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One Sunday, Charlie Brown was in his room, getting a baseball glove, a bat, and a baseball.
"Now to show everyone how much I've improved." Charlie Brown said to himself.
As Charlie Brown came downstairs, Sally eyed him leaving the house.
"Where are you going, Big Brother?" asked Sally.
"I'm practicing for the big baseball game." said Charlie Brown. "Spring training, you know."
"You and your spring training." said Sally.
Charlie Brown left his house, and was on his way to the baseball field. When he got there, Peppermint Patty and Franklin were already there.
"Peppermint Patty! Franklin!" said Charlie Brown.
"Hiya, Chuck!" said Peppermint Patty. "Ready for spring training?"
"You betcha!" said Charlie Brown. "Now who wants to bat first?"
"I think Patty should bat first." said Franklin.
"Suit yourself, Patty." said Charlie Brown. "Now to show off my pitching skills."
Tommy had arrived home with his bag, and was most surprised to see…
"Mum? Dad? Cora?"
"Hi, Tommy!" said Karina. "Did you miss us?"
"You bet I did!" said Tommy.
"We missed you too, Son." said Boco.
Tommy walked up and hugged his parents, happy to see them home.
"And Tommy, while we were on my business trip, we got you a present." Boco said.
"What is it, Dad?" asked Tommy.
"Let me open the boot." Karina said.
When Karina opened the boot, inside was a Border Collie.
"You….. you bought me a dog!" Tommy cried.
"His name is Pavarotti." said Karina.
"Want me to help you unpack?" asked Tommy.
"No." said Boco. "You go and show your friends your new pooch."
"Thanks, Dad! Thanks, Mum!" said Tommy.
Tommy got out a leash, locked it on Pavarotti's collar, and he brought his pooch along for a walk.
Meanwhile, out on the baseball field, Charlie Brown was practicing for the big baseball game with Peppermint Patty and Franklin. Charlie Brown was pitching, Peppermint Patty was batting, and Franklin was fielding.
"Come on, Chuck!" called Peppermint Patty. "Toss it to me!"
"Charles Monroe Brown starts his pitch, he aims it, and…"
Charlie Brown chucked the ball, and much to his surprise…..
"I did it!"
"Great shot, Chuck!" said Peppermint Patty.
"You may have really improved on your baseball skills, Charlie Brown." said Franklin.
At this moment, Tommy walked by with his new dog Pavarotti.
"Look! Tommy's here!" said Franklin.
"Hiya, Tom!" called Peppermint Patty.
"Hello, Patty. Hello, Franklin. Hello, Charlie." said Tommy.
"Hi, Tommy." said Charlie Brown.
"Hey, you got a funny looking kid with a big nose there!" Peppermint Patty said.
"He's not really a kid." said Tommy. "He's a border collie. His name is Pavarotti."
"Heya, Pav!" Peppermint Patty said as she walked over to Pavarotti. "I'm Patricia, but my friends call me Peppermint Patty."
"Nice dog you got there, Tommy." said Charlie Brown.
"Thanks." said Tommy. "My parents got him for me while on their business trip."
"I'm sure he's a normal dog." said Charlie Brown. "Unlike Snoopy."
"Oh yeah!" said Tommy. "I didn't even see if he's a normal dog."
Tommy knelt down to Pavarotti.
"Pavarotti, sit."
Pavarotti did as his owner commanded, but in a deck chair.
"He's quite literal minded." said Peppermint Patty.
"Now, Pavarotti." said Tommy. "Shake."
Pavarotti handed Tommy a strawberry thickshake.
"Not what I had in mind, but thanks." said Tommy.
Pavarotti let out a little chuckle.
"Say, what are you three doing?" asked Tommy.
"We're preparing ourselves for the baseball season." said Charlie Brown. "Spring training, you know."
"Baseball, huh?" said Tommy. "We more commonly play a similar game in Australia."
"There's a game similar to baseball in Australia?" asked Franklin.
"Yeah." said Tommy. "It's called cricket."
"Sounds like a blast." said Peppermint Patty.
