Rookie of the Year (movie)

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

Related Topics:
1993 - Movie - Thomas Ian Nicholas - Gary Busey

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Henry Rowengartner (Nicholas), a 12-year-old Little Leaguer, has dreams of playing in the major leagues. In the beginning of the film, 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.

Related Topics:
Little League - Wrigley Field - Chicago Cubs

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One day, Henry breaks his arm trying to catch a fly ball, and he has it wrapped in a cast. When the cast is removed, he celebrates the occasion by attending a Cubs game with his friends. It is at Wrigley that he shocks the crowd by throwing an opposing home run ball from the right field bleachers all the way back to home plate. (No one has ever done this in real life.)

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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.

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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.

Related Topics:
New York Mets - Howard Johnson

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Chet Steadman (Busey) ends up giving Henry some advice on becoming a better major-league pitcher, and in the very next game, Henry records his first save. After that, the Cubs keep winning, and he keeps earning saves.

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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.

Related Topics:
Bobby Bonilla - Pedro Guerrero - Barry Bonds

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The Cubs' play-by-play announcer is Bud Stanky (John Candy), who can be described as a younger version of Harry Caray.

Related Topics:
John Candy - Harry Caray

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Henry endorses several products, including Pepsi, but fires Jack as his agent when he finds out that he has been traded to the New York Yankees. His mother also breaks up with Jack after a terrible fight. As for the trade to the Yankees, it turns out that the deal had never been officially made.

Related Topics:
Pepsi - New York Yankees

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The final game of the season pits the Cubs against the Mets. Before the game, Henry says to the Cubs' owner that this will be his last game. It also proves to be Steadman's last game, as his arm finally wears out in the seventh inning. Steadman's final play is when he tags out a runner at home.

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Henry is called in from the bullpen to finish the game. However, in the ninth, he trips on a baseball and falls on his side. As a result, he no longer has the ability to throw 100 miles an hour, like he previously did. Henry issues intentional walks to two consecutive Mets batters, but he manages to get one runner out by a hidden-ball trick in which he sneaks the ball to his first baseman, and the other runner in a rundown.

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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 sent it skyrocketing toward homerun territory, but it sailed barely past the foul pole. The last pitch is a floater, at which a shocked Heddo swings and misses for the final out. The Cubs win their division title thanks to Henry.

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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:

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CHICAGO CUBS--WORLD CHAMPIONS

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Even though Henry did not pitch in the National League Championship Series or World Series, he has helped the Cubs win the World Series!

Related Topics:
National League Championship Series - World Series

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