
Do you like ball games? You do, very much.
You probably know a lot about baseball?
Get a good picture. Look at this face here.
Here we go!
PLAYER: You got it, Steve?
CATCHER: I don't know. I can't see the darn thing.
Where is it?
Third base, you got it.
There it is!
You got it! Keep goin', keep goin'!
Shit!
(CHEERING AND YELLING)
Bambino has just hit the first infield home run
in the history of professional baseball!
You hit the damn sun, you son of a bitch. You ain't human.
Jumpin' Joe, what are you doin' here in New York?
I jumped!
(WHOOPS)
I'm a Yankee! I'm a Yankee!
BABE: Jump, I'll tell you the truth, I thought I fouled the damn thing off.
(JUMP LAUGHING)
BABE: Hiya, folks. How ya doin'?
JUMP: They still go bananas over me, baby. Ain't ya glad?
I know this great speak where we can celebrate our reunion.
You lead, I'll follow. All right.
Down on the west side. Oh, hiya, girlie. Hiya.
Whoa, whoa! (CHUCKLING)
Hey, Babe, can I talk to you? Not now, pal, gotta go.
Not now. Babe!
Let go of me, Mac! I gotta go! I ain't got time!
How many times I gotta tell you?
My boy, he's dyin'.
He's dyin'. He thinks you're the tops.
Could you sign this for him?
I'm sorry.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
You gotta stay in the hall, please.
You can't come in. Absolutely.
Hello, Johnny.
Say, you're a good-lookin' little fella.
(CHUCKLING)
I know you're sick there, kid,
and that you feel... not good.
You can't go outside, see the sun,
throw the ball around.
That's a bad thing.
But I'll tell you what Babe's gonna do.
Babe's gonna sock you a home run in the game tomorrow.
Would that make you feel better, Johnny?
Two? Two?
Well, gee, sonny, I don't know...
Yeah. Yeah.
I'll hit two for ya.
But if I do, you gotta get better. That's the deal.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Get them jerks out of here.
REPORTER: He promised the boy two home runs tomorrow.
(SPECTATORS CHEERING)
(SPECTATORS STOMPING)
There she goes! That ball is out of here!
(CHEERING)
(OVER RADIO) Babe has fulfilled half his promise.
Home run number one!
(SPECTATORS STOMPING)
I got it! I got it! I got it!
Did you get the tube? Did he get the tube?
(RADIO STATIC)
(OVER RADIO) Babe Ruth, the Bambino...
Let's go, Babe. You can do it.
Thanks, Eddie.
(OVER RADIO) The Sultan of Swat, The Behemoth of Memphis
is stepping to the plate.
Good luck, Babe.
Come on!
Go! Go!
Yeah, let's go!
(CHEERING) (SHUSHING)
(OVER RADIO) The world is waiting to see if he can seal his promise
to little Johnny Sylvester in intensive care at St. Vincent's Hospital.
Come on! Come on, Babe!
(OVER RADIO) Babe already smacked one homer in the second.
But he promised two.
Strike!
Strike one for Bambino here in the bottom of the 9th.
This will be the last chance... (RADIO STATIC)
Beat on it! Fix it! Fix it!
I'm tryin'!
CROWD: (CHANTING) Bambino! Bambino!
Bambino! Bambino!
Wow, look at that!
Gee! Oh, gee!
(OVER RADIO) With a patented Ruthian blast, it's out of here!
What happened? What happened? The Babe!
Atta boy, Babe!
Way to go, Babe!
(OVER RADIO) As Babe touches home plate, listen to this crowd.
An unbelievable moment here at the polo grounds!
Bambino has promised two...
That was for you, Johnny.
Now get well!
Hah!
Which way, Babe?
That way, kid.
(LAUGHING)
(CLARINET PLAYING)
That was nice.
Come on, baby. Yup, ladies first.
Thanks, Babe.
47, 48, 49, 50,
51, 52, 53, 54, 55...
BABE: ♪ Send the word over there
♪ That the Yanks are coming The Yanks are coming
♪ They're drum, drum drumming everywhere ♪
(COUGHING)
69, 70, 71,
72, 73, 74...
Holy smokes, there he is.
Oh, yeah, there he is and here we are, rookie.
It's nice to be king.
You're late for practice.
