THIS IS YOUR LIFE: THE CLASSICS {CASEY STENGEL} {OCTOBER 29, 1952} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of nostalgic programs hosted by Ralph Edwards, in which he introduces classic episodes of his live television program "This Is Your Life." The program honors the career of an unsuspecting guest, usually a celebrity, and features surprise testimonials from family and friends. In this episode, originally aired on October 29, 1952, Edwards surprises baseball manager Casey Stengel, who believes he has been summoned to the El Capitan Theater to recieve an honor from the Los Angles Times National Sports Award Board. Facing the proceedings with an utter sense of detachment, "The Ol' Perfesser" greets guests from his past and present. Highlights and reminiscences include the following: a look at Stengel's boyhood in Kansas City, Missouri in the late-nineteenth century; a visit from his boyhood pal, Harold Letterman, who explains why Stengel was nicknamed "Dutch" in his youth; a gift of bookends for Stengel, made from bricks taken from the foundation of his former high school; a remembrance of his first professional baseball game in 1910 for a local department store team; his entry into Western Dental College in the fall of 1910; a look at why Stengel didn't pursue a career in dentistry; his minor league career as a player; a visit from former Dodgers teammate Zack Wheat, who recalls Casey's first major league game for Brooklyn; Wheat and "Irish" Meusel of the New York Giants jokingly describing Stengel's famed bit of clowning, which resulted in a fellow player being struck violently in the sternum by a grapefruit thrown from an airplane; a visit from Stengel's wife, the former Edna Lawson; a look at Stengel's major league managing career, including his unsuccessful stints at the helm of the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Boston Bees; a visit from umpire "Beans" Reardon, who recalls the manager's gamesmanship; a visit from the former president of the Oakland Oats, who recalls Stengel coming to the defense of diminutive, vitriolic second baseman Billy Martin; Stengel's overwhelming success as skipper of the New York Yankees, as he piloted that franchise to an unprecendented four straight world championships from 1949 to 1952; a visit from Brooklyn Dodgers manager Chuck Dressen, Dodgers centerfielder Duke Snider, and Yankees second baseman Billy Martin; an introduction of such audience members as ballplayers Jim Brideweser and Irv Noren; and a visit from New York Yankees co-owner Del Webb. Before the program's conclusion, Stengel is presented with a free week of vacation at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, and a matching set of Amelia Earhart luggage. The show concludes as a west coast sportswriter presents Stengel with an award from the Los Angeles Times National Sports Award Board. Commercials deleted.
("This Is Your Life" aired on NBC from 1952 to 1961.)
Details
- NETWORK: Syndicated
- DATE: November 30, 1991
- RUNNING TIME: 0:25:00
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: T:25332
- GENRE: Talk/Interviews
- SUBJECT HEADING: Baseball; Biography; Sports
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1952-1961; 1987, 1993 / Syndication - 1971-1973; 1983-1984
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Ralph Edwards … Executive Producer, Host
- Alfred Paschall … Producer
- Alex Gruenberg … Producer, Director
- Von Dexter … Music by
- Mort Lewis … Writer
- Stengel, Casey (Charles Dillon Stengel) … Honoree
- Edna Stengel … Guest
- Reardon, "Beans" … Guest
- Zack Wheat … Guest
- Chuck Dressen … Guest
- Snider, Duke (Edwin Donald Snider) … Guest
- Martin, Billy (Alfred Manuel Martin) … Guest
- Jim Brideweser … Guest
- Irv Noren … Guest
- Meusel, Emil Frederick "Irish" … Guest