Episode 269
Baseball Hall of Fame Talk, Bitty Schram on A League of Their Own
Host Bill Donohue begins the show talking about the Baseball Hall of Fame. He takes a look at the history, the players and managers who’ve been honored, and the work of the ERA Committees in recognizing some of the game’s overlooked stars.
In the second half of the show, Bill revisits his “Baseball at the Movies” segment, welcoming actress Bitty Schram, one of the stars of A League of Their Own. They talk about her role as Evelyn Gardner, the movie’s impact, its famous lines, and what the film says about women’s place in baseball history. The conversation blends baseball and Hollywood, celebrating both the sport’s past and its lasting legacy on screen.
Takeaways:
- The Baseball Hall of Fame's selection process involves various committees that consider retired players and contributors based on their era, highlighting the complexity of Hall of Fame eligibility criteria.
- Bill Donohue expressed his admiration for the Baseball Hall of Fame, engaging listeners by inviting them to share their opinions on player selections and potential grievances regarding the voting process.
- In the segment featuring actress Bitty Schram, she discussed her role in 'A League of Their Own', emphasizing the significant cultural impact of the film and its relevance to women's sports history.
- The discussion about the famous line 'There's no crying in baseball' revealed its origins and the significance of humor intertwined with serious themes in baseball narratives.
- Bitty Schram shared insights into the audition process for 'A League of Their Own', emphasizing the importance of both acting talent and athletic ability in securing roles in the film.
- The radio show highlighted the ongoing relevance of baseball in American cinema, showcasing how films like 'A League of Their Own' continue to resonate with audiences and promote discussions about sports and gender roles.
Transcript
The views expressed in the following program do not necessarily represent those of the staff, management or owners of wgbb.
Speaker A:Live from the WGBB studios in Merrick, New York, this is Sports Talk New York.
Speaker B:Good evening and hello again, everybody.
Speaker B:Welcome welcome to SPORTS Talk New York on WGBB in Merrick, Long Island, New York, USA.
Speaker B: th day of August,: Speaker B:Our engineer Brian Graves is with us.
Speaker B:As always, I'm glad to have you with us tonight.
Speaker B:We were due to welcome in hall of Famer Tim Raines in the first half of the show.
Speaker B:I spoke to Tim this afternoon.
Speaker B:He's got some family health issues that he's got to take care of tonight.
Speaker B:So we will try to reschedule Tim for a future date.
Speaker B:I hope everything is well with the Rains family and we wish them the best.
Speaker B:In the second half of the show, we will return to Baseball at the Movies, which we have not ventured into lately.
Speaker B:And we'll welcome to the show Biddy Schramm, one of the stars of A League of Their Own.
Speaker B:She played Evelyn, the right fielder, and we will find out once and for all if there's crying in baseball.
Speaker B:We'll get to the bottom of that, folks.
Speaker B:So relax and enjoy the show tonight.
Speaker B:Some great sports chat coming up for you tonight.
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Speaker B:Well, as I said, Tim Raines not with us tonight, but we're going to talk hall of Fame tonight anyway, a subject near and dear to my heart.
Speaker B:If you have a problem with the hall of Fame, you have a suggestion, a gripe maybe about somebody who's not been elected.
Speaker B:A gripe about somebody who has been elected.
Speaker B:How about that?
Speaker B:You can give me a call.
Speaker B: -: Speaker B: That's: Speaker B:And we'll get you on the air and we'll talk to you about the hall of Fame.
Speaker B:What I want to talk about first, folks, is something that people aren't really familiar with.
Speaker B:It's the ERA committees.
Speaker B:Era.
Speaker B:The ERA committees that's formerly known as the veterans Committee.
Speaker B:There's a few of these committee, they don't meet every year.
Speaker B:They're scheduled.
Speaker B:They're on the calendar for when the respective committees will meet.
Speaker B:So what these committees do is they consider retired major league players who are no longer eligible for election by the Baseball Writers association of America.
Speaker B:As we know, the election that takes place every year is voted on by the Baseball Writers association of America.
Speaker B: were realized either prior to: Speaker B:In all its forms, the ERA Committee has elected 183 guys, 117 major leaguers, 33 executives, 23 managers and 10 umpires to the hall of Fame upcoming ERA Committee elections.
Speaker B:Let's take a look at this.
Speaker B: December of: Speaker B: t they'll meet in December of: Speaker B: , they'll meet in December of: Speaker B: be voted on until December of: Speaker B:The classic baseball era.
Speaker B:I believe that includes Pete Rose.
Speaker B: t that Pete Rose, December of: Speaker B:So it's going to be a while for some of these guys.
Speaker B:The contemporary baseball era, that committee.
Speaker B:Let's take a look.
Speaker B: consisting of the period from: Speaker B: isting of the period prior to: Speaker B:So that's the Classic Baseball Era committee, the contemporary baseball era that will split into two separate ballots.
Speaker B: test impact on the game since: Speaker B:So that gives you an idea of the committee structure that took over from just the one veterans committee.
Speaker B: And as we saw, the: Speaker B:Those deceased gentlemen just got into the hall of Fame in July.
Speaker B:So that's a look at the eras on the respective veterans committees.
Speaker B:Just wanted to try to give you an idea of what they consist of.
Speaker B:When some guys will be up for election, when umpires, executives and managers will be up for election.
Speaker B:And they each have their specific time that they will be voted on.