I had to see a man about a picture, a movin' picture.
We play the game of baseball here, not the game of Ruth.
You're gonna start comin' to practice on time.
And to do that, you're gonna start goin' home at night
and gettin' at least five hours' sleep.
Yakety-yak, yakety-yak.
I don't want ya drinkin' the way ya been, I don't want ya eatin' like a pig.
Eddie! Booze and broads, booze and broads.
Here's your bicarb, Babe.
You can't live like that and play baseball. No man alive can.
(BURPS) I can.
Last year I hit 59 home runs,
never got to sleep before 3:00, drank all night.
It's gonna catch up to ya and I don't want ya on my team when it does.
You answer to me, Ruth. I'm the manager.
Hey, put this in my closet for me, will ya, Eddie?
Sure, Babe.
♪ Over there Over there ♪
Don't get dressed. I don't want you out there.
If you was 200 pounds heavier, I'd sock you right in the mush.
If I was 200 pounds heavier,
I'd kick your gazoo from here back to Boston!
200 pounds don't even make your fightin' division.
Look at ya, Ruth. Look at ya!
Colonel Rupert has ordered our new uniforms with extra pinstripes
to make you look thinner!
I can smell the brewery all over ya.
I don't go for it. Now, get off the field!
You get off the field. I'm goin' to play baseball.
Oh, yeah!
Fore!
Hmph!
PLAYER: There goes another one!
(CHUCKLING)
HUGGINS: Hey, Gehrig, why don't you try the Babe's 52?
Watch this.
Don't touch that 52, boy.
You can put it right back where you found her.
No, no, you don't touch the Babe's hickory, son.
Sorry, Babe. Tryin' to get somethin' to rub off, I guess.
You want something to rub off,
go rub yourself off in the locker room, rook.
(LAUGHING)
There goes another one. Oh, I love it!
What the hell do ya do with a son of a bitch like that?
(TRAIN WHISTLE)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER) Line up, boys!
Best ribs in the world! Special Louisiana hot sauce!
Hey, Pennock. Pennock, come on.
I asked for a beer five minutes ago.
What am I, your relief pitcher?
Real joker, are ya? Real joker.
BABE: A recipe given to me by a voodoo queen down in New Or...
Hey, kid, get some back ribs. They're goin' fast.
Dorothy has to nap. Can you fellas please do this in another car?
Oh!
Good idea. Come on, fellas. I got a deck of cards.
Thank you. Yes, ma'am.
I bought these ribs and Pipp told me he never tried my special sauce,
so I whipped up beer and some of my sauce and...
God, the smoke. Open a window.
Hey! Hey!
Little Curly likes a big sha-boo.
She likes people laughin' and havin' fun.
Bambino, I hear you got some...
Hi, Helen. How are ya?
Here, honey. Go sit down, Little Curly.
Mama's got another headache. What's the matter with you?
I was just tryin' to show the boys a little fun before we gotta head north.
I've had it with your fun!
I know where you were last night, George.
I know where you were Thursday and Friday.
Hey, hey, listen, Helen, lower your voice. There's people...
Everybody knows! It's all over the place, George.
Swimming in the hotel fountain!
The brothel in the French Quarter!
Four women at one time! What are you?
Some kind of animal?
While I sit at home, waiting...
While you sit at home?
While you sit at home, you could be out with me.
You could be out havin' dinner with me, you could be out dancin' with me!
I want you with me, Helen!
I don't swim in hotel fountains!
I keep giving you chances, George,
chances to be a husband, to at least be a father.
Father? I love my little girl. You're my family.
Yes! And so is Ping, and Wally Pipp, and Lazzeri and Gomes.
Those are the boys!
And fans and scribes and bootleggers comin' and going!
That's a big goddamn family, George!
You don't have time for me. You don't have time for us.
Are we starting to move?
Yeah, we're goin' on a chugga-chugga, Little Curly.
You ready to take a ride?
Chugga-chugga, chugga-chugga.
All these years I used to resent your parents. I never even knew them.
I couldn't understand how they could put you in a home and leave you there.
Chugga-chugga, chugga-chugga.
Let me tell you something.
I'm not in the dark on that anymore.
The only thing I don't understand now is why they ever let you out
because you are incorrigible.
That's it, it's over!
