Opening day at Wrigley. And, oh, what a sight.
The diamond, the decorations...
...and the dread of yet another losing season.
Ernie, it's fritzing out again! You were supposed to fix this. Hurry up!
- Will you hustle? Get me a coffee. - Mr. Murdoch.
- What? - This is the season for the Cubs.
You think it's going to be the season? Why?
We haven't won a pennant since '45 and a series since...
- 1908. - 1908!
- I have this feeling. - You've a feeling. Cancel the coffee!
Get me what he's drinking!
- He's got a feeling-- - We're on the air.
We're on the air. I'm Cliff Murdoch.
David Pierce will be facing Giant leadoff great, Dwight Kyle.
Ten bucks says Kyle knocks it out of the park.
All right.
There's the first pitch of the season.
Kyle got a hold of that! Is it enough? It's going back! Back!
Back! Has it got the distance?
It's going! Going! Going!
Rowengartner makes the grab! Unbelievable!
Come on, Henry!
- Hurry up! - Watch out!
- Wait up, guys! - Cut it out, George. You'll wreck it.
Come on, guys.
- Good luck, Henry! - Thanks, Mr. Banks.
- What's in the baby carriage? - Our baby!
Baby?
- Hang on! Wait! Coming through! - Out of the way!
Hey, not so fast. Where do you think you're going?
- Mom! - Hello, George. Hello, Clark.
- I got a game. - He thinks he's actually gonna play today.
David starts Hebrew school this week.
It would be great if you got to play.
- But, honey, if you don't-- - Yeah?
I'll let you do the laundry when you get home.
You're too kind, Mom. Come on!
Have fun!
- Your mom is so cool. - Yeah, she's all right.
Hey! Wait, wait! Sun block!
- Nice catch, Henry. - Yep, you'll get a lot of playing time.
He's got to put me in. It's either me or Windemere.
Windemere! Windemere!
Windemere! What's wrong with him?
You moron. You imbecile.
Time out, ump. Time out!
Rowengartner, get into right field!
Windemere, come on in here!
- Yeah, Henry! Come on, Henry! - Yeah!
Oh, my gosh.
I can't believe they're letting him play.
Hustle on into the dugout. And I don't want to hear about no asthma neither!
All right, chuck it in there, baby. Chuck it in there. Come on.
Okay, let her rip! Throw him the cheddar!
Come on, right in the kitchen!
Come on! Give him the big, high, stinky--
Would you shut up?
Chuck it in there, baby. Bring it on. Bring in some heat.
He's got nothing.
- It's yours! It's yours! - I got it!
Go back!
- I got it! - Come on!
- Catch it! - I got it!
Get it! Get it!
Pick up the ball!
Throw the ball home! Home!
Is that play legal?
- Hey. - Hey.
How's the game?
What does that mean? Did you get to play?
They put me in right field.
So how did you do?
- Let's say I made the play of the day. - That bad, huh?
- I can't even catch a fly ball. - So?
Maybe you're not cut out to be an outfielder.
Maybe you're a pitcher, like your father.
In my dreams.
- Laundry. - Mom.
What's this?
The Cubs are bringing in a right fielder to pitch?
Henry Rowengartner!
The entire season is resting on Rowengartner's shoulders.
Bottom, nine.
Two out. One on.
Full count.
Rowengartner takes a long look at the runner at second.
Strike one!
- Dinner's almost ready. - You're going out again?
Yeah.
- You going to be okay? - What's the occasion?
- It's our three-week anniversary. - Three weeks?
Congratulations.
- Hello! - What have you got against Jack?
He's moving too fast.
Henry, hey!
Now, the three-week anniversary is the--
That's the necklace anniversary, I believe.
Oh, Jack...
- Oh, Jack, this-- - Here, let me put it on you.
This is too much.
Thank you.
Okay. Honey?
In bed by 8:30, and do all your homework.
You're gonna love this restaurant, Mary.
- I think Henry is starting to like me. - Yeah.
Oh, Mom.
Not Jack Bradfield.
All right, here we go. Here we go.
- Hi, Clark. - Hi, Edith.
- Why don't you talk to Becky Fraker? - We have nothing in common.
So?
So, what are we gonna talk about?
Talk about the boat. Her dad has a boat. We have a boat.
We don't have a boat.
We have wood, in the vague shape of a boat.
Cammy Harold told me that Becky Fraker doesn't think you're very ugly.
Forget it, guys. She doesn't like me. And besides, she's not that hot.
Not that hot?
She's stacked.
Just look at her sipping that milk.
Milk's done that body good.
There's Becky and Tiffany.
Hi.
Hey, Rowengartner!
Good game yesterday.
Don't worry about it. I mean, that kid's a dork anyways.
Hey, Rowengartner!
Catch!
Radial fractures of the ulna.
- Assorted rotator cartilage damage. - How long will he have to be in a cast?
- August, minimum. - Oh, no.
August. That's, like, four months.
Henry has to take it easy. I want those bones to set correctly.
This is gonna be a great summer.
Hi, Henry. Bye, Henry.