Speaker B:What I'd like to take a look with you now, folks, is future eligibles for the Baseball hall of Fame.
Speaker B:First, I'll let you know about the induction ceremony.
Speaker B: So which will be for: Speaker B:2026 eligibles.
Speaker B: are new to the ballot for the: Speaker B: e brewers, six time All Star,: Speaker B:He played all of his 14 seasons.
Speaker B:As a matter of fact, with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Speaker B:He was a five time Silver Slugger Award winner.
Speaker B:He totaled 352 home runs, 1,154 RBIs along with 216 stolen bases, career batting average of.296.
Speaker B:He led the National League in slugging twice, hits once, runs once, total bases once and homers once.
Speaker B:That's Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers.
Speaker B:He'll be coming up for election.
Speaker C:On.
Speaker B: The ballot starting in: Speaker B: e a look at Shin tzu Chu, the: Speaker B:He played 16 seasons for the Mariners, Indians, Reds and Rangers.
Speaker B:He reached the 20 homer mark in seven seasons, the 20 steel mark four times and the 80 RBI mark three times.
Speaker B:He compiled a.377 career on base percentage with 218 homers, 339 doubles, and 157 stolen bases.
Speaker B:Now, not necessarily saying these guys are all hall of Famers, it's just they'll be on the ballot.
Speaker B:Some of them won't even come close and deservedly so.
Speaker B:Again, we just talked about Shin Tzu Chew.
Speaker B:Next we have Edwin and Carcion encarnacion.
Speaker B:Excuse me.
Speaker B:Three time All Star.
Speaker B:He played 16 seasons for the Reds, the Blue Jays, the Indians, Mariners, Yankees and White Sox.
Speaker B:He topped the 20 home run mark in 10 seasons, including at least 32 in each season.
Speaker B: From: Speaker B: in: Speaker B:He hit for his career 424 home runs which is a good mark.
Speaker B:1261 RBIs and 1,099 runs scored.
Speaker B:Edwin Encarnacion.
Speaker B: gentleman up for election in: Speaker B:Up next we will take a look at Gio Gonzalez.
Speaker B:He was a two time All Star.
Speaker B:He won 131 games over 13 year career with the Athletics, the Nationals, the brewers and the White Sox.
Speaker B: victories in: Speaker B: He finished sixth in the: Speaker B:He reached the 10 win mark in nine seasons.
Speaker B: in: Speaker B:That's Gio Gonzalez.
Speaker B:Up next, Alex Gordon.
Speaker B:Alex was a three time All Star and seven time Gold Glove Award winner.
Speaker B:He played 14 seasons his whole career for the Kansas City Royals.
Speaker B: in: Speaker B:He led American League left fielders in put outs five times and assists three times.
Speaker B: He was named the: Speaker B: e Mets in the World Series in: Speaker B: Alex Gordon up on the: Speaker B:Up next, another guy who will get Serious consideration is Mr. Cole Hamels.
Speaker B:Four time All Star pitch 15 seasons for the Phillies, Rangers and the Cubs.
Speaker B:He finished in the top 10 of his league Cy Young award voting four times.
Speaker B: That was: Speaker B: d most valuable player of the: Speaker B:He finished with a record of 163 and 122 with a 3.43 ERA and his 2,560 career strikeouts.
Speaker B:That ranks 33rd all time and that was at the time of Cole's retirement.
Speaker B: le Hamel's up for election in: Speaker B:Next Matt Kemp.
Speaker B:The three time all star played 15 seasons for the Dodgers, Padres, Braves, Reds and Rockies.
Speaker B: He finished second in the: Speaker B:He also earned the National League Hank Aaron award that season.
Speaker B:Two time Silver Slugger award winner.
Speaker B:He topped the 20 home run mark eight times and the 100 RBI mark four times.
Speaker B:He stole 30 or more bases three times.
Speaker B:He was a two time Gold Glove Award winner and in center field and he finished his career with 287 home runs, 1,031 RBIs and 184 steals.
Speaker B: or Matt consideration for the: Speaker B:219 NLCS Most Valuable Player hit go ahead home run in the seventh inning of Game 7 of that year's World Series to power the Nats to the title.
Speaker B: Nats, earning a berth on the: Speaker B:He totaled.294 career batting average, 1,747 hits, 354 doubles and 126 stolen bases.
Speaker B:Howie Kendrick Nick Marques is our next candidate.
Speaker B: ld Glove Award winner and the: Speaker B:He played 15 seasons with the Orioles and the Braves.
Speaker B: He won the: Speaker B: RBI mark twice in: Speaker B: right fielders with a mark of.: Speaker B:He totaled 2,388 hits and 514 doubles to go with a career batting average.288.
Speaker B:Nick Markakis next we have one of our home guys, Daniel Murphy, three time all star.
Speaker B:He played 12 seasons of course with the Mets, the Nationals, Cubs and Rockies.
Speaker B: He won the: Speaker B:He won two Silver Slugger awards at second baseball while hitting 296 for his career with 371 doubles and 138 home runs.
Speaker B: nal League in doubles in both: Speaker B: He finished second in: Speaker B: ome runs in four games in the: Speaker B:Daniel Murphy maybe not a Hall of Famer, but a stellar major league career.
Speaker B:Coming up we're going to look at Hunter Pence.
Speaker B:He's a four time All Star.
Speaker B:He played 14 seasons for the Astros, the Phillies, the Giants and the Rangers.
