Alibi Ike
Encyclopedia
Alibi Ike is a short story written by Ring Lardner
and first published in the Saturday Evening Post on July 31, 1915. The story is about Frank X. Farrell, a baseball player who continually makes excuses for everything that goes wrong or right. For example, when asked what he batted last year, Farrell says that he had had malaria
most of the season, which is why he hit only .356.
The story was made into a 1935 screwball comedy
movie starring Joe E. Brown
and Olivia de Havilland
. In the adaptation, ace baseball player Frank X. Farrell is nicknamed "Alibi Ike" due to his penchant for making up excuses. Farrell falls in love with Dolly Stevens, played by de Havilland. Farrell is kidnapped by gangsters to stop him from pitching. The film is considered one of the better baseball comedies.
Ring Lardner
Ringgold Wilmer Lardner was an American sports columnist and short story writer best known for his satirical takes on the sports world, marriage, and the theatre.-Personal life:...
and first published in the Saturday Evening Post on July 31, 1915. The story is about Frank X. Farrell, a baseball player who continually makes excuses for everything that goes wrong or right. For example, when asked what he batted last year, Farrell says that he had had malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
most of the season, which is why he hit only .356.
The story was made into a 1935 screwball comedy
Screwball Comedy
Screwball Comedy is an album by the Japanese band Soul Flower Union. The album found the band going into a simpler, harder-rocking direction, after several heavily world-music influenced albums.-Track listing:...
movie starring Joe E. Brown
Joe E. Brown (comedian)
Joseph Evans Brown was an American actor and comedian, remembered for his amiable screen persona, comic timing, and enormous smile. In 1902 at the age of nine, he joined a troupe of circus tumblers known as the Five Marvelous Ashtons which toured the country on both the circus and vaudeville...
and Olivia de Havilland
Olivia de Havilland
Olivia Mary de Havilland is a British American film and stage actress. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1946 and 1949. She is the elder sister of actress Joan Fontaine. The sisters are among the last surviving leading ladies from Hollywood of the 1930s.-Early life:Olivia de Havilland...
. In the adaptation, ace baseball player Frank X. Farrell is nicknamed "Alibi Ike" due to his penchant for making up excuses. Farrell falls in love with Dolly Stevens, played by de Havilland. Farrell is kidnapped by gangsters to stop him from pitching. The film is considered one of the better baseball comedies.
Facts
- Ring Lardner is said to have patterned Alibi Ike after baseball player King ColeKing Cole (baseball player)Leonard Leslie "King" Cole was a baseball player in the early twentieth century. He started his baseball career as a pitcher with the Chicago Cubs in . In , he led the National League with a record of 20-4 and helped win a National League Pennant for the Cubs...
. - Several popular major leaguersMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
made cameo appearanceCameo appearanceA cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
s in the film, among others Guy CantrellGuy CantrellGuy Dewey Cantrell was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched from 1925-1930.-External links:...
, Dick CoxDick CoxElmer Joseph Cox was a professional baseball player who played outfield for the Brooklyn Robins in 1925 & 1926.-External links:...
, Cedric DurstCedric DurstCedric Montgomery Durst was an outfielder in Major League Baseball who played between and for the St. Louis Browns , New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox . Listed at 5' 11", 160 lb., Durst batted and threw left-handed...
, Mike GazellaMike GazellaMichael Gazella was an American major league baseball player who played for the New York Yankees on several championship teams in the 1920s....
, Wally HoodWally Hood (MLB outfielder)Wallace James Hood Sr. , is a former professional baseball player who played outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Brooklyn Robins from 1920-1922. He served as an umpire in the Pacific Coast League from 1935-1943.His son, Wally Hood, Jr...
, Don HurstDon HurstFrank O'Donnell "Don" Hurst was a first baseman in Major League Baseball. He played with the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs from 1928 to 1934. In 1932, he led the National League in runs batted in with 143. Hurst stood at 6' 0".-Biography:Hurst was born in Maysville, Kentucky, and attended...
, Smead JolleySmead JolleySmead Powell Jolley was an outfielder in Major League baseball for four seasons during the 1930s....
, Lou KoupalLou KoupalLouis Laddie Koupal born in Tabor, South Dakota was a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Brooklyn Robins , Philadelphia Phillies and St...
, Bob MeuselBob MeuselRobert William "Bob" Meusel was an American baseball left and right fielder who played in Major League Baseball for eleven seasons from 1920 through 1930, all but the last for the New York Yankees...
, Wally RehgWally RehgWalter Phillip Rehg was a reserve outfielder in Major League Baseball, playing mostly as a right fielder for four different teams between the and seasons. Listed at 5' 8", 160 lb., Rehg batted and threw right-handed...
and Jim ThorpeJim ThorpeJacobus Franciscus "Jim" Thorpe * Gerasimo and Whiteley. pg. 28 * americaslibrary.gov, accessed April 23, 2007. was an American athlete of mixed ancestry...
.