Wikia

Night Game
	<img alt="021" src="http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090216210439/ghostbusters/images/thumb/8/82/021.png/225px-021.png" width="225" height="166" data-image-name="021.png" data-image-key="021.png" />
Air Date Number	020
Episode Number Dvd	021
Production Number	76008
Written By	Kathryn M. Drennan
Date First Aired	09/22/1987
Season Aired	Season 2
On Boxset	Vol. 1, Disc 4

In Night Game, a mysterious battle fought by the forces of good and evil is being waged within a baseball stadium. Winston is soon drafted to play on the side of good... with an individual's soul as the prize.^[1]

CastEdit

Evil's Relief Pitcher

EquipmentEdit

LocationsEdit

Firehouse

Jaguars Stadium

PlotEdit

On the night of a full moon, the mound in a baseball stadium eerily glowed and ectoplasmic energy shot out. All of a sudden, it vanished. The next day, Winston strode into the Firehouse with two tickets to a Jaguars baseball game. Peter, Ray, and Janine turned down his offer. Egon, as well, declared he couldn't go and was in the middle of a project. Winston spotted Slimer and appealed to his insatiable love of junk food.

At Jaguars Stadium, the team is in on the verge of another loss. Winston is still excited and notes it's not about winning and losing. However, ectoplasmic energy appeared again and hurled a baseball at super speed into the ground. Winston reported the event to the other Ghostbusters but they are skeptical. He then revealed his research about an ancient Indian legend, "Once every 500 years, the supernatural forces of good and evil fight a battle. That battle always takes place on the same site." ^[2] This site happens to be the very spot currently occupied by the Jaguars Stadium.

The other three are convinced but Egon stated they needed to first get a permit by Mayor Clotch. Winston contended the permit process takes days and there was the strong possibility of a major supernatural manifestation. Egon agreed but it was too late at night and it was best everyone got a good night's rest first. Winston decided to stay up a little while longer and read up on the legend. Soon enough, Winston pulled up at the stadium alone. The security guard happened to be a fan of the Ghostbusters and let Winston in to investigate. Ectoplasmic energy manifested again and covered the stadium. The guard managed to escape and ran to a nearby pay phone. He called up the Ghostbusters. The lights in the Firehouse turned on and Ecto-1 quickly pulled out.

The Ghostbusters arrived to find an ectoplasmic barrier had enveloped the Jaguars Stadium. The P.K.E. Meter indicated the level of ectoplasmic energy was unprecedented. After some thought, Egon formulated a plan to have all three particle beams shoot at the same spot. The theory worked and a temporary tunnel was formed. The guys jumped in and landed in front of a giant umpire. Winston appeared and announced he was assigned short stop. The legend stated the ghosts always chose their form of battle from their surroundings. In this case, baseball. They managed to convince the Umpire to allow them to stay and observe the match. However, they learned a human soul was the prize. If good lost, evil would torment the soul for the next 500 years.

So far the score was 0-0 in the eighth inning. Playing to their nature, the players for evil cheated and finally scored. In the bottom of the ninth, evil switches pitchers and brings in their best - an entity that resembles a giant pink one-eyed humanoid elephant. With two outs, Winston was up to bat. On the verge of a strike out, Winston hit a home run and a grand slam won the game for the forces of good. The final score was 3-1. The forces of evil melt away as those of good congratulated Winston. As the Umpire bid them farewell, he cryptically mused they might meet again. While Egon thought about the Umpire, Winston revealed the soul that was at stake was Peter's. Peter fell to the ground and declared he was only going to Mets games.

TriviaEdit

In the episode introduction on The Real Ghostbusters Complete Collection, writer Kathryn M. Drennan admits to being a baseball fan and made a mistake with the sports terminology - Ray uses the term points instead of runs. ^[3]
The New York Mets are referred to twice and the Yankees, once.
Egon's interest peaks when Janine mentioned fungus.
Egon revealed he knew a guy at the University who did a study on the dynamics of the curve ball. ^[4]
Winston loyally supports the rather unsuccessful Jaguars baseball team.^[5]
Egon mentioned going to the Mayor for a permit to legally investigate Winston's claim. ^[6]
The license plate of Winston's car is "BIG-042" ^[7]
Winston revealed he always wanted to play Major League Baseball. ^[8]
The Umpire mentions Fair Play, a term for Sportsmanship, after the players departed.

Animation ErrorsEdit

There is a continuity issue as the same ghost batter is up to plate before, and got struck out. Then a bit later he's running the bases.

ReferencesEdit

↑ Eatock, James & Mangels, Andy (2008). The Real Ghostbusters Complete Collection booklet, p. 8. CPT Holdings, Inc.
↑ Winston Zeddemore (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Night Game" (1986) (DVD ts. 05:47-06:11). Time Life Entertainment.
↑ Ray Stantz (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Night Game" (1986) (DVD ts. 15:46). Time Life Entertainment.
↑ Egon Spengler (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Night Game" (1986) (DVD ts. 03:27-03:31). Time Life Entertainment.
↑ Eatock, James & Mangels, Andy (2008). The Real Ghostbusters Complete Collection booklet, p. 8. CPT Holdings, Inc.
↑ Egon Spengler (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Night Game" (1986) (DVD ts. 06:21-06:23). Time Life Entertainment.
↑ Winston's Car (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Night Game" (1986) (DVD ts. 06:54). Time Life Entertainment.
↑ Winston Zeddemore (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Night Game" (1986) (DVD ts. 10:55). Time Life Entertainment.