"The Naughty Nineties" ('Who's on First') Quiz

Answer: St. Louis Wolves

The St. Louis Wolves have some players with some strange nicknames. The "Who's on First" routine was done many times by Abbott and Costello on stage, radio and on their old TV show. Routines similar to this one, based on wordplay, go back to Vaudeville. The movie plot is about criminals trying to swindle a riverboat owner.

Answer: Who

Who plays first.
We hear this many times and poor Lou is the only guy who doesn't understand it.
Lou, "When you pay off the 1st baseman every month, who gets the money?"
Bud, "Every dollar of it."
Bud plays an actor named Dexter Broadhurst and Lou plays a riverboat worker named Sebastian Dinwiddle.

Answer: What

What plays 2nd.
When Lou asks Bud who's on 2nd, Bud tells him that Who's on first and What's on 2nd.
Lou, "I'm trying to find out what's the guys name on 1st base"
Bud, "No, What's on 2nd."
Lou, "I'm not asking who's on 2nd"
Bud, "Who's on first."
The movie was directed by Jean Yarbrough and also starred Alan Curtis, Rita Johnson and Henry Travers.

Answer: I Don't Know

I Don't Know plays 3rd.
Lou, "If I mentioned the 3rd baseman's name, who did I say is playing 3rd?"
Bud, "No, Who's playing 1st."
Lou, "What's on first?"
Bud, "What's on 2nd."
Lou, "I don't know"
Bud, "He's on 3rd."
Lou gets real frustrated tying to find out the the name of the player on third. Whenever 'I don't know' is said, they will both say "Third Base!" Sometime this is stated individually or together.

Answer: Why

Why is playing left field.
Lou, "The left fielder's name?"
Bud, "Why."
Lou, "I just thought I'd ask you."
Bud, "I just thought I'd tell you."
Lou, "Tell me who's playing left field?"
Bud, "Who's on first."
The LA Dodgers had an infielder named Chin-lung Hu. In 2007 he singled and the legendary announcer, Vin Scully, got to say "Hu's on first".

Answer: Because

Because is playing Center Field.
Lou, "And the left fielder's name?"
Bud, "Why!"
Lou, "Because."
Bud, "No, he's in center field."
Not much is said about the outfielders. The right fielder isn't even mentioned.

Answer: Tomorrow

Tomorrow is playing pitcher.
Lou, "The pitcher's name?"
Bud, "Tomorrow!"
Lou, "You don't want to tell me today?"
Bud, "I'm telling you then."
Lou, "Well go ahead."
Bud, "Tomorrow!"
In 1998, The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum had an exibit at The New York State Fair in Syracuse, NY. Two actors (I don't recall their real names) dressed and looking like Lou and Bud, performed the routine several times per day. They were really good and were very crowd friendly and posed for pictures with people. Everyone appeared to enjoy them very much.

Answer: Today

Today is playing catcher.
Lou, "The catcher's name?"
Bud, "Today!"
Lou, "Today? And Tomorrow's pitching?"
Bud, "Now you got it"
"The Naughty Nineties" had a few other funny skits, including the backdrop scene where Lou sings "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean". In this skit Bud has a stage backdrop lowered and raised, and moved right and left. While Bud directs the location of the backdrop, Lou thinks he's telling him how to sing the song.
When Bud calls for the backdrop to go up, Lou sings higher, etc.

Answer: A triple play

A confused Lou, as catcher, says, "I throw the ball to Who. Whoever it is drops the ball, the guy runs to second. Who picks up the ball, throws it to What. What throws it to I Don't Know. I Don't Know throws it back to Tomorrow - Triple Play!"
Bud agrees. This is a strange way for a triple play to happen, but the whole skit is strange.

Answer: I Don't Care

I Don't Care plays shortstop!
This is the great finish to the skit. The timing is perfect and it is very funny.
Lou: Another guy get up and hits a long fly ball to Because. Why? I don't know, he's on third and I don't care!"
Bud, "Oh What?"
Lou, "I said, I don't care!"
Bud, "Oh, that's our shortstop!"
In some versions, I Don't Give a Darn plays short.