"You wouldn't mind if I joined in your game, would you, Charlie?" Tommy asked.
"Not at all." said Charlie Brown.
Tommy got out front, and Charlie Brown was ready to pitch. Tommy held the bat in position.
"Here comes the pitch!" Charlie Brown called.
Tommy saw the ball, hit the ball with the bat, and ran forward.
"No! No! Tommy! Stop!" Charlie Brown called.
"What's wrong, Charlie?" asked Tommy.
"We're playing baseball, not cricket." said Charlie Brown. "And you're supposed to swing the bat sideways!"
"Oh….. sorry, Charlie." said Tommy. "I guess I'm so used to cricket, I don't even remember how baseball works!"
"Let's try again." said Charlie Brown.
Tommy got back at home, and waited for Charlie Brown to pitch. Charlie Brown threw the ball, Tommy swung the bat properly and… WHOOSH! The ball sent Charlie Brown's shirt, socks and shoes off of him.
"Wow! Very impressive!" cried Charlie Brown.
"Hey, Tom!" said Peppermint Patty. "Great shot!"
"Thanks!" said Tommy. "Now, I wonder where the ball landed?"
Emerald was at home making a pizza. Due to behaving better in cooking class, she'd gotten better at cooking.
"Pizza you want, pizza you get!" Emerald said with a smirk.
Emerald had added tomato sauce, cheese, and was just about to add her favourite toppings when….. SPLAT!
"Alright, who threw this cricket ball on my pizza?!" demanded Emerald. "Mum? Dad? Eugene? Jasmine?"
"I'll go and look for the ball." said Charlie Brown.
Charlie Brown left the field, and the first place he arrived was the Rich place. He rang the bell and….. Frieda answered.
"Hey, Charlie Brown." said Frieda.
"Hi, Frieda." said Charlie Brown. "Have you seen a baseball?"
"No I haven't, I'm afraid." said Frieda. "Why?"
"Tommy, Peppermint Patty, Franklin and I are preparing for the upcoming baseball season." said Charlie Brown. "Spring training."
"Good grief! Spring training!" cried Frieda. "Well, I'd best train for it too."
Charlie Brown went over to the Gray place to see if the ball had landed at Violet's place.
"Charlie Brown?" said Violet.
"Sorry to disturb you, Violet." said Charlie Brown. "But have you seen a baseball?"
"No." said Violet. "Why?"
"Tommy hit it too hard, and he's worried it ended up at your place." Charlie Brown answered. "It's spring training."
"Spring Training? Oh yeah! I forgot!" cried Violet.
Charlie Brown arrived at the Plepler place to see if the ball had landed at Shermy's place.
"Hello?" said Jill, Shermy's sister.
"Jill." said Charlie Brown. "Is your brother home?"
"No." said Jill. "He's gone out for spring training. Why?"
"I'm looking for a baseball, and Tommy's worried it landed here." Charlie Brown answered.
"No baseballs landed here." said Jill.
"Then where has the ball landed?" Charlie Brown asked. "Except…"
Emerald had finished making her pizza. She'd topped it with green bell peppers and broccoli as well as some pepperoni and bacon. She only added green bell peppers because of their colour.
"There. Cricket ball supreme." said Emerald.
Emerald had put the pizza into the oven when…..
"Good grief! Who could that be?!" Emerald asked herself.
Emerald answered the door and…..
"Charlie Brown?" said Emerald. "What are you doing here on short notice?"
"Have you seen a baseball?" asked Charlie Brown.
"No." said Emerald. "However, a cricket ball landed on my pizza, and I'm cooking it anyway."
"What colour was this cricket ball?" wondered Charlie Brown.
"It was white." Answered Emerald.
"White?"
Then it hit Charlie Brown.
"Emerald! That was a baseball!" he exclaimed.
"Baseball?!" Emerald cried. "No wonder!"
"Oh no, oh no! Good grief!" Charlie Brown cried, running around frantically.
Some minutes later, Emerald removed the pizza from the oven with the cooked baseball.
"Anyone for pizza?" Emerald asked sheepishly.
