Conan Plays Old Timey Baseball | Late Night with Conan O’Brien

Conan O'Brien

15 Apr 201908:34

Summary

TLDRThe video script revolves around the unique experience of playing old-fashioned baseball at Old Bethpage Village in Long Island, following the rules and customs from 1864. It features period-appropriate uniforms, language, and equipment, providing a historical reenactment that is both entertaining and educational. The script includes humorous interactions with the 'referee' and 'players' who maintain their 1864 personas, even discussing their 'jobs' as farmers and the ongoing Civil War. The video offers a glimpse into the past, showcasing the spirit and lifestyle of the era through the lens of baseball.

Takeaways

🏞️ The script is set in Old Bethpage Village, Long Island, where they play baseball in the style of the 1860s.
👕 The players wear old-time uniforms and use old-time bats, adhering to the customs and rules of the 1864 baseball era.
📜 The terminology used during the game reflects the language of the 1860s, with 'hurler' for a pitcher and 'crank' for a fan.
📝 The umpire, or referee, keeps score using an authentic 1860s pencil and writes on a Nature Valley granola bar wrapper, humorously implying it's from the 1860s.
👨‍🌾 Many characters in the script identify as farmers, reflecting the agricultural nature of the 1860s society.
🎭 The interaction between the characters is filled with humor and modern-day references, contrasting with the historical setting.
👩‍💻 The script includes a playful jab at the presence of a camera crew, which would not have existed in the 1860s.
👩‍❤️‍👨 The dialogue reveals romantic interests among the characters, with some expressing crushes on fellow players.
🎉 The community is depicted as closely-knit, with people knowing each other's professions and family situations.
🎭 The script ends with a comedic and dramatic flair, showcasing the enthusiasm and competitive spirit of the old-time baseball game.

Q & A

What is the main activity described in the transcript?
-The main activity described in the transcript is playing old-fashioned baseball at Old Bethpage Village in Long Island, following the rules and customs from the 1860s.
What is unique about the baseball played at Old Bethpage Village?
-The baseball played at Old Bethpage Village is unique because it adheres to the rules, uniforms, equipment, and even the language of the 1864 baseball era.
What is the term used for a pitcher in 1864 baseball?
-In 1864 baseball, a pitcher is referred to as a 'hurler'.
What are some terms used for fans in the 1864 baseball context?
-In the 1864 baseball context, fans are referred to as 'crank', 'rooters', 'birds', and 'bugs'.
What does the umpire, Gary Monty, have behind his ear and why?
-Gary Monty, the umpire, has a pencil behind his ear, which he uses to keep score during the game.
What is humorously mentioned as the likely occupation of people in 1864 in the script?
-The script humorously suggests that in 1864, almost everyone was a farmer, as multiple characters mention their occupation as such.
What is the role of the character who is asked about their father's occupation?
-The character asked about their father's occupation is a young girl named Sarah, who reveals that her father is a tailor and a farmer.
What is the reaction of the women when the narrator enters the town in the script?
-The reaction of the women when the narrator enters the town is mixed; some show interest, while one woman reveals she is married to a man fighting in the Civil War.
What is the narrator's response when he is told that everyone is a farmer in 1864?
-The narrator humorously responds by asking why no one claims to be a kickboxer or anything other than a farmer, highlighting the repetitive occupation mentioned.
What is the historical context provided by the character who mentions their husband fighting in the Civil War?
-The character provides historical context by mentioning that her husband is fighting for the North in the Civil War, which took place from 1861 to 1865.
What is the humorous exchange about the character who is said to be fighting in the Civil War?
-The humorous exchange involves a character who claims to have seen the husband in question acting cowardly and even making out with another man, which is played for laughs given the period setting.

Outlines

00:00

🏟️ Old-Fashioned Baseball at Old Bethpage Village

The paragraph introduces the arrival of summer and the speaker's excitement about it, particularly the baseball season. It then transitions into a discussion about a unique historical experience at Old Bethpage Village on Long Island, where old-fashioned baseball is played according to the rules and customs of the 1860s. The speaker shares their personal experience visiting the village with a camera crew, highlighting the authenticity of the event, including the use of period-appropriate uniforms, bats, rules, and language. The speaker interviews Gary Monty, who acts as a referee, and learns about the terminology used during the game, such as 'hurler' for a pitcher and 'crank' for a fan. The interaction is humorous, with jokes about everyone being a farmer in 1864 and the use of modern items like a granola bar in a historical context.

