Thom Barry: Frank 'Pops' Morgan
Photos
Quotes
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Gus Cantrell : Pops, I got something for you.
[hands Pops a package]
Frank 'Pops' Morgan : [opens package] This is a first baseman's glove.
Gus Cantrell : That's funny, that's what the guy in the sporting goods store said it was.
Frank 'Pops' Morgan : I'm not a first baseman. I'm an outfielder. I been an outfielder my whole life.
Gus Cantrell : Look, Pops, I think it might be better for the team...
Frank 'Pops' Morgan : Wait. Hold on, now. I've been around a long time. Don't give me the best for the team speech. Give it to me straight.
Gus Cantrell : You're too old, you're too fat, you're too slow. Straight enough?
Frank 'Pops' Morgan : Yeah, yeah, that'll do it.
Gus Cantrell : But I like your bat and I need a leader on the field and I think you're my man. What do you say? You wanna give first base a try?
Frank 'Pops' Morgan : Well, you know, whatever's best for the team.
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Rube Baker : Carlos Liston, a resident mad man and cleanup hitter.
Hog Ellis : I have to pitch to him today?
Rube Baker : Yeah.
[laughs]
Frank 'Pops' Morgan : Just remember one thing, Carlos is a bit like a mad dog.
Hog Ellis : Mad dog?
Pedro Cerrano : If he smells fear, he goes into attack mode.
Frank 'Pops' Morgan : So, whatever you do,
Pedro Cerrano : Don't let him know that you are scared.
Hog Ellis : I need to use the bathroom.
Pedro Cerrano : Use the mound.
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Gus Cantrell : So Pops, I was wondering, did you ever make it to the show?
Frank 'Pops' Morgan : Came close, once. It was with the Red Sox organization.
Gus Cantrell : Yeah?
Frank 'Pops' Morgan : It was October. A player got sick. So I got the call. I was on the plane and a freak snow storm hit. We couldn't land. Two days later: the weather is fine, so is the player.
Gus Cantrell : That stinks.
Frank 'Pops' Morgan : 20 years in the minors, I circled the show, couldn't land.
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Frank 'Pops' Morgan : This is the clubhouse.
Gus Cantrell : In some places of the world, this is called a basement.
Frank 'Pops' Morgan : It's cool in August. Other times, it can get musty.
Gus Cantrell : Dank?
Frank 'Pops' Morgan : That too. There's your office.
Gus Cantrell : Another prayer unanswered.
[Gus hears heavy breathing]
Frank 'Pops' Morgan : Lance Pere, this is Gus Cantrell, our new skipper.
Lance Pere : Welcome to our unique little troop.
Gus Cantrell : Thanks, you're not stuck or anything, are you?
Lance Pere : No, it's yoga. As we go, so goes the world. For we are the world.
Gus Cantrell : I'll have to jot that down.
Frank 'Pops' Morgan : You better unwind and get dressed unless you're planning on playing naked.
Lance Pere : Will do, Pops.
Frank 'Pops' Morgan : He came here by way of New York City ballet.
Lance Pere : Ballet?
Frank 'Pops' Morgan : He was such a natural athlete, they signed him.
Gus Cantrell : He used to be a ballerina?
Frank 'Pops' Morgan : I don't think guys are ballerinas.
Gus Cantrell : Balladeer?
Frank 'Pops' Morgan : Don't balladeers sing?
Gus Cantrell : No, I think that's a troubadour.
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Rube Baker : Hog, he's crowding the plate, forcing you to throw to his power.
Frank 'Pops' Morgan : Might want to give him a little chin music.
Hog Ellis : You want me to throw at Carlos Liston?
Frank 'Pops' Morgan : He'll hate you tonight, but he'll respect him in the morning.
Hog Ellis : What do I do if he comes out here?
Frank 'Pops' Morgan : Climbing the center field wall wouldn't be a bad idea.
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Gus Cantrell : Gentlemen, some of you might want to check your contracts. You all set there, Rube?
Rube Baker : Oh, yeah.
Gus Cantrell : Yeah, just a little more mayo there. It seems that you guys signed on to play an entire season, but quit playing about 2/3 of the way through, and I want to know what the hell is going on. Anyone? Yeah, Hog.
Hog Ellis : Well, nobody thinks that we can win without Downtown.
Gus Cantrell : Look, this game is not about one player. Believe me, I miss Downtown just as much as the rest of you. But baseball is about a team, an entire team, playing together. Yeah, look at me like I'm some damn corndog old man who doesn't know what the hell I'm talking about!
Frank 'Pops' Morgan : I don't know about the rest of you, but I remember not too long ago, we were the joke of the league. Now we've won some games. We even went dead even with the big team, and this man made the difference. I think we should listen to what he has to say.
Gus Cantrell : Look, I'm not asking for too much. Just help the guy sitting next to you. Maybe you know something he doesn't. Maybe you can pass that information along. We're traveling tonight. We got the Crawdads tomorrow. By the time we hit the field, I expect everyone's minds to be on teamwork and the business of baseball. That cool?
Hog Ellis : Yeah, it's cool
Gus Cantrell : All right, let's pack up and get out of here.
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Frank 'Pops' Morgan : I'll tell you what, Rube. Playing a big league team, big league park, made the whole 20 years worthwhile.
Rube Baker : It's a beautiful thing.
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Frank 'Pops' Morgan : His nickname is "Downtown"
Gus Cantrell : Who gave him that name?
Frank 'Pops' Morgan : He did.
