[drum line]
Opening day at Wrigley, and oh, what a sight!
The diamond, the decorations, and the dread of yet another losing season.
[sparks crackling] Ah! Ugh! Ernie! It's fritzing out again.
You were supposed to fix this thing, will you hurry up? Will you hustle? Hustle, hustle!
- Somebody get me a coffee please. What?
- Mr. Murdoch!
I think this is gonna be THE season for the Cubs.
You think this is gonna be the season? Why would you think that?
We haven't won a pennant since '45 and a series since the... the...
-1908, I know.
-1908!
-I just have this feeling.
-You have a feeling. He's got a feeling! Cancel the coffee! Get me whatever he's drinking! He's got a feeling about the uh...
-We're on the air!
-Eeuh! We're on the air, live! I'm Cliff Murdoch...
[crowd cheers]
David Pierce will be facing giant Ledolph great, Clight Kyle!
10 bucks says Kyle knocks it out of the park.
Alright.
And there's the first pitch of the season!
Ooh! Kyle got a hold of that pigeon enough! It's going back! Back!
Ah! Has he got the distance? It's going! Going! Going!
Rowengartner makes the grab! Unbelievable!
C'mon, Henry!
-Hurry up! -Watch out! [laughter]
-Wait up guys! -C'mon, George, you're gonna wreck it!
-[laughter]
-C'mon, guys!
-Good luck today, Henry!
-Thanks, Mr. Banks!
-What's in the baby carriage?
-A baby!
A baby?
Woah! [laughter]
Hang on, hey! Coming through! [laughter]
Hey, not so fast!
Where do you think you're going?
-Mom!
-Hello George. Hello Clark.
-I got a game! -Yeah, Henry thinks that he's actually gonna play today.
David Rosenthal starts Hebrew school this week.
Well, it would be great if you got to play, but honey, if you don't...
-Yeah?
-I'm gonna let you do the laundry when we get home.
-[sigh] You're too kind, mom. (to the boys) Come on!
Have fun!
-Your mom is so cool. -Yeah, she's alright.
Hey! Wait, wait.
Sunblock!
[dramatic music]
[soft thud]
-Nice catch, Henry.
-Yup! You're gonna get a LOT of playing time.
He's gotta put me in! It's either me or Windemere!
-[sneezing] -Windemere! Windemere! Windemere!
What's wrong with him? Are you a moron? You imbecile.
Time out, now, time out! Rowengartner, get in the right field!
Windemere, you come on in here!
Yeah Henry! Come on Henry, let's go!
-Yeah!
Oh my gosh!
I can't believe they're letting him play!
Hustle on into the tunnel, and I don't wanna hear about no asthma neither!
[sneezing]
Alright, chuck it in there, baby! Chuck it! Chuck it in there, baby, come on!
Okay, Deezer, let 'er rip! Throw in the chedder! Come on, right in the kitchen!
Come on! Get in the big, high, stinky...
Would you shut up?
Chuck it in there, baby! Bring it on, baby! Bring it! Bring it to me, show 'em what you got! Chuck it in there! He's got nothing! He's got something!
It's yours! It's yours!
-I got it!
-Go back!
I got it!
-Come on! -You can catch it!
-I got it!
Oh! [heavy breathing]
Get it, get it!
Heh? Huh! Come on!
[heavy breathing]
Huh? Oh!
Turn around! Home! Home!
Is that play legal?
-Hey. -Hey.
-How was game? -[indistinct grunt]
Well, what does that mean? Did you get to play?
-They put me in right field.
-So how'd you do? -Let's just 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 should be a pitcher. Like your father was. -In my dreams.
Hey, hey!
-Laundry. -[sigh] Mom.
-(imitating) Mom.
[sigh]
What's this?
The Cubs are bringing in their right fielder to pitch? [imitates cheering]
(echoing) 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.
[thud] Strike one!
-Honey, dinner's almost ready. -You're going out again?
Yeah. You gonna be okay?
-[sigh] What's the occasion? -It's our three week anniversary.
Three weeks? congratulations.
-(background) Hello? Anyone there? Mary? -What have you got against Jack?
He's moving too fast!
-Shh. -Henry! Hey!
Now the three week anniversary is the, um... That's the necklace anniversary.
Oh, Jack! Uh... (laughs)
-Oh, Jack, this, uh... -Let me get that on you.
This is too much.