Hurry.
- Come on, let's go. - Come on, Mom.
- All right. Okay. - Come on!
- Thank you. - Wait.
- Let's go! - Yeah!
The bone is fine.
But the tendons have fused with the humerus.
- Is that bad? - It's unusual.
Let's take a look. Okay.
Let's start with the fingers. Good.
Good. Now, raise the arm.
Good, good. Now, to the side.
Good.
Now, bend at the elbow.
Good. Good.
Now, rotate from the shoulder, slowly.
Funky, butt-loving--
Did he say, "funky, butt-loving"?
- I'm sorry. I don't know what happened. - Are you all right?
I think what's happened here is that those tendons have healed a little tight.
- I've never seen anything like that. - I'm sorry--
- Go, please. Just-- - Come on.
- Just go. - You guys, come on. Let's go. Quickly.
- I am so sorry. - Why did you hit him in the nose?
Hey, I'm gonna want to see you in three weeks.
- Right, okay. Thank you. - Okay.
Nurse?
Come on!
Here.
- What's this? - Happy "cast off" day.
- What is it? - Cubs tickets!
Oh, my God!
We're going to the Cubs game! We're going to the Cubs game!
Okay, hold it!
Come on, guys!
- Gosh, it's huge. - Oh, man.
- Look how green it is! - Wow, Wrigley Field.
This is great.
- Think they'll pull it out? - Definitely.
- They got Steadman on the mound. - All right!
Come on, Rocket!
Come on, Rocket, throw the heat!
Throw it back! Throw it back!
- Throw it back! - What are you doing?
I don't know. They're saying it.
You can't keep a home run hit by the other team.
Throw it back!
- What kind of throw was that? - I could throw better than that.
Well, that's going to bring Rocket's earned run average to about 300 or so...
...which equals the attendance here today.
What a team.
Poor Mr. Carson. His last season as team owner.
He must be really depressed.
Oh, boy!
Fish! Fish!
Fish! Look! A decoder ring! I got it out of the Cracker Jack box!
It fits on your finger like...
- Isn't that great?! - Great. Great.
- Man's turning into a cracker jack. - Okay, Uncle Bob.
Come on! What is this? Get the game going! What's going on?
If we don't sell out every game for the rest of the season...
...we are going to have to forfeit the franchise.
Forfeit the franchise? Just when I'm about to take over the team?
No money, no team?
We need a miracle, sir.
Throw him the cheese! Throw him the high, stinky, Limburger!
- Yeah, Rocket! - All right!
Rocket! Rocket! Rocket!
Yes! We got it!
- He got the ball! - All right!
Throw it back! Throw it back!
Throw it back!
Wait a sec. This game is on cable.
- Here. - Sure, I'll throw it and get razzed.
Here, Henry, you throw it.
Okay.
Here goes.
Oh, my God.
Safe!
Did you see that?
Somebody just threw a frozen rope to home plate.
That's gotta be 435 feet!
Derkin!
Bring me that arm!
Hey, kid!
What the hell was that?
I'm sorry! I didn't mean it!
- My tendons, they're too tight! - What's your name, kid?
- Henry-- - Shut up, George.
- You trying to show me up, Henry? - No. Let's get out of here.
- Come here! Come on! Come on! - Watch out!
- He'd kill you. - Thanks.
I just figured out why the Cubs lose.
They got more talent in the stands than they do on the field. Who threw that?
Did you find him?
- No, he left already. - Did you get a name?
- Henry. But-- - Henry, what?
- Nobody knew. - How we gonna find him?
Sir, this Henry...
...is just a child.
What do you mean? What do you mean a child?
He's a child. He's a little, short, young person.
He's 10, 11 years old.
I take this business very seriously.
If you are joking, I swear...
...you're going to be selling wieners in the nosebleed section!
I'm not joking, sir. Really.
This Henry's just a kid.
Kid?
Kid.
Excellent.
Find him.
Rowengartner checks the runners.
And the pitch.
Hi, honey.
Mom, watch this.
Wait!
Gosh, Henry, you could play for the Cubs!
It's incredible. A tryout with the Cubs? He'll be thrilled.
Thank you, Mr. Fisher. Fish.
I am worried about Henry. This arm thing is weird.
This arm thing is fantastic.
- Cheers. - What's with you?
Nothing.
Hello, son. I'm looking for Henry Rulenfurter.
Henry Rowengartner?
- Yeah, is he here? - I'm Henry.
- I must be looking for your father. - My dad?
Here we go. Here we go.
Sorry I'm late.
Sal Martinella, right?
Jack Bradfield. I am a huge, huge fan. Come here, Henry.
Henry, this is Sal Martinella, manager of the Chicago Cubs.
And this is Henry Rowengartner, the next Nolan Ryan.
Holy Christmas.
Who is this kid?
- He is a golden goose. - This kid's incredible.
Think of the possibilities. A 12-year-old kid playing in the major leagues.
I know.
You are gonna be his manager.
And managers, Jack, get 10 percent.
Ten percent?
One more.
