Baseball personalities on this television special ushering in the start of the 1957 baseball season include Johnny Antonelli of the New York Giants, Don Larsen, Bob Friend, Billy Pierce, Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Joe DiMaggio, Mel Allen, Ernie Banks, George Kell, Harvey Kuenn, Ted Kluszewski, Ed Matthews,
Don Newcombe, Pee Wee Reese, Robin Roberts, Herb Score, Harry (Suitcase) Simpson, Eddie Yost, and Happy Felton and his Knothole Gang. Mel Allen recreates Don Larsen's perfect game. Show Business guests include: comedians Ed "Archie" Gardner, Paul Winchell, Jerry Mahoney, Frank Fontaine, singers Tony Bennett, Pat Marshall, and Bill Hayes, Singer-comedienne Janis Paige, actors Robert Alda and Robert Strauss. Also participating are baseball commissioner Ford Frick, sportscaster Mel Allen, and baseball Hall Of Fame members Joe DiMaggio, Pie Traynor, Lefty Grove, and Gabby Hartnett. Gene Kelly is the host.
Highlights:
Gene talks to Don Larsen about his no windup pitching approach.
Also, Gene in conversation with Billy Pierce, Johnny Antonelli, and Bob Friend. Kelly introduces Ed Gardner...comedy routine about Baseball's greatest pitchers.
In a brief segment, Mel Allen states his dream outfield. Gene Kelly talks with Stan Musial, who states that his favorite ball player was Mel Ott, Ted Williams, chairman of the Jimmy Fund states that his favorite baseball player was Joe DiMaggio, and DiMaggio's favorite ball player was Frank Lefty Odeul. Gene Kelly mentions that his favorite Baseball Player of all time was Babe Ruth.
Other Highlights:
"This Is The Year" Ensemble
1956 Most Valuable Players: Mickey Mantle, Don Newcombe
Sketch: "Rookie Of The Year" Robert Alda
Song: Janis Paige
World Series Film: Gene Kelly
Interview: Don Larsen, Gene Kelly
" Know-How" Kelly, Paige, Tony Bennett, Paul Winchell, Jerry Mahoney, Robert Alda
Knothole Gang- Happy Felton
Dugout Sketch- Paul Winchell, Jerry Mahoney
Song- Tony Bennett
Pitchers Interview- Gene Kelly
"Two-top Gruskin" Ed Gardner, Robert Alda
Baseball Medley- Ensemble
Song- Pat Marshall
Dream Outfield- DiMaggio, Williams, Musial
Waite Hoyt's Tribute To Babe Ruth- Gene Kelly
Old-Timer's Film- Mel Allen
Rock-'n'Roll Number- Bill Hayes
Comedy Interview- Robert.Alda
Commissioner's Message: Ford Frick
Hall Of Fame Sequence- Gene Kelly
Finale- Ensemble
