We’re obviously near the end of the season here, whenever that is, because the next game would get the Peaches into the playoffs. I’m not really sure what the playoff format is though, since there are only four teams. They have playoffs and then a world series. I mean, fine, but they acted like it was a big deal to make the playoffs. Why wouldn’t all four teams make it?
Anyway.Kit is out there struggling on the mound in the 9th inning of this latest game. This is an era that I assume was similar to how men’s baseball used to be, too, where pitchers tossed complete games all the time. That’s just how it was. A very-tired Kit tells Dugan during the mound visit here that she’s never been taken out before, in fact. But Dottie is loyal to the team and not her sister (as it should be) when she convinces Jimmy (“she’s throwing grapefruits up there”) to pull Kit in favor of Betty. Kit is still pissed, of course.
Conflicts abound
Meanwhile, old man Harvey is in attendance with Lowenstein. Harvey is pleased with the full stands but quickly says they won’t need girls’ baseball anymore. They’re winning the war, so watching girls play baseball won’t be needed because the fellas will return next season. It’s a historical point here, to show how women stepped up to go to work during the war, but then men will expect them back in the kitchen again. Even as a kid watching this movie, it was an easy point to understand about this era. Just such different times from now when women working is no big deal.
Meanwhile, old man Harvey is in attendance with Lowenstein. Harvey is pleased with the full stands but quickly says they won’t need girls’ baseball anymore. They’re winning the war, so watching girls play baseball won’t be needed because the fellas will return next season. It’s a historical point here, to show how women stepped up to go to work during the war, but then men will expect them back in the kitchen again. Even as a kid watching this movie, it was an easy point to understand about this era. Just such different times from now when women working is no big deal.
Whether this is just for the movie or not, I love the way Ira fights for the league here. He got it started and there’s a sense of pride to keep this thing going. He’s not just a business guy like the owners. Respect, Ira.
Once the Peaches successfully finish the game to make those playoffs, Doris decides to rib Kit for getting taken out of the game. It escalates with water throwing and a physical tussle on the field. I had to laugh at the exchange between Dottie and Mae as the players gather around to try and break them up. Mae asks for Dottie’s help, yelling at her to get her sister off Doris. Dottie tells Mae to stay out of it, to which Mae responds “you stay out of it” and shoves her back. I mean, not the best entry in the comeback department, Mae, when you just asked her to help. Heat of the moment, I guess.
The fight seems kind of random to me. Kit and Doris really didn’t have any reason to go after each other. Doris also acts like a complete child throughout this scene. Kit gets picked up by Jimmy and dropped into a running shower to “cool off.” But I think it’s a vehicle to set the table for the verbal fight we’re about to see with Dottie and Kit. A volcano that’s probably been brewing for months or even years between the sisters.
Dottie holds her back; the fighting isn’t over
Kit is still pissed at Dottie for not backing her up on the mound, even though Dottie points out that Stillwell could have hit off her by that point in the game. Then Kit lets her have it by saying Dottie holds her back. Dottie is stunned. “It’s like at home. It’s like if you’re here, then I’m not here,” Kit says. Dottie wants her to clarify, but Kit, getting upset, is exasperated and simply asks her sister why she has to be so good.
Kit is still pissed at Dottie for not backing her up on the mound, even though Dottie points out that Stillwell could have hit off her by that point in the game. Then Kit lets her have it by saying Dottie holds her back. Dottie is stunned. “It’s like at home. It’s like if you’re here, then I’m not here,” Kit says. Dottie wants her to clarify, but Kit, getting upset, is exasperated and simply asks her sister why she has to be so good.
A little later, Lowenstein walks right into the locker room where Dottie is all alone. She promptly tells him she’s quitting the team and starts packing up her locker. Lowenstein tells her this really isn’t a good time because he has to “pull something off” for the league. He convinces her to stay if he works out some kind of trade.
Obviously, the fight between Dottie and Kit drives the story here, but I wonder what Lowenstein’s original motivation was coming in there? We know he had that talk with Harvey, but the league was doing well already and was going to finish out the season. What did he think he was going to do by talking to Dottie? But it’s kind of a moot point, and once again, it’s a movie.
Then we see the house where the Peaches all live together. First off, I love Alice’s Canadian accent as she’s asking her friends for any “extra (panty)hose.” In case you don’t recall from the many references in the movie, her character is from Saskatchewan. Mae’s also headed out for a date, because she clearly doesn’t care at all about the rules. It’s subtle, but I’m pretty sure she also steals Helen’s “new red hat” to go with a dress that’s too tight and she doesn’t plan on wearing long.
Downstairs, Kit storms in the front door and promptly hurls a baseball in Dottie’s direction of the living room (or maybe it’s a parlor?) and breaks a window. Kit calls her a bitch; Kit’s been traded to Racine. Kit blames Dottie, of course, thinking this was a scheme to get rid of her little sister. They have a very public sisterly fight in front of the team as their volcano explodes and as Kit goes to pack up her stuff so she can make her 8 p.m. train. They don’t leave things in a good place. Dottie tells her she didn’t even want to be here, which is true. Remember that Kit had to convince her to leave her happy home life in Oregon. Dottie gets snarky before she leaves, which I think is a bit justified for Kit here, telling Kit she knows who to blame if she has any trouble packing.
Kit tells Dottie she’ll see her in the World Series. In case you didn’t know where the plot would end up.
A League of Their Own commentary, part 2: 'So we can make a buck...'
A League of Their Own commentary, part 3: 'Go where things happen'
A League of Their Own commentary, part 4: 'OK, some of them are goin' home'
A League of Their Own commentary, part 5: 'Still a fall-down drunk?'
A League of Their Own commentary, part 6: 'What a hitter'
A League of Their Own commentary, part 7: 'It had to be you'
A League of Their Own commentary, part 8: 'There's no crying in baseball!'
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