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| Episode 21 |
A brief introduction is given by the writer before the
episode and its neat how she incorporated her love of baseball into the
show. In the episode Winston is a fan of
the sport but that stands to reason considering he is the only one who would
probably have an interest in it. She
mentions a goof in the script where Ray refers to the score as points rather
than runs but takes the blame for making the mix up. It’s not a big deal but it’s unusual to see
people take blame for something they did wrong.
Anyway I enjoyed this one as a kid and find out now that it still holds
up very well. The question is will
Winston be able to save the day with his baseball skills or will the
Ghostbusters strike out? I know a poor
pun but would anyone be able to resist saying that for this particular episode?
It begins at night on a minor league baseball field. I’m guessing its minor league since there isn’t
even a stadium. From the pitcher’s mound
come streaks of blue and red spectral energy I dare say. The streaks dart around the field and
eventually return to the mound but clearly something supernatural is stirring. The music is added perfectly to provide that
feeling of otherworldly phenomena.
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| Ghostbuster policy = bribery |
Winston comes strolling into the firehouse in full baseball
attire flashing around two tickets. He
asks Ray and Peter if they want to go to the game with him but Ray dismisses
the invitation once he finds out the Jaguars are playing. Apparently they are a very terrible team as
Ray would prefer to see the Yankees or Red Sox.
Peter declines as well but does he like anything? Janine in turn refuses the offer opting to
stare at her exciting magazine instead.
Egon comes downstairs with a huge stack of books but declines only
offering Winston the story that he knew someone in college who studied the
curveball. Alas Winston is left to
bribing Slimer with food to join him. Slimer
agrees by taking Winston’s ball cap off and wearing it. A wink to the camera by Winston and we’re
off.
In the stands Slimer is eating wildly while wearing a jacket
and hat. I usually find nothing remotely
interesting about Slimer but it’s a funny brief scene. The blue and red streaks appear during the
game as Winston watches on. Again they
came from the pitcher’s mound. Curiosity
is pulling at Winston’s soul right about now.
Let’s face it its far more interesting than watching a crappy baseball
team play.
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| Don't mess with a forearm like that |
Back at the firehouse the guys raze Winston about the
Jaguars. “
A jag player dropping a pop fly isn’t exactly a supernatural event.” Ray states.
“
Now if he caught the ball that’d
be supernatural.” Peter adds. Winston slams his fist on the table claiming,
“
I know what I saw.” It’s awesome to see him sticking it to the
guys for their disbelief in his story.
He brings out a book he checked out from the library, ah the good old
days, and explains to the guys about an old Indian legend. It states once every 500 years the forces of
good and evil battle at the very same spot the Jaguars play their games. That basically shuts up the mockery from them
and they agree to check it out in the morning by visiting the mayor for a
permit. Winston is afraid people may get
hurt in the meantime because it could take days to get legal permission to
check out the baseball field.
Winston decides to take matters into his own hands without
the others knowledge and drives up to the field alone in his car, which is
styling. A security guard lets him in
because he’s so excited to meet a ghostbuster in person. That’s when the spirits come out to play so
to speak. Winston tells the guard to
take off and he’ll follow. The guard
calls the ghostbusters and the others come quickly. “
He’s
in there. I gotta tell you this guy is
brave.” The guard informs the
ghostbusters who look at the supernatural event surrounding the field. I always liked that line by the guard, don’t
know why. Egon suggests they all fire
their beams at the same spot at the base of the dome now covering the
field. That allows a tunnel to be formed
and entry possible by the guys.
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| Which side was the umpire on though? |
As they arrive inside they notice a supernatural baseball
field in place with Winston playing as the shortstop. I love the creativity of the spirits and the
layout of the field, in particular the bases.
They have eyes and a mouth with sharp teeth that look downright creepy. Winston explains he suggested good and evil
play a game of baseball this time since they always conform to their
surroundings and do battle based off of it.
It’s a fun idea actually. Winston
has to play in the game since he was present when the spirits showed up, makes
enough sense. The umpire wants the rest
of them to go and explains this game is being played for one human soul. Peter overacts and refuses to leave as the
guys think Winston’s soul is on the line.