"Oh no!" groaned Charlie Brown.
Charlie Brown was on his way back to the baseball field to explain the bad news. Snoopy came out of his house, confused to see his owner in disappointment.
"Huh?" Snoopy said as he followed Charlie Brown.
When Charlie Brown came back to the baseball field, Tommy, Peppermint Patty and Franklin were puzzled by the look on his face.
"Did you get our ball back, Charlie?" asked Tommy.
"No." said Charlie Brown. "Emerald cooked baseball supreme pizza."
"Baseball pizza?!" cried Franklin.
"Yuck!" groaned Tommy.
"Well, she's gonna have to get used to the taste of baseball!" laughed Franklin.
"No need to fret, Chuck!" said Peppermint Patty. "Look what's in my hand!"
Peppermint Patty held in her right hand a spare baseball.
"Great work, Patty!" said Charlie Brown. "Now we can continue spring training!"
Little did Charlie Brown notice that Snoopy had been following him. And when Snoopy arrived at the baseball field, he was intrigued by another dog.
"Hey!" Snoopy called to Pavarotti.
"Oh! Hey!" Pavarotti called back.
"Oh. Snoopy." said Tommy. "I see you met Pavarotti. He's my dog. Snoopy, Pavarotti. Pavarotti, Snoopy."
Snoopy and Pavarotti walked up to each other and shook hands.
"I guess I'll have to get used to having an unusual dog like Charlie." said Tommy.
"Anyway, let's keep training, Tommy." said Charlie Brown. "We might need you for our next game."
"You got it, Charlie." Tommy said. "Hey, I could try pitching."
Charlie Brown went up to bat, and Tommy prepared to pitch.
"Here comes the ball!" Tommy called.
Tommy ran and threw the ball. However, Charlie Brown didn't hit it.
"Charlie?" quizzed Tommy. "Why didn't you hit the ball?"
"Tommy, you weren't supposed to run and throw. You were supposed to stand where you were and throw." said Charlie Brown.
"Oh. I guess so." said Tommy. "Let's try that again!"
But just before Tommy could begin pitching, Schroeder, Frieda, Violet, Lucy, Linus, Pig-Pen and Patty Swanson arrived.
"Oh. Hey, guys." said Tommy.
"What's this I hear about spring training?" asked Linus.
"We're practicing for this baseball season." said Charlie Brown.
"Why weren't we told of this before?" asked Lucy.
"I didn't want to disturb any of you." said Charlie Brown. "You were….. too busy."
"Well, make sure the ball doesn't end up in my naturally curly hair." said Frieda.
"We'll try." said Charlie Brown.
"And make sure the ball doesn't break any windows." said Lucy. "Or else you'll need to pay."
"I guess not." said Charlie Brown.
"I'll see what I can do about pitching without my blanket." said Linus. "Hopefully our gym classes helped me."
Meanwhile, at the Brown place, Sally remembered her big brother was training for the big matches.
"I'll see what I can do about helping out." said Sally.
Sally, remembering Charlie Brown made her assistant manager, was on her way to the baseball field.
"Where are you going, Big Sister?" asked Wally.
"Our big brother is doing spring training." said Sally. "And because I'm assistant manager, I'll help."
Sally left the house and had soon made it to the baseball field.
"Hi, Sally." said Charlie Brown.
"Hi, Big Brother!" said Sally. "Just remembered you were doing spring training, so you wouldn't mind….."
"You are assistant manager, Sally." said Charlie Brown. "So I don't mind at all."
"Thanks, Big Brother." said Sally.
"What's this about spring training?" came a voice.
The voice belonged to Heather Wold, the Little Red-Haired Girl.
"Hi, Heather." said Charlie Brown. "We were doing some spring training."
"I'd love to join!" said Heather. "Show off more of my baseball skills!"
"You're in." said Charlie Brown.
"Thanks, Charlie Brown." said Heather.
"Now that everyone is here….." Charlie Brown announced.
"Not everyone!" came a voice.
The voice belonged to Janice.
"Hi, Janice!" called Linus.
