 Take one man against an angry crowd. Add a foul ball and a fog. That's the story, Play Ball. Taken this week from the files of John Steele, adventurer. Friends, this is John Steele. Ready for another story of adventure? I'll bet you are. Well, this week's tale is a bit different. It's the kind of yarn a real red-blooded American will love. What's it about? I shouldn't tell you, but I'll give, we'll give you a starter. Bring along your appetite for soda pop and hot dogs. Yep. Our story is about the great American pastime, baseball, and it's about a very good friend of mine. You remember that game a few years back, the one between the... What am I doing here? My guest this week can tell you this story a lot better than I can. It happened to him. So, folks, meet Mike Scanlon. Mike? It's funny how you can get an idea in your head and nothing will change your mind. That's how it was with me, anyway. I guess it all started that day out at the stadium. I had been umpiring in the senior circuit for 18 years and it was just another game to me. But it was different for the Gulls and the Blue Sox. It was late in August and the Gulls were still leading the league by a game and a half. The Sox had been right on their necks and in this game they were leading three to two in the bottom half of the ninth. I was working balls and strikes back at the plate and first man up grounded out in the second flight deep to left field. Holmes, the utility infielder from Danville, got a pinch hit single and took second from the Sox third baseman through the ball away. The crowd was hollering for blood as Gallatelli walked up to the plate. Okay, Fabby, this is the ball game. Just burn it in here, baby. Just push it past the green here, boy, Fabby. Just the muscle. Go ahead, baby. Take your shower now, Fabby. The game's as good as over. There's the game's over, Fabby. Just burn it in here, baby. We'll show him how the game's over. First pitch clean in the left field stand, boy. First ball hit. Fabby, first ball hit. Just the bush. Bring it to the first pitch, baby. Walk up with this ball game. Okay, Gallatelli. Quit your jaw and step in there. Crowd's late for supper now. Let's take it easy, Scanlon. Got to give the customers their money's worth, don't I? Big man's treating the crowd, Fabby. Going to send him home happy, baby. Step in there, baby. Let's put this thing to bed. Okay, okay, Mike. Got to give the crowd a little excitement. Okay, baby. Let's see that high, high one in here. Here it comes. Won't you hear it? Here it comes. Here it comes. Oh! I can reach it. Bring it. One kid says he can't reach it, Fabby. Okay, baby. Write down the old middle. Just blow it right past the big man. Fabby, here it is. Here it is. Make one, I said. You were up to my ears. Step in, Gallatelli. Got him singing, baby. Got the green kid singing. Give him the old floater. Fabby, the old floater. And swing. Swing, catch, catch. Push the swing in here. Get a full scuff, Scanlon. Let's see the ball, Pepper. Hey, fetch the ground. How'd it scuff? Okay, let's get going. I tell you, it scuffed. It's hoppin' coming up to the plate. Could be. He's twitching. Keep your eye on a mic. He dusts people. Wasn't so bad. Step in, Nipty. Got him singing like a seagull, baby. Give him the big rainbow. Fabby, bend the big one. Here it is. There it is. I got a swing and a bad one through a walkie. Watch the hit himself on, baby. Watch the hit himself on. Hello, you dusty train. The next one I don't know what was, guys. Careful, Nipty. What's it got, Mike? Two and two. Okay, baby, we're away. I'm proud of him in the countless sheet, Fabby. I got a swing at this world. Let's have that big banner again. I got a swing. I got a swing. It was Fabby. You're playing to something. Call him as I see him. Foul ball. Man caught it up in section 23. Gotta be fair. Going back to the bench, Billy. You crazy, Scanlon? Never hit one player in my life. Going back to the bench, all of you. Foul ball. What are you getting? No. Hit the ball right on the label. It's straight as the time. Foul ball, I said. What's the guy gonna do? Shut up, Nipty. Shut up, Nipty. Shut up, Gallatilly. I don't want to throw you out. Even if it's a lift. You're gonna step in or not? Okay, okay. Little. Okay, Fabby. We got him now. Baby, green kids are rattling. Throw the bat away. Underhead of baby. You can't see for the red. Just toss it up here. Toss it up there. Swing, kid, swing. I only call him as I see him, boy. You better start seeing him better. In this business, kid, you gotta take those kind of knocks. I don't gotta take nothing from you. Tomorrow, maybe you'll get a chance to be a hero. Tomorrow, maybe I'll get you. Okay, Nipty. Take your shot. Yeah. And even if it's a lift. Who's that? I don't know. Some crazy thing. I