Movies - Rookie of the Year

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	Movies - Rookie of the Year

Rookie of the Year is a 1993 movie starring Thomas Ian Nicholas and Gary Busey.

Albert Hall, Dan Hedaya, Eddie Bracken, Amy Morton, Bruce Altman, and Daniel Stern (who also directed) co-star. John Candy has an uncredited cameo role.

Plot

Henry Rowengartner (Nicholas), a 12-year-old Little Leaguer, has dreams of playing in the major leagues. In the beginning of the film, he is with his two friends when he catches a home run ball that is hit over the right-field wall at Wrigley Field, the home park of his beloved Chicago Cubs. The fans yell to throw it back. He tries, but does not make it in time.

One day, Henry breaks his arm trying to catch a fly ball, has to wrap it a cast. When the cast is removed, he celebrates the occasion by attending a Cubs game with his friends. One of his friends catches the ball and gives it to Henry to throw it back. He shocks the crowd by throwing it all the way back to home plate.

In search of a miracle, the Cubs sign Henry to a contract, making him the youngest-ever major leaguer. His mother's boyfriend, Jack, becomes Henry's agent.

Henry's first appearance as a relief pitcher comes against the New York Mets which proves to be disastrous. In that game, he gives up a home run to Alejandro Heddo, who is a dead ringer for an actual Mets player, Howard Johnson (who, later played for the Cubs for a few seasons).

Chet Steadman (Busey) gives Henry some advice on becoming a better major-league pitcher. After that, the Cubs keep winning, and he keeps earning saves.

Henry endorses several products, including Pepsi. However, he and Jack have a bad falling-out when Henry he finds out that he has been sold to the New York Yankees. Henry fires Jack. His mother also breaks up with Jack after a terrible fight. However, as for the trade to the Yankees, it turns out that the deal had never been officially made, and Henry continues pitching for the Cubs.

The final game of the season pits the Cubs against the Mets. Before the game, Henry announces to the Cubs' owner that it will be his last game. It also proves to be Steadman's last game, as his arm finally wears out in the seventh inning, forcing Henry to step in to finish the game.

Henry completes the seventh and eighth innings without trouble. However, as Henry walks out to the field in the ninth, he trips on a baseball and falls on his side. He is all right, but he can no longer throw a 100-mile-per-hour fastball. Henry instead must rely on his wit. He intentionally walks the first two consecutive Mets batters. He also gets the first runner out by doing a "hidden-ball trick"; he sneaks the ball to his first baseman and gets the Mets player out. He dares the second runner to run to second base; Henry gets him out by running and tagging him.

Finally, Henry faces his old nemesis, Alejandro Heddo. Determined to get his ultimate revenge, Henry throws a changeup for the first strike. Heddo is not fooled with Henry's next pitch and he sends it skyrocketing toward home run territory. However, it barely sails past the foul pole. Rattled, Henry bides his time and peels back the mitt to find his mother's name on it. Surprised, he turns to his mother in the stands, who mouths, "Float it." Regaining his confidence, he throws a floater. A shocked Heddo swings and misses for the final out. Thanks to Henry, the Cubs win their division title and go on to win the World Series.

At the end of the movie, Henry is playing Little League again, with his mother as the new coach and Chet Steadman as her assistant. Henry flashes a ring with a blue stone in it. The inscription reads:

:CHICAGO CUBS – WORLD CHAMPIONS

Even though Henry did not pitch in the National League Championship Series or World Series, his help in winning the division title helped the Cubs to victory in the World Series.

Trivia

In real life MLB, the "hidden ball trick" that Henry employs near the end of the film is an illegal play, since Henry is standing on the mound.
Three major leaguers are shown striking out against Henry's 100-plus mile-an-hour fastball. In succession, they are Bobby Bonilla, Pedro Guerrero and Barry Bonds.
The Cubs' play-by-play announcer is Bud Stanky (John Candy
), who can be described as a younger version of Harry Caray.

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