While we wait for baseball to return, I thought you might enjoy celebrating an anniversary: it’s 30 years to the day since the famous ‘Homer at the Bat’ episode of The Simpsons first aired. I remember watching it live, and being entranced by some of my REAL LIFE FAVORITE baseball players showing up on my FAVORITE SHOW.
Below is a little fun history from the episode – including a Cubs Hall of Famer who apparently declined to participate?
#OnThisDay #OTD #30YearsAgo February 20, 1992, "Homer at the Bat" (S03E17) first aired on the Fox network. Dir: Jim Reardon. Wr: @JJSwartzwelder. EP: @AlJean & @MikeReissWriter. #TheSimpsons #Baseball #30YearsAgoToday #30thAnniversary pic.twitter.com/UjhxCEQNeB
— On This Day in Simpsons History (@dailysimpsons) February 20, 2022
The episode was written by John Swartzwelder, who is a big baseball fan, but suggested by @simonsam, who wanted an episode filled with real @MLB players. Nolan Ryan, Rickey Henderson, Ryne Sandberg, and Carlton Fisk were among the players who turned down the show. pic.twitter.com/Sip1EGdya0
— On This Day in Simpsons History (@dailysimpsons) February 20, 2022
One of the hardest pieces of editing was the hypnotist segment, which featured several of the guest stars speaking in unison. It was difficult because the parts were recorded over a period of several months and thus it was hard to sync their voices. pic.twitter.com/bSW3xaHXOQ
— On This Day in Simpsons History (@dailysimpsons) February 20, 2022
A deep dive on how good the team would actually be:
30 years ago, the Simpsons softball episode aired. How good would that team have actually been? Let's fire up the rebigulators and copies of Bonestorm to find out (yes, I had more than a little fun doing this):https://t.co/V9sMcqK87O
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) February 20, 2022
The episode made the Hall of Fame:
Homer Simpson, welcome to "immortality." #FirstLook #HOFHomer #HOFClassic @TheSimpsons pic.twitter.com/PFapQbfruz
— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ (@baseballhall) May 27, 2017
D'oh! #OTD in 1992 the iconic @thesimpsons episode, “Homer at the Bat” aired. Among the many fun things in our archives is this copy of that script, signed by many of the cast and crew. pic.twitter.com/TnYfXu60qD
— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ (@baseballhall) February 20, 2019
It spawned a mockumentary:
The episode turned the tide for The Simpsons and for TV as a whole:
“Homer at the Bat” at 30: The landmark “Simpsons” episode that pushed the show’s boundaries https://t.co/3ZYe9mmcCG
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) February 20, 2022
A particularly favorite selection:
And, of course, the iconic song: