TAKE ME UP TO THE BALL GAME
This was Nelvana’s sixth and last television special. It premiered on CBC television, 14 September 1980. The producers were Michael Hirsh and Patrick Loubert, the Director Ken Stephenson. The Screenplay was written by Ken Sobol an American Emmy Award winning writer who moved to Canada in 1973. Don Ferguson of Royal Canadian Air Farce made a return to Nelvana as a voice actor for this production. Like the previous Nelvana specials this has a large music component this time written and performed by Rick Danko of The Band.
The show opens when we see from a spaceship a baseball game in progress. Closer up the players become a beaver, an eagle, a cat, a mole, a turtle, a kangaroo and a bear. “Cat” a nature lover has just missed catching a fly ball because he was smelling a flower. “Eagle” and “Beaver” are arguing. “Eagle” wants to get rid of “Cat” because they will never win with him involved while “Beaver” insists on keeping him because he is part of the team. The spaceship occupants one of whom is “Irwin” a promoter asks them who they are. “Beaver” quickly makes up the name “The Giants”. Irwin asks if they want to play in another game. He is vague about what and where the game is, but they agree, ”Kangaroo” insists they have to be back by supper.
The scene switches and we find that the game is an intergalactic game in which no team wants to play against “The Champs” because they have won all the games for the last 800 years – by cheating. “Irwin” presents “The Giants” as a formidable team that can beat “The Champs”
The game begins and through the first part of it, “The Champs” rack up a hefty score while “The Giants” through their own incompetence and “The Champs” cheating, score nothing. By this time “The Giants” realize “The Champs” are cheating and complain to the commissioner. Everyone including the fans are stunned. Cheating has been part of the game for the last 800 years. “Eagle” suggests that since cheating is part of the game they should cheat as well. “Beaver” who is captain refuses because “cheaters never prosper”. The fans find this comment hilarious, but it is the turning point. “The Giants” buckle down and start outwitting “The Champs” in their cheating efforts. Their score rises and at the bottom of the ninth they are leading “the Champs” 500 to 499 but “The Champs” have the bases loaded. They also have two batters out. At this point “Irwin” reveals his true colours. He has been secretly betting that “The Giants” would lose. Now he is faced with the prospect they will win. He enters the game himself as the last batter. After he has two strikes against him, he tears up the bench “The Champs” are sitting on and uses it for a bat. He hits the ball high into the stadium. “The Giant’s scramble to catch it. It bounces out of mole’s nose. Meanwhile “Cat” has discovered a flower in the field; like before he bends over to smell it. His glove arm extends horizontally behind him, the glove facing up. The ball falls into the glove. “The Giants” win. “Beaver” points out to “Eagle” they won without cheating. “Eagle” agrees, and they reconcile. “The Giants” are the celebrated by the aliens who get them home in time for supper.
The film is entertaining and Nelvana makes its social comments as it traditionally does. It is hard not to see “Beaver” and “Eagle” symbolizing Canada and the United States”. The animation is not as accomplished as in previous efforts. It is likely that being squeezed between Easter Fever and the Rock & Rule project, the bulk of the resources were devoted to them.
SOURCE:
Article periodical:
The Standard: TV Times, September 6-13, 1980: “Bottom of the Ninth with the score 362-361”. Writ., Wesley Hicks: 30-31, cover.
Star Week, September 13-20, 1980: “Earth’s Giants are a hit on the diamond”. Writ., Jeremy Ferguson: 8
Internet:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Take_Me_Up_to_the_Ball_Game
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOdoS_hrEQc
GALLERY:
The Standard: TV Times, September 6-13, 1980: Front cover (“Irwin”).
Star Week, September 13-20, 1980: 8. (“Cat”)
Star Week, September 13-20, 1980: 8