[man] Baseball, the great American game.
The national pastime of millions, both young and old.
The game is played with a sphere known as a baseball.
The cork and rubber core is carefully wrapped with yarn
and covered with tough horsehide.
The bat is made of carefully selected wood and perfectly balanced.
The glove, or mitt, is well padded...
- [thumps] - ...except where the ball is caught.
Baseball is usually played in a ballpark,
consisting of a grandstand, bleachers, fence and a playing field, or diamond.
So named because of its diamond-like shape.
The game is simple, as there are only nine players to watch at one time.
When the ball is hit, they change position quickly, thus:
- Here's the pitch, - [pops]
it's a hit to right field, the runner starts for first,
the fielder goes for the ball, pitcher covers first,
second pulls off base, shortstop covers the bag,
centre backs up right field, left field goes to centre,
the runner tries to stretch the hit for two bases,
the runner is out, or safe, or either or neither or both. Simple, isn't it?
The player is an all-around athlete.
The uniform is loose-fitting, to allow freedom of movement.
The socks are what the team is named after.
The shoes are sturdy, lightweight and comfortable.
Spikes are firmly fastened to the soles of the shoes to prevent slipping.
[stretches, snaps]
Gum also plays an important part in American baseball.
The pitcher, or hurler, is the most important man on the team.
To the layman, the colourful actions of the pitcher may appear overdone.
However, such is not the case.
The wind up, for instance, is very necessary.
For pitching demands limber brains
and well-coordinated muscles.
Not only in the throwing arm, but of the entire body,
in order to obtain that bullet-like delivery of the ball.
On the opposing team we have the batter,
who carefully selects his favourite stick, or bat.
[smacks]
[thumps]
The play starts when the batter hits the ball.
Strangely enough, however,
the pitcher tries to keep the batter from hitting the ball.
To accomplish this,
the pitcher holds the ball in such a manner to cause it to curve when thrown.
[whooshes]
The inside curve, the outside curve, and the drop.
[sound of tyres screeching]
[pops]
A straight ball can also be deceptive. For example, the spinner.
[grinding]
To further confuse the batter, the pitcher may alter his strategy
by a change of pace, or slow ball.
[sound of tyres screeching]
The spit ball is also used to dampen the batter's spirits.
[dings]
The speed ball is referred to as the fire ball, smoke ball, et cetera.
[sizzling]
And now we can fully appreciate that thrill of thrills...
...the World Series, the deciding game. Our team has it in the bag.
The score is three to nothing. The last half of the ninth inning.
Our pitcher is the hero of the day. He's pitched a no-hit, no-run game.
There are two outs and the count is 3-2 on the batter.
- Confidently, he bows to the crowd. - [crowd cheering]
There's the wind up and the pitch.
[smacks]
It's a hot grounder down the third baseline.
The runner's away with the speed of an express train.
And he's... safe on first!
Our pitcher is a bit perturbed.
The runner is taking a long lead off first.
The pitcher sees it.
A fast peg to first and the runner is trapped.
He's in the old pickle, folks, if he gets tagged, the ballgame is over.
[ball thuds]
He dropped the ball! Slide!
Slide!
He's safe... on second. The pitcher is worried.
He takes a quick look towards second, there's the pitch, and...
- [ball thuds] - Oh!
He dusted him off with the old bean ball, folks.
[crowd murmurs]
The batter gets a free trip to first.
Here's the situation:
Man on first, man on second. It's anybody's ballgame now.
The crowd is going wild!
And the pitcher seems to have lost some of his confidence.
He gets the signal and here's the pitch. The batter has decided to bunt.
It's a short pop fly. The catcher goes after it...
- [man] Let me have it! - [man 2] That's mine.
Looks like an easy out. Look out!
[clanks]
Hey, get that ball! Peg at first! Peg at first! Throw it! Throw it!
There goes the ball to first. It's gonna be close! He's safe!
And what a ballgame this has turned out to be.
[crowd cheers]
The bases are loaded.
The pitcher is in an awful spot, and the crowd is going crazy!
- [crowd roars] - [jeering]
- The pitcher is tense. - [gulps]
The batter is tense. The crowd is tense.
It's up to the pitcher.
A half million dollars and the World Series hinge on this pitch.
- [thuds] - It's a terrific hit!
He literally knocked the horsehide off the old apple!
The runner tears for first, and the crowd is going absolutely mad!
It's a high fly to centre field.
The outfielder comes in fast, the runner tears around first,
here comes the ball, looks like fielder has it...
...but he drops it!
[crowd booing]
Throw it! Bring her home!
Wing that ball! Throw it! Throw it!
Here comes the runner towards second, a man home, and the score is tied!
There goes the winning runner on third. Is he gonna make it?
Here comes the ball. Run, man, run!
It's a race for home plate! Slide, slide!
This is gonna be close!
[crashes]
Well, folks, it's up to the umpire.
That impartial pillar of judicial dignity, whose word is law.
- He out! - What do you mean...
- [crowd booing] - [indistinct yelling]
Free speech, that great American privilege,
is thoroughly enjoyed by players and spectators alike.
That's why the national sport will always be
that good old American game of baseball.