Arthur Makes the Team (episode)

Arthur Makes the Team is the second half of the nineteenth episode of Season 1. It first aired on January 27th, 1997 along with D.W. Rides Again.

Summary
Arthur and his friends are trying out for the baseball team and everyone wants to be the pitcher. Although Arthur makes the team, he proves to be the worst player on it. Francine teases Arthur at first, but later makes up with him. As she has trouble pitching the ball, they then work together to improve their baseball skills.

Plot
The episode opens with Arthur and Buster walking down a street, Arthur is not sure he will be good at baseball. Buster throws him his "Busterball" pitch which ends up in the sewer.

Many kids gather to see who made the team, Arthur and Buster, of course, make it along with many others. Everybody wants to be the pitcher, but, at the team's first practice Coach Oliver Frensky, Francine's father, notes that the team motto is team work, meaning everybody contributes.

Through the practice, Brain clearly emerges as the best pitcher. Meanwhile, Francine throws the ball too high, which leads to teasing from Buster. Arthur, makes several catching errors in the outfield and is subject to teasing from Francine.

The next day, in the first game against Mighty Mountain, Arthur and Francine continue to clash with one another and Arthur has a ball bounce off his glove for a home run. The team ends up losing.

At The Sugar Bowl after the game, the team argues with one another to the dislike of their coach, after he calms them down they see Arthur hanging his head, walking home. That night, Francine tries to convince her dad to "fire" Arthur from the team, instead he gives Francine the assignment of Assistant Coach; her first job is to help Arthur.

Arthur and Francine practice together the next day. Francine shows Arthur how to shield the sun from his eyes to make catches. Arthur teaches Francine how to throw straight, in return. In the end, they are both successful. At the teams playoff game against Mighty Mountain, Arthur gets a hit. Later, he runs down a fly ball and makes the catch.

He throws it to Francine, who throws it to Binky. Binky tags the runner (attempting to score) out, causing Buster to faint from excitement. Buster goes on to fly out to end the game, but Francine shows she has also learned sportsmanship as she congratulates him for trying his best.

Clearly the theme relates to back to team work, as the squad worked together to become better, even when losing.

Goofs

 * Mrs. Powers's new blonde hair and pale complexion is seen, but did not catch on at that time, and her original brown hair and brown complexion was still being used until in Buster Baxter, Cat Saver from Season 2.
 * Like in Arthur's Tooth, Francine wasn't supposed to tease Arthur.
 * George Lundgren joins the kids in looking at who made the team, yet he is not on it. Later, when Arthur asks, "Who wants to be pitcher?", George is still there and raises his hand.
 * When Arthur's dad opens the door to see if Arthur is ready for his first game, Arthur drops a baseball he is holding. This is foreshadowing

Home Video
VHS: Arthur Makes The Team DVD: Arthur Makes The Team