know. Hey, mister. You say you were up in 23? I'll say it was. I caught that ball. It was there by three feet. I got about 50 people waiting their seats up there. And we're gonna sign those statements. It's just a bad word. Maybe one of those photographers got a picture. Yeah, maybe. Are you sure, mister? I didn't mean to show this. It's positive. I'll have to protest again, Mike. You've never had a game protested on my decision in 18 years. Yeah, I know. Sorry, Mike. Sure. Sure. Tell you. You know, sometimes I think you're spying on me the way you sneak around. When a man's married to the prettiest gal in the state, he's got expected to do some spying. Oh, you're just saying that because it credits you. There's gonna be an awful shock you pride someday when you take off those rose-colored glasses. Yes. Now, I've got too many things to do to stand here loving government with you all day. Okay. The papers on your chair and it'll be ready in about 15 minutes. Okay. Yeah. Didn't you listen? Hi all. Today? Yeah. You know, I think Jordan McCraves is the best sports announcer in the business. Well... Well, he's been a very exciting one in the seventh. And Gallantelli's hide that score. Listen to me, Mike Cameron. Sure, dear. But you certainly don't sound it to me. No, I'm listening to him. You're kind of a boy, isn't it, Gallantelli? Fresh kid. At all? Well, no. Now, for the second year of the ages, he's doing all right. Yeah. He's a spark plug of the girls. Got the temper to go with it, too. He'll learn. Maybe. Girls wouldn't be in first place. Do we have to talk about this all night? No. No, of course not. What did McCraves say about the knife, didn't he? Yeah, he said it looked fair to hear me. Well, he did, didn't he? When's he gonna learn a sports announcer's supposed to report the facts, not give opinions? He's entitled to one. He's not entitled to prejudice. A million radio listeners. Tell him I haven't caught anything cabbage tonight. Your favorite dish and all you can say is good. I'm sorry. Made it special for you. I said I was sorry. I understand. Do you? Of course I did. Why, that dirty note. What's the matter now? Well, listen to this. In the daily news, Ampire Scanlon was guilty of the most flagrant misjudgment when he called Gallatelli's blast in the ninth inning foul. Our staff photographer's picture clearly substantiates the opinion shared by some 30,000 fans that this blow was fair by at least three feet. There comes a time in the life of an Ampire when he has out-served his usefulness to the game and is no longer capable. Who's he thinking he is? Jimmy Fowler. I'm going down there first thing in the morning and tell him or anyone can call him when they got all the evidence in front of him. He's just doing his job. His job's old people up to public ridicule? No. His job is to serve interest in the local team. I'll beat down his door until... It's something more important than making a big scene. What? What's it mean to you? What do you mean? Well, will they protest? Yeah, Billy will have to protest to keep the fans happy. Oh, kind of a token? Yeah. Well, what'll the president of the league do? Support me, I guess. You sure? That's not the point. Sure he'll support me. He can't change an umpire's decision once it's been made, even with photographic evidence. Billy knows that. Well? It's the principle of the thing. Oh, of course. Been in the game for 18 years. I know. Oh, what's the use? How have you stood it, man? Stood what? This life, living in a hotel room, six months out of the year, knocking around in a town of town. Man, you love the game, don't you? Of course I do. Wouldn't be in it, though. I didn't. Well, that's enough for me. Suppose now I'm all washed up. You stop that kind of talk, my man. I see that happen. What? Guy loses his nerve or something. Stop it this minute. Did you ever have 30,000 people pouring at you? You know what it feels like? Well, do ya? How'd you know? I read your column last night, Powers. Well, I didn't like it. No? No. Well, I'm sorry if you took offense. Yeah, Bet. I mean it. There was nothing personal about that column. Nothing personal? Who do you think you are, wise guy? Now take it easy. Make me look like a jerk to the public. Spend 18 years in the game and some joker with a typewriter. Mike! I don't care! Mike! Just cool off for a minute. Why have you been mixed up in baseball for so many years? What are you trying to do? Cause you love the game, right? Go on. What do you think I've been banging away on this typewriter for 20 years? So you can... For the same reason. Only I'm not as lucky as you are. Huh? You're right down in the field in the middle of it. I've never been that good. I gotta sit up in the press box. Yeah. But I think maybe I can do as much good for the game up there as