All we gotta do is get the contract signed.
Well, that's no problem.
Hey, kid.
How would you like to pitch for the Chicago Cubs?
Great! But I gotta ask my mom first.
He's gotta ask his mom first.
Excuse me. Honey, just keep--
Jack, you didn't tell me it was going to be such a zoo.
- I didn't know. Stop worrying, it's just-- - It'll be great, Mom.
Larry Fisher. Great news.
I got Pepsi, Kellogg and Reebok foaming at the mouth for a piece of the kid.
Which piece?
He can't even peek over the top of the podium.
Hey, who are you?
Hi, I'm Jack Bradfield.
I'm Henry's manager.
What, didn't I tell you?
- The question is, can you pitch? - Well...
...my dad used to play.
- Semipro? Pro? - I'm not sure, but he was a pitcher.
How about you? Any experience?
- I played Little League-- - It's Rowengartner.
Carson! We've all seen these...
...publicity stunts. How do we know Henry isn't here just to sell tickets?
- I can pitch. - Oh, you can pitch?
Prove it.
All right, I will.
Hey, wait, wait. You want to see him pitch?
- Yeah! - Come out to Wrigley.
Come on!
Hey, wait! Wait, wait, wait!
You ready?
- Can we say goodbye here? - No, I wanna make sure you get in okay.
None of the other Cub moms are gonna be there.
Okay.
You got too big on me.
- Bye. Have a great game. - All right.
Okay. I'll see you guys up there.
- Bye. - Bye.
- Autographs after the game. - Wait. I'm Henry Rowengartner.
Oh, well, why didn't you say so?
Oh, that's a horse of a different color.
Come on in.
- Come on, guys. - Can't come in here. Players only.
The locker room's right at the end of the hall.
Goodbye.
Hi.
I'm Henry Rowengartner.
I'm the new pitcher.
Hey, where's your mother?
Wow, Stan Okie.
Oh, my God, it's Billy Frick.
Chet Steadman?
Unbelievable.
Mr. Steadman, can I have your autograph?
Could you sign it "Rocket"?
I don't do autographs.
Rabbenboozer.
Your locker's over here.
Brickma.
That's Phil Brickma, pitching coach.
I beaned him in the minor leagues. He's been following me since.
- Brickma, this is Henry. - Hi, Henry.
- Nice to meet you. - Welcome to the big show.
Now, it's gonna take a lot of work. It's gonna take a lot of sweat.
But eventually, I'm gonna mold you...
...into one of the greatest 12-year-olds that ever played this game. Now!
Suit up...
...I'll see you out there.
Yes!
Look up there, son.
Here we go! Here we go!
Programs! Programs!
Peanuts!
Look at all these people.
Sell out! Jack.
We're one for one.
Well, mark it down, folks. August 11th:
Twelve-year-old Henry Rowengartner steps in front of 35,000 fans...
...to become the youngest person in history to play major league baseball.
Okay, baby, put it right in his kitchen!
Go to work! Come on, baby!
Gas him, Rocket! All right!
Come on, put it right in his kitchen! Yeah!
- All right, do the do! - Gosh.
Give him the cheese!
The high, stinky cheddar!
You are a bum, Steadman!
Get him out!
Hey.
You're in my seat.
Pitchers over there.
Hey!
- Yeah? - Put the kid in.
- The kid? - Put in what's-his-name. Henry.
- He's not ready, Fish. - I don't care.
We got a sellout crowd, and they're not here to see Chet Steadman.
Now.
Rosenbugger!
Warm up. You're going in.
Safe!
- No! No way! You blew it! - He's safe!
I'm sticking a fork in him. He's done. Call in the kid.
Right.
We want Henry! We want Henry!
What's Mr. Brickma doing?
That's the signal, kid.
You're in.
I'm in?
Henry! He's so cute.
Throw the heat.
Let's go, kid! Where's your mom sitting?
This one's for Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!
Honey!
Oh, no!
Read them and weep, kid.
What, are you kidding me?! I eat fastballs for breakfast.
- Yeah, that's right! - Oh, he must feel so horrible.
It's all right. In Chicago, we get used to this sort of thing.
Sorry!
That was a hit by a pitch. Take your base.
That stings.
- Come on! Go! - That's okay, honey!
This is a joke.
Come on, kid. God!
They gotta take me out. I can't do this.
That's not my call, kid. Just rock and fire.
- Come on, let's go. - Okay.
Hey, come on, kid! Throw the heat!
We don't have a chance.
- Oh, no! - It's a wild pitch! A very wild pitch!
Dwight's on his horse! He's headed for third!
You're out!
Richards nails Dwight for the final out, and the Cubs go on to win!
All right, Henry! Way to go, Henry!
Rowengartner throws a homer, hits a man, throws a wild pitch...
...and still manages to get the save, and the Cubs beat the Mets 5 to 4.
- You teach him. - Teach him what?
- To pitch. - I'm not playing wet nurse to no kid.
You're not playing much of anything these days.
Brickma is the pitching coach.
Now, key to being a big-league pitcher is the three R's.
