A Leela of Her Own



Production Number: 3ACV16

Title Caption: Scratch here to reveal prize

First Aired: April 7, 2002

Title Reference: The movie "A League of Their Own"

Act I: We got guano. Very fresh
After the wall of a nearby strip club fell down, Fry took to looking out the window. But eventually noticed a pizza pallor opening next door. After Fry reminisces about his old job, the crew decide to go and welcome their new Cygnoid neighbours. The pizzas turn out to be disgusting, so Fry decides to teach them, concluding with a Blernsball lesson. Planet Express's staff and family play a game against the Cygnoid's pizzeria. Leela proves to be a terrible pitcher, hitting the batters in the head each time. Her bad playing draws a crowd and she is recruited for the Mets.

Act II: Now pitching for the Mets, Turanga Leela
Leela's pitching "skills" prove popular with Mets fans. Leela garners many fans and some advertising appearances, thanks to her agent, Bender.

Act III: I'm not doing this for the wad
During a signing at Family Bros. Pizza, Jackie Anderson, an NNYU blernsballer tells Leela off for ruining the chances for competent women players. After a quick review of Leela's statistics Hermes informs her that she is likely to become the worst player ever, and Leela vows not to let that happen.

Act IV: You better get a batting helmet
The crew visit the current worst player, Hank Aaron XXIV, at the Blernsball Hall of Fame. Hank manages to teach Leela not to hit batters in the head.

Act V: Ancient Cygnoid secret
The Cygnoids open a franchise, then sell to Fishy Joe's. Leela convinces the coach to let her play after having trained with a Hank Aaron. As Leela takes the mound, Jackie comes in to bat on the third strike Jackie hits the ball hard enough to break the string and send the ball into the "win the game" hole, scoring a grand slam blern. Leela is now officially the worst player ever, and retires, having inspired women to prove they aren't all terrible.

Trivia

 * This episode comes closest to explaining blernsball, the writers intend to make the sport confusing and so they threw in a few oddities at the end of the episode.
 * Hank Aaron was reluctant to be in this episode, but agreed when he found out Bob Uecker had agreed.

Quotes
Aaron Jr.: Oh, you got that too? I think there's a rash goin' around. Leela: Fry, I'm a professional athlete! So go ahead. Fry: Oh! Now I'm too nervous. [Leela beans him] Bender: Apparently not.
 * Leela: I didn't hit the batter! For once I was pitching and not just belly-itching!
 * Fry: Wow! I must say, I'm impressed. You look just like a ball player. Can I pat you on the butt?
 * Cygnoid: Please, lady, I want to live. Can I use bat to protect head?
 * Bob Uecker: Mulligan drives the ball, it's going, going and caught by the shortstop. Man I haven't seen play this bad since the days of Bob Uecker! This is Bob Uecker saying thanks for watching!

Characters
(In alphabetical order)
 * Amy
 * Bender
 * Debut: Blek and his wife
 * Debut: Bob Uecker's Head
 * Cubert Farnsworth
 * Dwight Conrad
 * Fishy Joe
 * Fry
 * Debut: Hank Aaron's Head
 * Debut: Hank Aaron XXIV
 * Hermes
 * Debut: Jackie Anderson
 * LaBarbara Conrad
 * Leela
 * Prof. Farnsworth
 * Randy
 * Scruffy
 * URFL Commissioner
 * Zoidberg

Episode Credits

 * Writer
 * Patric M. Verrone
 * Director
 * Swinton Scott
 * Voice Actors
 * Billy West
 * Katey Sagal
 * John DiMaggio
 * Tress MacNeille
 * Maurice LaMarche
 * David Herman
 * Phil LaMarr
 * Lauren Tom
 * Dawnn Lewis
 * Tom Kenny
 * Special Guests
 * Hank Aaron
 * Bob Uecker
 * DVD Commentary
 * Matt Groening
 * David X. Cohen
 * Rich Moore
 * Patric M. Verrone
 * Swinton O. Scott III
 * John DiMaggio