Aw, kid, come on, don't say that.
Let's have ribs and forget about it.
No, no. You're right, I've been bad.
No! I am through, George.
Helen, give me a chance. Let waysides be waysides. Don't leave me like this, kid!
I am through with chances, George. I'm through with us.
I'm taking Dorothy back to Boston and I'm filing for divorce.
Good-bye. Let us off.
What's all...
Oh, this is swell, huh? Babe's bar and grill?
This is a beaut!
Let me be, Hug.
Misconduct, Ruth!
Not now, Huggins.
It's gonna cost ya two grand!
Dump the rest of this stuff down the drain, or it'll be three!
Get your... Why is everybody ridin' me?
Let me go, you. I ain't hurt nobody!
Help! Help!
Help, help, help!
You gonna fine me now?
Help!
You still gonna fine me, Huggins?
No fine!
I can't hear you. What?
No fine!
ANNOUNCER: Miller Huggins fines Babe Ruth $5,000 for misconduct...
And the Sultan of Swat is suspended for two weeks.
(CROWD BOOING)
Strike three, you're out! Bambino strikes out for the third time today.
Babe has not reached base in his last 20 at bats.
Good try, Babe. Up your ass, kid.
Here's your bicarb, Babe.
Hey, thanks, Eddie.
PLAYER: He's got no arm, no arm.
Pitch it in there! Go, Jimmy!
There you go!
Good boy, Lou. Atta boy!
Boy got lucky with that one.
MAN: Sweet Lou, Sweet Lou.
(CROWD CHEERING)
He got lucky.
That's the seventh home run for young Lou Gehrig,
who thus far leads the Yanks in round-trippers.
ANNOUNCER: The Bambino's customary jaunts around the base paths
have become a rarity this summer.
A plummeting batting average and lack of run production plagues the Babe.
And Colonel Rupert's Sultan of Sulk
has so far amassed more suspensions than he has home runs.
The crowds of Yankee stadium
do not deal with their disappointment for long,
and Babe's most trusted fans turn.
You're all washed up, you bum. Go sit down.
Strike two!
Strike two for the Bambino.
And here in the house that Ruth built,
the fans are letting him hear it.
(CROWD BOOING)
MAN: Hey, you bum!
Babe's been in a long slump.
He's collected a record five suspensions already this season.
PLAYER: No batter, no batter.
Time!
What is he doin'?
Ruth, what do you think you're doin'? What's it look like?
ANNOUNCER: Wait a minute here, folks. He's taken a right-hander's stance.
He's going to take a try at hitting right-handed.
He's battin' right.
(CROWD CHEERING)
Stay at first!
Get back on first!
No, don't run it out!
Out!
(BOOING)
You big bum! Why don't you go back to where you came from,
you stupid bastard! It's safe! Safe!
You're out!
Ow!
You crazy...
You're outta this ball game!
Kiss my duck's ass!
God damn it!
You fat bastard! You are washed up.
You hear me? You're finished, you big, dumb, stupid...
I'll have you thrown out of this park, you bum! Shut your trap!
You're yellow! You're yellow!
(INDISTINCT YELLING)
Get off of there. Get off!
Come on, I'll take ya, every one of ya!
You're yellow, all of ya!
You're yellow!
You're all alike! You're yellow!
You're yellow, every one of ya! You're all yellow.
Leave him alone.
Leave him alone! You're a bum!
Leave him alone!
Jidge!
(BABE SOBBING)
Jidge, you there? (BABE MUMBLING)
BABE: Satan finds work for idle hands.
Satan finds work for idle hands.
(SOBBING)
Who is it?
It's your buddies, Jidge,
just your buddies.
There.
I'll take care of him, Jump.
Come on, sit up.
I heard her say it.
Say what, Baby?
She said, "I hate you."
She never loved me.
She told me.
Helen?
No, matka...
My mother.
(SOBBING)
The house that Ruth built.
Banana oil.
Everybody pulled out on me today, even the kids.
How come you didn't?
We're pals, aren't we?
They called me a bum,
little kids, about seven.
What the hell's happened, Clara?
You got two speeds, Babe.
Fast and stop.
You're takin' in everything,
like you're afraid it's gonna go away.
Like some kid in a candy store
eatin' as much as he can before he gets caught.