"Hello, everyone." said Janice. "I heard you were spring training, and I'd like to practice in case you need me for a big game."
"Join the fun." said Charlie Brown.
Soon, everyone was training for the big leagues. Charlie Brown prepared the bat, while Schroeder started to pitch. Schroeder threw the ball, and Charlie Brown swung the bat, hitting the ball, sending it bouncing all over the field. Violet and Patty Swanson tried to catch it, only to end up bumping into each other, Frieda was sitting on the bench, only for the ball to land in her hair.
"My naturally curly hair!" cried Frieda as she ran away.
"Good grief." said Charlie Brown. "I guess I hit it too hard."
"Maybe next time, don't hit it in a bouncy sort of fashion, Chuck." said Peppermint Patty.
"Alright! Let's try again!" called Franklin.
Charlie Brown got his bat ready, and Tommy pitched… WHACK!
"Wow! Now that's what I call a homer!" Lucy said.
"It's going, going….." Peppermint Patty said, eyeing the ball.
Suddenly…..
"You're out!" came a voice.
The voice belonged to Peggy Jean, who had arrived with Thibault. Peggy Jean got her baseball glove.
"Peggy Jean?!" cried Charlie Brown.
"Hi, Brownie Charles!" said Peggy Jean. "Thought I'd do spring training too."
"You're playing baseball too?" quizzed Charlie Brown.
"I sure am." said Peggy Jean. "Especially since Tee Ree plays it too."
"Good luck beating me!" taunted Thibault.
While everyone took turns at pitching, batting and fielding, Snoopy and Pavarotti sat back and watched. Snoopy wanted Pavarotti to see how the game was played.
"Hmm….." Pavarotti said with interest.
"Ha ha." Snoopy said.
"Hey, Charlie!" said Tommy. "Your dog's made fast friends with mine."
"So he is." said Charlie Brown. "Come on. Let's practice some more."
Frieda had returned with her cat Faron in her arms. Luckily, the ball fell out of her hair.
"Sorry about that." said Frieda. "Had to bring my cat to watch the game. Hope no one minds."
"Not at all." said Charlie Brown.
Frieda looked around and saw Snoopy.
"Hello, who's this pooch?" Frieda asked herself.
Frieda walked up to Snoopy and eyed the new dog.
"Hello." said Frieda. "And who might you be?"
Tommy walked over to Frieda, who was talking to Pavarotti.
"Frieda, I'd like very much to have you meet Pavarotti." said Tommy.
"Hello there, Pavarotti." said Frieda. "You're such an adorable pooch! Yes you are!"
Frieda patted Pavarotti's head.
"Would you mind holding my cat for me?" asked Frieda.
Pavarotti reluctantly held out his front legs, and placed Faron in them.
"In case you don't know," Frieda said. "His name is Faron."
Snoopy watched on, puzzled by Pavarotti and Faron, remembering how he would hold Faron for a long time long ago.
"Anyway," said Charlie Brown. "Let's keep training."
Charlie Brown was ready to pitch, and Peppermint Patty was up to bat.
"Okay, Chuck old boy! Toss the old ball to me!" said Peppermint Patty.
Charlie Brown tossed the ball, and Peppermint Patty….. missed.
"Strike 1!" shouted Franklin.
"That was rotten luck!" sighed Peppermint Patty. "Now, toss another!"
Charlie Brown tossed another ball, and… WHOOSH! The ball sent Charlie Brown out of his shirt, socks and shoes.
"Good grief!" cried Charlie Brown.
Peppermint Patty was running along the diamond, but when it looked as though she'd gotten a run….
"You're out!" Franklin called.
"I'm out?!" quizzed Peppermint Patty.
"I'm afraid so, Patty." said Charlie Brown. "Come and look."
Everyone surrounded Pavarotti, who had Faron in his front legs.
"I see no ball!" said Peppermint Patty.
Faron moved his head, revealing that Pavarotti had used him to catch the ball.
"Oh, come on! That's no fair!" Peppermint Patty said.
"That's what I call a Cat-ch!" Tommy said.
