Homer at the Bat/References

General

References/Trivia

Appearances

Gags

Credits

Quotes

	Season 3 Episode References
← 051 "Bart the Lover"	052 "Homer at the Bat"	"Separate Vocations" 053 →

Trivia

• Mr. Burns states that, although there is an outside change of seven misfortunes, nine misfortunes befalling his players is virtually impossible. Indeed, this proves accurate as nothing happens to either Darryl Strawberry or Don Mattingly. The latter only fails to play because of Burns misunderstanding of what sideburns are.
• The players in this episode were an extremely talented group. They combined for 77 All Star selections, 34 Gold Gloves, 7 Cy Youngs, and 4 league MVP awards. They also won a combined 12 World Series. Smith and Boggs are presently the only members of the Baseball Hall of Fame from this group, although several players are not yet eligible for election. Following Ken Griffey, Jr's 2010 retirement, none of the episode's baseballers remain active players. As of December 2006, Mike Scioscia manages the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, José Canseco plays for the Long Beach Armada in the Independent Golden Baseball League, and Don Mattingly serves as the New York Yankees bench coach. At the time, only Steve Sax and Don Mattingly had played for the New York Yankees. Four of the other ringers would later play for the Yankees (Boggs, Clemens, Canseco, and Strawberry).
• Mr. Burns' original choices were Mordecai "3 Finger" Brown - P, Gabby Street - C, Cap Anson - 1B, Napoleon Lajoie - 2B, Pie Traynor - 3B, Honus Wagner - SS, "Shoeless" Joe Jackson - LF, Harry Hooper - CF, and Jim Creighton - RF. Smithers remarks that Burns' right-fielder has been dead for 130 years, which is true. Jim Creighton was America's first baseball superstar, and died suddenly at the age of 21 in 1862: seven years before the beginning of professional baseball.
• Ryne Sandberg and Carlton Fisk rejected guest spots in the episode, as did Barry Bonds and Nolan Ryan.
• Don Mattingly being forced by Burns to cut is sideburns was, coincidentally, recorded a year before Mattingly was forced in real life to cut his long hair.
• Lisa's explanation to Marge, that Homer getting hit by pitch counted as a hit, is incorrect. In baseball, a batter may advance to first base after being hit, but does not get credit for a hit.
• "Moonshine River" and "Homer at the Bat" currently hold the record for highest number of guest stars in one episode, with eleven.
• Why would Ralph Wiggum be playing baseball with a group of fourth graders?
• Jacques from "Life on the Fast Lane" and John and Gloria S. from "The War of the Simpsons" are seen at the club where The Steve Sax Trio performs.

Goofs

• When the players check the sheet for the final game, Wade Boggs has ginger hair.
• Just before Homer gets used to pinch hit for Darryl, Lenny and Carl can be seen on first and second base, but when Homer gets called up, they are in the dugout, and are not seen advancing the bases after Homer gets hit by the pitch.
• While Homer is confused by Mr. Burns' signs, no runner can be seen occupying third base, though one would be there since the bases are loaded.
• When Steve Sax says "What a nice little town," his mouth doesn't move.

Cultural references

• The episode's title is a play on the Ernest Lawrence Thayer poem "Casey at the Bat".
• The tale of Homer's homemade bat is a takeoff of the plot of The Natural.
• The show will be honored for this episode at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in May, 2017.

References

← Season 2 Season 3 References Season 4 →

Stark Raving Dad • Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington • When Flanders Failed • Bart the Murderer • Homer Defined • Like Father, Like Clown • Treehouse of Horror II • Lisa's Pony • Saturdays of Thunder • Flaming Moe's • Burns Verkaufen der Kraftwerk • I Married Marge • Radio Bart • Lisa the Greek • Homer Alone • Bart the Lover • Homer at the Bat • Separate Vocations • Dog of Death • Colonel Homer • Black Widower • The Otto Show • Bart's Friend Falls in Love • Brother, Can You Spare Two Dimes?