Maybe I'm not one to talk, but...
You gotta slow down.
I missed ya, Clara.
I missed ya.
I've missed you too, Bambino.
(THE WEDDING MARCH PLAYING) ANNOUNCER: Babe Ruth, the Bam,
the Bambino, the Maharajah of Mash,
gets married in New York to former Ziegfeld Folly, Claire Meritt Hodgson.
The foundering legend pledges to Senator Jimmy Walker,
"I won't touch a drink until October!"
Ruth returns to the deserted home plate farm.
Bust 'em Babe sheds 20 pounds.
This scribe comes up and asks me about the psychology of hittin'.
I says, "What's psychology got to do with hittin'?"
(LAUGHING)
Hey, the gym's down here.
Yeah, I know. We gotta stop at Macy's first.
These underwear people asked me to endorse their stuff.
All we gotta do is stand by the undies rack for a couple hours, shake hands.
How much they payin' ya?
I don't know. I think I told them 50 bucks an hour.
Seemed like a good fella.
Fifty bucks an hour! Tell him a grand an hour or forget it!
They're usin' ya, hon.
A grand an hour? Yeah.
And I'll tell you another thing, these candy bar people,
they can't get away naming a chocolate bar Baby Ruth
and saying they've named it after the President's daughter.
They're takin' money out of your pocket, the bums!
Good candy bar too.
You can't let these sharks eat you up, Babe.
You gotta make your money now.
What do you mean, I gotta make my money now?
When baseball's gotten what they can from you...
Baseball's never gonna get all they can from me
'cause I'm gonna be the manager.
I know that, but...
You've been readin' the papers, Clara,
all this crap about me being washed up.
I didn't say that.
Look, I went down to the farm and busted the belly off me.
Yes, you did. And how!
But that was up there with the hicks in the sticks.
As soon as you come back to the city,
you join up with the night boys and drink like a duck.
As long as you're gonna do that, you're gonna be carvin' air,
watchin' Iron Man break your records.
Whoa, wait a minute here. Wait a minute, sister.
Iron Man, is that what you're calling this Gallagher boy?
His name is Gehrig and I didn't come up with the nickname.
He's hit 14 home runs. Thirteen.
No, he hit one into the right field stands Tuesday against Cleveland.
You were late for that game.
Right field stands. What's he doin' hittin' into the right field stands?
He's disciplined. He's a workhorse.
He's a mama's boy!
His mother comes to all the games, and they stand there,
and he hugs and kisses on her for hours.
He's got 14 home runs. You have zip!
(CHEERING)
Slambino has just hit his second long tater today.
Twenty-three for the big fellow!
Go on! (LAUGHING)
That's the way, Babe.
Twenty-three, Garrison.
The name's Gehrig, Babe. Get ready for number 30.
You stay out of the right field stands, you hear me, mama's boy?
You wanna hit one, shoot for center or left. Right field's the Babe's.
The veteran Ruth has just given the Iron Horse a pep talk,
some encouraging words from hard-wrought experience.
Way to go, Babe.
Whoa, what a shot! You're the best.
ANNOUNCER: Gehrig belts one long and deep.
She's gone, gone, gone into the right field stands.
Thirty homers for Iron Man.
That does it, Gehrig.
You better grab your mama's hand, Iron Man!
We're goin' to war. We're goin' to war!
ANNOUNCER: The Yankees hold on to first place
as the Iron Horse, Lou Gehrig,
hits his 45th home run.
Babe Ruth hits his 45th home run.
Forty-five for Ruth. And, oh, boy, lookee here,
the home run twins are joined at the hip.
But not for long. As the season draws to a close,
the Bambino's bat explodes,
breaking his own major league record for home runs in a single season.
Babe cracks number 60, 60 home runs!
Gehrig finishes with 47.
(BALLROOM MUSIC PLAYING) (INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Look at you, Mr. Ruth.
You're the picture of sartorial elegance.
It's enough to drive a girl bananas.
What say we, uh, leave this joint
and go fill a bathtub full of ginger ale?
Not till the season's over.
Hiya, Colonel, you look like a jillion.
You look fine, Ruth, Mrs. Ruth.
Colonel.
When I'm manager, I gotta dress like this all the time.
Banquets, you know. I'm practicin'.