Everyone laughed at Tommy's remark.
"I guess Frieda's cat is useful for something after all." said Lucy.
"Alright, everyone! Back to our practice match!" said Charlie Brown.
But Charlie Brown was tired.
"Who should take over for me?" asked Charlie Brown.
"I will." came a voice.
The voice belonged to Heather Wold, the Little Red-Haired Girl.
"I'll pitch for you, Charlie Brown." said Heather.
Charlie Brown took Heather's fielding spot, and Heather picked up her ball.
"Here goes." said Heather.
Much to her surprise, Thibault was her opponent.
"Here goes!" said Heather.
"Go for it, Tee Ree!" called Peggy Jean.
Heather swung her arm right round, and….. Thibault swung his bat.
"Huh?!" quizzed Thibault.
"Got you!" teased Heather as she pitched properly, giving Thibault a strike.
"Strike!" shouted Sally.
After the practice game had ended, Charlie and Sally Brown walked home with Snoopy, Tommy and Pavarotti.
"You mean to tell me Sally had disrupted one of your games, all because of some dandy dandelion?" said Tommy.
"It looked like me." said Sally. "But then, my big brother wrecked it!"
"I didn't mean to." said Charlie Brown. "I was trying to put it into a plant pot. And besides, everyone was planting too many flowers on the baseball field!"
"Figures." said Tommy. "Anyway, we have school tomorrow, and since gym is one of our classes, hopefully we'll have a baseball match there."
When Tommy and Pavarotti arrived at home….
"Well, see you tomorrow, Charlie!" said Tommy. "See you, Sally."
Pavarotti waved to Snoopy, who waved back.
"See you, Tommy!" said Charlie Brown.
The next day, Charlie Brown told everyone in his homeroom all about what he told Tommy about Sally.
"Who does Sally think she is? Lisa Simpson?" Emerald scoffed. "Phoebe Terese?"
"She was into it." said Charlie Brown.
"And she even sung a song dedicated to the flower." said Violet.
"Whatever Sally saw in that dandelion," said Erin.
"Anyone would think she was trying to be the next Captain Planet!" laughed Scarlet.
Charlie Brown blushed at this.
"Huh?" said Spearmint Sammy as he woke up.
"Charles is explaining all about Sally's enthralment over a dandelion, Ma'am." said Marty.
"Not what I was wondering, Marty." said Spearmint Sammy. "What Scarlet just said."
"She said anyone would think Charles' sister was trying to be the next Captain Planet." Marty answered.
"Who's Captain Planet?" asked Spearmint Sammy.
"He's an environmental hero." Marty explained. "Has superpowers, fights polluters."
"Oh," said Spearmint Sammy. "She must mean Widget."
"Oh, Sammy, not you too!" sighed Scarlet.
Later that day, in gym class, Charlie Brown agreed on a practice match as everyone was playing baseball for gym class. Charlie Brown was up for bat.
"Tommy! You're pitching!" called Charlie Brown.
"Here's my googly woogly!" called Tommy as he pitched rapidly.
Charlie Brown tried to hit the ball, only for the ball to rapidly speed by.
"Rats!" sighed Charlie Brown.
"How about another?" said Tommy.
Tommy pitched again, and this time, Charlie Brown swung the bat, sending it flying out of the gym.
"It's going…. going…. gone!" Tommy called.
"Wow!" Charlie Brown cried.
But where did the ball end up? Well….. it ended up in Birchwood Elementary, where the Goose Eggs were having a practice match of their own.
"Did somebody order an extra baseball?" asked Leland.
"Not me." said Ruby.
"A ball that came out of nowhere?" said Austin.
"It's a game my cousin loves to play." said Carlin. "I hear she usually plays against Chuck."
"Must be Mr. Charles' ball." said Leland.
Eudora was eyeing what the Goose Eggs were doing.
"Excuse me?" said Eudora. "You have a practice match, and you won't win if you keep bickering like this."
Soon, it was time for the big baseball game. Everyone was getting themselves ready. Frieda was curling her hair to its natural curliness.
"There we go." said Frieda.