Speaker B:He hit 20 or more home runs in seven seasons and top the 90 RBI mark four times.
Speaker B:He led all National League right fielders in assists five times and put outs twice.
Speaker B: Series championship teams in: Speaker B: in the: Speaker B:Hunter Pence with those high pants and high socks.
Speaker B: Next Rick Porcello: Speaker B: wins in: Speaker B: He finished third in the: Speaker B: ERA,: Speaker B: for election for the Class of: Speaker B: Finally coming up in the: Speaker B:In three consecutive seasons he played 12 years with the Pirates, the Mets, the Brewers, Yankees and Marlins and Phillies and totaled 1,224 hits and 149 home runs.
Speaker B: He finished fifth in the: Speaker B: e considered for the class of: Speaker B: me, I'm going to read you the: Speaker B: Jake Arrieta he was the: Speaker B:He pitched 12 seasons for the Orioles, Cubs, Phillies and Padres.
Speaker B: s per nine innings pitched in: Speaker B: y Young Award voting for both: Speaker B: he finished the career with a: Speaker B:Jake Arrieta here's another guy played for local teams.
Speaker B:J. Bruce three time All Star outfielder, two time Silver Slugger Award winner.
Speaker B:Played 14 seasons for the Reds, the Mets, the Phillies, the Indians, Mariners and Yankees.
Speaker B:Topped the 20 homer mark nine times including five seasons when he reached the 30 homer mark.
Speaker B: nal League MVP voting in both: Speaker B:He totaled 319 home runs and 1,455 hits.
Speaker B:J. Bruce Wade Davis is next on our list.
Speaker B:He's a three time All Star.
Speaker B:Pitched 13 seasons for the Rays, the Royals, the Cubs and Rockies.
Speaker B: ansitioning to the bullpen in: Speaker B: can League Cy Young voting in: Speaker B: saves for the Rockies in: Speaker B: ade Davis next on our list of: Speaker B:2016 All Star Game selection During the same season he helped the Cubs win the World Series title.
Speaker B: of the: Speaker B:He compiled a.259 batting average with 253 doubles, 82 triples, 127 homers and 149 stolen bases during his career.
Speaker B:Dexter Fowler Another gentleman with local roots.
Speaker B: ier two time All Star and the: Speaker B:He played 11 season with the Reds, the White Sox, the Yankees, Mets and Rangers.
Speaker B:Also the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Speaker B: He finished third in the: Speaker B: in: Speaker B: teel seasons with the Reds in: Speaker B: in: Speaker B: an All Star game selection in: Speaker B: r his play in the outfield in: Speaker B: can League in stolen bases in: Speaker B: while collecting: Speaker B: for the hall of fame class of: Speaker B: win campaign in: Speaker B: r voting with the Phillies in: Speaker B: ague Cy Young Award voting in: Speaker B: was a member of the Phillies: Speaker B:That is Ja Hap next John Lester stellar career he's a five time All Star, three time World Series winner.
Speaker B:Pits 16 seasons for the Red Sox, Athletics, Cubs, Nationals and Cardinals.
Speaker B:He finished in the top five of his league Cy Young Award voting three times.
Speaker B: he National League in wins in: Speaker B:He posted a career record of 200 and 117 with a 3.66 ERA and 2,488 Ks.
Speaker B:2016 NLCS MVP was 9, 7 with a 2.51 ERA over 26 postseason games including a 41 mark with a 1.77 ERA in World Series victories with the Red Sox and Cubs.
Speaker B: John Lester up next for the: Speaker B:He pitched 16 seasons for the Tigers, Marlins, Red Sox, Orioles, Yankees, Indians and Cardinals.
Speaker B: He was named: Speaker B: batters in each season from: Speaker B: He finished his career with a: Speaker B: He is a member of Cleveland's: Speaker B:Just want to in our last few minutes.
Speaker B: f the other guys eligible for: Speaker B: to look ahead quickly for the: Speaker B: Should we look at: Speaker B:Yeah, we have time for 29 eligibles.
Speaker B:Elvis Andrews, Michael Brantley, Miguel Cabrera, a first ballot hall of Famer, Nelson Cruz, Josh Donaldson, Josh Harrison, Eric Hosmer, Corey Kluber, Evan Longoria, Gene Segura, Joey Voto and Adam Wainwright.
Speaker B:Well, we took a look at the hall of Fame at those eligible in the years coming up.
Speaker B:We reviewed the criteria for the veteran committee that will meet in December of each year to get players and also umpires, executives and managers into the Baseball hall of Fame.
Speaker B:Had a good chat regarding that.
Speaker B:Tim Raines, as I said folks, earlier, had a family health problem at his home that he had to deal with and he wasn't able to be with us tonight.
Speaker B:He will join us at a future date down the road.
Speaker B:We'll let you know when that will be and that'll do it for this segment.
Speaker B:Brian.
Speaker B:Up next on Sports Talk New York, we will return to Baseball at the Movies and welcome in Biddy Schram from A League of Their Own.
Speaker B:Stick around folks.
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Speaker A:And now back to the show.
Speaker B:All right, we are back with Sports Talk New York on WGB AM FM radio live from beautiful downtown Merrick, Long Island, New York.
Speaker B:Tonight, the Mets and the Mariners in the Little League Classic out in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Speaker B:Never been out there, but much pageantry and ceremony each year out there with great interaction between the Little Leaguers and the big leaguers.
