The film is based on a play by the same name that debuted at the Organic Theater, which starred Joe Mantegna and Dennis Franz. The play and the Bleacher Bums are based on the Chicago Cubs, their fans, and Wrigley Field. Although many references to the Cubs remain in this version (names of players, years since a World Series, the design of the park), MLB would not give permission to use the Cubs or Cardinals names or logos, so the film is a game between the Chicago Bruins and the St. Louis Eagles.
Scorekeeper Billy talks to Joey about seeing former players in the field in his imagination and mentions Cap Anson, Three-Finger Brown, Joe Tinker, Johnny Evers, and Frank Chance. Taking into account that in this version of the play, the Cubs are called the Bruins, so things might have been different, none of the named players played with the Cubs in Wrigley with the exception of Tinker, but not as part of the Tinker-to-Evers-to Chance combination Billy mentions.
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