Breaking Into the Big League (1913)
An air of excitement pervades the little town of Squashville. The local baseball team is to cross bats with the determined organization from Stringtown and the game will decide the season's championship. Mamie Wallace, an ardent enthusiast, appears on the field with her father and greets her sweetheart, Montjoy Jones, who, resplendent in his uniform, assures his friends that Squashville will capture the pennant. It is a hotly contested game and as the final inning approaches Squashville has a lead of three runs. The local pitcher wavers momentarily and the visitors fill the bases. Now comes the crucial moment. A high fly is driven toward Montjoy, who makes a terrible muff and loses the game and the championship. Montjoy becomes a stranger in his own town. His friends desert him and no one has a kind word. The love of his sweetheart turns cold and her father forbids, the disgraced player from entering the house. The outcast seeks the solace of sleep and has a wonderful dream. He plays the game again. This time he catches the fly and retires the side. He is acclaimed the hero of the hour. It happens that a scout for the New York Giants witnesses the game and wires to Manager John McGraw, who has his team in training at Marlin, Texas. Acting upon the scout's advice, McGraw sends a contract to Jones, who loses no time in preparing to join the team. Squashville gives its "first citizen" a rousing send-off. At Marlin Montjoy reports to McGraw and meets the famous veterans who have brought two championships to New York. McGraw and Mathewson, the peerless pitcher, take the recruit in hand. He has a severe lesson in sliding and McGraw shows him how to bat. Mathewson's fast curves put the young fellow on his mettle. After the training season the team goes to New York for the first game of the season. Montjoy has shown such skill with the bat that he is sent in a "pinch hitter" and knocks out a home run, which clinches the game for the Giants. Modestly he submits to an interview and news of his fame reaches the home town. Mamie and her father determine to see the famous star in action and make a trip to New York. It is a spirited game that the Wallaces witness. One sensational play follows another and finally the great Mathewson is called up to replace a weakening pitcher. A hit off the famous twirler causes alarm. Mathewson sees an opportunity to work an extraordinary play and confers with Montjoy, who has been sent to the shortstop position. The result is a lightning triple play. Again Montjoy is the hero. As he passes one of the boxes he sees Mamie applauding him. What a pleasure it is to pass by and ignore her. And then he wakes up. The stern reality of his position strikes home as he sees a note thrust under the door. The note is from Mamie, stating that after much persuasion she has prevailed upon her father to permit Montjoy to call, but father has declared that if baseball is mentioned, the player will have to "beat it," Monty throws bat and glove into the street and hastens to his sweetheart's home.
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