-[sigh] -[kissing noises]
-Thank you. -[smooching]
Okay, uh, honey? In bed by 8:30 and do all your homework.
-[kiss] -[imitates buzzer]
-You're gonna love this restaurant, Mary. -[door closes]
-I think Henry is really starting to like me! -Um, yeah.
-[sigh] Oh Mom. That Jack Bradfield.
[school bell rings]
[chatter]
-Hi Clark. -Hi Edith.
-Why don't you talk to Vicky Freiger? -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 big shape of a boat.
Camry Hero told me that Becky Freiger 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 that!
Just look at her sipping that milk.
Milk's done that body good.
Hey look! There's Becky and Tiffany!
-Hi! -Hey, Rowengartner!
Good game yesterday. [laughter]
Don't worry about it. I mean, that kid's a dork anyways.
Hey, Rowengartner!
Catch!
[dramatic music]
-Radial fractures of the olnum. Assorted rotator cartilage damage. -How long does he have to be in the cast?
August. Minimum.
-August? That's like four months. -Henry has to take it easy. I want those bones to set correctly.
[sigh] This is gonna be a great summer.
[giggling]
Hi Henry! Bye Henry!
Hurry!
-Come on, let's go! Come on Mom! Come on! -Alright, okay!
-[tires screech] -Thank you! -Wait, wait, come on! Let's go!
The bone is fine. But the tendons have fused with the humerus.
[giggling]
-Is that bad? -It's unusual. Uh, let's take a look. Okay, let's start with the fingers.
-Good, good. Now raise the arm. -[creaking]
-Good, good. Now to the side. -[more creaking]
-Good. Uh, now bend at the elbow. -[more creaking]
-Good, good. Now rotate from the shoulder, slowly. -[more creaking]
-[snaps] -Oh! [yelling] -Woah!
-Oh! -[blows nose] Funky butt-lovin'!
-Did he say "funky butt-lovin'"? -[laughter]
-I'm sorry! I don't know what happened! -Are-Are you alright?
I, I, uh... I think what's happened here is that those tendons have healed, uh, a little tight.
-I've never seen anything quite like that. -I'm really sorry.
-Go. Please. Just, uh, just go. -Let's go, come on. Uh, you guys, let's go. Quickly! Quickly! Come on!
-I am so sorry. -What'd you hit on the nose for?
Hey, uh, I'm gonna wanna see you on, uh, three weeks.
Right, okay. Thank you!
Nurse?
-Come on! -Here!
-What's this? -Happy cast-off day. -What is it?
-Cubs tickets! -[screaming]
We're going to the Cubs game! We're going to the Cubs game!
-Woah, gosh, it's huge! -Man, look how great it is! -Wow, Wrigley Field! This is great!
[heavy breathing]
-You think they'll pull it out today? -Definitely! They got Steadman on the mount!
-Alright! -[growling]
-[booing]
-Come on, Rocket, throw the heat!
-Throw it back! Throw it back! Throw it back! I don't know, they're saying it!
Bleacher rules - you can't keep a home run hit by the other team.
Throw it back! Throw it back!
-[laughter] -I can throw better than that.
Well that's gonna 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.
[yelling] Bob! Fish! Fish! Look! A decoder ring! I got it out of the Cracker Jack box! It fits on your finger like...
-Great! Man is turning into a cracker jack. Okay, Uncle Bob!
Come on, what is this? Get the game going! What's going on!
Uh, if we don't sell out every game for the rest of the season, we are going to, uh, have to forfeit the franchise.
-Forfeit the franchise? Just when I'm about to take over the team? No money, no team?
[sigh] We need a miracle, sir.
Throw him the cheese! Throw him the high! Stinky! Lipburger!
[chanting] Rocket! Rocket! Rocket! [cheering]
-Woah! -Yes! We got it! Yes! Yes!
[chanting] Throw it back! Throw it back!
-Wait a sec! This game is on cable! Here. -Sure, I'll throw it and get harrassed. Here Henry, you throw it!
Okay. Here goes! [rubber band sounds]
Oh my god.
-Safe! -Did you see that? Woah!
Somebody just threw a frozen rope from the bleachers to home point! That's gotta be 435 feet.
Durkin! Bring me that arm!
-Hey kid! Hey! -What the hell was that?
Huh? 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! Come on guys, let's get out of here!
-He'd kill you. -Thanks.
I just figured out why the Cubs lose every year. They got more talent in the stand than they do in the field. Who threw that?