You beat Chicago in the Series, Ruth,
you'll be the best-dressed manager in the game.
Hear that, mama?
We're gonna take the Series and I'm gonna be the manager.
(YELLING)
(ARGUING)
MAN: Yankees stink! Go Cubs!
Strike the goon out!
You oughta be hitched to a wagon, Ruth!
(JEERING)
MAN: Hey, Ruth is a woman's name. You're a woman, Ruth.
Strike one!
All right, all right. Right down Broadway, you big balloon!
Let's go, Charley!
Strike two!
We own ya, Ruth. We own ya, boy!
You big balloon!
This is the World Series. What is he doing?
MAN: Come on, Ruth, swing at that ball!
(CROWD BOOING)
(WILD CHEERING)
He called his shot! He ain't human, he's an animal!
Nope. He's a God.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Well, anyway, Clara and me went up to the Hawaiian guy, see...
He was Filipino. We were in the Philippines.
Right, right.
Anyway, we go up to him and ask him where we can get a good game of golf going.
He sends us over to these other Hawaiian guys... Filipinos.
And they're stacking these... Well, cripes, Clara,
what difference does it make? Make 'em Eskimos.
(PHONE RINGING) Just a minute please.
Say, Ida, it's almost time for Jack Armstrong.
Could you turn the set up?
Uncle Babe, it's for you.
See, Lou, what'd I tell ya? It's the Colonel. (LAUGHS)
Babe, let me pull your finger.
Not now, honey. There's ladies present.
Cheater! You cheat! I'm runnin' out of gas, toots.
Hello?
He just sits by the phone, waiting for them to call and tell him he's manager.
JUMP: He's gonna be the best.
I wish I was young enough to play third base for him.
Helen.
ANNOUNCER: The woman who had reportedly been living as the common law wife
of Dr. Edward Kinder,
died in a fire at his Watertown home just after midnight.
She has been identified as Helen Woodford Ruth,
the ex-wife of baseball great, Babe Ruth.
Strike three!
It's all right, Big Bam. The day's young. The day's young.
Put one out in the right field stands for me, will ya, Dutchman?
I love ya, Babe.
UMPIRE: Ball!
There she goes!
(WILD CHEERING)
And Lou Gehrig has just slugged number 49 for the season.
He's more than doubled Babe Ruth so far.
We've talked about it through the years, Colonel,
and now I know you have to make a decision.
I know you promised me, but...
I want to know official.
Ruth, how can you manage a team
when you can't even manage yourself?
I've changed a lot, Colonel.
Yes, you have. I don't see no more home runs.
I got a wife. I'm raisin' two daughters.
I need a future.
I don't run around anymore, Colonel, you know that.
I know you're lookin' for a new manager.
Give me a shot, please, Colonel.
Ty Cobb is managin', Tris Speaker.
Why not Babe Ruth?
Just give me a try, that's all.
Very well, Ruth. I'll send you down to Newark.
You can manage there. Newark?
That's minor leagues, Colonel. I'm not goin' down to the bushes.
That's your choice, Ruth. Anything else?
I'm late for a meeting.
Well, yeah.
If I can't have a shot at managin', I want my release.
Okay, you are released.
Wait.
Mrs. Ruth, I didn't know we had an appointment.
I will call you back in one moment.
Colonel.
I offered him Newark.
Newark.
With respect, Colonel, you don't offer a captain a waiter's job.
How can you just throw him away like that?
Look, I will not tolerate the lip of that overgrown child.
I shall be damned if I will accept it from a woman.
Your intrusion is not appreciated,
your approach is not acceptable,
and our conversation is finished.
Good-bye!
Ooh!
That stadium down the street is the house that Ruth built, buster.
When the Black Sox threw the series, baseball almost went under,
but that overgrown child kept the people coming.
He saved baseball.
And you and every player in a uniform
should line up and kiss his ass!
Shame on you!
No, shame on you.
ANNOUNCER: After applying across both leagues,
Babe Ruth is signed by the last-place Boston Braves.
The one-time Sultan of Swat
is now player, assistant manager and vice president
of the struggling club.
The man, who a few years ago was making more money than the President of the United States
has taken a $125,000 pay cut.
What do you want to stay in it for?
To be vice president on paper?