Readiness, recuperation and conditioning.
See, after the game, a lot of guys like to ice up their arm.
Still, other fellas think that heat is the way to go.
But I have discovered the secret, Henry.
Hot ice.
That's right, hot ice! I heat up the ice cubes.
It's the best of both worlds!
Hi, Henry.
Come on, sit here.
- Come on. - Come on.
- I'm not sitting over there. - Why?
Don't worry, it'll be fine.
They're just...
...girls.
- Hi! - Hey.
- How's it going? - Okay.
Good.
Good, good.
- George, don't. - Hi, Tiffany.
- Hi, Roger. - How's it going?
- Not bad. - She called you Roger.
So?
You have the meat loaf?
Meat loaf?
Did you hear? Jimmy Rogers got a pencil stuck up his nose.
- No, I didn't hear that. - They had to use pliers.
- Yeah, the eraser is still up there. - That's pretty nasty.
What's that thing Clark's carrying around?
Oh, it's something for this boat we're working on.
- You have a boat? - Yeah. Kind of.
We have a boat, but I have to ride it with my parents.
Tell her you'll take her for a ride.
Ask her to go for a ride.
- Well, I'll see you. - Bye, Roger.
- Bye. - Man, you were this close!
When the boat is done, I'll ask her.
You're such a chicken, Henry.
You guys are both chicken.
- Come on, you know you like Edith. - Whatever.
- Where you going? - Over there.
All right.
Sure your dad said it was all right?
- Let's just work on the boat. - Okay.
Do not crash it, please.
- Yes. Okay, go get me a screwdriver. - Okay.
- Which one? - Flat-head.
- I'm still looking for-- - That red one right there.
- Come on, man. - Hurry!
- Oh, man, I'll be late for practice. - My mom is gonna kill me.
Go, go, go! Pick it up! Pick it up!
No, no, no! Come here! Let me show you how that's done, all right?
Chin down, eye on the ball. Now, bring it to me!
See what I did there? You see that?
All right.
Now...
Give me the good stuff.
Third time's the charm.
Let the big dog eat!
You're gonna be working with Steadman today.
Hi, guys!
By the way, you're fined $500 for showing up late to practice.
$500?
That's like six years' allowance.
We want Henry! We want Henry!
Gardenhoser!
They're sending Henry in!
- We're gonna go sit close so we can see. - Let's get seats.
You mean down on the field level? No, no, no. Please.
- That's too dangerous. - Why?
Me? The owner of the Cubs sitting with fans?
- They'd kill me. - You're right.
- Don't tell me they're bringing in-- - Henry! Henry!
Sorry. Excuse me.
After a shaky outing, Martinella shows confidence in the rookie...
...by bringing him in.
I gotta be out of my mind.
We at Pepsi think Henry could be the choice of a new generation.
If Henry can show Pepsi that he's a winner, we'll sign him.
Oh, God.
Take your base!
Sorry.
- It's okay. - Bet you that hurt.
Here we go again.
Go talk to him, Chet. Please.
What do you want me to say?
You've been working with him. Talk to him.
Oh, jeez.
Oh, man, he gets to talk to Chet Steadman.
What a lucky guy.
Don't listen to him, Hank! He's a loser!
What are you doing out here?
- What am I supposed to do? - Deal from your "have to."
My what?
- The "have to." - Are you speaking English?
The "have to" is what you use when you're afraid.
- Okay. - Okay, you got it? Listen to me.
Everybody is half win and half lose.
- The lose half is afraid. - Right.
- The winning half is fearless. - Fearless. Right.
The "have to" is inside. It's where the fear lives.
- Oh, okay. - Okay?
- Could you start over again? - Let's play ball!
The "have to," let's see it.
The "have to"?
- What the heck was I talking about? - What the heck was he talking about?
So, what did you tell him?
You wouldn't understand.
Come on, kid, earn your paycheck!
He's a breeze, baby! Come on!
Oh, no!
You're out!
Yes! We got it!
What a sweet, little double play that was.
Way to pitch.
That's two.
Cool.
And believe it or not, Henry's one out away from back-to-back saves.
Here we go, now.
All right, Hank, cut some cheese, bub!
Cut some big, stinky cheese!
- Strike! - Yeah!
He throws a strike for the first time in his professional career!
- Here you go, kid. - You looking good, man.
Let's settle down. Let's settle down, now. It's time.
Strike two!
Boy, that had some heat on it.
All right, burn him out of there, now.
Henry! Henry! Henry!
Finish him off, we get the Pepsi contract!
- Go, Henry! Come on! - Clean his nose!
Strike three!
Yeah!
Hey, you see the kid? I never doubted him for a minute.
Hey, way to go, Runnamucker!
- Good job. - Nice going, kid.
Cha-ching, Jack.
Rowengartner extends the Cubs to their longest winning streak of the season!
Two.
Hey, Rowengartner!
You suck!
Come on down, guys!
- I got the outfield! - I'm batting!
That makes me pitcher.
The pitch.
I got it!
Think they'll let us play?
