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If
Felix Unger called you up to talk to you about dinner, you would not only have missed the triple play in the game, you would
have missed all of the appearances by the Mets. Honestly, unless you are watching it on a home movie theater, you probably
could not tell who the players were unless you were told.
In
the movie, it is the top of the ninth inning and the Mets cling to a one run lead over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates
have the bases loaded with no outs. The action is viewed from the Shea Stadium press box. Walter Matthau's character Oscar
Madison is covering the game. His roommate Felix, played by Jack Lemon, calls him to discuss dinner arrangements. Oscar gets
the phone and is speaking to Felix when Bill Mazeroski hits a ground ball to Ed Charles. Charles makes the put out at third
before firing the ball to the second baseman who makes the put out at second. He then throws to Ed Kranepool to
complete the triple play! (Or at least that was the play according to sportswriter Maury Allen who was their and briefly appeared
in the movie.*)
Another
interesting story that Allen relates is that Roberto Clemente was originally offered the role as the player who hits
into the triple play but he declined. If true, this would be quite ironic since Clemente actually hit into two triple plays
in his career. And Mazeroski? None!**
The
scene was filmed on June 27th, 1967 before the start of the regularly scheduled game between the Mets and the Pirates. According
to the Internet Movie Database in addition to Charles and Kranepool, Ken Boyer, Tommy Davis, Jack Fisher, Buddy Harrelson,
and Cleon Jones were also in the film.***
Oh,
in the actual game they played that night, the Mets beat the Pirates 5 - 2!****
The
movie was written by Neil Simon and directed by Gene Saks.
Apple Rating
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Availability: this movie is available on DVD and can be ordered at Amazon.com by clicking on the link
below.
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