Big League Freddie

Big League Freddie
Details
Show	The Flintstones
Season	4
Episode number	96
Production number	P-94
Original airdate	November 7, 1963 (ABC)
Recording Date	April 25, 1963
Crew
Animated by	Kenneth Muse George Goepper
Layout	Dick Bickenbach Jerry Eisenberg Iwao Takamoto
Background	Robert Gentle
Written by	Rick Mittleman Walter Black (teleplay)
Chronology
Previous	"Glue for Two"
Next	"Old Lady Betty"

"Big League Freddie" is the eighth episode of the fourth season and the ninety-sixth overall episode of the original series, The Flintstones. It aired on November 7, 1963.

Synopsis

Fred is replaced in the Bedrock Quarry baseball team by a young star but when big league scouts try to sign the youngster they accidentally sign up Fred.

Plot

For the Cave Construction Company Championship baseball game between Slate Construction and Petrie's Petrified Lumber Yard, number one Major League Baseball scout Leo Ferocious and Boulder City Giants manager Casey Strangle will be in the audience, seeking new talent for the revered baseball team.

Quite unrealistically, Fred hopes that he will play so superbly as third baseman for Slate Construction that Ferocious and Strangle will recruit him for the Big League with a contract for a hefty salary and advertisements for hair tonic and shaving cream! In actual fact, Fred is such a disaster on the Candlestone Park baseball diamond that he strikes out when the Petrie's pitcher throws a retracting yo-yo ball and does not survive the bottom of the first inning after a baseball batted down the third base line hits him in the head.

Fred's trusty, young rock quarry assistant, Roger Marble, must substitute for him in the game but lacks a uniform; so, Mr. Slate orders Roger to don that of Fred- number 7, as Fred is being carried from the field on a stretcher. Roger is a dynamo, with leaping baseball catches and three home runs in three times at bat, and Ferocious and Strangle, having arrived at the game after the substitution has occurred, wish to add Slate Construction's number 7 to their Major League roster. The man designated as number 7 in the game's program pamphlet is Fred, who, recovering at home from his baseball ordeal, is honored to receive a visit from the two men of the Big League.

Though remarking that rotund Fred does not look at all like the heroic number 7 at Candlestone Park, Ferocious and Strangle assume that Fred was the man with the outstanding Cave Construction Company Championship performance and propose a "rock-clad" contract for him to join the Boulder City Giants.

Bedazzled at this prospect for fame and fortune (the Giants are obligated to pay him whether he plays effectively or not), Fred "throws honesty to the wind" and signs the contract. However, Wilma, the Rubbles, Dino, and Pebbles all disapprove of Fred's action and shun him. And he is forced to sleep outside. And Pebbles' statement of, "Da-da bad," Is enough to force Fred to reconsider his expedient cheat. While Wilma and Barney try to make things right with Fred, but he exits to go see Roger. And he goes to visit Ferocious and Strangle and tell the truth to them that Roger is the man whom they want for the Giants. With their agreement, Fred "breaks" his signed contract- and is commended by everyone for his courage and conviction in doing the right thing.

Characters

• Fred Flintstone
• Wilma Flintstone
• Barney Rubble
• Betty Rubble
• Pebbles Flintstone
• Dino
• Mr. Slate
• Leo Ferocious (only appearance)
• Roger Marble (only appearance)
• Warren (only appearance)
• Casey Strangle (only appearance)

Locations

Bedrock

• Flintstone home
• Rubble home
• Candlestone Park (only appearance)
• Boulder City Giants office (only appearance)
• Bedrock High School (mentioned)

Objects

• Baseballs
• Baseball bats
• Sure-Grip Household Cement (only appearance)
• Soap box
• News-slab
• Sugar bowl

Animals

• Snorkasaurus
• Monkeysaurus
• Mammoth
• Brontosaurus

Cast

Alan Reed	Fred Flintstone
Jean Vander Pyl	Wilma Flintstone Pebbles Flintstone
Mel Blanc	Barney Rubble Dino Guy Leo Ferocious Monkey
Bea Benaderet	Betty Rubble
Don Messick	Bird Roger Marble Announcer Warren
John Stephenson	Mr. Slate Catcher Umpire Casey Strangle 2nd Guy Leo Ferocious (one line)

Notes/Trivia

• Roger Marble is a spoof of Roger Maris.
• This is the first episode where the Rubbles appear along with the Flintstones in the intro.

Cultural References

• Sports references in this episode were used with spoofs, such as Rock Bay Pachyderms (Green Bay Packers), Mickey Mountain (Mickey Mantle), Sandy Stoneax (Sandy Koufax), Leo Ferocious (Leo Derocher), and Casey Strangle (Casey Stengel).

Errors

• Leo speaks with Casey's voice for one line.
• Shortly before the quick-dry cement seals Fred's hands to his head, some of it gets in his mouth, but it doesn't seal his mouth at all.