"Take Me Out of the Ball Game" is the 59th episode of King of the Hill. It was first aired on May 11, 1999. The episode was written by Alan R. Cohen and Alan Freedland, and directed by Chris Moeller.
Summary[]
Hank is chosen to coach Strickland Propane's softball team and invites Peggy to play pitcher, which spurs friction between the two when Peggy becomes the star player.
Plot[]
Hank is picked to coach Strickland Propane's softball team, causing friction with pitcher Peggy. She points out that he has not been supportive of her pitching already in a Parks League team (The Lady Giants) and only considers Buck's team to be "real".
While Hank wants nothing more than to be the ultimate coach, do the best job possible, and lead the team to victory, his early decisions are overruled by Buck, as when Peggy wants Luanne to play catcher in place of Enrique. Hank's condescending demeanor towards Peggy herself throws her off her game. Although she is practically single-handedly responsible for the team's success, she begins to lose her stuff when Hank feels threatened by her undermining his status as her husband and puts her down. During a big game, Hank realizes how much of a jerk he was, and encourages Peggy and steps out of the game, letting her take charge, leading Strickland Propane to victory.
Meanwhile, Bobby tries Arrow Girl Cookies, hates them, and attempts to sell his own—igniting a war between him and the Arrow Girls, including Connie. Eventually, when the Arrow Scouts start beating up Bobby, Connie defies them and eats his cookies, despite them claiming it tasted like dirt earlier, and finds them delicious. Pleased, she calls Bobby her boyfriend, much to his delight.
Characters[]
- Hank Hill
- Peggy Hill
- Bobby Hill
- Luanne Platter
- Dale Gribble
- Jeff Boomhauer
- Bill Dauterive
- M.F. Thatherton
- Buck Strickland
- Joe Jack
- Enrique
- Connie Souphanousinphone
- Coach Kleehammer
- Tug
- Chuck Mangione (cameo)
- Mrs. Fybel
- Rita Bevacqua
- Kurt Bevacqua
- Arrow Girl Scouts
- Stuart Dooley
- Kahn Souphanousinphone (voice only, off-screen)
- Minh Souphanousinphone (mentioned)
- Roger "Booda" Sack (non-speaking)
- Maria Montalvo (non-speaking)
- Debbie Grund (non-speaking)
- Jason Adderly (non-speaking)
- Hector (non-speaking)
- D.C. (non-speaking; named as "Niguel")
- Beef (non-speaking)
- Jose (non-speaking)
- Cindi (non-speaking)
- Mark McJimsey (non-speaking)
- Clark Peters (non-speaking)
- Tom (non-speaking)
- Leventhal (non-speaking)
- Judy (non-speaking)
- Susie (non-speaking)
- Multi-subject teacher (non-speaking)
Stinger Quote[]
- Boomhauer: "Tell you what, man, ol' let's play some dang ol' ball!"
Trivia[]
- The episode title alludes to the popular baseball song "Take Me Out to the Ball Game".
- In this episode, Connie and Bobby Hill officially begin dating when Connie proclaims Bobby to be her boyfriend after tasting his butter cookies. They had previously kissed and hinted at crushing on each other but had yet to make anything official.
- "Scattered, smothered, and covered" refers to a way of preparing hash brown potatoes by frying them on a griddle or in a skillet with diced onions and a slice of American cheese on top.
- At the beginning of the episode, a yearbook photo of Bobby Hill and Connie dancing is shown. This photo is from the end of the episode "Love Hurts and So Does Art", where Bobby Hill and Connie are dancing together at the school dance.
- Hank reveals that for years Tuesday has been the night that he drinks beer in the alley with the guys.
- The softball teams that Strickland Propane complete against are the following: 1. Mega Lo Mart, 2. Luly's, 3. H. Dumpty's, 4. Jugstore Cowboys, 5. Arlen Fire Department, 6. Fort Blanda Army Base, 7. Thatherton Fuels.
- Kurt Bevacqua was a former Major League infielder who played from 1971 to 1985. He played for the Texas Rangers for the 1977 and 1978 MLB seasons. In this episode, Rita is portrayed as his fictional wife, but his wife in real life is a woman named Carrie.[1]
- Softball is played on all dirt infields, not all grass. There is no pitcher's mound in softball, just a pitcher's circle. All co-ed leagues are slow-pitch, not fast-pitch.
- The man keeping track of Peggy's strikeouts during the Jugstore Cowboys game is using the wrong "K." When someone strikes out looking (without swinging), it is denoted by a backward "K."
- Hank explains the requirements to play on the Strickland softball team as either "You have a Strickland pay stub or be a wife of an employee." Dale replies "I sprayed Strickland for termites meaning I have a paystub!" This is false. Dale would be considered a contractor and receive a 1099 for his services, not a W-2 (or a pay stub). Yet he's still allowed to play on the team.
Goofs[]
- When Hank is giving his speech at the restaurant after the first game, Maria Montalvo's hair is colored blonde (she normally has black hair).
References[]
- ↑ "A Great Role Player", by John Underwood. Sports Illustrated Vault, originally published July 1, 1985.