-Did you find him? -Oh, no, he left already. -Well, did you get a name?
-Henry. But... but... nobody in the bleachers... -Henry what? How are we gonna find him?
-Sir. This Henry is just a child. -What do you mean a child, what... What do you mean a child?
-He's a child. He's a short, little, young person, he's 10-11 years old!
Take this business very seriously! If you are joking, I swear you're gonna end up selling weiners! In the nose bleed section!
-Not joking, sir. Really, this Henry's just a kid. -Kid?... Kid? Excellent. Find him.
-Rowengartner checks the runners. And the pitch. -[car honks] Hi, honey!
-Mom, watch this! -Wait! [screaming] [glass breaks]
Gosh Henry! You could play for the Cubs!
It's incredible! A real child with the Cubs? He's gonna be thrilled! Thank you Mr. Fisher!
-I am worried about Henry. This arm thing is weird! -This arm thing is fantastic! Cheers.
-What's with you? -Nothing.
[door bell] [panting]
-Hello son. I'm looking for Henry Rule-inverter. -Henry Rowengarter?
-Yeah. Is he here? -I'm Henry.
-I must be looking for your father. -My dad?
[car honks] Woo! Yoo! Hey, ho! Here we go, here we go! Sorry I'm late.
Salmart Miller, right? Jack Bradfield. I am a huge, huge fan. Come here Henry.
Henry, this is Salmart Miller, the manager of the Chicago Cubs. [gasp]
And this is Henry Rowengartner. The next Nolan Ryan! [rubber band sounds] Holy Christmas! Who is this kid?
-Jack. He is a golden goose. -This kid's incredible!
-Just a think of the possibilities, Jack! A 12 year old kid playing in the major leagues! -Yeah, I know.
-Wow! -You are going to be his manager.
-And managers, Jack, get 10%. -10%?
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 - ouch! Jack! You didn't tell me it was gonna be such a circle!
-Oh I didn't know! Stop worrying, it's just part of the game! -It's gonna be great, mom!
-Mrs. Rowengartner, Larry Fisher, great news! Great news! I got Pespsi, Kellogg, and Reebok foaming at the mouth for a piece of the kid! -Which piece?
Henry! [foreign language]
-Hey, hey, hey, who are you? -I'm uh, Jack Bradfield. Henry's manager. What? Didn't I tell you?
-The question is, can you pitch? -Um, well, my dad used to play! -Semi-pro, pro?
-I'm not sure. But he was a pitcher. -[groans] Henry! How about you? Any experience?
-Well I play little league for the Fivers, right field. -Hey look it's Rowengartner!
Carson! Carson! We've all seen these publicity stunts before. How do we not know Henry is just here to sell tickets? -I can pitch! -Oh, you can pitch? Prove it.
-Alright. I will. -Wait, wait, wait. You wanna see him pitch? Come out to Wrigley.
[screaming]
-Oh, wow! -Woah! -Woah!
-Come on! -Hey, wait, wait! Wait!
-You ready? -Can't we just 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. -Hey hey hey. -Okay, okay! I'll see you guys up there. -See you Mrs. Rowengartner.
[knocking]
-Autographs after the game. -Wait! I'm Henry Rowengartner!
Well, why didn't you say so? Oh, that's a horse of a different color! Come on in!
-Come on in! -Come on guys!
-Can't come in here! Players only! And the locker rooms are right at the end of the hall. -Goodbye! Bye!
[chattering]
-Hi! -[chattering stops]
I'm Henry Rowengartner! I'm the new pitcher!
[chattering continues]
Wow! Stan Olkie!
Oh my god, it's Billy Frick!
Ched Steadman? Unbelievable! Mr. Steadman! Can I have your autograph? Could you sign it "Rocket?"
[growling] I don't do autographs.
Raven-booser. Your locker's over here.
Brigma.
That's Phil Brigma. Pitting coach. I beamed him in the minor leagues and he's been following me around ever since. Brigma, this is Henry.
-Hi Henry! -Nice to meet you Mr. Brigma. -Welcome to the big show!
Now, I'll tell you what I want! You're gonna take a lot of sweat! But eventually, I'm gonna mold you into one of the greatest 12 year olds
that's ever played this game! Now! [choking]
[high pitch] Suit up! I'll see you out there!
Wow!
[dark music]
Yes!
[crowd cheers]
-Wow! Look at all these people! -Sell out! Jack! We're one for one.