Speaker B:I saw a clip of Brandon Nimmo of the Mets sliding down that great hill behind the ballpark in a cardboard box with some of the kids.
Speaker B:As for the Mets, they've been killing me lately.
Speaker B:And every other Met fan with the schneid they've been on.
Speaker B:Yesterday, though, was refreshing.
Speaker B:The major league debut of Nolan McLean, just brought up from Syracuse.
Speaker B:He pitched five plus innings without surrendering a run against the Seattle Mariners.
Speaker B:And the crowd was great, really behind him.
Speaker B:As I said, refreshing after a bad stretch of baseball by the Mets.
Speaker B:But we will forge ahead.
Speaker B:Now, I hope you have your tickets, your popcorn and your Milk Duds.
Speaker C:You.
Speaker B:You have your Milk Duds, Brian.
Speaker B:All right.
Speaker B:Because it's time to head to baseball at the movies.
Speaker B:Our next guest, she is a Golden Globe nominated actress who has played Sharona Fleming in the television series Monk and of course, Evelyn Gardner in the film A League of Their Own, along with many other films and stage productions.
Speaker B:I welcome to Sports Talk New York tonight, Biddy Schramm.
Speaker B:Biddy.
Speaker B:Good evening.
Speaker C:Oh, thank you for having me.
Speaker C:Thank you, Bill.
Speaker C:Thank you.
Speaker B:Wonderful to have you aboard, Betty.
Speaker B:Now, as we spoke about earlier today, you grew up in New Jersey.
Speaker B:You were an athlete in high school.
Speaker B:What did you play in high school?
Speaker C:Oh, I played.
Speaker C:Well, I started in Little League when I was, I think under 10.
Speaker C:You know, the little league age.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker C:And I was a big.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:New York Yankees fan.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker C:And then I was a tennis player, a tournament.
Speaker C:I did international and national tennis, so I was that for years.
Speaker B:And you got a scholarship to Maryland, right?
Speaker C:Yes, that was the only way I can get in.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:Yeah, I know.
Speaker B:Yeah, I know that feeling.
Speaker C:Great.
Speaker C:Weren't the best.
Speaker C:Yes.
Speaker C:I wasn't much of a student.
Speaker C:No.
Speaker B:Who were your favorite Yankee ball players back then?
Speaker C:Oh, I was a big fan of the Yankees.
Speaker C:I don't want to give away my age, but 77.
Speaker C:I was very young, but I was obsessed.
Speaker C:I don't know, what was it?
Speaker C:77, 78.
Speaker C:Remember when they won the double, the double World Series?
Speaker C:Remember that?
Speaker B:Oh, yes.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:I was in college then.
Speaker C:Oh, okay.
Speaker C:I don't feel so bad.
Speaker C:Yeah, No, I was really young, but it was, it was.
Speaker C:What was it?
Speaker C:Chris Chambliss first.
Speaker C:Mickey Rivers.
Speaker C:What was he?
Speaker C:Second base was Willie Randolph.
Speaker C:Mickey Rivers was center.
Speaker C:I know all of, like Lou Piniella.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker C:Reggie Jackson, who I just met.
Speaker C:I just met him.
Speaker B:Oh, nice.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:Loving Craig Nettles and then Thurman Munson, who died.
Speaker C:I remember that.
Speaker C:And then all the pitchers, like, who was it?
Speaker C:Like Catfish Hunter, Ron Guidry.
Speaker B:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker C:And like, remember.
Speaker B:You got it.
Speaker C:You remember Billy Martin and the other guy?
Speaker B:How could you forget Billy Martin?
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker C:I love.
Speaker C:I loved all of them.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:I was a huge fan now.
Speaker C:It was great.
Speaker B:The.
Speaker B:You were also on Broadway in a Neil Simon show.
Speaker C:Yes.
Speaker B:How was that?
Speaker B:How did that work out?
Speaker C:Oh, I loved it.
Speaker C:I got really lucky.
Speaker C:I don't tell many actors this because I know actors struggle a lot, but.
Speaker C:No, that was like my first play.
Speaker C:I did one play before that, but I kind of just got put with really the most talented, best comedians of that time on Broadway.
Speaker C:And I was very lucky to work with Neil Simon.
Speaker C:I think that was one of his last plays.
Speaker C:Okay.
Speaker C:I don't.
Speaker C:I. I'm pretty sure it was.
Speaker C:It might not have been.
Speaker C:I think it might have been.
Speaker C:And I was with Nathan Lane, so.
Speaker B:Oh, boy.
Speaker C:I was.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:Oh, I. I loved working with him, actually, in my whole career.
Speaker C:That was my best.
Speaker C:I think, my best experience.
Speaker C:I like theater even though I was in the movies.
Speaker C:Sorry about that.
Speaker B:No, a lot of people.
Speaker B:Yeah, they love the stage before the screen.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:I understand.
Speaker B:Now we're going to familiarize people.
Speaker B:The role that brought your note.
Speaker B:In A League of Their Own, the right fielder for the Rockford Peaches, Evelyn Gardner, who of course was admonished by Jimmy Dugan, of course, people who know Tom Hanks.
Speaker B:There is no crying in baseball.
Speaker B:You are also the mother of.
Speaker B:Of that little brat Stillwell.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:Who's big.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:He's bigger than both of us, I'm sure.
Speaker C:I don't know what you look like, but he's big.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:I think he's got kids now, which kind of freaks me out.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Now, the actresses that auditioned for the film had to prove to Penny Marshall that they could play baseball, correct?
