Home Run Baker’s Double (1914)

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Frank Baker (1886–1963) | Benjamin Ross | Kenean Buel (Director | Story)

Rest of cast:

Henry Hallam | Marguerite Courtot | Helen Lindroth

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“Home Run Baker’s Double.”

Kalem Company produces its fourth annual baseball feature with the giant joy-killer as the star.

Reviewed by George Blaisdell.

The Kalem Company for the three preceding years has produced a baseball picture — one featuring either a professional player or a team. The first, that of 1911, will be remembered as “Hal Chase’s Home Run.” The successors were “Rube Marquard Wins” and “Breaking into the Big League.” In language of the theater as of the baseball field, all made hits. The fourth of these subjects will be released on June 17, in two reels. Not only is a real baseball star featured in Home Run Baker’s Double, but the plot touches on matters that in recent months have agitated the millions of followers of the national game — the formation of the new league and the attempts of the men behind it to induce players to desert the older organizations. The story is written and produced by Kenean Buel.

Home Run Baker [Frank Baker (1886–1963)] will need no introduction to the masculine side of the photoplay house; and when those of the feminine side get a look at him they will be interested. Baker not only plays for the screen less badly than the average of those untrained to the camera, but really he does well. Also he has a personality. Followers of baseball will be deeply interested in the close-up and intimate views of the man who more than once at critical stages of championship contests has with his keen eye and strong arm upset calculations and put his own team on top. In Home Run Baker’s Double he plays a dual role. At no time does he figure in double exposure, but there are two times when both Baker and his double appear to be in the same scene. In each instance there is a clever substitution of a man of the same figure, and as the face of the substitute is not turned to the camera the situation goes over in clever fashion.

There are many scenes of baseball grounds and of teams in action. There are views of the Polo Grounds in New York and of the park in Jacksonville. Fla., where the Athletics did their spring training. The story opens with Baker putting over (the fence, presumably) one of his customary tour-base hits and shows the grandstand excitement ensuing. Watching the play is Marguerite Johnson, a great admirer of the Athletics and especially of Mr. Baker. When after the game Marguerite is saved by the ball player from being struck by an automobile, the newspapers print the story and a picture of the star. Wallace, a swindler, discovers the resemblance between Chick Day, one of his accomplices, and the player, and proceeds to capitalize it. In the name of Baker he writes in response to her note of appreciation and asks for the loan of $200. Unexpectedly the player gets a note from the young woman and arrives at the appointed place just in time to frustrate the swindler.

The resemblance between Day and Baker is used by Wallace later when he sends Day to the officials of the Federation League in the effort to obtain advance money. The sudden upsetting of the swindler’s plans makes a dramatic scene. In fact, there are a goodly number of interesting situations.

Marguerite Courtot has the role of the young woman who is saved from injury by the ball player. Henry Hallam has the part of her father, the capitalist, who becomes interested in the new league and who is very nearly imposed upon by the swindler. Ben Ross is Wallace, and Helen Lindroth is Mrs. Baker, the mother of the player. The work of the cast is just what may be expected from these players, and goes far to further the illusion of the story of the national game.

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Scene from Home Run Baker’s Double (Kalem).

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Collection: Moving Picture World, June 1914