Well, mark it down folks! August 11th! 12 year old Henry Rowengartner steps in front of 35,000 fans in Wrigly Field to become the youngest person to ever play in Major League Baseball!
Okay, baby! Put it right in this kitchen! Go to work! Come on, baby!
-Yes, Rocket! Alright! Come on! Put it right in this kitchen! Yeah! Alright! Do the dew! -[growling] Gosh.
Give him the cheese! The high! Stinky! Chedder!
[crowd groans]
You are a bum, Steadman! Get him out!
Hey!
You're in my seat. Pitchers over there.
Hey!
-[phone rings] -Yeah. -Put the kid in.
-The kid? -Put in what's-his-name, Henry!
-Look, he's not ready, Fish! -I don't care. We got a sell-out crowd and they're not here to see Chet Steadman. Now!
Rosen-burger. Warm up. You're going in.
[crowd boos]
-Safe! -[more booing] -Safe! He's safe!
-I'm sticking a fork in him. He's done. Call in Henry. -Right.
[chanting] We want Henry! We want Henry!
What's Mr. Brigma doing?
That's the signal kid. You're in.
I'm in? I'm in?
[chanting] Henry! Henry!
[crowd cheers]
Henry is so cute! [low pitch] Throw the heat.
[dramatic thud]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd booing]
Let's go kid! Where's your mom sitting? This one's for mommy! Mommy!
Honey!
-Oh no! -[crowd gasps]
-Read em and weep, kid. -[groaning]
-[crowd boos] -Boohoohoo! Boohoohoo! Haha!
-Waa! Waa! What, are you kidding me? I eat fastballs for breakfast! -Get you next time. -Yeah! That's right!
-Oh, he must feel so horrible! -That's alright. In Chicago we get used to this kind of thing.
[crowd cheers]
[coughing]
[rubberband sounds]
Sorry!
Ooh! That stings!
-Come on! Come on! -It's okay, honey!
-This is a joke. -Come on, kid!
-You gotta take me out. I can't do this! -That's not my call, kid. Just rock and fire! Come on, let's go.
Hey come on, kid, throw the heat!
[crowd cheering]
You don't have a chance.
-Oh no! -It's a wild pitch, a very wild pitch!
Wight's on his horse! He's headed for third!
Out!
Richard nails Wight for the final out and the Cubs go on to win!
Alright Henry! Way to go Henry!
Rowengartner throws a homer, hits a man, throws a wild pitch, and still manage to get the save, and the Chicago Cubs beat the New York Mets 5 to 4.
-You're gonna have to teach him. -Teach him what? -To pitch.
-I'm not playing wet nurse to no 12 year old. -You're not playing much of anything these days.
-Brigma is the pitching coach. -Now! Key to being a big league pitcher is the three R's.
Readiness, recuperation, conditioning. You see, after the game, a lot of guys like to ice up their arms.
Still other fellas think that heat is the way to go. But I 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 about it. It'll be fine. They're just girls.
-Hi! -Hey.
-How's it going? -Okay. -Good. Good. Good.
-George, dont. -Hi, Tiffany. -Hi Roger.
-How's it going? -Not bad.
-She called you Roger. -So?
-Uh, you having meatloaf? -Meatloaf?
-You hear that Jimmy Rogers got a pencil stuck up his nose? -No, I didn't hear that.
-They had to use pliers. -Ow.
-Yeah, the eraser's 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 always have to ride it with my parents.
-Oh. -Tell her to take it for a ride. Ask her to go for a ride!
[bell rings]
-Well, see you. -Bye Roger. -Bye!
-Man, you were this close! -When the boat's done I'll ask her!
-Woah! -You sure your dad said it was alright?
Let's just work on the boat.
Do not crash it please!
-Yes, okay go get me a screwdriver. -Okay, which one?
-Uh, flathead. That little one right there!
-Hurry! -Oh man, I'm gonna be late for practice!
-Go, go, go, dig it out, dig it out!
[groans]
Let me show you how that's done, alright?
Chin down! Eye on the ball! Now, bring it to me!
See what I did there? Huh? You see that? Alright. Now. Give me the good stuff.
Ooh. Third time's a charm. Let the big dog eat!
[clunk]
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 6 years of allowance!
-[elastic sounds] -Hmm.
-[elastic sounds] -[booing]
[chanting] We want Henry! We want Henry!
Garden-hoser!
-They're sending Henry in! -Yeah, we're gonna go sit closer so we can see better.
