Rookie of the Year 

A small town sportswriter attending the World Series recognizes a young ballplayer as the son of former baseball hero who was banned for throwing a game.

Director:

John Ford

Writers:

W.R. Burnett (story), Frank S. Nugent (as Frank Nugent)

Stars:

John Wayne, Vera Miles, Ward Bond

Cast

Episode credited cast:
John Wayne	...	Mike Cronin
Vera Miles	...	Ruth Dahlberg
Ward Bond	...	Buck Goodhue, alias Buck Garrison
Patrick Wayne	...	Lyn Goodhue (as Pat Wayne)
James Gleason	...	Ed Shafer
Willis Bouchey	...	Mr. Cully
Harry Tyler	...	Mr. White
William Forrest	...	Mr. Walker
Robert Lyden	...	Willie (as Robert Leyden)
Tiger Fafara	...	Bobby
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Ford	...	Self

Storyline

A reporter recognizes a hot young baseball player as the son of a former famous - and infamous - ballplayer who was accused of throwing the World Series.

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Plot Keywords:

world series | baseball | small town | reporter | breaking a window | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Did You Know?

Trivia

All the characters in this story are fictional, but the character played by Ward Bond is strongly suggestive of the real "Shoeless" Joe Jackson.

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Goofs

Lyn Goodhue is seen playing for the New York Yankees wearing the number 4 on his uniform. The Yankees retired No. 4 on July 4, 1939, to honor its original wearer Lou Gehrig.

User Reviews

Banned for life

In one of his few television appearances John Wayne stars in this half hour story directed by John Ford for Screen Director's Playhouse. This is an interesting part as he plays a cynical sportswriter. I've never seen him in this kind of role before or since.

Probably because in real life such a thing as this story tells of wouldn't happen. Wayne spots something familiar about Pat Wayne who plays a Yankee rookie phenomenon from coal mining country, shades of Mickey Mantle.

Wayne is reminded of Buck Garrison of the Chicago Black Sox and what a story it would be if Pat turned out to be related to him. Ward Bond plays the former ballplayer, shades of Buck Weaver of the Black Sox.

This has John Ford written all over it with Vera Miles, James Gleason, Willis Bouchey all in the cast.

The Duke's fans should love it.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 December 1955 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Hal Roach Studios - 8822 Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hal Roach Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

29 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1