The Andy Griffith Show (TV Series) The Ball Game (1966) User Reviews

Well Done Sports Feature

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 28 December 2019]

Often, when a sport is a part of a story, the game scenes are awful. They get a kid at shortstop who never played the game. Here, it looked like a little league game. I umpired for 20 years and know what that play must have looked like. You try so hard to see two things: where the player's foot is and when the tag is applied. Even a split second can be the difference. Unfortunately, for Mayberry, Andy saw the tag applied first. No matter what, you are going to have half the people upset. Anyway, it isn't unusual for a little town that has so much invested to get their hackles up. Andy becomes the pariah. I had a game one time where the teams each brought an umpire, one at the plate, one on the field. Because the other team didn't have anyone, I had to do the whole game from behind the plate. I still got crap from the guys who didn't fulfill their obligation. I had to call the bases and balls and strikes. But I had to stand in there, even with their abuse. I was young an it built character, but I've never forgotten how people (not the players) could get so ugly. There's my speech. I liked this episode very much.

Another very entertaining look at reality.

[tweiss-67368 · 9/10 · 10 September 2021]

Another priceless episode that beautifully reflects reality. Andy gets caught in a no win situation as everyone turns against him. The confrontation between Andy, Goober, and Floyd, is hysterical ! And newcomer Howard comes nicely to Andy's rescue. And Helen and Aunt Bee add even more support.

Awesome episode 0

[nctommy · 8/10 · 9 May 2021]

One of my all time episodes of one of my favorite shows. Break from being sheriff and at home or sheriff's office. Liked when Opie was growing up. Show had different dyanamic. Near end but different and good.

Picture worth a 1000 words

[adrian_heflin · 17 September 2017]

At the end of this episode, you see a picture of Opie clearly sliding safely underneath the tag. However, if you pause the show during the slide, you'll see easily that the Mount Pilot catcher blocked Opie from the plate and tagged him out. It doesn't even appear that Opie actually touched home because of how well the catcher did. Yet, we are shown a pic at the end that was clearly manufactured for the story line and not based on what Andy really saw.

The tag play

[vitoscotti · 10/10 · 4 December 2020]

3rd base is on the dirt off the grass. Home plate is 3-4 feet into the grass. The baseline isn't straight, set up by the crew. I paused the tag numerous times. The catcher is facing the incoming runner. Andy behind him. The catcher blocks the plate with foot then leg. It appears the catcher prevents Opie from hitting the plate with his leg not foot, though beating the throw. Helen's secret photo she shows Aunt Bea. Opie now has a clear path to home with now his sliding feet. The catcher is facing right field when he receives the throw. Andy is now off some to the right. Opie is obviously safe in the recreated photo for the end by a mile, not even close, as the original tag.

Rewatchd July 26, 2022 Andy at his best when it's him against the world. Lot of sympathy for umpires & referees with people who are over the top. Geez imbecile Goober nothing like putting the weight of the world on kids. Restaurant scene with Goober and Floyd told off was really funny. Dog yapping at Andy scenes were great.

Goof not mentioned regarding Opie's uniform

[david-114-69075 · 10/10 · 24 July 2023]

In the opening scene Aunt Bee hands Opie his laundered uniform where the stirrups are navy blue with white stripes. If you watch the game action, Opie and the Mayberry team are wearing orange stirrups. The uniform inconsistency is a major flaw that takes away from an otherwise excellent episode! Shame on the costume director!

One other note: Aunt Bee is a 'Homer' and expected Andy to play favorites and help Mayberry. Aunt Bee wanted Andy to cheat in order for Opie to win. Aunt Bee is evil incarnate. Also, what was that hat milquetoast Howard Sprague was wearing when he wrote the newspaper article about Andy? Was that his lucky typing hat?