To have some silly taxi cab pick you up at first base and take you to second?
That was just a stunt.
The whole thing's a just stunt.
No, it ain't!
(CLEARS THROAT)
These sharks don't give a shit about you!
They're humiliating you!
I don't wanna talk about them no more.
I'm talking about dignity!
So am I, God damn it!
(COUGHING)
Then get out while you have a shred of it left.
I love the game.
The game doesn't love you anymore.
CATCHER: Roll it to me. He can't hit it.
It's through. Second base, second base!
RUTH: Oh-to-two.
MANAGER: Let's go, it's okay.
VENDOR: Get your peanuts! Red hot peanuts!
Thank you. Thanks.
I seen your daddy play
when he used to knock home runs outta the park left and right.
But he never knocked one outta this outfield!
No one's ever knocked one outta here.
Come on, honey.
Come on, Bobby baby. What do ya say now? What do you say?
What are you doin'?
I'm tryin' to get our man over to second.
I wouldn't do that. That catcher's got an arm like a cannon
and he'd got his eye on our man.
He'll throw him out.
I know what I'm doin', Babe. So do I.
I've got 21 years that says if our man tries to steal, he's pegged.
Safe!
I got a piece of paper that says I'm the manager.
Why don't you sit down and let me run my team?
I got a piece of paper that says I'm assistant manager
and next year I got a shot at bein' manager,
so why don't you take your papers, roll it up nice and tight,
and shove it up your ass.
I think it's time you had a talk with Mr. Fuchs.
I'll go see Mr. Fuchs right now.
Safe!
You're out!
MAN: He's out to pasture.
He dropped two balls in the outfield already.
FUCHS: He's good gate.
He can't hit anymore, but he draws a crowd.
He's a circus act, a sideshow.
He can't even run his own bases anymore.
What the hell can I say? Keep him on,
let him think he's going to manage.
We need attendance. We need gate.
Ruth, you're up!
Get your ass up there. Let's go, let's go.
PLAYER: Come on, Babe! You can do it.
Left field, Babe.
McKECHNIE: You're supposed to be a runner, not a walker.
Come on, Dad. (BOOING)
(CLEARS THROAT) ANNOUNCER: Babe Ruth is up.
The old legend's looking heavy and slow out there in the outfield.
On the mound, Guy Bush.
Tough when you can't run the bases for yourself no more.
Ain't that right, old man? Why don't you retire, Ruth?
You're embarrassing yourself.
I wanna knock this one down your throat
so you'll stop sucking on your mother's tit first.
Watch that language, Babe.
That ain't language. That's information.
That's privileged information.
So consider yourself privileged and just call the game, all right?
All right. Let's play ball!
MAN: Get a wheelchair, Ruth. Let's play ball.
Strike him out! UMPIRE: Strike!
I seen him when he used to knock 'em to kingdom come!
(CLEARING THROAT)
Babe, you're bleedin'.
You're spittin' blood.
Maybe you should...
(BOOING)
It looks like a play on the mythical called shot
against Bush's Cubs of '32.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER AND BOOING)
What's all the booing?
He's goofy!
(WILD CHEERING)
Hmph!
Open your eyes next time!
Babe Ruth has hit one over the wall.
Folks, no one, no one has ever hit the ball out of Forbes Field!
Oh, my goodness!
MAN: No way! Let's hold them right there.
(BOOING)
Boston's sixth and Babe Ruth is up.
The Pittsburgh fans are giving him a hard time.
WOMAN: Come on, lazy bones!
Go home. Go back to New York.
Go back!
(CHEERING)
Things are getting tense here in the eighth inning,
as Babe Ruth takes up the bat.
He has stunned this Pittsburgh crowd by
hitting two homers today,
and he has put the first balls ever
out of this massive park.
(WILD CHEERING)
Go sit down.
CROWD: Babe! Babe! Babe!
Babe! Babe! Babe!
Mr. Ruth? Mr. Ruth?
I want to give you this. I'm Johnny Sylvester.
You came to see me in the hospital years ago when I was sick.
You hit two home runs for me.
You gave me this ball.
It's worked a lot of magic for me
and I just want to give it back to you now, sir.
Thank you.
I'm gone, Johnny.
I'm gone.
You're the best.
You're the best there's ever been!