I touched the base! It's an imaginary base!
Hi.
I'm Henry's mom.
- Hi, Henry's mom. - Oh, sorry.
- It's Mary. I'm Mary. - Hi, Mary. I'm Chet.
- I know. - Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you too.
- Get it! - It's coming!
- Get it! - It's coming! It's coming!
Thanks for whatever you said to him out there.
He's a good kid.
He must have a heck of a mom.
- Yes! - You're out.
Excuse me! Excuse me!
Don't worry, Mrs. Rowengartner, we'll take care of him!
Do everything Mr. Brickma says, honey. I love you.
- See you in 10 days! - Don't forget to eat your vegetables!
- Get plenty of rest! - Sunscreen!
Your mom's got a pretty good arm.
I ain't seen the floater pitch since Scuffy McGee.
- Bye! So long! - Bye!
Let's go back to our dull lives and search for meaning.
Baseball is 162 grueling games, played in more than a dozen cities.
Now, on the field, we conserve our energy.
- On the road, we conserve our food. - Food?
Everywhere we go, there's free food.
Look at this cake, for example.
I wrap it up in my vomit bag, I take it back to the hotel...
...put it on ice, and in the morning, voilà.
Breakfast.
Conservation, Henry. Managing resources.
That is the key to baseball!
Brickma!
I'll be right back.
Hey, Rookie.
Come here.
- Have a seat. - All right.
- What did you get? - Chicken fingers.
- How are they? - Good. How about you?
One of the best steaks I've ever had. Want some?
Sure.
Thanks for signing that baseball.
Do me a favor...
- ...don't call me Rocket. - Why?
- I'm not the Rocket anymore. - I don't get it, you're throwing so slow.
- Well, thank you very much. - No. Didn't surgery fix your shoulder?
I don't know what it will do if I heat it up again.
This is your room, Mr. Rowengartner.
- We get our own rooms? - Yep.
- This is great! - If you need anything, I'll be next door.
Okay?
Sorry, your door is malfunctioning. I'll get housekeeping up here.
Thank you.
Nice guy.
- The bus leaves at 11:00 sharp. - 11:00. I'll be there.
Punctuality, Henry. Without it, time stands still.
All right!
You found out where she lives?
Well, did she say anything about me?
No, really.
Man, I gotta go.
Bye.
Henry?
Oh, boy.
Little help.
Little help, now.
September in Chavez Ravine, Los Angeles, California...
...and our Cubbies are just three games behind the Mets...
...with 15 games left to play.
- Yes! - Strike!
Thattababy! Hey, way to go to work!
- Billy, how's your hand? - Stings.
Hear that? You made his hand sting.
- You were throwing smoke! - Hey, big guy...
- ...you good for another inning? - You bet, Sally, baby.
Good. You're on deck.
You're up after Fern.
- You can't let him bat. - He's gotta learn sometime.
Sweet meat pies! Rowengartner is going to bat.
I hope he knows what he's doing.
- Stay low. - Yeah? And?
And don't get killed!
Strike!
You're on. Just take one bat. One bat.
Stay low.
Show them what you got, kid.
They're gonna let him bat?
Put it in my wheelhouse.
Come on, give me something I can hit.
Step in the box, son. Step up to the plate.
- Oh, my God. - Oh, my God.
Oh, my God. Oh, my God.
- Ball! - You almost killed him, stupid mother--
--of God in heaven!
Cool it!
Play ball.
- Oh, my God. Oh, God. - Oh, my God. Oh, God.
Oh, my God. Oh, my God.
Ball!
- He's got no strike zone. - You big, ugly piece of--
Shit!
- Hang in there! Hang in there, Henry. - Come on, Henry.
Ball! 3 and 0!
Call strikes. Who cares how short he is?
Keep your eyes open! Stay low!
Ball four!
- Take your base. - Take my base?
- He swung at the ball! - All right!
All right, there you go!
He took a rip at that one.
But the ump already made the call, and he's on his way to first.
All right, I'll buy that.
He got on base!
- Oh, my God, he got on base. - Is this gonna take much longer?
Let's go, Suarez!
Hey, pitcher!
Pitcher, pitcher, pitcher!
What are you doing?!
Hey, pitcher! You got something hanging out of your nose!
Safe!
- He hit him too hard! - He was just trying to make the tag.
- Can't get me. - Safe.
- Can't get me. - Hey, kid!
Safe.
Please...
Hey, pitcher, pitcher, pitcher.
Pitcher's got a big butt! Pitcher's got a big butt!
Go! Go!
- Rowengartner's going for second! - Go, go!
Go! Run!
Slide! Slide!
- Safe! - Safe!
- Yeah! - Yes!
Pitcher?
- You can't get me. - This is killing me.
He's making me crazy.
We want a pitcher, not an underwear snitcher.
Get back!
- Hit Suarez in the back. - That one is for you, kid.
Easy, kid.
- Go! Go! - What are you doing?
- They're running! - Run! Run!
- Home it! - Faster!
- Move it! - This is as fast as I go!
Hurry!