Speaker C:I don't know.
Speaker C:I'm not quite sure.
Speaker C:You know, I don't really know.
Speaker C:This is what I do know.
Speaker C:It's hard to remember, too.
Speaker C:I had two things.
Speaker C:First, it was the acting.
Speaker C:That's first.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:And then the second thing was there were tons.
Speaker C:I was in New York at the time.
Speaker C:There was New York and la.
Speaker C:And I, with many other actresses had.
Speaker C:We went to Central park and we had to.
Speaker C:They were filming us playing ball.
Speaker C:Like that was part of the audition.
Speaker C:I remember I had to like, train for that.
Speaker C:I don't know what they did in la.
Speaker C:So I think it was a bit of both because.
Speaker C:But the acting.
Speaker C:I think it was a bit of both, but I think the acting over, obviously had to override everything because, you know, you could.
Speaker C:We trained for a little while in la so you can learn how to play.
Speaker C:And also camera tricks, you know what I'm saying?
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker C:Like to make it look like you're better than you are, you know what I mean?
Speaker C:Because they edit, you know?
Speaker C:So I think it was a bit of both, but I think obviously it had to mainly focus on acting.
Speaker B:Gotcha.
Speaker B:Okay, now, people that I've spoken to this week about A League of Their Own, they regret, really, that John Lovitz was only in the movie a short time, but because he was.
Speaker B:He was a killer in that movie.
Speaker C:Oh, he's very.
Speaker C:Yes, he's very.
Speaker C:He is very talented.
Speaker C:I. I thought everyone in that movie did a great job, but someone like John Lovitz, like, I always feel like people like that are so underrated, you know, like he should be work or he should have worked way more, but there's so many great actors like that, you know?
Speaker C:But he was great in that film.
Speaker C:I don't know.
Speaker C:It's hard.
Speaker C:I wish they would make more movies like that today, but I think it's really hard to get movies like that made.
Speaker C:You know, it's a lot of stars.
Speaker B:That was a classic.
Speaker B:And there's no crying in baseball.
Speaker B:That was voted as the number 54 movie quote by the American Film Institute out of 100.
Speaker B:Now.
Speaker B:You were actually crying.
Speaker B:You cried for that?
Speaker C:Yeah, I actually did.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:I had to.
Speaker B:The only time I cry in baseball is when I watch the Mets.
Speaker B:That's the people that make me cry.
Speaker B:So I can count that as a noted experience.
Speaker C:Bill, is that because they're doing so bad?
Speaker C:Is that what you mean?
Speaker C:Because I don't follow baseball anymore.
Speaker B:They've been killing me since, let's say, 60 years.
Speaker B:Biddy.
Speaker C:Oh, no.
Speaker B:They've been destroying my life.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Between them and the Jets, I can't handle.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:My life is in the way.
Speaker C:Maybe you should switch to the Yankees.
Speaker B:Oh, I could never do that.
Speaker B:Yeah, that could never happen.
Speaker B:I always tell people, I tell the kids, too.
Speaker B:You don't switch your team.
Speaker B:No matter if they lose or they win, you always stick with your team.
Speaker B:And I try to impress that upon kids and.
Speaker B:But kids switch anyway, so it's not impressionable.
Speaker B:But there's no crying in baseball.
Speaker B:It has some basis in fact, folks.
Speaker B:According to Rogers Hornsby, who Tom Hanks refers to, was chewing out some minor league hitters when Ron Santo, who's in the hall of Fame, was quoted as saying, if he says that to me, I'll cry.
Speaker B:I think that's where they might have gotten the line from.
Speaker B:But I had read Also, Biddy, that Farrah Fawcett wanted to be in the movie, but they told her she was too old.
Speaker B:Did you hear that?
Speaker C:Oh, that I had.
Speaker C:That I never heard.
Speaker C:No.
Speaker C:This is the first time I heard that.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker C:There was a recasting, though.
Speaker C:I mean, and I don't know what happened.
Speaker C:Deborah Winger originally was Geena Davis's role, and then they.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:I went through IMDb today and I got some facts.
Speaker B:Now it was 110 degrees when you guys were filming and you had to wear those.
Speaker B:Those wool uniforms.
Speaker B:That must have been horrible.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:You know, that shoot.
Speaker C:I'm trying to think.
Speaker C:I think total, with a little bit of rehearsal in la.
Speaker C:I think that shoot took six months.
Speaker B:Wow.
Speaker C:So when we.
Speaker C:I'm pretty sure it did.
Speaker C:So I remember it was in the summer.
Speaker C:By the time we ended, it was freezing.
Speaker C:It was like October, November or something like that.
Speaker C:It was real.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:So I'm pretty sure it was around six months.
Speaker C:So.
Speaker C:Yeah, it went from extreme hot to extreme cold.
Speaker C:That's what I remember.
Speaker C:It was a lot.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:We are speaking with Biddy Shram tonight about A League of Their Own.
Speaker B:Now, people may not realize it was the most successful baseball film of all time.
Speaker B:It made more money than Field of Dreams and Bull Durham combined.
Speaker B:Now, I read that today, and that really surprised me, Biddy, that it did that well.
Speaker B:I mean, I loved the movie, but for it to bypass those two movies combined, that's saying a lot.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:I didn't even know that.
Speaker C:I had no idea.