05:02

🎭 Theatrical Baseball and Civil War Banter

This paragraph continues the narrative of the old-fashioned baseball game, focusing on the spectators and their interactions. The speaker engages with the crowd, who are also in period dress, and teases them about their crushes on the players. The dialogue is filled with period-appropriate language and humor, including a discussion about a player's father who is fighting in the Civil War. The speaker also humorously inquires about the occupations of the spectators' fathers, with most of them being farmers, and one being a tailor. The atmosphere is light-hearted, with playful banter and a sense of community among the spectators. The paragraph concludes with a return to the game, where the speaker comments on the players' performance and the physical nature of the sport, using period-appropriate insults and encouragement.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Summer

Summer is a season that typically brings warm weather, school holidays, and outdoor activities. In the context of the video, summer is highlighted as a time for baseball, which is a significant theme of the video. The script mentions summer as a prelude to discussing the sport and setting the scene for the activities that take place at Old Bethpage Village.

💡Old Bethpage Village

Old Bethpage Village is a historical site in Long Island, New York, known for its preservation of 19th-century American life. The video script discusses this location as a place where old-fashioned baseball is played, adhering to the customs and rules of the 1860s. It serves as the primary setting for the video's exploration of historical baseball.

💡Old-fashioned Baseball

Old-fashioned Baseball refers to the way the sport was played in the 19th century, with different rules, equipment, and uniforms compared to modern baseball. The video script uses this term to describe the activities at Old Bethpage Village, where participants engage in baseball using the rules, attire, and language of the 1860s, providing a historical and educational experience.

💡1864 Rules

The term '1864 Rules' refers to the specific regulations that governed baseball in that year. The video script mentions these rules to emphasize the authenticity of the baseball games played at Old Bethpage Village. Adherence to these rules is part of what makes the experience unique and historically accurate.

💡Costumes

Costumes in this context refer to the clothing worn by the participants to emulate the attire of the 1860s. The script mentions '1864 costumes' to illustrate the commitment to historical accuracy in recreating the baseball games. The costumes are an essential element in the immersive experience provided by the village.

💡Umpire

An umpire is an official who makes decisions on the rules and maintains order in a baseball game. In the script, the term is used in a historical context, with the character 'Gary Monty' playing the role of a referee from 1864. The video explores the terminology and duties of an umpire in the 19th century, adding to the historical authenticity.

💡Historical Terminology

Historical Terminology refers to the specific language and phrases used during a particular time period. The script provides examples such as 'hurler' for a pitcher and 'cranks' for fans, which were used in the 1860s. This use of language is part of the effort to recreate the atmosphere of the era and educate viewers on the historical context.

💡Civil War

The Civil War, or the American Civil War, was a significant event in U.S. history that took place between 1861 and 1865. The video script references the Civil War to provide historical context and to add depth to the characters' backgrounds, such as one character's husband fighting for the North.

💡Farmer

The term 'farmer' is used repeatedly in the script to describe the occupations of the characters in 1864. This reflects the agricultural nature of society at the time and the economic backbone of the period. The script uses this term to establish the setting and to provide a sense of the lifestyle of the era.

💡Old-time Uniforms and Bats

These terms refer to the equipment and attire used in the historical reenactment of baseball. The script mentions 'old-time uniforms' and 'old-time bats' to emphasize the commitment to authenticity in the recreation of 1864 baseball. These items are crucial for the players to accurately represent the sport as it was played in the past.

💡Nature Valley Granola Bar

This is a humorous reference in the script to a modern snack item found in the pocket of a character dressed as a person from 1864. It serves as a comedic element, highlighting the contrast between the historical setting and the presence of modern items, which would not have existed at that time.

Highlights

Introduction to Old Bethpage Village and their old-fashioned baseball game.

Description of the authentic 1864 baseball experience, including uniforms, bats, and rules.

Interview with Gary Monty, the referee, about the terminology used in 1864 baseball.

Explanation of the role of a 'hurler' and the audience referred to as 'crank', 'rooters', 'birds', and 'bugs'.

Gary's use of an authentic 1860s pencil to keep score during the game.

Humorous discovery of a modern Nature Valley granola bar in an 1864 setting.

Jokes about everyone being a farmer in 1864, including the interviewer.

Interaction with the audience, discussing their favorite players and the intensity of the game.

Commentary on the physical appearance and potential romantic interests of the players.

Discussion about a player's father fighting in the Civil War and the reactions of the townspeople.

Historical inaccuracies and anachronisms humorously pointed out by the interviewer.

Interviewer's attempt to fit in with the 1864 crowd and the reactions of the townspeople.

Satirical take on the physicality and roughness of the old-time baseball game.

Comedic exchange about the low quality of the baseball game and the players' abilities.

Interviewer's challenge to the players to prove their skills and the response from the crowd.

Final remarks on the experience of old-time baseball and the historical context.