A League of Their Own Comments

Charlie Collins, Racine Coach: Okay, come on. We got a lot to do, let's settle down. You are the first...

[Sees Shirley Baker over at the lists]

Charlie Collins, Racine Coach: Honey, are you supposed to be here or are you on the cut list?

[Shirley doesn't respond]

Charlie Collins, Racine Coach: Look, I'm sorry, but if you're cut, you have to leave the field.

Shirley Baker: [Almost in tears] Mm-hmm

Charlie Collins, Racine Coach: Well, are you cut? Oh, just look on the list. It's either Rockford, Racine, Kenosha, or South Bend.

[Shirtley turns to the lists, starting cry, as Helen Haley approaches her]

Helen Haley: Hi.

Shirley Baker: Hi.

Helen Haley: Um, can you read, honey?

Helen Haley: Alright. What's your name?

Shirley Baker: Shirley Baker.

Helen Haley: Shirley Baker. Let's have a look.

[She looks at the Rockford Peaches list first and spots Shirley's name]

Helen Haley: This is you.

[Shirley laughs happily]

Helen Haley: You're with us. You're a Rockford Peach.

Charlie Collins, Racine Coach: [Smiling] Go join your team.

[Shirley joins the Rockford Peaches, sitting down next to Marla]

Charlie Collins, Racine Coach: Now, you are the first girls in the All American Girls Profession Baseball League. My name is Charlie Collins. I'll be managing the Racine team when the season begins.

[Racine team cheers]

Charlie Collins, Racine Coach: Now, at the end of practice today, you're all gonna be fitted for your uniforms and this is what they're gonna look like. Pretty darned nifty if you ask me.

[Model walks up on the platform in a wool uniform complete with a miniskirt]

Unnamed Ball Player #1: You can't slide in that!

Doris Murphy: Hey, that's a dress!

Mae Mordabito: It's half a dress! Excuse me, but that's not a baseball uniform!

Doris Murphy: Yeah, what do you think we are? Baseball players or ballerinas?

Kit Keller: [to Dottie] It's awfully short.

Dottie Hinson: Short? I'm gonna have to squat in that thing.

Unnamed Ball Player #2: I can't wear that. My husband'll kill me.

[Ira Lowenstein approaches]

Helen Haley: Excuse me, sir.

Ira Lowenstein: Ladies...

Shirley Baker: Excuse me.

Ira Lowenstein: If you can't play ball in this, you can't play ball with us. Now, there are 38 girls on a train ride home, who'll play in a bathing suit, if I ask them.

Mae Mordabito: Yeah, well, there are no pockets for my cigarettes.

[Doris laughs]

Ira Lowenstein: Ah, there is no smoking. There is also no drinking and no men.

[Mae gets up, angry, ready to leave, but Doris pulls Mae back down against her will, with Mae sitting back down, frustrated]

Ira Lowenstein: . All of your activities will be approved through your chaperones. And you will also be taking regular classes at Charm and Beauty school.

Doris Murphy: For what?

Ira Lowenstein: Every girl in this league is going to be a lady.

[Marla looks scared]

Margaret: [Tosses catchers mitt into Dottie's suitcase] Thought you might need that.

Older Dottie: Where'd you find this?

Margaret: In one of the boxes after...

[Dottie tries it on for size]

Margaret: Needs oil.

Older Dottie: Ha! Who doesn't?

Margaret: You ready?

Older Dottie: I'm not going.

Margaret: Oh! Mom! I already got 2 children, I don't need a 3rd.

Older Dottie: Why is it so important that I go?

Margaret: Well, for one thing, it'd be nice if you left the room. Besides, these are your old friends.

Older Dottie: They probably won't even remember me.

Margaret: The Queen of Diamonds? Dottie Hinson?

Older Dottie: Margaret, I just don't think this is a good idea.

Margaret: I don't know what you're so worried about. Plus, you're gonna get to see Aunt Kit. You two ever get to see each other.

Older Dottie: We still won't. Kit won't be there, she'll be travelling around with that husband of hers.

Margaret: Frank. He has a name: Frank. And he's always been very nice to you.

Older Dottie: Makes me nervous.

Margaret: Mom.

Older Dottie: Honey, I'm not comfortable about this. I was never really part of it. It was just something I did.

Margaret: Mom, when are you gonna realize how special it was? How important it was?

Older Dottie: I...

Margaret: Yeah, I know. I know how you feel, I really do.

[Dottie smiles]

Margaret: But you're going.

[She forces her up from the kitchen table and out the door]

Older Dottie: [Heading to the car] Car, plane, a bus. I'm tired already.

Margaret: You'll sleep on the plane.

Jeffrey: Grandma's out of the room. Is there a fire?

Older Dottie: Weisenheimer.

Margaret: Julie, next door, is watching you and I don't wanna get any bad reports.

[She gets into the driver's side of the car, as Dottie is fixing her coat]

Margaret: .

Older Dottie: Jeffrey? Come here.

[He heads on over]

Older Dottie: Listen, no matter what your brother does, he's littler than you are. So, give him a chance to shoot.

[Jeffrey nods, and heads back to the basketball net]

Older Dottie: . Bobby?

[Bobby walks over]

Older Dottie: Kill him.

Margaret: Come on, you'll miss your plane.

[She gets into the car, and she and her daughter drive off, as Bobby and Jeffrey continue their game, with Bobby shooting and making a basket]

Bobby: Yeah!