The umpire allows them to stay but they can’t play, that’s probably a
good thing. Can you imagine Egon, Ray or
Peter playing baseball, it couldn’t be pretty.
If evil wins the human soul must do evil’s bidding for 500 years, high
stakes.
The game goes on with the score being tied at 0 in the 8th
inning. Evil gets a hit and Winston
catches a pop fly where about 50 or so balls fall toward him, although he makes
the play and catches one for the out.
Peter informs the umpire that evil cheated. I love the response by the umpire as he
explains that evil is allowed to cheat because it’s their nature but if good
cheats they will forfeit the game. Good
can’t take the ways of evil and still be good.
Basically evil can do whatever they want to win while good must play by
the rules, it’s an awesome little speech.
Ray says as they walk away, “I
wonder if good is allowed to steal bases?”
Peter replies, “Maybe good just
borrows them Ray.” Amazing dialogue
is all I can say.
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| Cheater's never prosper guys |
As evil goes up one run Winston comes over to say how much
it means to him that the guys are letting him do this. They in turn encourage him to go back out
there and do his best more or less, what else can they say? They’re worried he will lose his soul for 500
years! Good eventually gets a couple of
hits prompting evil to call for a relief pitcher, a giant one eyed, long
elephant-like trunked beast. It doesn’t
look good for, well, good. With the
pressure mounting and good down to their final out Winston comes up to
bat. The music is on mark as well which
adds to the tension. The umpire informs
the guys that evil’s best pitcher is up and Winston may do better against
another pitcher. The guys ponder over
cheating since they haven’t been forced to leave. Peter hates the idea of a game determining
Winston’s fate. Egon remembers everyone
must be on a side. Peter wants to trap
the pitcher to save Winston. It’s
apparent they are on the side of good with Winston though as Egon stops Ray and
Peter from blasting the pitcher.
Cheating isn’t an option even for them.
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| Used to be a woolly mammoth? |
Cue the theme music as the pitcher prepares to fire and
Winston stares it dead on. It’s a
powerful scene as he smashes the ball straight back to the pitcher with
supernatural velocity (appropriate I’d say) sending the spirit into the scoring
post. He rounds the bases to the
exciting thrall of the music and the celebration of good winning the game. Evil melts away in defeat for another 500
years while good gets the classic fade out.
Egon wishes he could have studied the umpire a bit more while Peter
says, “
At least we saved our buddy here.” Winston says, “
What?.. Oh no, you got it all
wrong it was your soul we were playing for Peter.” Peter collapses in the reality if he cheated
it would have been his soul suffering instead.
It’s a great little twist ending to a fantastic episode.
I’m not a fan of baseball but this was one of the best
episodes yet. It’s not the top but it
earns its points, runs or whatever you want to call it. The minimal and effective use of Slimer was
great while integrating baseball and ghostbusting flawlessly. I recommend this one to anybody new to the
show that is curious about ghostball.
Rating: 10 of 10
Links
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https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scotts-Reviews-Blog/259595016829
It begins at night on a minor league baseball field. I’m guessing its minor league since there isn’t
even a stadium. From the pitcher’s mound
come streaks of blue and red spectral energy I dare say. The streaks dart around the field and
eventually return to the mound but clearly something supernatural is stirring. The music is added perfectly to provide that
feeling of otherworldly phenomena.
Winston decides to take matters into his own hands without
the others knowledge and drives up to the field alone in his car, which is
styling. A security guard lets him in
because he’s so excited to meet a ghostbuster in person. That’s when the spirits come out to play so
to speak. Winston tells the guard to
take off and he’ll follow. The guard
calls the ghostbusters and the others come quickly. “He’s
in there. I gotta tell you this guy is
brave.” The guard informs the
ghostbusters who look at the supernatural event surrounding the field. I always liked that line by the guard, don’t
know why. Egon suggests they all fire
their beams at the same spot at the base of the dome now covering the
field. That allows a tunnel to be formed
and entry possible by the guys. 
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