Speaker C:I mean, you're telling me a lot of things.
Speaker C:I don't know.
Speaker B:You got to listen to me.
Speaker B:You got to tune in every week, Biddy.
Speaker C:I should.
Speaker C:I'm a New Yorker.
Speaker C:I should.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker C:I know.
Speaker C:You sound like you're from New York, right, Bill?
Speaker B:Oh, yeah.
Speaker B:Born and bred, Long Island.
Speaker C:Yeah, I can tell.
Speaker B:Now, sliding in those skirts, how was that?
Speaker C:I didn't slide.
Speaker B:Oh, good.
Speaker C:I never slid.
Speaker C:But there's a famous scene like.
Speaker C:Do you remember?
Speaker C:I'm friends with her.
Speaker C:She's so sweet, Renee, you know, I don't know.
Speaker C:I forgot her name in the movie.
Speaker C:I can't remember her.
Speaker B:Got the bad bruise.
Speaker C:Yeah, yeah, that was real.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Oh, I read about that.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:That lasted a long time, that bruise.
Speaker C:Oh, yeah, that was real.
Speaker C:That thing was like.
Speaker C:That was.
Speaker C:Yeah, that was no makeup or anything.
Speaker C:So that was the result of her sliding, you know?
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:No, I wouldn't slide in those skirts either.
Speaker B:That's wicked.
Speaker B:No, I want to ask you about the bar scene.
Speaker B:That's a famous scene in the movie.
Speaker B:I've had Megan Kavanaugh on the show, and we spoke about the bar scene.
Speaker B:She was tremendous in that.
Speaker B:How long did that take to film?
Speaker B:And tell us a little bit about that scene, Bitty.
Speaker C:Well, I wasn't in that scene because I was a stay at home mom, so I wasn't even there.
Speaker C:Yeah, no, I was.
Speaker C:If you watch it, you won't see.
Speaker C:I'm pretty sure I was not there.
Speaker C:Yeah, that's when Megan was drunk.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker C:And they were dancing and everything.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:No, I wasn't in that scene.
Speaker B:Oh, all right.
Speaker B:Yeah, that's good to know.
Speaker B:Now, when Jimmy Dugan, who's Tom Hanks, that you folks will remember when he meets the team, he just walks right through everybody and heads to the urinal.
Speaker B:And the actual time of the urination was 53 seconds.
Speaker B:Now, Penny Marshall was using a hose for that, wasn't she?
Speaker C:Yeah, that was.
Speaker C:Yeah, she was using some shrimp.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker C:I don't remember exactly what it was, but she was.
Speaker C:Yeah, that wasn't him.
Speaker C:Really?
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker C:No.
Speaker C:Taylor.
Speaker C:I don't know.
Speaker C:I don't remember what they did, but I know it was.
Speaker C:And that was not Tom Hanks's teeth.
Speaker B:No, exactly.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:For you folks that are under that impression.
Speaker B:No, no, no, no.
Speaker B:Think twice.
Speaker B:Now, the scene when you guys go to charm and beauty school, that's an actual fact that the real American Girls Professional Baseball League, they went to the Helena Rubenstein Salon, correct?
Speaker C:Yes.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:Oh, yeah, they did.
Speaker C:And, you know, we got a lot of help, the original players.
Speaker C:And unfortunately, some of them have passed.
Speaker C:You know, they're, you know, old now, but they helped us a lot.
Speaker C:You know, they.
Speaker C:They.
Speaker C:I'm sure they helped.
Speaker C:I mean, I wasn't with Penny, you know, developing it or anything, but I'm sure they helped.
Speaker C:They had to help with research and all that because they were on the set to, like, advising us and telling us, you know, and show, you know, like, giving us tips and all that, you know.
Speaker C:So you need to do research before, you know, you play a role or, you know, I'm sure.
Speaker C:I am sure.
Speaker C:Like.
Speaker C:But, you know, the writers, I think.
Speaker C:What were their names again?
Speaker C:Bob Lou Mandel and Lowell Ganz.
Speaker C:Like, they.
Speaker C:They had to, I'm sure, do research and get specific.
Speaker C:So a lot of things in the film, you know, even.
Speaker C:Even with, like, the costume designs, you know, and the sets, that is heavily researched.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker C:You know, so a lot of work went into that.
Speaker C:And I know those women gave us a Lot of help, you know, to tell us how things were and their experiences and everything and how to play things and.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:You know, they were invaluable.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker C:Yes.
Speaker C:And I think, you know, like, the more Penny, you know, there's a message in her manners, like she is.
Speaker C:I am sure you have to do a lot of research to make something.
Speaker C:You know, you say, oh, we're made of this money, or, you know, why does it last?
Speaker C:I think that's part of.
Speaker C:Part of it, too.
Speaker C:Like, the work that goes into it behind the scenes and the details is what helps.
Speaker C:You know, I know the actors get all the credit and stuff, but no credit goes to, like, the set designers and stuff.
Speaker C:Because I do think that that helps with all of that as well.
Speaker B:You know, the ballparks were great.
Speaker B:They were.
Speaker B:They were.
Speaker B:They were true to life with the scoreboards.
Speaker B:And like we said about the uniforms, that those ladies that played consulted you guys on the uniform so they'd be official and exactly what they wore.
Speaker B:The socks and the skirts, all official.
Speaker B:And as you said, the job they did in research was just tremendous.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:What.