you can right down on the field. What do you mean? Only one thing interests me, Mike. Keep the game clean. Yeah. I would have done just as much squawking as the decision had gone against the socks. Now there isn't much more a sportswriter can do except report the facts and be like crazy when he sees an injustice done. Yeah, I... I guess you're right. I don't like to say that, Mike. But maybe you need a rest. Huh? I don't know. A guy reaches a point, I guess, when his reflexes aren't as quick. Or his eyes aren't as sharp. I don't know. I wanna see what you mean. I'm sorry, I... Oh, thanks, Mr. Powers. How do you head, you know you're not supposed to come on the field through the dugout? I know. Where you been? We've been looking all over for you. I like getting here. Hurry up. Chuck and Scott have been waiting at the plate for five minutes. Yeah. Hey, what's the matter? You look sick. Nothing. You sure? Yeah. I'll get going. Yeah. Come on, Martin. I'll walk out with you. Okay. Stupid plans like a pack of sheep. Let's have the order. Okay, okay. Here, same as yesterday. Martin? Yeah, gentlemen. I've got a seventh only change. You both know the ground rules. Just remember, any ball out in the eye of you is a ground rule double. Okay. I left you to watch that spitball, Pepper. What do you mean spitball? Tell him to be quick to wipe the sweat off his arm. Do it on his uniform. Not on his fetching hand. It's going to be rough today, huh? And like you tell those benchjuckies to keep those tiles in the dugout, they'll be using them in the shower. A little off-scan. Okay, let's go. Can't stand around all day. Hasn't he been warming up for 20 minutes? Hey, you got the theater to send? Come on, very... How many warm-up pitches does he need? Get off my back, will you? Okay, kid. Now, bend one of those big ones in here, baby. Let's get going, Martin. Yeah, I... The strap... Yeah, the strap on my mask is loose. I got to tighten it. Well, come on, Scanlon. You're going to say play ball, or ain't you? Yeah. I got to... Got to fix my... Fix my chest protector. Are you sick or something? Oh, I... I'm okay. I'm okay. What are you going to say it, or ain't you? Yeah. I'm going to say it. Yeah. I'm going to say it. I'm going to say it. I'm going to say it. I'm going to say it. I'm going to say it. I threw the first inning and then told him I wasn't feeling so good. Scotty came in and took over balls and strikes, and I went down to first base. I was lucky and didn't have any close ones to call all afternoon. News, uh, something like that gets around the league pretty fast, and I had a rough time of it for the next few weeks. No matter what park I worked, the fans rode me, and I had the feeling the players were all laughing at me. I kept telling Scotty and Jock I wasn't feeling good, so I didn't have to work behind the plate. I knew I couldn't keep it up. We were on our last swing through the west, and when we got to Chicago where the league offices are, John Steele sent for me. Haven't seen you for a long time, Mike. No. Well, don't stand there. Sit down. Have a cigar. Thanks. Nice humidor. The managers gave it to me for Christmas last year. Being yearn boy for the president of the league has its advantages. Light. Yeah. Thanks. Pretty good season so far. Yeah. Only club behind last year's attendance figures is in the leagues. That's all? Yeah, and they're only under by $5,000. Oh. What's all this I've been hearing? Huh? About you. I don't know what you've been hearing. How long have we known each other, Mike? Ten years, I guess. Been pretty good friends, haven't we? Yeah. If you've got anything on your mind, you can tell me. Yeah, I know that, John. Well, go ahead. Spill it. Don't know if there's anything to spill. I heard you hadn't been feeling so well. Nothing serious. Serious enough to make the boss ask me that. Talk with him. Need a rest? No. We can always bring up one another. No need a rest, I said. Okay. Get over this by myself. Just thought I'd ask. We've been around this business for a long time. Yeah. Seen a lot of men come and go. What are you trying to say? I'm just trying to let you know that you've got a friend you can talk to. Why don't you stop crying if you're such a good friend? I want to help you, Mike. Don't need any help of that kind. I think you do. I'm sorry, John. I guess I'm sort of jumpy. I know. I don't know what's the matter with me. Does it go back to that foul ball? Yeah, I guess so. The president supported you when Billy protested. I know. Well, didn't that help? That's not the point. No, I guess it isn't. Something I got to straighten out alone. Okay, Mike. Do it your way. Thanks, John. I'm going to be in New York over the 26th. Oh. The girls and the socks will be playing three games while I'm in town. Uh-huh. You'll be