Lucy decided to find a way to keep the sun out of her eyes.
"If the sun gets in my eyes….." Lucy pondered. "Ah ha!"
Lucy picked out a pair of sunglasses.
"There." said Lucy.
Lucy and Linus were on their way out of the house when Rerun saw them.
"Where are you two going?" asked Rerun.
"It's a big baseball game." said Lucy.
"We're challenging the Goose Eggs." said Linus.
"I'll come and watch you." said Rerun.
Leland had pulled his shoes on. He recalled the number of times his sister Margaret had tied his shoes for him, and loopy loop by loopy loop….
"I did it!" said Leland.
"Where are you going?" asked Margaret.
"I'm off to play baseball." said Leland. "Done some spring training."
"I'll come and watch you." said Margaret.
It was Charlie Brown's team up against the Goose Eggs' team. First up, Charlie Brown was ready to pitch against Leland.
"Ready, Mr. Charles?" asked Leland.
"Ready as I'll ever be." said Charlie Brown.
Charlie Brown pitched the ball and…..
"Strike 1!" called Sally.
"Rats!" sighed Leland.
Charlie Brown had struck out Leland's team so many times, and batted so many homers along with the rest of his team, he had won.
"Great game, Mr. Charles." said Leland.
"Good game, Leland." said Charlie Brown.
And everyone shook hands over the good sportsmanship.
Soon, Charlie Brown was up against Peppermint Patty's team. The game had eventually ended up in a tie, Peppermint Patty was up to pitch, and Charlie Brown was up to bat. The bases, first one with Janice, second one with Linus, third one with Tommy.
"Do it for my bestie, Charlie Brown!" called Mary Stewart. "Do it for my Schroeder too!"
"Do it for my Lucy!" called Sebastian.
"I don't even know who to go for here." Marcie added.
"They're right!" said Charlie Brown. "I can do this!"
"Do it for Tommy!" called Adrienne.
"You can win this for me, Big Brother!" called Sally.
"Do it for my sweet butterfly!" added Harold Angel.
"Here comes the ball, Chuck!" Peppermint Patty called.
Peppermint Patty threw the ball, and Charlie Brown swung the ball in slow motion… The bat… hit the ball, sending it flying, flying… everyone watched with wonder and….
"HOMERUN!" Sally called out.
"I got a homer! I GOT A HOMER!" cheered Charlie Brown. "Woohoo!"
And Charlie Brown, Janice, Linus and Tommy ran further around the diamond, scoring the homer, winning the game.
"That's the game!" called Franklin.
At last, everyone shook hands with each other.
"Great game, Chuck!" said Peppermint Patty.
"Wonderful game, Patty!" said Charlie Brown. "Put 'er there!"
Charlie Brown and Peppermint Patty shook hands, showing great sportsmanship, only for Peppermint Patty to feel smitten.
"You're holding my hand, Chuck." teased Peppermint Patty. "You sly dog!"
"And therefore," Sally announced. "This baseball match's MVP is…"
Everyone wondered… and feared…..
"My big brother!"
"Me?" said Charlie Brown. "I'm MVP!"
"Atta boy, Chuck!" said Peppermint Patty.
"You did wonderful, Charlie Brown!" said Schroeder.
Heather walked up and kissed Charlie Brown's right cheek.
"Way to go!" said Lucy. "Good old Charlie Brown!"
"Well done, Bestie!" said Linus.
"You were fantastic, Charlie!" said Tommy.
"Well done, Charles." said Marcie. "Even though my bestie didn't win, I'm glad you won this.
"The best baseball player ever." said Shermy. "What do you say, everyone? Let's here it for Good Old Charlie Brown!"
Everyone cheered, threw popcorn in the air, removed balloons, and Lucy, Linus, Tommy, Shermy, Violet, Patty Swanson, Frieda, Marcie, Peppermint Patty, Franklin, Spearmint Sammy, Marty and Sally lifted Charlie Brown into the air, and carried him.
"How I missed this!" Charlie Brown said. "And it feels so good too, feeling like a town hero once again!"