History Film / RookieOfTheYear

** The Cubs and Mets play their final game to decide the division winner. The announcer declares the winner would "go on to the World Series", but in actuality, they would have to face the league's other divisional winner in a best-of-seven series to determine the pennant winner and a trip to the World Series. The film's release year, 1993, would also be the last time baseball's postseason would be in this format after 24 years, expanding to three division winners and a "wild card" spot to the next-best record the following year.

** The Cubs and Mets play their final game to decide the division winner. The announcer declares the winner would "go on to the World Series", but in actuality, they would have to face the league's other divisional winner in a best-of-seven series to determine the pennant winner. The film's release year, 1993, would also be the last time baseball's postseason would be in this format after 24 years, expanding to three division winners and a "wild card" spot to the next-best record the following year.

* ProductPlacement: Henry makes a commercial for Diet Pepsi with Music/RayCharles.

* TheCameo: Several then-current baseball players are seen in the montage, including Barry Bonds. Music/RayCharles also appears.

* TheReveal: Henry peeling back the masking tape on his glove to reveal [[spoiler:it was his mother's, figuring out that [[WasItAllALie all the stories she told alleged about his "father"]] [[FromACertainPointOfView were actually about her]].]]

** And everyone’s reaction when the last player Henry needs to strike out is Heddo, the exact same person whom he pitched against at the start of his career and who scored a home run off him.

** And everyone’s reaction when the last player Henry needs to strike out is "Butch" Heddo, the exact same person whom he pitched against at the start of his career.

** And everyone’s reaction when the last player Henry needs to strike out is "Butch" Hevvo, the exact same person whom he pitched against at the start of his career.

* UnskilledButStrong: Henry get signed because of his blazing fastball, but his first few outings on the field go badly because he's so raw; he struggles to find the strike zone, gives up home runs, and has to be bailed out the rest of the team's fielding.

Was the big acting break for future ''Film/AmericanPie'' star Thomas Ian Nicholas. Also featured Creator/GaryBusey, Albert Hall, Creator/DanielStern (who also directed), Eddie Bracken, Dan Hedaya and Amy Morton. It also features Creator/JohnCandy in an uncredited supporting performance as Cubs announcer Cliff Murdoch.

* CurseCutShort: Combined with a SmashCut; Mary starts it while watching the game at work while [[AstonishinglyAppropriateInterruption Chet actually finishes the curse in the dugout]].

** YouCalledMeXItMustBeSerious: The team manager finally gets Henry's name right in the Division Championship after Steadman's arm gives out. This actually ''confuses'' Henry.
---> "What did he call me?"

** YouCalledMeXItMustBeSerious: He finally gets his name right in the Division Championship after Steadman's arm gives out. This actually ''confuses'' Henry.
---> "What did he call me?"

12-year-old Henry Rowengartner is a Little Leaguer who is a little...inept at playing (as in, [[CrowningMomentOfFunny he inadvertently throws a fielded ball over the outfield fence instead of to the infield]]). When he breaks his arm trying to catch a fly ball, it seems like another downer for the kid - until he discovers that the tendons in his arm have healed a little too tight, giving him the ability to throw the ball with amazing force.

* WhatNow: Henry's best friends, Clark and George, had an existential crisis after seeing him off on his first road trip.
-->'''George:''' Let's go back to our dull lives to search for meaning.

* PlotMandatedFriendshipFailure: Henry's fame nearly ruined his friendship.

Was the big acting break for future ''Film/AmericanPie'' star Thomas Ian Nicholas. Also featured GaryBusey, Albert Hall, DanielStern (who also directed), Eddie Bracken, Dan Hedaya and Amy Morton. It also features JohnCandy in an uncredited supporting performance as Cubs announcer Cliff Murdoch.

* FeudEpisode: His fame nearly ruined his friendship.

Was the big acting break for future ''Film/AmericanPie'' star Thomas Ian Nicholas. Also featured GaryBusey, Albert Hall, DanielStern, Eddie Bracken, Dan Hedaya and Amy Morton. It also features JohnCandy in an uncredited supporting performance as Cubs announcer Cliff Murdoch.

* AccidentalAthlete

Was the big acting break for future ''Film/AmericanPie'' star Thomas Ian Nicholas. Also featured Gary Busey, Albert Hall, Daniel Stern, Eddie Bracken, Dan Hedaya and Amy Morton.

** Like a similar goof-up in ''MajorLeague'', Heddo is the last batter Henry faces in the climactic game after setting down eight in a row. However, that would've meant Heddo should've been the last batter Steadman faced before leaving (even weirder, everyone acts surprised Heddo is even coming to bat, as if he just materialized into the game). This one could, however, be adequately explained if Heddo were coming in as a pinch-hitter. Thus is likely since Heddo was not shown fielding during the game.