Batter Up – Lake Valley, Idaho 1943 – The show begins with Carson Shaw (Abbi Jacobson) haphazardly rushing to the train station. After greeting Emily (Caitlin Brodnick) and John (Neil Casey), she starts chasing the train. Emily mentions Carson’s bra while John pretends to have seen nothing.

Running alongside the train, the conductor suggests she wait for the next train on Tuesday. She complains it would be too late. After tossing her luggage onto the train, she hops aboard. She clears things up with the conductor before entering the passenger section. A group of soldiers and nuns stare at her until she realizes her bra is showing. A small boy (Marcello Reyes) calls her “crazy” as she takes a seat.

An older woman (Jill Basey) strikes up a conversation with Carson. While the lady goes for a sandwich, Carson stares at a photo of a man.

Carson is in the restroom when the conductor warns passengers that the train is approaching the last stop, Union Station Chicago.

Carson encounters Jo De Luca (Melanie Field) and Greta (D’Arcy Carden) while they discuss maps. After hesitation, they invite Carson to join them as they head to the field. Greta boasts of traveling all over the world, including Paris, France. Jo informs Carson that Greta dated a “Wizard of Oz” Lollipop Guild actor. Carson tells them that her husband, Charlie (Patrick J. Adams) is excited about her joining the team.

Carson, Greta, and Jo are awed by Baker Field. While Esti Gonzalez (Priscilla Delgado) meets with the press, the other girls sign up for tryouts. Beverly (Dale Dickey) warns the girls that Morris Baker (Kevin Dunn) is watching.

The girls hit the field to warm up before practicing. In the meantime, Morris talks to the press. A reporter sarcastically asks if he believes consumers will buy tickets to watch women perform like men. Marshall (Nat Faxon) assures him that their players are 100% women when Carson rushes in to catch a ball. Morris tells Marshal that he is considering shutting things down. Marshall pleads with him to wait until they find the right coach.

Carson voices concern about the others being better than her. Greta suggests she pay attention to herself. After smacking a ball into centerfield, Carson assumes herself lucky. Max (Chante Adams) picks up the ball while Clance (Gbemisola Ikumelo) rambles on about “Wonder Woman.” Daryl (John Gloria) asks the girls if they are lost. Chante says they are there for the tryouts. He points out that it is the All-American League. They assure him that they were born in America. He suggests they go back home because “colored girls” are banned. After her pleas fall on deaf ears, Max tosses the ball across the field into the stands. While leaving the stadium, Clance convinces Max that it isn’t the right team for them.

Morris voices his concern about the girls not being able to sell tickets. Marshall promises to take care of it.

The Belmore –  Carson struggles to write Charlie a letter when Greta suggests she could utilize a new hairstyle. After the first cut, Carson confesses to leaving for Chicago after a letter from Charlie revealed he was coming home from the war. Greta suggests she’s going after her destiny, not running from Charlie.

Clance claims an editor altered her letter to complement their comic book. She asks Max how her mother will respond when she finds out where she has been. Max boasts about being an adult who can make her own decisions. After a brief discussion about going to California to play baseball, Max suggests it is time to stop wanting things out of her reach.

Carson and Greta head to the front desk for stationary. They goof around while Greta works on Charlie’s letter. When it is complete, they hand it over to the front desk clerk, Henry, but not before teasing him about being a “bad boy.”

Morris observes the girls as they find out who made the team. He compares their behavior to a pack of hyenas taking down a lion. Carson celebrates making the team when she remembers Charlie’s letter. Henry informs her that the letter has already been posted. Greta convinces her to forget the letter to focus on playing baseball.

Rockford, Illinois – Max’s mother, Toni (Saidah Arrika Ekulona) confronts her about going to the Peaches’ tryouts.  Toni suggests she start making smarter decisions before threatening to kill her if Chapman’s beauty salon fails under her watch. Max offers to learn how to keep the books when Edgar (Alex Desert) walks through the door. When Toni and Edgar kiss, Georgia (Treisa Gary) says she wishes her husband would do that to her. Max informs Edgar of her being banned from the tryouts. He offers to play ball with her later but she refuses.

Beverly “Sarge” (Dale Dickey) explains the house rules to the girls. Maybelle Fox (Molly Ephraim) tells the girls that she broke up with her boyfriend before coming to Chicago. Lupe Garcia (Roberta Colindrez) asks Jess (Kelly McCormack) where’s her home. Jess says her home is in Saskatchewan, Canada. Terri (Rae Gray) offers Carson her humidifier. Carson says she’s good.

Greta encourages the girls to hit up a local bar.

Max confronts Guy (Aaron Jennings) about telling everyone about the Peaches’ tryouts. He admits to having trouble thinking of something to talk about with Toni. Clance warns Max is about to go off on him. Guy informs them that Peaches are in the bar right now.

Lupe tells Carson that she didn’t ask for her father’s permission to visit Chicago. Carson admits she sort of ran away from home. Lupe asks if her new hairstyle has anything to do with it. Carson assures her it isn’t much different than before. Carson and Greta discuss her relationship with Jo before joking about metaphorically robbing a bank.

Gary (Kendall Johnson) informs Max of his new job at the local screw factory. She asks if the factory is open to hiring black workers. He tells her about joining the factory’s baseball team. She sarcastically asks how he gets to play second base when her skills are so much better. He points out that it is a guy’s baseball team. When she shoves him, glasses shatter on the floor. Clance scolds her behavior in front of “white folks.”

After voicing concerns about making the wrong decisions, Carson says she refuses to stop because it feels good. Greta escorts Carson to a private room where they kiss. When Carson pulls back, Greta makes a quick exit as Max emerges from the dark.

Max apologizes to Clance and Guy. Clance assures her things are changing quickly with the factory now hiring black men. Max watches as Carson emerges from the bar to find Greta walking away with Peter (Andrew Tipple). Carson reminds her that she’s just met him. Greta assures her that she will be all right before they walk away. Carson compliments Max on her throw at the tryouts.

After donning their baseball cap, the Rockford Peaches do a little dance. After sweeping up in her family’s beauty salon, Max throws a pitch as the episode comes to an end.

 

A League of Their Own Review

The adaptation revisits the 1992 iconic storyline in which a group of women leaves their lives behind to join the All-American Rockford Peaches. The adaptation follows the original storyline, with some major changes and fresher faces. The show is a bit messy as it transitions from the players to Chapman’s beauty salon.

The show doesn’t always put minorities in a good light. Here, we have a mother threatening to “kill” her daughter if the family business fails in her care. In another scene, a girl physically assaults a bar employee in front of white patrons. I felt they went overboard with the threat and physical altercation.

I believe the story would’ve flowed better if the focus was on the players and management. Since it is the pilot episode, you’d thought the Peaches’ manager, Porter would’ve made an appearance.

The wardrobe portrays the mid-50’s perfectly.

The cinematography needs improvement as some scenes are too dark. Editing is top-notch. Character development for the main cast is moving along nicely. The acting was a bit sketchy but improved once the actors became comfortable in their roles.

Some of the changes are good while others not so much. The pilot episode deserves a 6.5. Get more A League of Their Own recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link.