-Come on, let's go get seats. -The seats? You mean, uh, down on the P-level? No, no, no, please. That's too dangerous.
-Why? -Me? The owner of the Cubs sitting down with the fans? They'd kill me. -You're right.
-Oh, don't tell me they're bringing in- -[chanting] Henry! Henry!
[cheering]
Well, after a shaky outing yesterday, 'Mart Mill is showing confidence in the rookie by bringing him in.
I gotta be out of my mind.
We at Pepsi really think that Henry could the choice of a new generation! If Henry can show Pepsi he's a winner, we'll sign him.
-Oof! -Oh god!
[crowd boos]
-Ow! -Take your base! -Sorry!
-It's okay. -Betcha 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 Ched Steadman! -Woah, what a lucky guy!
Don't listen to him, Hank, he's a loser!
-What are you doing out here? -Well, what am I supposed to do?
-Deal from your have-to. -My-my wh-wh-wh-what? What are you- -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. 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. 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'd you tell him? -You wouldn't understand.
-Come on, kid, earn your paycheck! -Just breathe, baby, come on!
Oh no!
-You're out! You're out! -Yes! You got it!
What a sweet little double play that was!
-Hey! Hey. Way to pitch. -Huh?
That's two!
Cool!
And believe it or not, Henry's one out away from back to back saves!
Alright Hank! Cut some cheese, bud! Cut some big, stinky cheese!
-Strike! -Yeah!
He throws a strike for the first time in his professional career!
-Hey! Hey! -Here you go, kid, here you go, here you go!
-You lookin' good, man, keep lookin' good! -Come on now, let's settle down, let's settle down, son!
-Strike two! -[whistling]
Boy that had some heat on it.
Alright, bring him out of there now!
-[chanting] Henry! Henry! -Finish him off, Hank, we get the Pepsi contract!
-Go, Henry, come on! -Clean his nose!
-Strike three!
-Yeah! -Yes! Yes! Yeah!
Hey! You see that kid? I never doubted him for a minute! Hey! Way to go, Rottle-mocker!
Cha-ching, Jack.
And with that, Rowengartner extends the Cubs to their longest winning streak this season - two.
Hey! Rowengartner! You suck!
-Come on down guys! I got outfield! -I'm batting! -That makes me pitcher!
-Think they'll let us play? -[laughter]
-Hi. I'm Henry's mom. -Hi, Henry's mom.
-Oh, I'm sorry. It's Mary, I'm Mary. -Hi Mary, I'm Chet. -I know.
-Nice to meet you. -Nice to meet you too.
Thanks for whatever you said to him out there.
He's a good kid. He must have a heck of a mom.
[laughs]
-Excuse me! Excuse me! Come on! Don't worry, Mrs. Rowengartner, we'll take good care of him! -Do everything Mr. Brigma says, honey, I love you!
-See you in 10 days! -Bye! -Don't forget to eat your vegetables!
-Get plenty of rest! -Sunscreen!
-Hey! Your mom's got a pretty good arm! I didn't see the floater pitch since Scuffy McGee! Bye! So long! -Bye!
Let's go back to our dull lives in search for meaning.
Baseball is 162 grueling games played in a 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. This steak, for example!
Now, I wrap it up in my vomit bag, I take it back to the hotel, put it on ice, and in the morning, voila! Breakfast!
Conservation, Henry! Managing resources! That is the key to baseball!
Brigma!
I'll be right back.
Hey rookie. Come here.
-Have a seat. What'd you get? -Chicken fingers.
-How are they? -Good. How about you?
-One of the best Salisbury steaks I've ever had in my life. You want some? -Sure.
Thanks for signing that baseball.
Do me a favor. Don't call me Rocket.
-Why? -Because I'm not the Rocket anymore
-Yeah I don't get it, you're throwing so slow. -Well, thank you very much.
-No, no, no, I mean, didn't surgery fix your shoulder? -I don't know what my shoulder will do if I heat it up again.
-This is your room Mr. Rowengartner. -We get our own rooms?
-Yep! -This is great!
Well, if you need anything, I'll be right next door. Okay?
-[knocks] -Sorry, your door seems to be 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.
Alright!
You found out where she lives? Well, did she say anything about me? No, really.
I mean, I gotta go. Bye.
[knocks] Henry? [knocks] Henry.
Oh boy.
[knocks]
Little help. Little help now.
September in Chevaz Ravine, Los Angeles, California. Our beloved Cubbies are just three games behind the New York Mets, with 15 games left to play.
Yes!
-Billy, how's your hand? -It stinks. -Did you hear that? You made his hand stink. You were throwing...
-Hey big guy, you good for another inning? -You betcha, Sallie-baby.
-Good, you're on deck. -Huh? -You're up after Fern. -Huh.
-You can't let him bat. -He's gotta learn sometime.
Sweet meat pies, Rowengartner's going to bat. Oh, I hope that little feller knows what he's doing.
-Stay low. -Yeah, and? -And don't get killed.
You're on. Oh, just take one bat, one bat. [groan] Stay low.
He's throwing BB's today, man.
Show em what you got, kid.
They're gonna let him bat?
[crowd cheering]
Put it in my wheelhouse.
Come on, give me something I can hit.
Just step in the box, son. Step up to the plate.
-Oh my god, oh my god. -Oh my god, oh my god. -Oh my god, oh my god.
-Ahh! -Ball!
-You almost killed him, you stupid mother- -of God in heaven!
-Hey, brush me back! -Just cool it!
Play ball.
-Oh my god, oh my god. -Oh my god, oh my god. -Oh my god, oh my god.
-Ahh! -Ball!
He's got no strike zone!
-You big, ugly piece of- -sit!
-Hang in there, hang in there Henry! -Come on, Henry, you're alright!
No!
Ball! 3-0!
Call strikes! Who cares how short he is. Let's go.
-Powder it, Hank! -Keep your eyes open, stay low!
All four! Take your base!
-Take my base? -Come on, he swung at the ball! -Alright!
-[crowd boo's] -Woah! -Alright, there you go!
-Hank took a rip at that one, but the ump had already made the call, and he's on his way to first.
-Alright, alright, 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! [singing] 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! -Hey.
-Can't get me. -Safe. -Can't get me.
-Hey, kid. -Safe. -Close!
Pitcher, pitcher, pitcher! [singing] Pitcher's got a big butt!
Go!
-Rowengartner going for second! -Go, go!
Slide, slide!
Safe!
-Yeah! -Yes!
Pitcher! [singing] Nanny, nanny, nanny! You can't get me!
This game is making me crazy!
-Hey, we want a pitcher, not an underwear snitcher! -Get back!
-Hey! [crowd boo's] -Kringo Rynell hit Suarez in the back!
That one's for you kid.
Easy kid.
[singing] Nanny, nanny, nanny.
Woah.
-Andele! Andele! -Oh.
-They're running! -Run, run, run! -Faster, faster, faster!
-Move it! Move it! -This is as fast as I go!
-Safe! Safe! -Yeah!
-Alright! -Woah!
-This kid can do it all! -Yeah! Woo! Yes! -Yes! Yes!
-Chet! Is this your one opportunity to go? How's it going to go now? -Hey, we're the Cubs. You never know.
-How does it feel to be out-pitched by a 12 year old? -I don't care who out-pitches me, so long as we get the ring.
-Henry? Henry! -Mom!
Coming through! 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, no, really, I mean we have this whole huge limosine that Mr. Fisher gave us. I'm sure the driver will give you a ride home.
Well, thanks. Thanks a lot.
-[laughter] -Hey, hey, how about a cocktail?
-Oh, please. -Alright. Club soda? -Please.
-Alright. How about you? -Where'd you learn to do this?
DeBrobe, babe. How about you?
-Clube soda, babe. -Okay.
-Thank you. -Thank you.
[radio] Love is lovelier the second time around.
-Henry, what are you doing? -Nothing! I happen to like this music.
-He's turning into a regular social giant. -Uh-huh.
-Where'd 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 a road less traveled!
Sometimes, you just gotta put the petal to the metal and just... live the fantasy! Rock and roll!
-Oh, 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. Ow!
-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.
-Alright now! Let 'er rip, now! -Oh boy, pinball!
How you doin, Jack?
Can you believe this?
Little bit of competition, huh?
I've been talking to the Yankees. They wanna 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%, which translations 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 Ched Steadman.
-Where is he? -He'll be here. -He thinks he's so cool. He should be working on the boat.
-George. -Why do you always defend him? -What, all I said was the word "George"!
[sigh] Forget it.
[sigh]
From the top, everybody. And more smoke!
[singing] You know when it's right. You know when you feel it, baby.
You hold it. You hear it. You taste it, yes right.
You got the right one, baby. Yeah.