- Safe! Safe! - Yeah!
All right!
This kid can do it all!
Yes! Yes!
Hey, Derkin!
You're one out, 10 to go. How will it turn out?
Hey, we're the Cubs. You never know.
How does it feel to be out-pitched by a kid?
I don't care, so long as we get the ring.
- Henry! Henry! - Mom!
- Henry, over here! - Henry!
- Mom! Mom! - Henry!
Make way! Look out! Coming through.
Hot coffee. Hot coffee.
Just drop me off at the next terminal.
- I'll get a cab. - No way. We'll take you home.
- That's okay. - No, really...
...we have this limo Mr. Fisher got. The driver will give you a ride.
Thanks. Thanks a lot.
How about a cocktail?
- Please. - All right.
- Club soda? - Yeah.
All right. How about you?
- Where'd you learn this? - The road, babe.
How about you?
- Club soda, babe. - Okay.
- Thank you. - Thank you.
- Cheers. - Thanks for the ride.
My pleasure.
Henry, what are you doing?
Nothing. I happen to like this music.
He's turning into a regular social giant.
Where did she go?
Nothing like a little pennant fever to get the juices going!
Mr. Carson sure can throw a party.
Welcome to life in the fast lane, Henry. It's the road less traveled.
Sometimes you just got to put the pedal to the metal and just live the fantasy!
Rock and roll!
Well, he's a pretty good student.
He could pay more attention to his homework, that's for sure.
Is there anything he doesn't do well?
He doesn't slow dance.
- That makes two of us. - No, no, no. You're good.
You know, maybe if you just let go a little.
Like this?
Yeah.
Let me show you how to enjoy all the lights and the bells and the whistles.
And remember, now...
...it's all free.
Shall we?
Excuse me, ladies.
Excuse me.
Thank you.
- All right, now! - Oh, boy! Pinball!
Come on, baby, fire!
How you doing, Jack?
- Can you believe this? - Little bit of competition, huh?
I've been talking to the Yankees.
They want to buy the kid.
- For 25 million dollars. - Buy him?
- Buy him! - He's a kid.
The Cubs own him.
And as his manager, you get 10 percent...
...which translates into 2.5 million dollars.
If you can get Mary to sign the contract.
You'll be in New York, living like a king.
And I think this could be a very good time to relocate.
I'll do it.
- But you gotta do something for me. - Name it.
You gotta get rid of Chet Steadman.
- Where is he? - He'll be here.
He thinks he's so cool. He should be working on the boat.
- George. - Why'd you always defend him?
What? All I said was the word "George."
Forget it.
From the top, everybody! And more smoke!
Playback!
No, that's a cut! Cut it!
I'm sorry, what was that last line again?
- Henry. Henry. - This is unbelievable.
Hey, I need you to sign something.
What is this?
It's Henry's contract.
What do you think of New York?
What?
I need you to be more sexy.
How much longer is this gonna take?
Well, look who finally decided to show up.
- George. - They kept me there for hours.
- You think I like that? - I don't know. Do you?
I'm sorry. Let's work on the boat and forget it.
- Okay. - No!
I'm not gonna work on the boat because you say to!
- I'm supposed to work on it by myself? - Great idea!
- Work on it yourself, Mr. Superstar! - What?
The only reason you're playing for the Cubs is, you broke your arm!
- Shut up! - Make me!
Come on, stop! You guys are friends! Stop it!
Come on, you guys, stop! Get off of him! Stop it. Now!
Shut up! I told you to shut up!
- Stop! Stop! - I hate you!
That's gonna make you stupid.
- I guess it already did. - Steadman.
- Yeah? - Get in here.
Maybe I'll get my big bonus.
Inside.
Oh, boy.
Sit down, Chet.
No thanks.
The franchise is tired of waiting for your arm to come around.
Isn't that true, Sal?
So...
...you're gonna sit out the rest of the season on the bench.
And then we're releasing you.
Get dressed, I'm taking you home.
Come on! Now!
- What's the matter? - Henry...
...don't take this game too seriously.
Because one day it's gonna be over.
Your gift will be gone.
Don't forget that.
Oh, no, I promise we'll be there. Thank you. Thanks.
I had a limo waiting at the stadium to take you to the photo shoot.
- Where were you? - Chet gave me a ride.
Chet Steadman? I am so sick of hearing about Chet Steadman!
- Take it easy. - You take it easy!
Now, you got 15 minutes to get there. Go get ready!
I'm not going.
You're not going? You are going.
- I'm going to play with my friends. - You can't blow off a photo shoot.
Get out of my face, Jack!
Don't you walk away from me when I'm talking to you!
You show me some respect!
- You're not my father. - That's right, I'm not!
Chet Steadman's not your father!
In fact, your mother probably doesn't even know who your father is!
- Your father's some guy who left town. - That is enough!
- Mary, I thought you were in the shower. - How could you say that?
- Mary. - Get out of my house!
I never want to see you near us again!
You're gonna be seeing me, a lot of me!
Because we're moving to New York.
- What? - Henry's been sold to the Yankees.