Speaker C:Also, that's the costume designer's job.
Speaker C:They just give us the thing.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:I mean, we could have say, you know, actually, I should say all that for costumes.
Speaker C:Yes.
Speaker C:But also, as an actor, like, when you go in there, you have to say, well, I want my hair this way, or I want it.
Speaker C:Like, you collaborate with the hair and makeup people, you collaborate with the costume designer to make sure for your character what your choice is.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:That you put across what you wanted to put across for that character.
Speaker C:So there's a lot of.
Speaker C:And especially a movie like that, because it's an.
Speaker C:It's an ensemble, it's a big cast.
Speaker C:There is a lot of collaboration.
Speaker C:It's.
Speaker C:You know, it's on many levels, let's put it that way.
Speaker C:So I.
Speaker C:You know, I just feel like to make a movie like that at any time in history is almost like lightning in a bottle.
Speaker C:Like, everything has to align, you know, And I think in that moment, it did.
Speaker C:And I think it's because of all of these little reasons, all of these links to the chain, if that makes any sense.
Speaker B:One scene in particular that I want to talk about quickly.
Speaker B:Bitty Schramm is with us tonight from A League of Their Own.
Speaker B:There's the scene with Dottie and Ellen Sue.
Speaker B:They're playing catch.
Speaker B:The ball gets overthrown and.
Speaker B:And it lands near the segregated area of the stadium.
Speaker B:Now, this is all true.
Speaker B:A black woman picks up the Ball and throws it over Dottie's head, who catches it.
Speaker B:And their impression, of course, is, hey, this girl can throw.
Speaker B:But that is another aspect.
Speaker B:That the stadiums were segregated back then and only white girls were allowed in the All American Girls Professional Baseball League.
Speaker B:Even after Jackie Robinson desegregated baseball, they didn't let black girls in the league.
Speaker C:No.
Speaker C:Yeah, no, that was another thing.
Speaker C:And I'm glad they touched upon that in the film.
Speaker C:Yeah, for sure.
Speaker C:I mean, and there was also, you know, the issue of.
Speaker C:I think that's what Penny did well too.
Speaker C:Like, it was fun, it was humorous, she was great at that.
Speaker C:But yet she puts a layer of depth and humanity into it.
Speaker C:Does that make sense?
Speaker C:Yeah, like, so it's a perfect balance.
Speaker C:She doesn't go too, I mean, it's not like you're watching like a hardcore drama, but it's like that nice balance that she has and it touches you.
Speaker C:She was great at that, at like pulling at people's heartstrings, you know.
Speaker C:And I think getting that in, especially at that time, you know, during that time and touching upon that and about the women issue too, you know, women were, that was another thing, I think, why it might have been popular.
Speaker C:It's like when women back then, you know, were stay at home moms or were just, you know, while the men went out to war, you know, and.
Speaker C:Right, right.
Speaker B:Well, that scene with Betty Spaghetti, that, that was sad.
Speaker B:Like you say Penny, the balance between humor and seriousness with that scene, that scene was, it was a heartbreaker.
Speaker C:Yeah, Penny was.
Speaker C:Yes, it was.
Speaker C:There were other scenes in the gym.
Speaker C:I can't sadly remember them all right now, but yeah, that's, I feel in all of Penny's movies, I mean, I, or a lot of them, she was great at that.
Speaker C:Like, you know, make you laugh and cry at the same time.
Speaker B:Yep, you're exactly right.
Speaker B:Now you're, you're left handed biddy, but you threw and you batted right handed in the film, right?
Speaker C:Yeah, well, I right lefty but I, and I play guitar.
Speaker C:I don't play guitar, but like that ukulele thing, I, I, I'm lefty there, but I bat writing because I'm ambidextrous.
Speaker C:So like I, I'll do like bull righty, bat righty, can't remember what, you know, whatever.
Speaker C:I could play tennis righty, but I right lefty and please, I'm weird.
Speaker C:I don't know why, I don't know what that means.
Speaker C:I can't describe it.
Speaker B:Whatever.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:It doesn't it doesn't matter.
Speaker C:Maybe that makes me more intelligent.
Speaker C:I don't know.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker C:Is that a good thing?
Speaker B:Let's go with that.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:All right.
Speaker B:Now, did you feel bad about your character not being represented in Cooperstown when they.
Speaker B:They.
Speaker B:They get Stillwell to go in your place?
Speaker B:That was kind of sad, too, when they say Evelyn passed away.
Speaker C:Oh, yeah.
Speaker C:That was another, like, poignant moment, I think.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:You know, I mean, they're all there.
Speaker C:I don't know.
Speaker C:I don't know if.
Speaker C:No crying.
Speaker C:I don't know if the crying thing was very sad.
Speaker C:I think that was kind of like.
Speaker B:That was funny.
Speaker C:I was laughing at my scene.
Speaker C:Yeah, I know that one was kind of funny, but, yeah, I think there was a couple point.
Speaker C:I think that whole last scene was poignant.
Speaker C:Don't you think?
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:That would.
Speaker B:That.
Speaker C:That.
Speaker B:That tugged at your heartstrings too.
Speaker B:That last scene when.
Speaker B:When all the ladies come back and they.
Speaker B:They sing their song and when they say evelyn's not there, but Stillwell was represented.
Speaker B:Everybody was sad that Evelyn had passed on.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:And that was a very, you know, all those women, older, coming together, you know, the whole thing was kind of sad, you know, like, not sad, but, like, you know, sentimental, you know.