-You could be irresistably, super hypothetically- -Cut it! Cut it!
I'm sorry, what was that last line again? If it's irresistably, hypothetically, and logically- -Henry. Henry.
-[sigh] This is unbelievable. -Hey, I uh, need you to sign something.
-What is this? -This is, uh, Henry's contract.
[sigh]
-What do you think of New York? -What?
I need you to be more sexy.
How much longer is this gonna take?
Hey! Hey.
-Well look who finally decided to show up. -George! -They kept me there for hours. You think I liked doing that?
-I don't know. Do you? -Look, I'm sorry. Let's just work on the boat and forget it.
-Okay. -No! I'm not gonna work on the boat just because you say to.
-What, 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 because you broke your stupid arm!
-Guys! Come on! -Shut up! -Make me!
-Come on, stop, you guys are friends! -Come on!
[yelling, grunting]
I hate you!
That's gonna make you stupid.
I guess it already did.
-Steadman. -Yeah? -Get in here.
Ooh. 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!
[sigh]
-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 for you waiting for you at the stadium to take you to the photoshoot. Now where were you? -Ched gave me a ride home.
Ched Steadman? I am so sick of hearing about Ched 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 just blow off a photo shoot to go out and play. -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 your father! Ched Steadman's not your father!
In fact, your mother probably doesn't 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 again.
Well you're gonna be seeing me, you're gonna be seeing a lot of me! Because we're moving to New York together!
-What? -Henry's been sold to the Yankees!
-He sold me? -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!
Alright, mom!
-Don't forget your purse! -That didn't even hurt, okay?
-Oh my god! -My god, that felt really good! What a bile he turned out to be! Maybe I should have killed him. Alright, sit down, sit down.
Okay. Henry.
-What he said about your father... -Yeah?
-Your father... 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.
[grunting]
Hey.
-So, you coming? -Yeah!
-Hey. -Hi.
Mom. There's something we gotta talk about.
You know we could actually win the division today?
-That's great, Uncle Bob. -The Rowengartners are here.
-Henry. You should be suiting up. -Well, Henry has something he'd like to talk to you about.
-Oh? -I'm not gonna be back next season. -What?
-Why? I mean, you were the best thing to happen to baseball since Cracker Jacks. -No, I love the Cubs. And I lovebaseball.
But there's other things I wanna do first.
-I respect that. Oh, Henry, we sure are gonna miss you around here. -Yeah, it's been great. There's just one thing I don't understand.
-What's that? -Why'd you want to sell me to the Yankees?
-What? Sell you to the Yankees? -Yeah, I heard that Mr. Fish wanted to sell me...
Oh, uh... No, that 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 us 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.
-[scoffs] Sal. -Hey guys. Chet's got the ball.
-Are you ready? Let's go now! -Sal!
-Hey, you're starting! -Yeah. I'm shaking like a rookie.
-Don't worry about it. It's just the biggest game in your life. -I know. -Come on.
Hey! 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 Magila. For the whole ball of wax. For the whole kitten kabootle. For the whole enchilada.
For the whole shootin' match. This is for all the marbles. The division champions. The loser goes home a loser.
The winner moves on to the World Series.
I can't believe it. I've been waiting for my whole life to say those words. 'Cause I've said the words before but
never like, "World Series!" and I'm on the air, and we'll be right back.
Listen up! Alright now. This is the big one. Chet's on the hill. Back him up. Play hard. Let's go.
-Strike! -Yes! Alright!
[cheering]
-Strike! -[cheering] -Yes! Yes, yes, yes, yes.
Keep it up, big guy.
Strike.
Three strikes. That's three strikes.
Alright. Yeah!
Steadman's heating it up like the days of yore, when men were men, and when... and that's another story!
-And Mullen slashes one to the left! That's gonna bring around two runs! -Yeah!
-Four hot dogs, please. -Alright, sir, coming right up for you. -Thank you.
-What, are you kidding, Mac? You're 11 bucks short. They're 3 bucks a piece. -3 dollars for a hot dog?
You're out!
-C'mon, strike me out, okay? -Watch this. Here I go.
Alright. Come on, Rocket!
Steadman's a little bit of trouble with a runner on second.
Alright, get him up, get him up.
[grunting]
[crowd gasps]
Come on, come on.
Goodman gets a standup double! It cuts the coupling to one! Two to one, Cubs!
Hot dogs. Get your hot dogs. Get em hot.
