Episode: “The Mighty Casey” (1960)
REVIEWED BY MARK A. LARSON
Editor & Publisher
Usually, when a ballplayer is “in the zone,” it seems like nothing can go wrong. But what happens if it’s “The Twilight Zone?”
Host-Narrator Rod Serling: “You are about to enter another dimension. A dimension not only of sight and sound, but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land of imagination … Next Stop: ‘The Twilight Zone.’” …
THE SETTING: It’s the early- to mid-1950s and the Hoboken Zyphers of the National League are mired in last place. Manager “Mouth” McGarry (played by Jack Warden) is desperate and an open tryout is held at the stadium. But those who show up aren’t doing squat.
Suddenly, McGarry is approached by an older, bespectacled gentleman who introduces himself as Dr. Stillman. He is accompanied by a left-handed wannabe hurler named Casey (played by Robert Sorrells). The southpaw takes the mound to show his stuff and he’s nothing short of incredible. Casey’s fastball is thrown so hard the catcher’s mitt starts smoking.
Meanwhile, Dr. Stillman and manager McGarry are discussing Casey’s prowess when it is revealed that Stillman “created” him. Say what? … He’s actually a robot. McGarry is stunned, but eventually believes him and they agree to keep Casey’s identity a secret. (Ironically, the catcher tells the manager that Casey “pitches like nothing human.”)
Manager McGarry with Dr. Stillman (left) … and Casey (right)
That night, Casey starts on the mound for the Zyphers against the New York Giants and shuts them out. He continues to win and win and win. Soon the team moves up in the standings. Then the unthinkable happens: Newspaper headlines blare “Casey Beaned!”
Next, we see Casey in a hospital bed being examined by the team physician. The pitcher is OK, except he doesn’t have a pulse or heartbeat. Casey’s true identity is disclosed and the physician says he has no choice but to inform the Commissioner.
A Kenesaw Mountain Landis-type of Commish visits the hospital room and declares Casey ineligible to play because he doesn’t have a heart and isn’t human. On the other hand, when Dr. Stillman says he can give Casey a heart, the Commissioner relents and says: “If he gets a heart, I’ll let him play temporarily until the next league meeting … the other clubs are going to scream bloody murder – I can just hear (Leo) Durocher now.”
So like the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz (but no oil needed), heartless Casey gets a ticker. However, when he returns to the mound, he’s not the same fireballer as before. In his first start, Casey gets walloped and gives up 14 runs in the first inning. What’s wrong? Dr. Stillman explains to the manager: “Casey’s got a heart now.” And Casey adds: “I just couldn’t strike those poor fellows out. I didn’t have it in me to do that and hurt their feelings … I felt compassion. I just can’t hurt fellows’ careers.”
Apparently, it was a bleeding heart.
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◾️ Perhaps actor Jack Warden’s best-known sports-related role was as unsympathetic Juror #7 in the classic 1957 film “Twelve Angry Men.” He played the baseball fan who, according to another juror “had a pair of baseball tickets (for that night’s game) burning a hole in his pocket.” He didn’t care which way the vote went for the man on trial for murder as long as he made it to the game on time.
Jack Warden as Juror #7 in “Twelve Angry Men”
As a sidenote: When one of Juror #7’s fellow jurors (played by Jack Klugman) indicated he was a Baltimore (Orioles) fan, Warden’s character responded: “That’s like being hit in the head with a crowbar once a day.”
◾️ Robert Sorrells, who portrayed Casey, was a character actor for many years in movies and on television in shows such as Gunsmoke and Bonanza. He died in prison while serving a sentence for murder. … Whoa.
◾️ According to Wikipedia, many scenes of “The Mighty Casey” were filmed at old Wrigley Field in Los Angeles (a former minor league park). Stock footage of stadium crowds at New York’s Polo Grounds and Boston’s Fenway Park were also used.
◾️ Between 1959-64, “The Twilight Zone” ran for five seasons on CBS – 156 episodes in all. While some might say this isn’t necessarily a classic “Twilight Zone” episode – and although corny – it provides a few chuckles and the baseball angle makes it well worth a half-hour of your time.
LA’s Wrigley Field as it looked in its opening year, 1925 (Wikipedia Photo)
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NOTE: To find out if this show is available in your area, use a search engine and type in: “Where to watch THE TWILIGHT ZONE” … In general, know that some television programs are currently only available on DVD, so check your local library … Others may not be available at all at this time.
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