Speaker B:I also thought it was amazing that the.
Speaker B:The woman that represented Geena Davis looked so much like her.
Speaker B:I thought that was weird.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:It was like Geena Davis as an older woman.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:The casting was great for that.
Speaker C:I felt all those older people were cast brilliantly.
Speaker C:I. I have to say.
Speaker C:And who was the other one?
Speaker C:I thought Madonna.
Speaker C:The woman that played Madonna older looked pretty good.
Speaker B:Oh, yeah, I remember.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:All the way May.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:How was it working with Madonna?
Speaker B:I read different things Biddy about Madonna.
Speaker B:How was it working with her?
Speaker C:She, you know, it was professional.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker C:She's got a big personality, you know.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker C:She was fine.
Speaker C:She was fine.
Speaker C:I, you know, it was, you know, it was, you know, just fun stories, you know, but it was, you know, she's fun.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker B:Yeah, I get you now.
Speaker C:I don't know.
Speaker C:It was a while ago, you know.
Speaker C:Now.
Speaker B:We met up in Cooperstown a couple of weekends ago, induction weekend.
Speaker B:How did you find Cooperstown going up there?
Speaker B:The town and the hall of Fame, the whole deal.
Speaker B:Did you get to go through the hall of Fame?
Speaker C:Oh, yeah.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:That was great.
Speaker C:I loved it.
Speaker C:Yeah, we went through the hall of Fame.
Speaker C:I liked the town a lot, too.
Speaker B:It's a beautiful little town.
Speaker C:Yeah, it was very quaint and cute and they have A really good Italian restaurant there and.
Speaker C:Oh, yeah, beautiful town.
Speaker C:Like, the architecture.
Speaker C:I love it.
Speaker C:Like, I'm sure it's in the fall with the trees.
Speaker B:Oh, it's really cool.
Speaker B:Yeah, it's.
Speaker B:It's.
Speaker B:To me, bitty.
Speaker B:It's typical.
Speaker B:Like small town usa.
Speaker C:Yes, absolutely.
Speaker C:I feel like it's a time capsule.
Speaker C: Like it's stuck in the: Speaker C:No.
Speaker C:And I got to see.
Speaker C:Actually, I didn't know.
Speaker C:I met.
Speaker C:I was so happy.
Speaker C:I met Reggie Jackson.
Speaker C:Reggie Jackson at another event, which I was.
Speaker C:You know, I loved him.
Speaker C:I think he was at that event, but I didn't see him, you know, Like, I think.
Speaker C:I think he was in Duck.
Speaker C:Was he there?
Speaker C:I don't remember.
Speaker C:I can't remember.
Speaker B:I don't remember if he was there either this year.
Speaker B:I don't.
Speaker B:I don't remember.
Speaker C:I don't know why I feel that, but like.
Speaker C:Or I remember someone saying that.
Speaker C:But the hall of Fame was great.
Speaker C:And we went to the induction ceremony.
Speaker B:Yeah, right.
Speaker C:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:That's great.
Speaker B:Ichiro gave a great speech, I thought.
Speaker B:Ichiro Suzuki.
Speaker C:Yes.
Speaker B:He was very funny.
Speaker C:Yes, yes.
Speaker C:I might have missed that because I had to catch a plane, but, I mean, I saw a little bit, like, some of it because I had it fly out, but.
Speaker C:But all the old players are, like, from the past there.
Speaker C:That was great to see on stage.
Speaker B:All the hall of Fame.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:That is wonderful to see all those guys together in one place.
Speaker B:Do you have any upcoming projects?
Speaker B:Pity.
Speaker C:Oh, well, I'm kind of doing something with alternative media, and I don't, you know, it's.
Speaker C:I think I will be in front of the camera again, but it's something that has to get off the ground first.
Speaker C:That's in the process, if that makes any sense.
Speaker C:But I, you know, I kind of.
Speaker C:I like the alternative media, so that's kind of what the platform's about.
Speaker B:Gotcha.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker B:Well, Biddy Schramm, it has been a pleasure.
Speaker B:It was great to meet you up in Cooperstown this summer.
Speaker C:Oh, thank you.
Speaker B:Thanks for taking time out of your Sunday night to spend some with us here and in New York.
Speaker B:And we'll keep an eye out, open for you, Biddy, and all the best to you.
Speaker C:Oh, thank you, Bill.
Speaker C:Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker C:I had a great time talking to you and.
Speaker C:And thank you for having me on your show.
Speaker C:I really appreciate that.
Speaker B:You take care, Biddy.
Speaker B:We'll talk to you down the road.
Speaker C:Okay, thank you, Bill.
Speaker B:That's Ram, ladies and gentlemen.
Speaker B:That'll do it for me tonight on Sports Talk New York.
Speaker B:I'd like to thank my guests Tim Raines and Biddy Schramm, and my engineer, Brian Graves, and, of course, you guys for joining us.
Speaker B:I'll see you Next on Sunday, 31st August.
Speaker B:That might be the last day of the month, I think.
Speaker B:Do you think so, Brian?
Speaker B:The 31st.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:All right.
Speaker B:Till then, be safe and be well.
Speaker B:Bill Donahue, wishing you a good evening, folks.
Speaker A:The views expressed in the previous program did not necessarily represent those of the staff, management or owners of WGBB.
Speaker B: This is WGBB AM:
