Listen to Ozzie Smith, a 'Simpsons' producer and others reflect on 'Homer at the Bat'
When "The Simpsons" aired "Homer at the Bat" 24 years ago Saturday, no one involved knew that they'd created not just one of the best baseball-themed episodes of television, but one of the best episodes of any show, ever. "The Simpsons" was only in its third season -- who would've thought that the episode, which revolved around some of the best Major Leaguers at the time playing as ringers for the nuclear power plant's softball team, would become one of baseball's foremost cultural moments of the past quarter century.
And yet, here we are. Three of the players in the episode are now in the Hall of Fame. It's among the most-asked questions of every player who appeared. It is, indisputably, an American classic. So, to celebrate the episode's 24th anniversary, MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM gathered a few of the individuals who made it happen to reflect on its making and the phenomenon that it's become since.
Check out the interviews with Ozzie Smith, Wade Boggs, Steve Sax -- who's an analyst on MLB Network radio -- and "Simpsons" producer Al Jean below:
Ozzie Smith
On the episode's legacy:
"The episode that we had on 'The Simpsons' is the second-most asked question when I'm out and about -- the first one, of course, is 'Can you still do a flip?' and the next one is 'The Simpsons' episode. ... We had no idea that it would have the life that it's had. I guess it speaks to … how much ['The Simpsons' is] a part of Americana."
Wade Boggs
On doing a "Simpsons" belch:
"They said, 'Can you do it on cue?' And I said, 'Well, I can try.'"
Steve Sax
On still getting asked about it:
"I could be in the grocery store, and somebody's going to ask me about 'The Simpsons.'"
Al Jean
On predicting the future:
"My grandfather owned a hardware store -- and boys would work for him and he would say, 'Get a haircut!', even when they had buzzcuts. And they'd go, 'What? How can I get it cut shorter?' So I thought it'd be funny for that to happen with Mattingly and Steinbrenner, and then a year later it really happened. … One of the craziest times we've forecasted the future."