working that series, won't you? Yeah. I want to see you back at the plate in one of those games. You'll see me. Maybe we can have another talk then. Yeah. Mike, the picture, Mike. Uh-huh. Oh, I thought Jimmy Stewart was wonderful. Yeah. Good baseball scenes, too. Mike, you're listening. Yeah, honey. Good baseball scenes. Oh, that part where Jimmy Stewart was running with his bad legs and everything. I could just feel the pain, couldn't you? Mike. Oh, now you just stop thinking about tomorrow, Mike Scanan. Thought the movie'd take your mind off things. It did, honey. It's just another ball game. Yeah, I know. You've done it a hundred times before and you'll do it tomorrow. We're still wasn't going to be there. Well, what difference does that make? I don't know. He's a friend of yours. It's like everyone was sitting in on a wake. Oh, that's all in your mind. The series wasn't all tied up. It wouldn't be such an important game. You've umpired a lot bigger ones. Remember the third game of the 41 World Series? If I'd gone back on the plate in the first one of those two games, it'd have been all over now. You stop thinking like that, Mike. I guess I'd better. Well, you want to stop in for a moment. Steal more like a drink. A moment would be better for you. It'll make you sleep. This part is air conditioned. Just stop in for one. I still think you ought to have a moment. Right over here, honey. Why don't it be books? Whiskey and soda, no mixing. Ginger ale, please. Whiskey and ginger, right. Better in here, huh? Well, it's cooler if that's what you mean. No, honey. I'm sorry, Mike. I never have like faces like this. Well, we won't stay long. I just felt like a drink. That's all. Oh, who's making all that to know? I don't know. Some guy with a little too much to drink. Well, the eye doctor. He's just talking about you. Just telling my funny bit. You've been drinking, young man. Oh, little lady says I've been drinking. Well, man. This is the ad company, Scanlon. You're going to introduce me? You know this person, Mike. This is Nifty Gallotelli, honey. My wife. Oh, so this is a little woman, Scanlon. Hey, what's the matter, Mrs. S? You run out of carrots over at your house? You better go on home, Nifty. Oh, plenty of time. We've all day tomorrow. It's an eye game tomorrow. An eye game. Billy'd venture for a week if he knew this. You're the one ought to be benched. You see better than you can right now. Go on home, Gallotelli. What's the matter, Scanlon? Can't tell Billy? Can't tell Billy a star ought to be benched? Billy can run his team by himself. Let's get out of here, Mike. Oh, don't run off. Mrs. S, don't run off. I want to talk to the old man. I want to find out how he's going to call him tomorrow. Shut up, Gallotelli. Yeah. I want to find out if he's dumb as he is blind. How dumb are you, Scanlon? I'm warning you, Nifty. Because if you're smart, you're going to call him the right way tomorrow night, see? I'm going to call him the way old Nifty sees it. Okay, Nifty, you go on. You're on your head. You want to play rugby? On my arm, you call him the right way. Let's go his arm. Call him Nifty's way, see? Let's go his arm. Don't forget what I told you. Gallotelli, I could have you thrown on a baseball. Come on, Mike. We're going home. See you tomorrow night, Scanlon. Come on, Mike. Yeah. Here's for the drinks. Oh, you ought to know better. Now, don't start that. Stop now. Come on out, man. Who's grown man? What do you think you are? High school boy? Shut up. You hurt your arm. It's okay. Man, I'll rub it with liniments when we get home. It's okay, I tell you. That doesn't. What? That doesn't. What do you mean? I've taken all I can. And what are you going to do about it? Hand in my resignation to steal me. You wouldn't. I'm fed up, I tell you. Oh, you wouldn't do that, Mike. I can't take any more. All right, Mike. If that's the way you want it, you never thought you'd quit. By the time I got to the stadium the next night, the newspapers had the story. Newsboys were all around the field, shouting the headlines. Scanlon to quit. I ran from the cab into the entrance marked players and officials. The game was late getting started because a mist was blowing in off the bay and visibility in the outfield was tough, with the light shining through the haze. We couldn't wait too long because the socks had to catch a train for Boston and the time limit had been put on the game. We got underway about a half hour late with me back on the plate. The stocks were leading four to three with the seventh inning coming up and I was beginning to breathe a little easier because there hadn't been any close ones to call. By the time we got to the last half of the ninth, we were past the time limit and everyone knew this was the last inning. There were runners on second and third with one out and a hit would win the ball game for the gals. The place was in an uproar as Gallatelli stepped up in the manner. Step in, Nifty. Hey, there comes that fog again, Mike. Yeah, I know. Come on. Let's put this thing to bed while we can still see. Okay, though, but that's a tough hot clean to play right now. Let's go. Do you want pepper? Call a game? We can beat your club in the dark, man. Where'd you run? Okay, Pappy, okay. Put your head in the air to hit all night. Let's hear that hot rock, baby. Let's blow it fast, then, Pappy. Now, put your nose. Moving, Pappy. We're singing. Will you? This game's going on, isn't it? Shut up, Nifty. You're standing talking. The fog will really close in. Let's keep this kid out of the air. Right down here, there's me. Pappy, let's see that basketball player. And here, there's Nifty. Swing! Finish the game. You better stop gassing and play ball. Don't worry, Mike. We know we're going to finish the game. Don't we? Step in, Nifty. Okay, baby. The green kid wants to finish the game. Keep him on the ground. Pappy, come on. Make a double-play ball. We all go on getting worse, Mike. Keep moving. And hardly see Slater and Son of Faith. Shut up. You guys better win a clean, Sky. Shut up, both of you, and play ball. What's the count, Mike? Two and one. Okay, Pappy. Everyone, get your throwing rubber up here. Just spend a pass to the pusher, baby. Winder right around his belt, and it's now. Get now. This big, Billy. Easy fly ball could win this one. Yeah, I know. Lock him down, Billy. He's trying to... Shut up, Nifty. You know he's... Better get going. Try to get it in for you, Billy. I know. And quit your joy, Nifty. Step in. What's the count? Two and two. Okay, Pappy. The green kid will be looking. Just float that big rainbow right over there, baby. Just let him see the floater. And swing. Push and swing. Get scared and scared. That pain? What would it be? Swing. What's called? Are you crazy? Scaling any pusher could play that sky. Sorry. And if that fog's too thick, store a verge for the eighth inning. You're giving them the pity if we play the same fog. Wasn't this bad in your hair, if I tried to get it in? Yeah. That's what you'd say. You've got this coming to you. Yeah, yeah. Booze ringing in my ears. Didn't look to either side. Just straight ahead and kept walking. I could still hear him booing even when I got under the stands. Never knew the walk through the locker room took so long. When I got there, I slammed the door, and it was quiet at last. Just sat there, thinking, hey, Mike, open up. Go away, Billy. Let me in. I've got to talk to you. Leave me alone, will you? Just let me talk to you a minute. You've got to see this, Mike. Don't you know how I am? Yeah, I know. But you've got to see this. Come on. Leave go of my arm. You're coming with me. I've been enough for one night. Move it. What are you, crazy? I don't want to go up on the floor. Just come up to the dugout. You don't have to go out on the field. Sorry about the game. The only decision you could make, I know that. So has everyone else in the stands. That's what I mean. Fans refuse to leave the stands. Yeah, but the booze. They weren't booing you. Well, honey, that was what got Gallatelli. After you left, they kept booing till he was off the field. Now they're just sitting up there yelling. Are you sure that? Sure, I'm sure. They'd never seen anything like it in my life. I want you to read my column, the more or Mike. It's going to be about a guy who has the guts to make a decision he knows he'll be on. Thanks, Mr. Cars. No, you're going to quit. They want to see you. Told you tonight by my good friend, Mike Scanlon, who knows now that the fans in the stands are part of what makes baseball a great American pastime. Yeah, Mike learned that people can make a person great. Well, if you like this story, why not visit with me next week? Because I have a man I'm sure you'd like to meet. He had an unusual adventure with a Czech, a blackmailer, and a beautiful girl. I like to call it checkmates. So until next week, this is John Steele saying, a life of adventure is yours for the taking. Wherever you find it, only don't look for it. Well, good night and good honey. John Steele, adventure is produced by Robert Monroe, written and directed by Elliott Drake. And tonight's cast were Charlie Holmes, Grace Keddy, Ross Martin, Joe Houtinson, and Al Pedersen. Non-Douglas is heard as John Steele and Jimmy Powers was played by Jimmy Powers. The orchestra was conducted by Sylvan Levin. Remember, next week, mutual presents, checkmates. Another story of suspense and action from the files of John Steele, adventure. Said Mellie speaking, this is the mutual broadcasting system. Checkmate. Checkmate. Checkmate. Checkmate. Checkmate.