Steadman is really laboring. One run is in. And after the wild pitch Goodman is on third with two away.
[grimaces]
All four! Take your base!
[crowd boos]
Chet! I'm gonna take you out!
-One more. -No! -Give me one more.
Look. One more.
[chanting] Rocket! Rocket!
-You're out! -He's out at home!
[cheering]
Steadman makes a game-saving out! Keeping the Cubs ahead by one!
-Stick a fork in me, I'm done. -You gave me 6 great innings. I'm saving you for the playoffs.
No. I mean I'm done. I belt the arm go.
You'll let me finish the season before you take my job, won't you?
-Hey! Oh, you're the greatest, Rocket! -Rowengartner, you're going in.
-What'd he call me? -[laughs]
[chanting] Henry! Henry!
Strike! You're out!
Strike!
[cheering]
-Yeah, yeah, yeah! Good pitcher! -You think so? -I know so!
Let's play some ball! Let's play some ball! Man!
With two outs, Oakie steps in, hoping to bring in the runner.
Oh! What a lucky stab.
[crowd boos]
The Cubbies are one inning away from the division championship, completing the most improbable season in baseball history!
You're on. One more inning! One inning Henry!
Oh, kid, please! Get us through this inning, and I'll never ask you for anything else for as long as I live!
-Okay. But this is the last time. -Thank you. Thank you.
It appears nothing can stop Rowengartner now.
Just one more! And be careful!
[crowd gasps]
-Get up kid! -Are you okay?
-I'm okay. -Alright. -I'm okay.
This kid is making me crazy.
Alright, Henry, let's warm up.
What was that? You alright?
I'm fine. Fine.
Oh no. It's gone!
Oh no.
Play ball.
[chanting] Henry! Henry!
-Ball? -What the hell is he doing? -What?
Uh... well, not his best start, 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. [crowd boos]
Rulinbruter! 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 Cliff.
[crowd boos]
Come here. Come here. Bring it in. Get in here.
-Listen, my arm, it's gone. -What? -No, listen, I can't do hard anymore.
-What are we gonna do? -I have a plan.
[chattering]
1, 2, 3, Cubs!
The meeting's over, and here we go!
-Gotcha. -You're out!
-The hidden ball trick! -Alright! -Excited.
I can't believe he fell for that.
-Throw the heat! Throw the heat! -Cut the funky cheese!
Richard's calling for the attention of Wock! Again!
-I'm gonna kill him! -Sal! Sal! No, no, let it go! Get over here! Just have faith! Let it go! -He's playing stickball!
-Ball three. -I'm gonna kill him. -Easy Chet, let him go, let him go.
Take your base. [crowd boos]
-Why did he walk him? -He could have struck him out.
-I'm not going for the hidden ball trick either. -I don't have the ball.
-Oops. -What are you doing kid? -I dare you to run.
-What? What are you talking about?
I double dare you.
-Hey, cut it out, let's play some ball here. -What's the matter? Chicken? [chicken noises]
-Hey, I'm not chicken, cut it out. -[chicken noises]
-Stop it. Just stop it. Just stop it. -You should have run. Gee, I guess you really are chicken.
-I'm not a chicken, you're the chicken. -No, you're a chicken. -No, you're the chicken.
-Chicken, chicken, [chicken noises] -No, you are the chicken. -You're the biggest chicken I ever seen.
-You throw the ball real high. I dare you. See how chicken you are. -Alright, but it's the last time.
Go, go, go.
You're out!
He got him, he got him! Two away!
Alright Rowengartner, you do it! You do it! Anything goes!
-Remember me, kid? -Oh my god.
-Holy goosebumps. Not Hado. -It's Hado.
I'm your worst nightmare.
-Throw the heat! Burn it in there. Burn his hand off! -Fastball.
You can't hit him with your fastball.
Strike!
-Change-up. That's a change-up! It's a strike! -Henry totally fooled him with a change-up!
That's it kid? What, are you kidding me? Come on, give me it.
See ya!
-Go foul, go foul. -Stay fair, stay fair. -Foul. -Fair.
Foul ball.
You were wrong again, Ernie.
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.
-Henry. One more. -Show em how, Henry.
Well, this is it, folks. Everything is riding on this pitch.
-What are you smiling at, kid? -Nothing.
-You're out! -Yes!
Henry! I love you!
We won a division! We won a division!
[cheering]
Yes, baby! Yes! I love you.
I got it!
Yeah! Big Hank!