User Reviews

Baseball fever has come to Walnut Grove. Their team is set up to play Sleepy Eye and it looks as though they've got it made, except all they need is a swift pitcher to outdo the Eye's ringer. Charles was sure he found just the man for the job when he and Laura came to return a repaired rocking chair to Jebediah Mumford and the missus. A no-good chicken hawk was fixing to eat the Mumfords' hens, but old Jebediah chucked a few rocks his way with such precision aim and heat that it missed the hawk, but dented up the barn something awful. After that, Charles brings Jeb along to the practice field, where Coach Hanson has set up. Edwards is the reluctant catcher, Doc Baker's first at bat and Nels is the other pitcher with a few bad throws on his record, which Baker and Hanson never fail to point out. After two grounders, a hurt Nels stands down and let's Jeb have a shot. And a hell of a shot it was, it nearly gave Edwards a concussion, and I guess when Doc Baker's in his baseball uniform, he isn't a doctor, seeing as how he ignored Edwards there and joined everybody in congratulating Jeb. No doubt, Jeb was their new official pitcher. So after church, Hanson, Nels and Doc Baker started debating on a name for their team. Reverend Alden suggests the Heavenly Hosts, but they disagree. When the star of their rival team, Slick McBurney comes into town to charm up the folks, Harriet tells their team is called the Merchants, while Hanson claims it's the Millers. How about the Merchant Millers? Anyway, Hanson is so engulfed in his pride that he places a huge wager on his own team. Hey, with Jebediah as their pitcher, how could they go wrong?

How about this: Jebediah's old battle-ax, Margaret, refused to let him play when she heard there was wagering in the game. So he had to tell Charles, Edwards and Hanson that his wife wouldn't let him out to play. Sheesh, this guy's more whipped than Nels. All may not be lost, as Caroline presents a solution: donate the game's winnings to the church, if Margaret will let Jeb play. She agreed to back off. This is why wives should never get involved in their husbands' sporting events. On to the big game, it was the Sleepy Eye green-hats versus the Walnut Grove M's. Yes, Harriet had red hats made up for the team with the letter M engraved on them. I guess this way she, Hanson and Doc Baker all get the team names they wanted. Slick was the first at bar and Jeb struck him out. By the end of the first inning, Sleepy Eye was trailing with a goose-egg. No more pussyfooting around. Now it was Slick's turn to pitch, and he and the rest of his team proved to play dirty, as Doc Baker made his rounds to second base, a team member tackled him, however Umpire Alden ruled in their favor. Okay, now it's Edwards at bat. On his third attempt, he hit it out of the park and scored a home run. Slick's cheating streak resumed as he soaked the ball and pitched it, causing Charles to break his bat. Regardless of the foul play, Charles was still out. Next, a Sleepy Eye player tackled Jeb something fierce...why do so many people confuse baseball with football? But despite Sleepy Eye's cheats, Walnut Grove gradually began to catch up again. But things were not helped by the fact that Reverend Alden made a lousy umpire. Finally, it was the last inning. All or nothing. Jeb struck out, Nels made it to first base and finally, Isaiah Edwards. Safe! Next up, Doc Baker. Safe! Next up, Charles Ingalls. Sleepy Eye needs one more out to win. Will they cheat their way to victory again this year? Well, as Charles hit it out of the park and rounded third, he tackled the baseman and the green-stockings tackled and dogpiled him...it's not football! So they all engaged in a big fight that nearly destroyed the whole field. But because Slick dropped the ball, Walnut Grove won! So the church got their money, Hanson and the town kept their pride, and they all agreed never to play baseball again. Th-th-th-th-That's all, folks!

This episode was a lot of fun, I have to say. Everybody was really good, namely Michael Landon, Victor French, Kevin Hagen, Dabbs Greer, Karl Swenson, Richard Bull, and of course Karl Lukas as Jebediah and June Dayton as the little woman, and Gregory Walcott as Slick the sore loser. Even if you're not a baseball fan, you'll still get a kick out of this one. A lot of funny moments, some heartfelt ones, it's just a good time all around. B.W. Sandefur and Bill Claxton have scored a home run. Little House fans, even non-fans have got to check this one out. If you want a break from the usual drama, watch In the Big Inning. It's really good!

I agree with the other reviewer that this is a very weak episode but for different reasons. Basically Jebediah's old lady pulls him from playing baseball because she finds out that they're going to be betting but as soon as she learns that the betting and proceeds can go to the church she's okay with it she's also okay with raffles which is no different than betting and it reinforces that as long as you have enough power you don't have to follow the rules but you can make your peons follow them. The women in the church house also decide what to do with the other folks money who are betting on the game without even asking them, so I found myself for the first time I agree with mrs. Olson when she says "let's not forget this is other people's money" I generally like the preacher but when I saw his face lit up with greed when they said that the proceeds could go to the church it deeply bothered me. To me this was more of a show of double standards.