Episode: “Homer at the Bat” (1992)
REVIEWED BY MARK A. LARSON
Editor & Publisher
“Do’h !!”
That’s a “word of wisdom” that frequently comes out of the mouth of one Homer Jay Simpson. … Inspiring. … Makes one want to go out and seize the day. … Or not. … (Yes, this is the same Homer Simpson who never met a donut he didn’t like.)
In this third-season episode of “The Simpsons,” Homer – who works at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant – signs up for the company softball team. After the previous year’s 2-28 record, none of his co-workers want to play this season. However, Homer coxes them to join by telling them he has a secret weapon. (It’s his homemade “Wonderbat.”)
Opening Day pits the Nuclear Plant against the Springfield Police. Before the game begins, the ump goes over the ground rules: “You can’t leave first until you chug a beer. And after scoring you have to chug a beer. Chug a beer at the top of all odd-numbered innings and the fourth inning is the beer inning.” … The games “chugs” along and it’s a fairly close contest, with The Police leading 5-2 in the bottom of ninth. The bases are loaded, with two outs. Homer comes to the plate and smashes a grand slam – winning the game. It really is a wonder bat.
The team’s success continues and they only need one more win against Shelbyville for the championship. Mr. Burns, the owner of the Nuclear Plant, bets $1 million that his team will do it. But to protect his bet (being the shady character that he is), he decides to recruit and employ nine major leaguers as ringers before the big game. He instructs his assistant, Smithers, to find the nine within 24 hours and bribe them to play.
Smithers starts by approaching Jose Canseco who is signing autographs at a card show. The slugger accepts and Smithers then signs up other players and eventually ends up at Don Mattingly’s house. The Yankee comes to the door while doing the dishes – he’s holding a dish, has rubber gloves on, plus a towel slung over his shoulder. In addition to Caseco and Mattingly, Smithers lines up: Mike Scioscia, Ozzie Smith, Steve Sax, Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Ken Griffey, Jr. and Darryl Strawberry. (All nine provided their own voices for this episode.)
Mr. Burns announces to the team that all the regulars will be benched and the nine ringers will take the field in the big game. However, when game day arrives, many of the major leaguers are unable to play. For instance, Mike Scioscia has radiation poisoning from working at the power plant; Steve Sax was arrested on some bogus charges; Jose Canseco is busy saving a baby, then a cat, then a player piano and then some appliances from a burning house; Roger Clemens has been accidentally hypnotized to be a chicken and is cluck, cluck, clucking away. …
Once again, the game comes down to the bottom of the ninth. With two outs and the bases full, the score is tied 43-43 and Homer comes to the plate. With Wonderbat obliterated earlier in the episode, can he possibly be the hero again? Instead of belting one over the fence, he gets distracted and is plunked on the noggin with the ball and collapses. Unbeknownst to the unconscious Homer, he forces in the winning run with the hit-by-pitch.
The show ends with Terry Cashman singing an adaptation of his “Talkin’ Baseball” song called “Talkin’ Softball” over the closing credits.
THE SIMPSONS: ⚫️ 36 seasons ⚫️ 1989-2025 ⚫️ 780+ episodes & counting ⚫️ Fox Network ⚫️ D’oh !!
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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 SIMPSONS” … 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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