The Clampetts and the Dodgers

This week's Baseball on TV episode is from The Beverly Hillibillies. Look at this picture:

Keep the fact that this was taken on a golf course off to the side for a moment. On the right, it's Jethro and Jed. The guy to the left of Jethro is LEO DUROCHER!

That makes this one of the top ten funniest episodes of any TV series to begin with. Mix in the fact that somehow Jethro has an incredible arm for pitching, gets to show it off in front of LEO DUROCHER, gets signed by the Dodgers, and is ready to pitch as a major leaguer...You have a top five episode.

Then, it is discovered that Jethro can only throw with something called "Gopher Grease" on his hands. This being major league baseball, the Dodgers realize that they can't get an exemption for Jethro to pitch.

Elly May pipes up that she don't need no "Gopher Grease" and she can throw even harder than Jethro.

LEO DUROCHER decides to humor Elly May and takes a spot near the cement pond. Elly May fires in a fastball that knocks LEO DUROCHER into the cement pond. This makes this a top three funniest episode ever.

After collecting himself, LEO DUROCHER converses with his general manager Buzz Bavasi (who was played by Wally Cassell for some reason). They decide that while Elly May has the talent (after one pitch? please.) the Dodgers won't be the first major league team to sign a woman.

WGN runs two episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies at 7am on weekdays. Over the next two weeks or so, they are running the last episodes of the ninth and final season. That means in about a month (if they cycle back to the first season). The above dimly remembered episode will be on again. I'll have to set the VCR and rewatch it. You. You may do as you wish.