You can't do that!
Of course I can! I'm the manager! I make the decisions!
- He is my son! - He's my client!
What? You are nuts.
I brought in Reebok! I brought in Pepsi!
- Stay away from him. - He's half mine!
All right, Mom!
Don't forget your purse.
That didn't even hurt, okay?!
- What a jerk! - Oh, my God!
My God, that felt really good!
What a butthead he turned out to be! Maybe I should have killed him.
All right, all right. Settle down. Sit down. Okay, sit down.
Okay.
Henry...
...what he said about your father--
Yeah?
Your father was--
Okay.
- When I was a teenager-- - Mom...
...I know about Dad.
What?
I know that he left you when you were pregnant with me.
How did you know that?
Grandma told me when I was in second grade.
Why didn't you tell me?
Because, I thought you liked telling me stories about him.
About how he was a great baseball player and all.
Henry, I'm sorry.
I just wanted you to have someone you could look up to.
I do.
Hey.
So you coming?
Yeah!
- Come on, let's go! - All right! Yeah!
Pick it up!
Okay, my turn.
Come on, over there.
Hey, over here!
Over here! Come on! Come with us!
- Come on! - Come on, guys!
- Come on! - Come on!
Get in the boat! Come on!
All right, give me five!
Hey.
Hi.
Mom.
There's something we gotta talk about.
You know we could actually win the division today?
- That's great, Uncle Bob. - Sir, the Rowengartners are here.
Henry.
You should be suiting up.
Well, Henry had something he'd like to talk to you about, Mr. Carson.
I'm not going to be back next season.
What?
Why?
You're the best thing that happened to baseball since Cracker Jacks.
No, I love the Cubs...
...and I love baseball. But there's other things I want to do first.
I respect that.
Oh, Henry, we're sure gonna miss you around here.
Yeah, it's been great. There's just one thing I don't understand.
What's that?
Why did you want to sell me to the Yankees?
What?
Sell you to the Yankees?
I heard that Mr. Fish wanted to sell me--
Nothing. It was just spec, Uncle Bob, nothing final.
- You better get out there, Henry. - Yes, sir.
I'm going down to the field level and watch you win the division.
Yes, sir.
Soon as I take care of a little...
...business.
Chet, you gonna win it for me today?
- What? - You're starting.
What do you mean I'm starting?
Big game like this, I gotta go with experience...
...even if it is you.
- Sal-- - Hey, guys!
- Chet's got the ball. - Sal.
Are you ready?
- Let's go! - Sal! Sal!
Get them, Chet!
Let's go!
- Hey, baby, come on, now. - Let's go!
Be the man! Be the man!
- Hey, you're starting! - Yeah.
I'm shaking like a rookie.
Don't worry about it. Just the biggest game of your life.
I know.
Come on.
Forgot my lucky seeds.
Oh, boy.
This is it, folks! This is what it's all about! One game!
There is no tomorrow. This is for the whole megillah!
For the whole ball of wax! For the whole kit and caboodle!
For the whole enchilada!
The whole shooting match!
This is for all the marbles!
The division championship!
The loser goes home a loser.
The winner moves on to the World Series! I can't believe it.
I've been waiting my whole life to say those words, you know?
I've said the word before, but never like, "World Series!"
And I'm on the air-- We'll be right back.
Go, go!
All right, listen up. All right, this is the big one.
- Yeah! - Yeah!
- Chet's on the hill. - All right!
Let's back him up! Play hard!
- Let's go! - Let's go!
- Yes! - Yes!
Come on, Cubs, let's go!
Play ball!
Strike!
Yeah! All right, Rocket!
- Yeah! - Yeah!
Strike!
Yes, yes, yes!
- All right, Chet! - Keep it up, big guy!
- You're out! - Yeah!
Three strikes! That's three strikes!
All right, Rocket!
Yeah!
Steadman's heating it up like the days of yore when men were men and--
And-- And that's another story.
Mullens slices to the left! That's gonna bring around two runs!
Yeah! All right!
- Hot dog's here! - Four hot dogs, please.
Coming right up. Here you are.
Thank you.
- Thank you. - All right.
Are you kidding? You're 11 bucks short.
- They're three bucks a piece. - Three dollars for a hot dog?
You're out!
- Strike them out, okay? - Watch this.
- Strike them all out. - Here we go!
All right.
Come on, Rocket!
Steadman's in trouble with a runner on second.
All right, get him out.
Come on, come on, come on.
Goodman gets a stand-up double.
That cuts the Cub lead to one! 2 to 1, Cubs!
Hot dogs.
Get your hot dogs.
Get them hot.
Steadman is really laboring. One run is in.
And after the wild pitch, Goodman is on third with two away.
Ball four! Take your base.
Chet!
I'm gonna take you out!
- One more. - No!
Give me one more.
Look, one more.
Rocket! Rocket! Rocket!
You're out!
- He's out at home! - Yes! Yes!
Yeah!
- Yeah! - Boy, that's the way!
Yes, yes, yes!
Steadman makes a game-saving out, keeping the Cubs ahead by one!
