Homer At The Bat
The Simpsons (1992)
One of the most memorable episodes of The Simpsons aired for the first time thirty years ago tonight. This was the first time that The Simpsons to beat The Cosby Show in the ratings, and it's been one of my favorite cartoons since I saw the premier when I was 11 years old.
In this third season episode, the Springfield Power Plant softball team has a game against Shelbyville for the championship, and Mr. Burns makes a million dollar bet that his team will win. To ensure victory, he recruits nine MLB All-Stars, including Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Ken Griffey Jr, Steve Sax, Ozzie Smith, José Canseco, Don Mattingly, Darryl Strawberry and Mike Scioscia to play for the his team. Eight of the nine players have "misfortunes" that prevent them from playing in the big game. The only Major Leaguer to is able to play is right fielder Darryl Strawberry, who bumps Homer from his starting position to the bench.
Every time I think about it, I get the closing credits song stuck in my head. It's a catchy parody of Terry Cashman's "Talkin' Baseball" that was sung by Mr. Cashman himself. They released a recording of it seven years later on the Go Simpsonic With The Simpsons album. Click on the cover below to listen to it.
Well, Mr. Burns had done itThe Power Plant had won itWith Roger Clemens clucking all the whileMike Scioscia's tragic illness made us smileWhile Wade Boggs lay unconscious on the bar-room tileWe're talkin' softballFrom Maine to San DiegoTalkin' softballMattingly and CansecoKen Griffey's grotesquely swollen jawSteve Sax and his run-in with the lawWe're talkin' HomerOzzie and the Straw