Yes!
- Stick a fork in me. I'm done. - You gave me six great innings.
I'm saving you for the playoffs!
No. I mean, I'm done.
I felt the arm go.
You'll let me finish the season before you take my job, won't you?
You're the greatest, Rocket.
Rowengartner, you're going in.
What did he call me?
Henry! Henry! Henry!
Strike! You're out!
Strike! Strike!
Strike! You're out!
- All right! - Come on, Henry! Go! Go!
Yeah, yeah, yeah! Good pitching!
- You think so? - Yeah, I know so.
Let's play some ball! Let's play some ball! Yeah!
With two outs, Okie steps in, hoping to bring in the runner.
Oh, what a lucky stab!
The Cubs are one inning away from division championship!
Completing the most improbable season in baseball history.
- All right. - You're on.
One more inning. One inning, Henry!
Kid, please, get us through this inning...
...and I'll never ask you for anything else as long as I live.
Please! Please!
Okay, but this is the last time.
Thank you.
Come on, Henry! Strike him out!
It appears nothing can stop Rowengartner now.
Just one more!
- Come on, now! - And be careful!
- Get up, kid! - Are you okay?
- I'm okay. - All right.
I'm okay.
Yeah!
This kid is making me crazy.
All right, Henry, let's warm up!
What was that? You all right?
I'm fine.
Fine.
Oh, no.
It's gone.
Oh, no.
Play ball!
All right, here we go, now.
Henry! Henry! Henry!
What are you doing?
- Ball? - What the hell is he doing?
- What? - What?
Well, not his best stuff. Ball one.
Come on, Henry!
Quit playing around.
There's another ball.
Zoom it in there, Henry! Zoom it!
I have no idea.
Henry, throw the ball hard!
Ball!
- Come on, Henry! - Come on, strike him out!
Rollengruter!
Come on!
What do you want to do now?
Ball four! Take your base.
- What's that kid doing out there? - I don't know.
Come here! Come here!
Bring it in! Get in here!
Bring it in! Bring it in!
- Listen, my arm, it's gone! - What?!
No, listen, I can't throw hard anymore. I can't throw hard anymore.
- What are we gonna do? - I have a plan.
Let's hear it.
One, two, three, Cubs!
The meeting is over and here we go!
Gotcha.
You're out!
- All right! - The hidden-ball trick!
- Come on, yeah! - I just got excited there.
All right, that's one!
- I can't believe he fell for that. - Nice job, kid.
Come on!
- Throw the heat! Throw the heat! - Cut the funky cheese!
Richards called for the intentional walk! Again!
I'm gonna kill him!
Sal! No, no! Let him go! Let him go! Get over here.
- Just have faith. Let him go. - He's playing stick ball.
Ball three!
- I'm gonna kill him! Henry! Henry! - No. Easy, Chet! Let him go! Have faith.
Take your base.
- Why did he walk him? - He could've struck him out.
Oh, boy.
- I'm not going for the hidden-ball trick. - I don't have the ball.
- What are you doing, kid? - I dare you to run.
What? What are you talking about?
I double dare you.
- Cut it out. Let's play some ball, here. - What's the matter?
Chicken?
I'm not chicken. Cut it out.
Hey, what's this?
Stop it! Just stop it. Just stop it!
You should have run.
- I guess you really are chicken. - You're the chicken.
- No, you are. - No, you are.
- Chicken! Chicken! - You're the chicken!
- You're the biggest chicken I ever seen. - Throw the ball up high. I dare you.
- See how chicken you are. - All right, but it's the last time.
Go, go!
You're out!
He got him! He got him! Two away!
All right, kid! You do it! You do it! Anything goes!
Yes, yes, yes!
- Remember me, kid? - Oh, my God.
- Holy goose bumps. Not Heddo. - It's Heddo!
I'm your worst nightmare.
Now, throw the heat! Burn it in there! Burn his head off!
Fastball.
He can't hit your fastball.
Strike!
- A changeup. - It's a strike.
Henry fooled him with a changeup!
Yes, Henry!
That's it, kid? What, you kidding me?
Come on, give me it.
See you!
- Go foul. Go foul. - Stay fair!
- Go foul! - Stay fair!
- Go foul! - It's fair!
- It's foul! - It's fair!
- Please, go foul! - No, no! Go!
Foul ball!
You were wrong again!
One more strike! Come on, Henry! You can do it! Come on!
Hey, kid, you got nothing. I know it, and you know it.
You're mine!
Oh, God.
What do I do?
Yeah.
Mom?
- It was you? - It was me.
Float it.
Float.
- Henry, one more! - One more!
Show him how, Henry!
Well, this is it, folks. Everything is riding on this pitch.
What are you smiling at, kid?
Nothing.
You're out!
- Yes! - Yes! Yes! Yes!
Henry, I love you!
We won the division! We won the division!
Yes! Yes! Yes! All right!
Yeah, Cubbies!
Yes, baby! Yes!
I love you.
I got it!
Yeah! Big Hank!
Henry!
Yes!